Are You An Example Worth Following?

November 20, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

"I want to be like you when I grow up." Those are some of the most gratifying and terrifying words that you and I might ever hear! Whether you are a parent or simply an important person in the life of a child, those words can lift you up and horrify you at the same time. You are encouraged that this little one sees something in you that they want to emulate, but you are suddenly aware of every bad decision, every wrong choice, every way that your example is not...well...exemplary. You start to question if being like you would be a good thing. You ask yourself, "Am I an example worth following?"

In a letter to his friends living in Phillipi, the apostle Paul has given them examples to follow. He starts with Jesus, our ultimate example, and moves on to some other people they know, but later on in the letter he appeals to their love for him and uses himself as an example. What a bold move! He believes that they will find the joy, peace, clarity and contentment they need as they let his priorities be a pattern for them. Can you imagine that?!

Take a moment to consider: Who in your life needs a godly example? Could you be the example they need? What would it take for you to be as bold as Paul and invite them to follow you? What do you need to do in order to be ready to make that invitation?

Let's start here.

What To Do When You Feel Stuck: Press On

November 13, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:12-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Does God really even care?" I wondered as I walked. Nothing had turned out as I had expected. I was disappointed and tired. I had gotten to a point in my relationship with God where I just felt stuck. I felt numb every day. Did I even want to follow God anymore? But where else would I go?

I was at a women’s retreat taking place at a camp. The setting was beautiful and woodsy. The sun peaked through the green leaves on the trees as the dry ones on the ground crunched beneath my feet. I had decided to take a walk and had found a path in the woods. I was somehow aware of the Holy Spirit leading me as I reached for a walking stick and headed up a hill.

Almost at the top of the steep incline I felt theHoly Spirit tell me to stop. It was an awkward position to to be in and it was difficult to keep my balance. As I struggled to stand still I realized that I had a choice to make, not just on the hill, but in my life. Standing still was not an option because sooner or later I would fall. I had to turn back or press forward. That was the only way to find balance again. Turning around would have been easy. Moving forward was not. Which way?

It took more energy and effort than I thought I had in me, but I used the walking stick to help pull me as I swung my leg forward. After a few difficult steps I found myself at the crest of the hill. Whew! That was a relief. I continued following the path with a renewed wonder. What would I find next? What else did the Holy Spirit want to speak to me? I followed the path around a bend and discovered a beautiful, sun-sparkling pond. Such an idyllic setting that no one else had discovered. A totally unexpected vista! I was so grateful as I made my way back to the main house. I knew that what I had experienced was more than just a walk. It had been a prophetic encounter with God. I was leaving that path unstuck and ready to move forward in God’s purpose for me.

What about you, Dear Friend? Have you ever felt stuck? Do you feel stuck right now? That walk up the hill was God’s tool to teach me that perseverance, pressing on when it isn’t easy and doesn’t make sense, is often God’s tool to lead us to the next beautiful place in our life. What did I learn about perseverance from that walk in the woods?

How To Rest In His Righteousness

November 6, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 'Philippians 3: 8-9

If you have ever seen the musical My Fair Lady you might identify with Eliza Doolittle. In defense of herself in her uncertainty and confusion as Professor Higgins begins concocting his plan to take the flower girl and turn her into a lady, she declares in her low-brow Cockney accent, “I’m a good girl, I am!” She isn’t sure what he is proposing, so she makes it clear that she isn’t going to compromise her understanding of what is good morality to participate in whatever he is planning. Being a good girl was a part of her identity that she wasn’t willing to give up for a more refined way of speaking.

As a young woman, my inner being would often be declaring, “I’m a good girl, I am!” Being a good girl was a part of my identity that I wasn’t willing to compromise. I had attended religious education classes in my denomination. I believed that there was a God and I had an deep desire to avoid getting in trouble. I didn’t like getting yelled at! So, being a “good girl” wasn’t about loving God or loving what is good. It was about avoiding conflict with authority figures, like my parents or school officials, or God. Being a good girl meant that I could fly under the radar and basically do what pleased me as long as it didn’t get me in trouble. I did have convictions about what was wrong, but they weren’t solid because they weren’t built on a foundation that was solid. My idea of what was right and wrong was shaped by my religious education, but really built on my own desire to protect myself from shame. My foundation for righteousness was built on ME.

When I came to Christ, He began to reshape my idea of what it means to be a “good girl”. He began to renovate my motivation toward righteousness. I started out trying to avoid conflict with God. Yes, I wanted to please Him, but internally the fear of being shamed was still unknowingly my primary motivation. I tried very hard to do the right thing and to spiritually declare, “I’m a good girl, I am!” But God’s desire for me was, and is, to be more than a “good girl.” He wants me to know that I am a loved girl, and to rest from striving to be good. He wants me to know that what Jesus did was enough to make me good enough for the God who is abundantly more than enough.

So, how do I learn to rest in His righteousness?

How To Cut Through The Clutter

October 30, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 'Philippians 3: 8-9

Almost every day when I go to my mailbox there is a new piece of mail for a girl named Abigail. I don’t know how my address got attached to her name, but I do know that Abigail is most likely a high school senior because the mail she gets is from colleges inviting her to attend their campus. Multiple invitations have arrived, and that is just at the wrong address! I can’t imagine how much mail she gets at her own address. So many options! Abigail has a huge choice to make. How will she decide?

Like Abigail, every day you and I are bombarded with a myriad of options. A multitude of choices clamor for our attention and energy. From the food we eat to the money we spend, to the tasks on our calendar, we have decisions to make. All those choices create clutter, don’t they? School responsibilities, keeping up the home, the job, family obligations. So much demanding your attention and mine. In the midst of all that clamors for my attention, how do I know what the most important thing is? As I complete the tasks that take up my brain space how do I know that I am doing what matters most? How do I cut through the clutter?

Cutting through the clutter begins with clarifying your goal. What is the thing you want most? If we aren’t intentional, our goal becomes obscured by the chaos of everyday choices. We chose the urgent over the important. We chose what is right in front of us rather than the thing we long to move toward. I know that has been my experience. What about you?

Do You Have What You Don’t Want or Want What You Don’t Have?

October 23, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 'Philippians 3: 8-9

“Suffering is having what you don’t want or wanting what you don’t have.” Years ago I heard a message by the well-known author and speaker Elisabeth Elliot and that was her definition of suffering. And, as she said in the message, that covers just about everyone. At the time I heard that message, my husband and I were living in the basement of my parents’ home with two toddlers and all I wanted was a home of my own. I definitely had what I didn’t want and wanted what I didn’t have! That definition of suffering described me. Maybe it describes you right now.

This has been a season of great loss for all of us. Lost jobs, lost freedoms, lost security, lost loved ones. So much losing. Loss brings grief. Loss brings uncertainty. Loss brings questions — a lot of questions. So many things that we don’t want. So many things that we no longer have. But, what if those losses cause you and I to reevaluate what we consider important?

If you have lost a loved one, I am so sorry. That loved one was a treasure to you and that treasure cannot be replaced. I guess what I am attempting to say is that in the midst of all the loss and all the questions there may be a treasure that we can gain.

Let’s be honest right off. Life is hard. Okay, I’ve said it. No matter what “happily ever after” was fixed in our minds, the truth is that life doesn’t work that way. Each person’s journey is filled with hairpin curves, potholes, roadblocks and standstills. No matter what we expected, what we experience is totally different. So, how do we adapt to the losses we didn't anticipate? And what would I be willing to actually set aside for the sake of gaining a greater treasure?

Is Your Dream Worthless Or Worth Everything?

October 16, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

'Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ' Philippians 3:8

Remember those dreams you had when you were a kid? What did you dream of doing and being? Maybe you dreamed of a perfect marriage and saw yourself riding off on a white horse behind Prince Charming so that you could raise your perfect little princes and princesses. Maybe you saw yourself as CEO of a company leading others to success. Whatever your dreams were, I’ll be those things seem a little silly right now. Our young minds did not have enough experience to envision dreams grounded in reality, right?

When I was a high school student, drama was my dream. I loved the theater and everything about it. I bought books about acting and delighted in trips to Broadway. I couldn’t wait to watch the Tony Awards or Oscars on TV, and imagined what I might say if I had the opportunity to receive one of those coveted trophies. I followed my dream of drama as a theater major in college, but college is also where I made my commitment to Christ. By the time I graduated from college, the idea of moving to New York City to try to make it big on Broadway had lost it’s appeal. I thought about the compromises to my new faith that I might be tempted to make just to get ahead. The dream had lost it’s luster.

What happened? What had been worth all the time, effort and energy of my teenage years lost its value when compared with the treasure I had found in Christ. What about you, Dear Friend? What dreams have you left behind for the sake of Christ? Are there any you are still holding onto? Maybe it’s time to remember and to reevaluate.

Am I Enough?

October 9, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

100 percent!!! Did you ever get a 100 on a test? What a good feeling that is! Right?! I remember a time in the fourth grade when I was the only person in our class that got a 100 on a Spanish quiz. And the teacher made sure to tell everyone, too! I remember how special I felt. It was like I had proved that I was worth paying attention to. I felt like I had achieved something. So much more than a test grade. I felt like I had proved that I had a right to exist.

That moment became a motivating factor for my future life. It unconsciously became my goal to always get good grades after that. I don’t think grades really mattered to me until that moment. But why did it become so important? I think that God created me with a desire toward excellence, but that moment felt like I was set apart and valued in a way that I hadn’t been before. I wanted to prove my worth, so I wanted good grades. I wanted to feel valued all the time. Don’t you?

I think we all crave affirmation in some way. We want someone to say, “Good job!” It makes us feel appreciated and like our efforts were worthwhile. But there is a trap in affirmation. We can become addicted to approval and work hard for the purpose of receiving it. We want to feel that we are good enough, approved, valued.

Is that what God wants for you and me? Does He want us to work hard for Him so that we can be valued and approved by Him and others? What really matters?

Am I Good Enough For God?

October 2, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Would someone call you a hard worker? Who is the hardest worker you know? I have seen my dad work hard my whole life, and that is just at home! He is always working on projects around our house. It’s taken some effort for him to learn to stop and rest. I learned a lot from my Dad just by observing. I appreciate his example.

Being a hard-worker is highly valued in many cultures, and certainly in American culture. Being referred to as a hard worker is considered a high compliment in the workforce. Hard work is valued and praised. Rest is not. People don’t cheer you on when you stop and rest. “Keep pressing forward and reach your goals!”

It is easy to transfer that idea to God’s kingdom as well. In the church, we often praise those who are there whenever the doors open or honor the person who serves in multiple areas or allow families to spread themselves thinly and take away from family time by planning events every night of the week. Why? Jesus said that He would give rest to those who come to Him. (Matthew 11:28) Is this trusting in what Christ has done for us or giving ourselves stuff to do to make us feel more valuable?

Dear Friend, have you been working hard for God, but feel like your efforts have fallen short? Do you feel like you need to do more? Do you question if you are good enough for God?

The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus did all that was necessary to make you and me good enough for God. We don’t have to work hard to prove our worth to Him. We don’t have to rely on our own efforts to be valuable to Him. All you and I have to do is to rely on what He has done, but how?

Rejoice…Whatever?!

September 25, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We all have those moments. Something unexpected happens. The basement floods. An unexpected expense turns the budget upside down. A family member is suddenly hospitalized. A steady job becomes unsteady. Those are moments that instantly rock our world. We feel off-kilter, shaken, unsure of what to do and how to respond. It is easy to let emotions rule. Fear and anxiety can cloud our faith. So, what can we do? If I turn my eyes toward the problem and look away from Christ, I can get discouraged, disappointed, even angry at God. That’s not what I want! What about you?

In Paul’s letter to his friends in Philippi he says this, “Whatever happens…rejoice in the Lord...” (Phil. 3:1) “Whateverhappens…” Isn’t that a phrase that about covers it? Whatever happens...when a relationship is strained, when a job ends, when a loved one dies, when a child goes astray, when enverthing seems to be going perfectly....whatever happens. Paul encourages his friends to rejoice in the Lord “whatever happens.” What’s happening in your life right now? Can you rejoice “whatever happens?” What does that look like anyway?

How To Be A Person of Honor: Epaphroditus

September 18, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Welcome him [Epaphroditus] in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:29-30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Are there any people in your life that you can point to and say, “i want to be like that!” Someone that you can confidently lift up as an example? Someone you would describe as a person of honor?

I am grateful to say that I know quite a few. As I think about that question, there are faces that I see in my mind’s eye. I see their smiles. I hear their voices in my head. Some have passed away, but others are still living. As my memory recaptures that person, I remember their character more than any one task they have accomplished. They exemplify honor in their speech, in their attitudes, in their actions. Sometimes it can be hard to quantify what makes a person of honor. You just know this is someone worth emulating.

In Paul’s letter to his friends in Philippi he describes someone who can definitely be lifted up as a person of honor, but because Paul only spends a few sentences on him it can be easy to miss the importance of his example. Who am I referring to? Epaphroditus.

I’ll be that is one of those names you just skip over when you are reading! But don’t skip over him! Paul says that people like him should be welcomed and honored. Why? What makes Epaphroditus an example worth following? How can you and I follow his example?