So What is Normal Anyway?

Have you ever felt like you were different than other people? Like maybe you weren't normal? That you just don't fit in?

I struggled with this feeling for most of my life. I always felt different. I felt like I wasn't as good as everyone else. I wasn't normal like everyone else around me.

As I've grown stronger in my faith and gotten to know God a little better, I have come to realize a few things about this whole thought about being "normal." Let me share what I have found out. First and foremost, this thought is wrong. We all need to hear the truth on this subject loud and clear.

I have realized recently that I have not been alone in my dilemma. Most people feel the same way. We all have the same need to be accepted. We think the other guy is normal and we need to be like that person to be considered acceptable. Satan would love for us to continue in this thinking and chase our own tail until we drop. Why? Because it is futile and leads us to nowhere but misery. If we are consumed with trying to fit in we will never stand out like Christ would rather we focused on.

What is normal anyway?
Normal - conforming with or constituting an accepted standard, model, or pattern. Corresponding to the median or average of a large group in type, appearance, achievement, function, development.

Conforming to an acceptable standard. Being the average of a group. So what exactly is the acceptable standard when it comes to a normal person? What do we gauge average with? Unbeknownst to us, the standard is something we create in our own mind. So guess what? Everybody’s standard of what a normal person looks like is different. With that kind of standard, I will never find normal, nor will you.

I have to share some truth with you here. I did not grow up in the church. When I became part of a local church body, I looked around and thought everyone was perfect. These people had it all together. I needed to be just like them if I wanted to be normal. So I pasted a smile on my face when I walked through the church doors and tried to be just like them. But inside, I knew I wasn't. I was a mixed up mess that needed work and in my eyes they were not.

So often we use the term normal and think it refers to those who are doing things right. The normal people serve God right. Normal people don't have all the struggles in there life. Normal people are happy. Normal people don't struggle with sinful behavior. Normal people don't have problems like me.

Here's the truth. There are no normal people. We are all flawed. We are all dysfunctional. We are all full of sin. Whether our sin is visible to the naked eye, closed up in our thought closet or hidden in our hearts, we are all just fallen creatures that don't deserve the mercy God offers. Thankfully, He gives it to us anyway. Those that think they deserve the mercy of God should check their heart. They will probably find pride hiding there.

When Adam and Eve bit into the apple, all humanity became fallen creatures. Since then we have struggled to be normal again. We have struggled to be considered the good person, to be the one called acceptable.

Nothing we do makes us acceptable or good enough. It is only by the covering of the blood of Jesus that we are finally considered acceptable.

I have decided that since it is impossible to be normal, I will instead be what Christ intended me to be. I will be extraordinary. I will be the one that stands out in the crowd. The different one that people stop and try to understand. Why is she so different? That is what I want people to say. What does she have that I don't have? I want that! They will say after they meet me.

Mother Theresa, was she normal? No, she was not. She had an extraordinary heart that loved. Billy Graham, was he normal? No, he was not. He had an extraordinary love for God and for the lost. Beth Moore, is she normal? No, she is not. She has an extraordinary heart that loves Jesus.

I don't know about you, but instead of worrying about being normal, fitting in or being accepted, I want to stand out. I want an heart that loves Jesus and loves others so much that people think I am not just average but extraordinary.

My standard is Jesus Christ and He was nowhere close to normal.

Called to Follow - Matthew

Have you ever known anyone who was thought of as a traitor? What about a person who goes against what most believe? You know the person. They are considered an outcast. They do things there own way. They push against the norm of what is expected.

That was the man Jesus met as He passed on from Capernaum. Levi the son of Alphaeus was considered a traitor by the Jewish community, he was a tax collector. This is the man we know more accurately by his name given to him after following Jesus. We know him as Matthew, meaning "gift of God."

During the time Jesus walked on this earth, Rome ruled over Palestine. Rome collected several taxes from the people. Tolls for transporting goods where collected by private tax collectors, who in turn paid a fee to the Roman government for the right to assess the levies. The tax collectors charged extra for their own profits. They would hire what were called, publicans who did the actual work of collecting. The publican charged extra for their own wages. Those in this position were often corrupt and tacked on larger amounts than were acceptable.

Matthew was a publican who collected tolls on the road between Damascus and Accho, just outside the city of Capernaum. He was a tax collector, considered corrupt and a traitor by his own people. The Jews would have considered his money to be unclean and would not even ask for change back from him. He was not allowed to testify in court or bring a tithe to the temple. His position rendered him an outcast in his community. He was a Jewish man with no Jewish rights.

But Jesus evidently saw something that others didn't see.

Matthew 9:9 - As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.

Jesus, the Son of God, the one doing miracles with many, walks to the tax table and speaks. "Follow Me" He says to Matthew. I am sure all that had taken place on the other side of the river had reached the ears of Matthew. His response amazes me. It says, he got up and followed Jesus.

This would have been no small feat. He was in a prosperous position. He was a home owner which was not common for those without wealth. But he got up and left his position as a tax collector behind. He didn't try to work out a deal with Jesus so he could keep his lucrative position and still be a follower. Instead, he turned from his corruption and went with Jesus.

Next thing you know, Matthew is throwing a party to welcome and celebrate Jesus. He wants those he knows to see the real Messiah and meet Him face to face.

Matthew 9:10 - Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house , that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

This was the real face of Jesus. God coming to save the sinner and heal the sick. Jesus was not upset to see the tax collectors and sinners at His table. I'm sure, instead, He was thrilled. These were the ones He had come to save. But the Pharisees saw it, and said to the disciples "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" They did not get the chance to answer the Pharisee's though. Jesus answers them Himself. He didn’t owe them an explanation but decides to make a strong point to everyone listening.

Matthew 9:12-13 - When Jesus heard that, He said to them "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Jesus was speaking to the Pharisee's, to those who thought they had everything right. They were righteous, the ones doing all the right the things, obeying the law. They were even teaching the law. But they were also the ones whose hearts were full of evil intent and desire. They believed they were righteous but they had no mercy within them. Instead, there was pride in their hearts.

He tells them, if you think you have it all figured out and need nothing then I didn't come for you. I came for those who are sick. Sadly, they were among the ones which were the most sick of all. Sick full of pride and a hardened heart.

We can learn so much from this piece of scripture as he says to the prideful, "go learn what this means, I desire mercy not sacrifice."

Jesus doesn't need our sacrifices of time or energy. He instead asks our heart to be right. When we are willing to show mercy to those that we see as full of sin, we have a tender, humble heart. That is the heart God can reach. That is the heart that God can use.

So what do we learn from our new friend Matthew. Well, we can see why God would name him a gift. He penned the gospel of Matthew for us which gave us quite a gift. His writing, the gospel according to Matthew has probably been the most influential of all the gospels.

Mostly, I personally have learned from Matthew that there is no one to far gone to be redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. If Jesus could consider this man as worthy to be one of the twelve, He can make us into anything He desires.

Matthew paid a big price to follow Jesus. He gave up everything, including a position that paid big financially. I am grateful to Him for his decision. It makes mine easier to make. I, a great big sinner, need to see redemption like his.

Called to Follow - Bartholomew also called Nathanael

Today we meet Bartholomew or in Hebrew, "Son of Tolmai" meaning "God has given."

Don't you just love that meaning of a name? I do! As a mother, I relate. If I wasn't already done having children I would name my next one Bartholomew. God has given. Maybe I can convince a grandchild to be named this. It's at least worth a try. Most likely though, I’ll just hear "Mom!" as they roll their eyes at me and ignore my suggestion.

Back to our disciple....

Bartholomew was also known by another name, Nathanael. More often in scripture, we see him as Nathanael than Bartholomew. To make it easier on all of us, I will hereby refer to him as Nathanael.

Our disciple Nathanael was a student of scripture. He was always in search of true knowledge of God. We discern this by the way Philip tells him about Jesus.

John 1:45 - Philip found Nathanael and said to him "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Nathanael was well aware of the promises in scripture pointing to the Messiah's coming. So Philip knew that if he was to have his friends’ attention he had better reference the promises made by Moses and the prophets. Philip also knew Nathanael would see the fulfillment when he met Jesus himself. So he said to his friend "Come and see." In spite of the prejudice Nathanael had for Nazareth as an unrefined and undereducated area, he goes with Philip to meet Jesus.

John 1:47 - Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"

Jesus sees Nathanael coming toward Him and greets him from afar. He calls him an Israelite with no deceit. What a comment for someone to make as you approach them. This person could see who Nathanael was and not only that, he saw his character.

He knew that Nathanael had no deceit in him. Nathanael was not the type to be sly or use trickery to get his way. Instead he was straight forward and honest. Maybe even honest to a fault, some might think. But he when you dealt with him you knew what you were getting into. There was no reading between the lines or trying to figure out what he really meant. I believe Nathanael was transparent and open.

Fit me right in there with this guy! I know the downfall and the up side of this trait. I have been told by some that they love it and others, well, they just stay away. I am transparent about my life and my faults. So much so that it has made people uncomfortable at times.

Believe me; I am not trying to make anyone uncomfortable. I just realize that God already knows and sees where I've been and what I've done. He sees my downfalls and short comings. I no longer need to feel ashamed for these things. It’s called grace and I plan to live in it daily and to the fullest.

I still must repent when I sin and try to live in righteousness. But I refuse to feel shame for what I have lived through in my past. I lived through abuse as a child, and talking about these things can make some people uncomfortable. I know and understand there discomfort. I just don't allow myself to take on anyone else’s shame or go back to mine that’s gone and forgiven.

Jesus knows our transgressions and everything about us. He took one look at Nathanael and knew who he was and what he was all about. He sees this about us also. Jesus sees inside us. He knows who we are, what we are thinking. He knows our next move before we even do.

How often do we believe we can hide things from God? We seem to think if we don't talk to Him about it that He doesn't know. What are we thinking? He can see it all. How much better off would we be if we were just honest and approached God instead of running away?

John 1:48-49 - Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered and said to Him, Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!"

Jesus knew Nathanael before he had ever met Jesus. He had seen Nathanael under the fig tree and knew everything there was to know about him. Philip was right; Nathanael did recognize the Messiah when he met him. He called Jesus, Rabbi and exclaimed You are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!

This pure hearted man with all sincerity knew who he was committing his life of service too. He would not waver later when he would be called to stand up for the truth. He would instead finish well, just as we are called to do.

He knew what was at stake. He knew that he might well have to die for his Savior. But his sincere heart called him to the one he had heard about probably from his early years.

Nathan shows us that having a pure heart after the true Messiah is worth the cost we might have to pay. He also shows one of the qualities we will need to finish the job we are called to. We will need to be without deceit. A heart with no guile, that’s pure and sincerely in love with Jesus.

Counting the Cost to Follow

Have you ever been swept up in the moment? Excitement surrounds you at every angle. You seem to be on a high that will never end.

I have experienced times where the spirit of God is so strong in the room that I have felt if He pours anymore of Himself on me I would burst. Those emotionally, spirit filled times are amazing but we all have to come down eventually.

It must have been exciting to be called by Jesus Christ personally and become his follower. What an emotionally charged feeling it must have been to know that the Messiah was calling you to be his disciple. Just like us though, they had to come down to reality eventually. They too were given the truth of what it would cost them to follow.

Let's explore that today. What did it cost them to follow and what will it cost us also?

Matthew 8:19-22 - Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Then another of His disciples said to Him "Lord let me first go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Here we see Jesus with a multitude coming after Him; he had taught them and is ready to climb into the boat to go across to the other side. A young man, a scribe amongst the throngs of people has heard the call to follow. He has wrestled with his decision and in the last instance before Jesus is gone; he says "Teacher, I will follow you where ever you go."

What does Jesus tell this young man to do? Does he tell him come along, the more the merrier? No. He tells him to count the cost. He tells him that even the foxes have holes to sleep in and the birds have nest but the Son of Man lives in poverty and has nowhere to lay his head. Jesus is showing this young man the cost he will pay to follow. Jesus is asking him if he is willing to pay that price. Is he willing to give up everything and live in poverty just like Jesus does?

Then another following says to Jesus "Let me first go and bury my father" and He says "Follow Me, and let the dead bury the dead."

Seems a little harsh doesn't it? You would think this person had just lost his father to death and needed to go do his duty and bury him. Not the case.

Back in those days, it would have been part of the son’s responsibility to care for the father until his death. What this young man meant was he could not leave and follow Jesus until his father had died. Jesus tells him to let someone else care for his father. In other words, Jesus was posing a decision to this man, "Who will you put first, Me or your father?"

Just like these two men, we are asked the same things. Will we pay the price to follow? Will we put Jesus first before all things?

In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus spells out the cost for us:

Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower does not sit down first and count the cost , whether he has enough to finish it - lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him. Saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish." Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

We too must count the cost. Spelled out in black and white, Jesus calls for all. Everything must be given. Forsaking all things. There is no compromising. There is no holding on to old things or people. There is only Jesus and the path he has planned out for you.

He also asks, will we finish? Will we get down the road when the going gets tough and fall short, leaving ourselves open to be mocked? Or will we stay strong and cross the finish line?

For Jesus, there is no dragging along baggage with us. We are called to make the sacrifices needed to remain on the road with Him. We must shed the things of the past, maybe even the things that we love. Are we willing?

Now, I know that the cost looks high and a huge price to pay. But we are not asked to pay such a high price for no reason. We are also not called to pay the price alone. There are benefits that make it well worth the sacrifice here on earth.

In Mark 10:28-31 we see Peter remind Jesus "We have left all and followed You." Which in reply Jesus acknowledges there sacrifices and tells them they will reap a hundredfold in eternity those things they sacrificed. He tells them that many who are first will be last and the last will be first.

We may not reap all we would love to have here on this earth, but we are assured of great rewards lasting eternally. Our reward awaits with lasting benefits. We are assured of an eternity with Jesus in heaven. What better reward could there be?

There are however also some rewards that we are given now. When we choose to follow Jesus, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. That in itself is a great reward. The more we rely on the Spirit and leave behind our human nature we are given the blessing of fruit in our life. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) We are filled with these things in the midst of strife, struggle and trials.

Imagine having a peacefulness and joy filling you even in the midst of horrible circumstances. It is those qualities that gave Paul the ability to sing and praise God while chained in prison. It was also how the disciples were converted and sustained during much persecution.

I myself consider such abilities to be a great benefit and reward right now. We will never escape the bad in this world, whether we follow Jesus or not. Tragedy, murder and evil are here to stay. But we can have the Holy Spirit to give us what we need to navigate through difficult times.

John 8:12 - Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

We are not left alone to navigate through this world. If we choose to follow, we are given the light of the world to shine the way. We are not left in darkness but instead we are given a light to guide us through this life and into the next.

Redeemed & Transformed by a Personal God

Just as the twelve disciples were called over two thousand years ago to follow, we are also called to do the same. We are not called to follow at a distance but to an up close and personal walk with Christ. Just as the twelve walked with Jesus in a very intimate and personal way, we too are called to the same.

When the twelve disciples were called, Jesus was here on earth in the flesh. Today, Jesus calls us with the Spirit He left behind. The Spirit I am speaking of is the person of the Holy Spirit. The third part of the trinity, fully God. The Holy Spirit is continually wooing us, or rather, calling us to “follow.” Calling us to leave everything the world has to offer behind and walk in the foot steps of Jesus. Will we join him?

When making any big decision, we should probably take a look at a few things first. We should evaluate the risks, requirements, consequences and the benefits of following Jesus. What better way to do that then to look at those that served Jesus as His first followers?

Matthew 4:18-20- And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brother, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Follow me, Jesus said to Andrew and Simon Peter. They left their nets and followed Him.



Matthew 4:21-22 – Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

James and John were called by Jesus. They left their boat and father and followed Him.

Matthew 9:9 – As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

Follow Me, Jesus said to Matthew. So he arose and followed Him.

John 1:43 - The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me”

Follow Me, Jesus said to Philip. So he followed.

Repeatedly we are shown in scripture that when Jesus calls someone, the request is simple. Follow Me, He says. He speaks two very simple words that carry a huge impact. What exactly did He did mean?

Looking back at the Greek meaning of follow, there were two different words for it. The first being, akoloutheo meaning “as a particle of union.” The second word being, keleuthos, meaning “to be in the same way with or to accompany.

So the word follow itself is used literally and metaphorically. Literally, as if walking together with Jesus day by day and metaphorically as in being united, part of a union spiritually.

How fabulous is that? We are called to be in union with Jesus. Called to a personal relationship with the Almighty God. Not to a list of rules and regulations but a personal friendship, companionship with Jesus Christ. Now who wouldn’t want that?

Jesus wants us to know Him, to be with Him, to spend our days walking with Him as the first twelve did. Imagine a day with Jesus where He is walking with you, talking to you and teaching you as you go about your daily business. You are asking questions and He is telling you more than you had anticipated. What a journey that would be.

I think the one on one face time the twelve disciples got was priceless. What I wouldn’t give to see Jesus in the flesh. To be able to ask Him all the silly little things that I think about all day long. Sometimes I like to day dream and imagine about the day I will meet Him face to face. I dream about what it will be like and what I will say to Him. But wait, I don’t have to wait to have personal time with him. I can do that right now. And that is exactly what He wants from me, to be with Him.

Behind my house is about three hundred acres of manicured lawn. I live on a golf course, so I don’t have to manicure all that grass. Praise God for the small things! Thank you Jesus for not making me mow! If it were my responsibility we would be in big trouble. That first sentence above would read more like this, behind my house is about three hundred acres of wild grass and thistles….

Anyway, the view behind my house is a beautiful sight. It’s full of rolling hills, a pond and walking paths. Oh yeah, and golfers but I try to ignore them. In the morning when the sun comes up, the sunrise is breathtaking. Sometimes I like to take advantage of the sunrise and walk along the paths as God is in the process of waking up everything around me. In those times as I walk and talk with Jesus I almost feel as if He is there with me in flesh and bone. It is so personal that I am grateful the golfers have not started to appear yet. It is a time for just me and Jesus to walk alone. I cherish our time as I am sure He does also. But I am sure if I were to ask Him, He would want to walk with me even when were not alone. He would want to be with me in all that I do.

Just as the disciples walked with Jesus all the time, we too need to walk with Him all the time. What will happen as we do is a transformation will begin to occur.

Just as the transformation occurred in each of the disciples, we too will have the changing power of Jesus take the old nature from us and fill us with a new one.

Simon Peter began his walk with Jesus as the unpredictable one. The one that swore allegiance to Jesus, never to deny Him in Mark 14:29. Only to deny Him three times and curse His name later the same day.

Jesus named Simon Peter the “rock” and built His church through him. Through no strength or ability of his own, Simon Peter became the leader of the twelve disciples and also the early church. His first sermon recorded in Acts 2:14-40 shows a new, transformed man full of the Spirit. He went on to preach with power and conviction until he was eventually put to death for his faith.

The brothers James and John were named “sons of thunder” by Jesus. These two young men, full of thunder were a force of nature. They were bold, ambitious and sometimes overconfident. Mark 10:35-41 records their attempt to be seated on both sides of Jesus in His glory. Here they are, vying for position with God Almighty. I would say they were some what self-serving and self-motivated. They were looking for what they could get from Jesus.

That soon changed though. James, the first to suffer a martyr’s death, converts his accuser to Jesus Christ as he stands to die. His accuser goes to his own death along with him. In the end, we see a man no longer self consumed, but a man full of God. We see a new James, transformed by the Spirit into a strong and powerful witness for Jesus Christ.

John became known to all as the apostle of love. No longer was He the ambitious young man he once was. Penning one of the gospel records of Jesus’ life, the three letters of John and the book of Revelation, John left us much knowledge with his contributions. Living longer than all the other disciples, John was able to leave behind, in his writings, a treasure of wisdom to guide us.

So how does transformation of this magnitude come about for us? How do we get from the old self to the new?

It is only by belief, surrender and repentance that we begin a transformation like this. First, we must believe in Jesus Christ, accepting the good news that He died on the cross and rose again to pay for our sins. Surrender comes in the form of giving over our lives to Jesus and letting Him be the one that guides our life. The final piece comes when we repent. Turning from our old ways and living in the new life we have received.

We are drawn by the Father and no one will come to Jesus without the Father granting it. It is in the privilege of receiving the love God has to offer that we are truly filled with what we are looking for.

John 6:44 – No one can come to the Me unless the Father who sent Me draws Him.

Drawn to Jesus by the Father. Jesus then says “Follow Me” to each of us. The decision of if we will or won’t “follow” is left up to us. What ever the case, the question must be answered. Will we leave our old life behind and follow or will we refuse?

Some would say that by avoiding the question we are not answering. The truth is, not answering is really just another way of saying no. When we ignore, avoid and side step, we are telling Jesus “No, I will not follow you.”

On the other hand, when we make the decision to say yes, we are filled with the Spirit and the transformation begins. The power of God then surges through us, giving us the ability to do things that would otherwise be impossible. We are given the power to stand boldly at the cross while our savior is crucified. We are given the power to preach the gospel in the midst of those that hate Jesus. We are given the power to live a life full of grace, love and mercy for others. We are even given the power to die for our belief.

Everyone is looking for a reason for why we are here on this earth. We each need to know that our life is not in vain. All of us are searching for a supernatural connection. We are looking for something that is bigger than ourselves. Something with power behind it that can overcome what we feel inadequate to control ourselves.

That supernatural power resides in heaven with the Father, by His side in His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit left behind to fill His believers. God in three parts is the only thing that can give us that power. He’s the only thing that can fill the empty holes inside our heart. He’s the only thing that can bring meaning to what we see in the world around us.

That supernatural connection, that transformation is available to all, but we must first begin to “follow.” What will we decide?