So This Is Christmas...?

Forgive me, friends, but today’s post may be a bit of a rant. I’m sick and tired of a lot of things this morning. I guess you could call me a time hoarder—it’s one of my most treasured possessions. And we’re wasting it!


Christmas and some of our pastor’s thoughts about it are on my mind. What have we done to Christmas? I’m not talking about reindeer and Santa and the commercialization of the holiday. I’m talking about those of us who do remember that Christ is “the reason for the season.” If we get it, then what are we doing about it? I’ve done church for a long time, and here’s what I see. We look at the plastic or wooden baby Jesus set on the sofa table or piano, bow our heads, thank God that He sent His Son to save us from sin, smile serenely for the comfort that thought brings…and then get back to obsessing over baking, Christmas parties, shopping, and how on earth we’re going to survive yet another holiday with family members who drive us crazy! What?! Shouldn’t we be moved to do more than that? Oh, sure, there are a number of charity events we can get involved with during this time of year, and I think we should get involved with those events. But that’s the least we should do. There’s so much more we must do besides hand out donated toys once a year. And yes, I said it—we need to be doing and being a lot more and not just in the month of December. Christmas has become one of the most self-centered times of year. And I’m not talking about your kids and all the presents they want. No, I’m talking about you. I’m talking about how some Christmas tradition isn’t being followed the way your family did it in your childhood. How you’re just so stressed out and that lady had the audacity to cut you off in traffic. I don’t know your situation so just fill in the blank. And then…get over yourself. Don’t get me wrong—I care about you and your struggles. But you know what I’m sayin’.


Of all the names for Jesus (which, by the way, is the Greek form of Joshua, which means “the Lord saves”), my favorite is Emmanuel, “God with us.” The purest form of purity, the ultimate goodness of good left heaven and came down to this nasty place (that we screwed up!) to bring hope and salvation. Think about childbirth. It’s not a clean process. And Jesus was born in a cave filled with animal dung! And the world was as scary then as it is now. Evil lurked, prowled, and pounced (and still does!) everywhere. And yet He still came. Why?


First of all, because His Daddy told Him to. Yep, that’s right. Jesus came to earth because His Father told Him to. Perhaps we should follow suit. Why should you stop gossiping about your neighbors and coworkers? Because your Daddy told you to. Why should you honor your promises and keep your word? Because your Daddy told you to. Why should you create a home of peace and joy and every day show your spouse and children that you love them? Because your Daddy told you to. Why should you think outside your own little world? Because your Daddy told you to. Why should you do something in this world to stop the evil and nonsense that hurts, injures, and even kills people? Because your Daddy told you to. Even when you don’t want to, you’d best do what your Daddy told you to do. Because He made you and He knows what’s best for you…even when it seems that you know better what’s best for you.


And (this is the most important part, so pay attention) because your Daddy LOVES you. And once you understand that He loves you, He wants His love to work in you. He wants it to work in you so that what pains Him pains you. He wants you to have a heart like His so that you’ll show others in this world that He loves them. And I’m not talking only about the children in Ethiopia who face more pain every day than we can imagine. I’m not talking only about the nameless children in your community that you help give a Christmas gift to. There’s a saying that, silly as it may seem, we need to take to heart and put into practice every day: Bloom where you’re planted. Don’t wait till your life is a little less busy to share God’s love with others. Instead, send a grocery store gift card anonymously to a family you know needs it. Instead of complaining about your work load to your coworkers, encourage them in the midst of their workday by telling them you’re glad you all have jobs and are blessed to work together. And what about your family? What can you do to be a light in your family’s life every single day? Cherish your spouse and your children and make sure they know that you do. As G. B. Stern said, “Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.” And don’t just tell them you love them; remember that actions speak more loudly than words.


But above all, remember, and remember always, that your Father loves you. And this is why we are who we are and we do what we do.


So let’s go, folks. Spread His love today, right where you are.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).


“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).

Controlling the Chaos

My mind is very cluttered this morning. I'm not sure why. If I start analyzing, I can find some reasons, but the greatest reason is this: Satan doesn't want my mind to be clear. He delights in confusion and chaos. Why? Because if my mind, vision, and hearing aren't clear, I won't be able to think about, see, or hear my Father.


This week my earthly father reminded me of one of the many wonderful verses in Psalms:

"Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10a).

It is so very hard to just stop and be still, though, isn't it? There's always so much to do and process. But God commands us to stop. Our society needs to remember that God created a Sabbath for a reason. He knows we need rest, and He knows we need to find rest in Him. This past week I have thought much about the idea of capturing my thoughts and managing them, rather than their managing me. Paul said,

"[W]e take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5b).

How many times have you realized that you're obsessing over a situation that you hadn't thought of in hours, weeks, or even years? It happens to me. However, I have begun to learn that this is sin. Anything that keeps our focus away from God and pulls us away from Him and the abundant life He desires for us is sin. And since I have begun to understand this, I have begun to ask God to capture my thoughts before they run rampantly through my brain and banish them.

We are truly at war. Satan longs to ruin our lives.

"Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8b).

I am reminded of Ephesians 6. Paul clearly explains what we're up against and how to combat it:

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:12-18).

It is interesting to me that Paul ends this passage with a reminder for us to pray for each other. We need each other desperately. One of Satan's best tactics is isolation. When one is separated from the "flock," he or she is extremely vulnerable to attacks. So, friends, be deliberate this week about your thoughts. And stick together. We need each other's protection and love.

Living Well

I have a problem.

I let the everyday details of life consume me. I guess I've always been this way, but I didn't see it as a problem until a few years ago. I hate it. This tendency has turned my living into a daily trudging through the obligations I am required to fulfill (or think I'm required to fulfill), which leaves little room for joy. I have had a wonderful Thanksgiving break, and one of the best things I've gotten out of it is that it has shown me how flawed I am in my way of life. Why feel peace, joy, and contentment only when I'm off work? I know God desires more for me.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10b).

So now what do I do? Sure, I'll start my morning tomorrow trying to be cheerful---I may even make it an hour---but then some work-related email will knock me off my emotional feet and my forehead will furrow, my shoulders will tense up, and my spirit will sag. The apostle Paul put it best:

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate to do" (Romans 7:15).

One thing is to remind myself that God loves me and is patient with me. He wants me to enjoy the life He's given me.

"He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all---how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).


"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

I also need to arm myself with Scriptures that are specific to my struggles.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).


"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34).

Lastly, I must remember that every moment is a clean slate.

"[His compassions] are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:23).


"And the God of all grace...will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast" (1 Peter 5:10).


"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, 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).

Stand firm, friends. And please pray for me. I'll be praying for you.

Rest

I don't know about you, but I don't rest very well. As a child of God, I'm really trying to learn how. Being anxious, in the end, is the equivalent of not trusting Him. And it's just ridiculously exhausting. And it steals the joy out of my life, which is the whole reason why I began this blog. So today I'm posting some verses that remind me to rest because God wants me to.

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work" (Genesis 2:2).

"The Lord replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest'" (Exodus 33:14).

"'Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest'" (Exodus 34:21).

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure..." (Psalm 16:7-9).

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken" (Psalm 62:5-6)

"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you" (Psalm 116:7).

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it'" (Isaiah 30:15).

"'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light'" (Matthew 11:28-30).

"This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything" (1 John 3:19-20).

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).

When It Hurts

Saying this past week was difficult would be a ridiculously huge understatement. From the discouragement of being a teacher to the challenges of being a wife and mother (not to mention the agony of an on-again-off-again sore throat), every facet of my life was painful, frustrating, and just plain hard.

As long as we live on this earth, this fallen world, it will be hard.

But God loves me. And He loves you. And He is good.

"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life" (Psalm 119:50).

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 3:8).

"Then Job replied to the LORD: 'I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted'" (Job 42:1-2).

"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You" (Psalm 9:9-10).

"For the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands" (Psalm 19:1).

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters" (Psalm 18:16).

"...[M]y God turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.... For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?" (Psalm 18:28b-29, 31).

There are more and more passages to quote, but I must stop here. I pray these words have strengthened and comforted you.

Bigger Than I

In the past several years, God has orchestrated people and events in my life, which has made His desires impossible for me to ignore. Once you are aware of certain truths, you are responsible for doing something about it.


More than five years ago, after a very difficult year filled with personal tragedy and just plain hard times, I left teaching and ended up working for a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower people in communities to better their own lives, the lives of others, and ultimately the lives of their communities. At the time, I felt God had blesesd me by providing me with a job, especially one that was such a good fit for me, particularly where I was at the time emotionally and mentally. Looking back on it, I can see that God was preparing my mind and my heart to do more for Him during my life. A lot more. I'm not one who knows many statistics off the top of my head, but one thing I learned during my two years of working for the nonprofit was how to find data.

"Water scarcity affects one in three people on every continent of the globe" (World Health Organization, Fact File, Fact 2, http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/water/water_facts/en/index1.html on October 31, 2010).

"Almost one fifth of the world's population (about 1.2 billion people) live[s] in areas where the water is physically scarce. One quarter of the global population also live in developing countries that face water shortages due to a lack of infrastructure to fetch water from rivers and aquifers" (World Health Organization, Fact File, Fact 3, http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/water/water_facts/en/index2.html on October 31, 2010).

"[In America,] approximately 3.5 million people, 1.35 million of them children, are likely to experience homelessness in a given year [National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2007]" (National Coalition for the Homeless, Fact Sheet "How Many People Experience Homelessness?", http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/How_Many.html on October 31, 2010).

Based on studies conducted, "approximately 1% of the U.S. population [experience] homelessness each year, 38...to 39%...of them being children [Urban Institute 2000]" (National Coalition for the Homeless, Fact Sheet "How Many People Experience Homelessness?", http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/How_Many.html on October 31, 2010).

In the Fort Worth region (Region 11, as established by the Texas Education Agency), 42.8% of enrolled students were economically disadvantaged during the 2008-09 school year. Additionally, 41.8% were considered to be at risk (Texas Education Agency, Academic Excellence Indicator System, 2008-09 Region Performance Report, Region 11: Fort Worth, http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/cgi/sas/broker on October 31, 2010).

In the San Antonio region (Region 20, as established by the Texas Education Agency), 62.2% of enrolled students were economically disadvantaged during the 2008-09 school year. Additionally, 50.6% were considered to be at risk (Texas Education Agency, Academic Excellence Indicator System, 2008-09 Region Performance Report, Region 20: San Antonio, http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/cgi/sas/broker on October 31, 2010).

So. Changes things a bit in your own perspective, doesn't it? Why am I complaining that my feet are cold? I don't even know the number of pairs of socks I have, but it's more than enough. The office coffee is too weak? At least it was brewed with water that won't make you sick. Given the tight economy, you weren't able to take a family vacation? At least you have a home to keep you safe and comfortable every day.

So. What does God have to say about such matters?

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).


"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).


"'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Mark 12:31b).

One of the reasons I love the ocean is that you cannot see where it ends. Its size overwhelms me. And it reminds me of how much larger God is than I, and how much more of His world there is than I. The more and longer I live, the more I learn that His plan for me is bigger than I am. And I am learning that He equips me every day to live out His plan for my life. I am nowhere close to following my understanding and beliefs as I feel I should. But I'm getting there.

Our Father, I ask that You would enlighten us to really see Your world and the people in it. Make it painfully clear, LORD, who our neighbors are and what their needs are. And I ask You to empower us with Your Spirit to do something about it.

Amen.

It's Not About Me: Revisited

I love Facebook. I don't spend a huge amount of time on it, which is nice because it can be a time waster. But it can also, like all things, direct our eyes to God. Last night one of my Facebook Friends posted a link to a blog a friend of hers writes. In it, the blogger wrote about how "relentless" God is in trying to get our attention to show us what He wants us to learn. He wrote about how he has tried ministering on his own, but it is really God who creates the opportunities to reach others---we must simply join God in His plan for us. Another person (his wife?) commented on the blog and referenced a statement from Experiencing God (Blackaby et al): "God never asks people to dream up something to do for Him."

Last Sunday my husband and I went to our first class of a 4-week series about discovering your personality type, your spiritual gifts, and therefore, your God-created options for serving Him. So I have been thinking a lot (okay, even more than usual!) about who I am, who God made me to be, and what He has gifted me to do. And after reading my friend's friend's blog last night (and my friend's friend's wife's comment!), I am struck all the more that we are here FOR HIM AND HIS DESIRES.

So what are His desires? John 3:16 puts it plainly:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

I also love this passage from 2 Corinthians 5:

"[God] reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. ...[H]e has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ...We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God" (v. 18b, 19b, 20b).

During the past 3 weeks, our pastor has presented a series on finances. Those messages are always a bit difficult to hear and even harder to put into practice. Several of the passages our pastor used in this series are full of "so that's." If you really want to get down to the basics of what God wants and why, you need to seek out and internalize the "so that's." As you read Scripture, look for the phrase "so that." Here are some of the "so that's" I read this week:

"And God is able to make all greace abound to you, SO THAT in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8).

"You will be made rich in every way SO THAT you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God" (2 Corinthians 9:11).

"Command [those who are rich] to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ...SO THAT they may take hold of the life that is truly life" (1 Timothy 6:18, 19b).

Some insights I received this week from these passages:
1) God will give us all we need. Not all we want, but all we need. I am learning that the more stuff I want, the less I think about God and the less I realize I need Him.

2) These passages address more than our money. God blesses us with time and talents, and we are to use those for what He desires.

3) The most important lesson here: God blesses us so that we may bless others so that we may show them our Father.

So you see, it's not about me. This is a lesson I have begun learning for about 15 years, and I pray I continue to learn it more and more deeply throughout my life.

Grow in Him, friends, SO THAT we can show each other our God.

The Gift of Song

For nearly two years, we escaped the “family sickness.” You know the family sickness. Someone in the family gets sick, then another catches it, and subsequently, the rest of the family members pass it amongst themselves. But a few weeks ago, my husband came down with the crud that had been going around. And about a week later, our daughter became sick. I thought my powerful immune system would hold up, but alas, it did not. And in the past week, I have nearly lost my voice. In this time, God has taught me two lessons. Not the most powerful example of being strong even when you’re weak, but God uses the most mundane events to teach us, if we’ll only pay attention.


First of all, our God, creator of everything, reminded me that He created and gave us the gift of music. A simple piano solo can move me to tears (and did, in fact, yesterday). Much of my musical experience my entire life has been church music, and I’ve grown up loving to sing at church. And I’m not the only one who has loved to worship God through music. In fact, it’s been a tradition for thousands of years.

“Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: ‘I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted’” (Exodus 15:1a).

“Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing; I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel” (Judges 5:3).

“Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth” (I Chronicles 16:33).

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me” (Psalm 13:6).

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him” (Psalm 33:1).

“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 59:17).

“The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing” (Psalm 65:13).

“I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live” (Psalm 146:2).

“Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” (Psalm 147:1).

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise” (James 5:13).

And last night, much to my dismay, I couldn’t participate as I normally do in worshiping God with my voice. It surprised me how much I missed it. I did what I could, singing an octave lower than usual, croaking out some phrases, interrupted now and then by a squeak as my voice broke.

At one point, I opened my mouth in song, but nothing came out. And God taught me the second lesson, one He has been trying to get through my thick skull for a while. It occurred to me that perhaps I should just shut my mouth and listen and let God speak to me. And here are the words the church was singing:

“I hear the voice, the voice of the One I love,
He's calling my name.
I hear the voice, the voice of the One I love,
He's calling my name.


“He's saying, Come up higher and hear the angels sing.
Come up higher, My beloved.
Come up higher and leave this world behind.
I find you to be beautiful.”

(“Running” by Gateway Worship)

And I cried for the second time yesterday because of a song that reminded me that I am loved.

Our pastor has quoted I Timothy 6:17 often, which tells us that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” What a generous and creative Father who gave us the gift of music. May we daily return the gift to Him.

A Chat With God

Over the past few weeks, it has become clearer and clearer that I need to take more time for prayer. Really, for time with God in general. My "quiet time" has decreased to about ten minutes (if that) first thing in the morning, during which time I read some Bible passages and write very briefly about them. It's just not cutting it. While Bible reading is important (it's God's word), I'm missing the personal connection with His Spirit that I need in order to get the most out of His word.


When you're having a spiritual problem, I think the best place to look for an answer is the person of Jesus. Two main concepts that come to mind about Jesus and prayer:


1) He often withdrew by Himself to spend time with His Father.
2) He taught about prayer and even gave us a model for prayer.

"'And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 


"'This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one'" (Matthew 6:5-13, NIV).

Sometimes I like the Lord's Prayer in the King James Version, so here it is:

"'Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen'" (Matthew 6:9b-13).

So now God and I are going to spend some quality time together. Blessings to you, friend. Please do the same soon and often.

Thank You

I struggle with being positive and cheerful. It's so easy to let life's anxieties get the better of me. I can feel it in the tension of my face and my shoulders. I hate it. And sometimes even reading the Psalms doesn't cut it for me. So then what?

Some years ago Oprah promoted the idea of keeping a gratitude journal, recording at least one thing for which you were thankful that day. I've done so off and on through the years, but normally I did it at the end of the day. After all the traffic jams, relationship conflicts, confrontations with students, and so on. Better to start your day with thankfulness, don't you think? And isn't that what David wrote in the psalms time and time again? He thanked God for what He had done for him.

Sometimes I just have to kick myself. You'd think I'd have this joy thing down by now. But I don't. And honestly, I think Satan has been doing his best in the past few years (and especially in the past few weeks) to keep me from the abundant life of joy that God has created for me to have. William Bennett said, "Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that thankfulness is indeed virtue." Thankfulness, like anything else, must be cultivated. It doesn't come naturally; we must deliberately choose to be thankful. And sometimes wondering how God will help us get through difficult times just keeps us focused on our pain. Gratitude shifts the focus off ourselves and our pain and onto God and His goodness.

My mother loved the story of Corrie ten Boom. As I recall, this is how one of her favorite lessons from the book goes. Corrie and her family were imprisoned during World War II. While in a concentration camp, Corrie's sister thanked God for an infestation of fleas. Corrie was horrified about this. However, they later discovered that the guards stayed away because of the fleas, which allowed the prisoners to hold worship services. I think God blesses thankfulness, don't you?

Mom loved Thanksgiving. (Who wouldn't? It's all about some of my favorite foods!) But Mom loved the idea of giving thanks. I think one year she even sent out Thanksgiving cards, rather than Christmas cards to emphasize the importance of thankfulness. One year, after I was grown and living on my own, Mom gave me a small plate that says "Give Thanks." So simple. And yet so vital to our success at living well.

So, friends, what will you thank God for today? And don't stop at today. Thank Him tomorrow morning too. I've written on both bathroom mirrors in our house "Our Father, I thank You for..." to remind me to thank Him. Among other things, I thank Him for you.

"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better" (Ephesians 1:16-17).

It's Been One of Those Days

It's been a rough week. But thank God, our pastor's message last night was about grief. If there's one thing I know about, it's grief. Pain. Heart-wrenching agony. Loss. Feelings of hopelessness. But -- thank God -- He has blessed me with some wisdom about what to do about it. I didn't listen to my own self very well this week. I should have consulted myself about how to handle this past week. But the message last night reminded me of what God has taught me: that His comfort lies in His word, specifically the Psalms. He also taught me powerfully last night that His comfort also lies in the hands of His people. The prayer of another God-follower always brings me to tears. And last night, the touch of another woman's hand on my shoulder reminded me that God has created a family for us here on earth that is far better (and larger!) than any earthly birth family -- His church.

Rather than write a new post, I'm reposting a blog post from 2005, written a mere 6 months after my mother had taken her own life. I pray that reading this helps you as it did me this morning. And please find your Christian family; they need you as much as you need them. God gave us to each other.

September 25, 2005
"Faith For the Long Haul"

"How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?" (Ps. 13:1-2).

How many of us can relate to David? All of us! We all have struggles, these "thorns in the flesh," as Paul put it. For some of us, it's a struggle with our thoughts. For others of us, it's a physical ailment. We have been hurt by others in the past, we are tormented by some in our lives today. Satan uses our frailties to bring us down. We feel as if our pain will never end. And sometimes it never will. In the second chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul asked God to remove his struggle. God refused. But God loves us; we are His children. He will not allow us to suffer more than we can bear. (See 1 Corinthians 10:13.) God knows what His children need, and He will provide what we need. It's up to us to recognize this and receive what He offers us.

So what then shall we do as we cope with these struggles? David and Paul offer examples. David said, "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me" (Ps. 13:5-6). David did four things. He 1) determined that he would trust God, 2) reminded Himself that God is faithful, 3) praised God for saving him, and 4) remembered the good things with which God had blessed him. The next time you are feeling bombarded and brought low, follow David's example. And always keep a good worship music CD around. Praising God even in the midst of frustration and sadness will direct your eyes to heaven. Two songs that come to mind are "Blessed Be Your Name" and "Trading My Sorrows."

Back to Paul...God refused to remove his struggle, didn't he? Why? God said to Paul, "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'" (2 Cor. 12:9a). Did Paul say, "Oh, but God, I can't do it, I just can't do it." No, he didn't. If he had, he would have been focused on his limited human strength, not on God's power. Instead, he said, "Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:9b-10). Remember that in all things, God is to be glorified. Our weaknesses reveal God's almighty strength.

We will have good days when we can actually feel God's hand supporting us. We will also have bad days when we feel like we're in a pit. The key is to remember what God has done for you in the past, recognize that it was He who saved you many times, praise Jesus for giving His life up for yours, and make a conscious decision to trust God to keep on keeping you.

What Do You Do?

Since I was 7 years old, I've wanted to be a writer. I can't remember exactly who or what gave me the idea (Judy Blume? Laura Ingalls Wilder?), but I know that even from that age, I knew that writing was one of the main things that makes me me. Writers are told that, above all, they must write. Just do it. So, in following that advice, I have been trying to write weekly. When you figure out what you're designed to do, it's not too difficult to make yourself do it.

But then again, there's life. You've got to pay the bills, clean up the toddler's toys (again!), concoct something for dinner, and then you've got to get some sleep. I've been thinking a lot lately about who I am, what I do, and why I do it. I earn a living as a high school teacher, and fortunately, my profession can integrate my life purpose. However, as our pastor explained last night, one's profession is not the same thing as one's purpose. So, even during the 2 years that I did not teach, I still had my purpose. And even on the days when I feel my students are learning nothing of the subject matter, I can be comforted by the thought that I am still fulfilling God's purpose by being there.

Here's the thing that I love about one's purpose: Once you figure out what it is and find the motivation and courage to follow the energy of your purpose, you won't have to try very hard to do it, at least most of the time. In Luke 5, Jesus comes into the life of Simon Peter and blesses him with a huge catch of fish. In verse 10, Jesus says, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men" (NIV). In Matthew and Mark, the wording is a bit different: Jesus says He will make them "fishers of men." That wording, to me, puts more of an emphasis on the efforts of the disciples. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have to make an effort to follow what God wants us to do. But I have found that when you are following the Spirit's calling and prompting in your life, your work in His service (your life purpose) often doesn't feel like work. The fishermen had been trying and trying to catch fish, but when Jesus showed up, they just had to pull up the filled-to-bursting nets. Similarly, when you do what God has designed you to do, you don't have to try so hard -- you just pull up the nets. God will put things into place to aid you in fulfilling your purpose.

And isn't the purpose of us all to ultimately to catch men and women and pull them up closer to our God? Whether it's people who've never heard of God or it's lifelong Christians who are nearing the end of their lives who just need the encouragement to keep on being encouragers to others, catching people where they are and showing them God is our purpose.

Someone once told me that the secret to life is to "follow your energy." While I have found that to be true, I have also learned that "energy" is really God's Spirit. He gives us life, counsel, comfort, and joy.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

Please, for the sake of us all, search out your purpose. Don't put it off. We all grow weary. But there is peace and satisfaction that can combat your world-weariness. Remember:

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. ...My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:1b-3, 15-16).

God made you to be you. And, as the saying goes, God doesn't make junk. It is never to late to become what God intended you to be. Your life purpose has always been there. Nothing you can do can change that.

Please pray for me, that I may understand clearly God's purpose for me, that I may not be distracted from pursuing it. And know that I am praying for you.

Thank God It's...Today!

This post may not quite hang together nicely, as I plan to simply report the things that have been rolling around in my mind the past couple of weeks. I pray you find something in what I've said to help you live successfully and joyfully in this big thing we call life.

Last night our pastor began his new sermon series, titled "Thank God It's Monday!" I love it! The focus of his message was...joy! I began this blog about 5 years ago with the mission of finding out what joy is, how to get it, and how to spread it. Joy is not an emotion. It is a state of mind. It is an attitude. It is who you are at your core. Do you remember the children's song?

"I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart to stay."

Our pastor explained that in scripture the word "heart" can be interchanged with "spirit" or "gut." Our society tends to use the word "heart" when describing feelings. But having joy is not a feeling. It is a quality you have that leads you to make decisions about how you will react to the events in your life.

So how do you get joy? Jesus Himself explains how:

"If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15: 5b).

Every day you must "remain in [His] love" (John 15:9b). Every day you must connect with Your Father, with Your big brother and Savior, and with Your comforter and counselor. Crack open the Bible. Read Psalms. Read John. Read Ephesians and Galatians. Just get in there. Talk to God. He's always ready to listen. But also listen to what He wants to say to you. Get still. Get quiet. And listen.

Joy comes from knowing that God has you in the palm of His hand, in the shelter of His wing, no matter what circumstance in which you find yourself. "[I]n all our troubles my joy knows no bounds" (2 Corinthians 7:4b). Not long before I began this blog, my mother died suddenly under horribly unpleasant circumstances. I haven't figured out this whole thing called life, but fortunately, I had learned by then that I needed to connect with God daily so I wouldn't lose my mind or the joy that I had recently figured out I had. And, perhaps this was stupid, but I even told Satan that I would never renounce my faith and trust in God, no matter what evil came into my life. Whew. I guess he wanted to test me on that; the past few years have been quite difficult.

But they've also taught me more and more about joy. And my joy has grown, has become stronger, more stable, less susceptible to life's storms. My house is built on rock, baby, not sand.

The past few years have been hard for my family for a number of reasons. This past weekend I traveled to San Antonio, where my family lives, because my maternal grandfather's health began to deteriorate further. Not a pleasant reason for a trip. But during the trip I was told some delightful news. And as emotionally draining as last weekend was, I am thankful for the time there because God showed me powerfully how important it is to develop and nurture relationships with those you love and who love you. And sometimes family isn't the ones who gave birth to you; your family is those who give you life. As our pastor put it, "Joy is the essence of life." Figure out who leads you to discover real life and invest your time in those folks. If you can't list very many, I encourage you to seek relationships within a church body who does a lot of work in your community for those in need. I don't mean they support a couple of missionaries overseas and that's it. I mean the churches who meet people right in your part of the world and do something to help and empower people.

We're all wired differently, and reading has always been easy for me; it's how I learn things, process my own thoughts and ideas. So I feel pretty comfortable gleaning wisdom through scripture reading. Prayer, on the other hand...well, I haven't gotten that one quite figured out yet. I suppose I haven't set much time aside for it. Oh, I'll shoot out the "arrow" prayers: "God, please help so-and-so do well in surgery today," "God, help me not to kill that student in fourth period today," etc. But deep, intimate prayer? Haven't experienced it much myself.

At the beginning of the school year, I began walking for about 20 minutes after work. Good exercise (which I hadn't had in years!), good way to transition from work life to home life. What's also nice is the location: the indoor walking track at our church. So I walk past the youth classrooms and youth ministers' offices -- it's lovely to be in a building whose purpose is to serve God. So I'd been consistent about walking for about 3 weeks. It was nice being in the church, and I'd think about my day, my students, my family as I walked. Then one day it finally hit me: What about praying for a different person or group of people for each lap around the track? So I started praying. And let me tell you, it was AWESOME! Haven't prayed like that in quite a long time. I think sometimes we need structure to our thinking, praying, worshiping. And then of course other times, we need no structure. But I think we as human beings need reminders. When I was in college, a girl in the Christian organization of which I was a member suggested that each time we checked our mailbox, we pray for a specific person. So, think of a routine you perform daily and see if you can integrate prayer into that routine.

And pray for me. I am praying for you. And recite every day, as our pastor instructed us, "Live well. Love much. Laugh often."

Keep On Keeping On

This past week, I would say, was a successful first week of school for me. I joyfully enforced the school dress code, encouraged my students to introduce themselves in a new language, instructed them not to use "retarded" and "stupid" to describe each other, and modeled new vocabulary. Every school year I make resolutions to improve my teaching and, therefore, my students and myself. And so far, I feel as if I've done well.


But we have 176 more school days left.


I've only just begun.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, 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).

Perhaps I'm taking Paul's words a bit out of context, but I think this passage is fitting for this time of the year for me. While it's appropriate to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done, we must remain alert, "live up to what we have already attained" (Philippians 3:16), and "stand firm in the Lord" (Philippians 4:1). It's easy to exercise that first week of a new fitness routine, limit your carb intake the first day or two of a different approach to eating, do your homework the first week or two of school, write love notes to your spouse those first couple months of marriage, read your Bible after an uplifting weekend at church.


And then the newness wears off. The to-do list looms large in your mind. The fast food restaurants lure you to make a stop on the way home from work. Watching TV seems more interesting than doing homework or having a conversation with your spouse or children. It is so easy to backslide.


So then what do we do?


Get back on track. Remember that "[His compassions] are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23a). Also, "[f]orget the former things; do not dwell on the past;" see that "[God is] doing a new thing!" (Isaiah 43:18-19a).


I can't help but think of the yellow wristbands that urge us to "live strong." "[B]e strong in the Lord and in His mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10). Every day is a battle, so suit up. Get in the game. What is our equipment, then?

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:14-18).

My husband and I both have something of a fondness for swords. Not really sure why. But I love that the word of God is illustrated by a sword. It's a mighy powerful thing, this word of God's. Use it daily.


I have thought a lot lately about being Jesus to my students. I may be the only Jesus they see on a regular basis. And what about that check-out clerk at the grocery store who always has a sour expression on her face? We must be Jesus for the world out there. For that matter, we must be Jesus to our families and friends.


With that thought in mind, I'll close with the next verse from Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus:

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19).

Stand firm, friends. Be alert. Live in the Spirit. Abide in Him.

Unity

God blessed me with more sleep than usual (well, so did Benadryl), so just a passage today:

"...I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3).

As a teacher, I want each of my classes to operate as one happy family. This rarely happens naturally. But I have thought about this a lot lately and have realized that I must guide these teenagers how to have unity; if we cannot achieve harmony, we can at least live peacefully with each other.

Getting along with each other can be difficult. I have heard it pointed out in sermons that the key to verse 3 of the passage above is that we are to "keep" the unity that the Spirit has already created among believers. We must focus on the fact that every human being is God's child. That somehow can make it easier to realize that we're all His.

May God show you how to apply this today.

Happy New Year!

If you're not a teacher, you don't understand the title of this blog post, as it's August. If you are a teacher, you get it. I mean, you get it. Summer has flown by for yet another year. Your classroom isn't ready, you're not sure how many students you'll end up with, and you know there's no amount of coffee in the world that will keep you awake during those inservice sessions. But take heart: it is a new year! Our pastor once said that pastors get two new years: one in January and one at Easter. Similarly, teachers and students get two: one in January and one in August (or September). And I love it -- not only one chance to make resolutions, but two! One of my favorite quotations is from L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables: "Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it." So today I'm on the hunt for some "new" verses to guide me through the start of this brand-new school year.


And really, we have a "new year" every day. As our pastor said this past April, today is the day of salvation. Each moment is a fresh start with our Father, our Savior, and our Spirit.

"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord" (Psalm 40:3).


"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland" (Isaiah 43:18-19).


"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 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 3:21-23).


"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws" (Ezekiel 36:26-27).


"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Now, getting down to specifics, what are my new-school-year resolutions?

1. Pray for my students and colleagues
2. Have "God time" every morning by praying, listening, reading the Word
3. Exercise (The body is a temple, is it not?)

Whether you are a teacher or a student or whether you're not, I pray for a peaceful and prosperous new year for you today.

P.S. A side note about the Ezekiel passage: He puts His Spirit in us so that we are "moved to" follow what He says --- NOT the other way around! So, please do what you must to let His Spirit in and work in you. Set aside time to do that today.

Define "Minister"

When I was about 16 or 17, a young woman at our church told me that she thought I'd marry a minister or a missionary. I really didn't like this comment. I have to confess that at the time, it didn't set well with me because I had no desire to go to some other country or to be the poster child of some church. No thanks, I'd pass. But as I've matured, this comment has still rankled, but for other reasons. And much of it has to do with the definiton of "minister."

According to Dictionary.com, a minister is:

1. a person authorized to conduct religious worship; member of the clergy; pastor.



2. a person authorized to administer sacraments, as at Mass.


3. a person appointed by or under the authority of a sovereign or head of a government to some high office of state, esp. to that of head of an administrative department: the minister of finance.


4. a diplomatic representative accredited by one government to another and ranking next below an ambassador.


5. a person acting as the agent or instrument of another

Now, most of us think of the first definition when we think of a minister, don't we? Someone who is on staff at a church. Their name is listed on the website or on the back of the church bulletin you receive when you walk in the door. But I really like the simplicity of definition #5. And take a look this: "Not that we are competent in ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant --- not of the letter but of the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:5-6a).

So, you see, I am a minister. Being a minister is the equivalent of being a Christian. In the past few years, verses such as those listed below have come to mean a lot to me, as I've learned what all this God/church/Christian thing is all about.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).

As I was growing up, it seemed that the more you talked about God, the more godly you were considered. But as our pastor pointed out last night, sometimes people do too much talkin'. I'd rather my actions, behaviors, and supernatural peace be the product of my faith, not how much I talk about the Bible and "churchy" topics.

So speaking as one minister to another, let's start doing and quit talking quite so much. As my mother always said, people don't care what you know until they know how much you care.

Trusting God Is For the Birds

Trusting God -- do you find it as difficult to do as I do? I mean, I don't blame us; it's hard to trust things you can't see. Even Jesus said, "[B]lessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29b). We believe the sun will come up today because it came up yesterday and all the days before. Trust grows out of a consistent experience. It's funny that we are supposedly the superior species of all God's creations, yet we're so hardheaded. Let's take birds, for example. I don't think birds are all that smart. I've seen quite a few doves collide with a glass window at top speed. And sometimes the same dove does it over and over again. But even the birds have some things figured out that we don't.


My husband, over the past few years, has taken to feeding the hummingbirds in our neighborhood. The first year he purchased some plants known to attract hummers. Unfortunately, those plants have since died, but the hummers keep coming to our back porch for their nectar. Why? Because of past experience. Consistently, every summer, food has been provided to them. This weekend my family is visiting my dad in South Texas. Growing up, my mom consistently fed the birds and squirrels of the neighborhood. I hadn't thought much about this till this weekend. My dad and his "lady friend" (his term, not mine) have begun hanging bird feeders (including a hummingbird feeder) and setting out bird baths. (Don't worry, squirrels -- you'll have your own feeder soon, too.) And the birds flock to the trees, enjoying the seeds and the refreshing water. I love that these men in my life take care of the birds. Why can't I learn that the "Other Man" in my life (He should be the Top Man) does the same for me consistently? In the words of Jesus:

"'Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.... Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!'" (Luke 12:6-7, 24).

Yes, even the birds trust our God.

Yesterday I read this quote by Martha Tennison: "We only trust people we know. If you're struggling to trust God, it may be because you don't really know God" (quoted by Joanna Weaver in Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, p. 125). Wow. So now what do we do? Even if we have the why, we're often left with the how. If you've read my blog before, you already know the answer. Set time aside for you and God. Do it regularly. As you consistently experience God, your trust will grow.

I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. We all need to trust God more.

This Is How We Overcome

My heart is awash in a variety of emotions and thoughts this morning. First of all, please know that I know that the world is full of pain, suffering, problems, weariness, and confusion. But also know this, as our pastor put it last night: "The comfort that the Comforter brings is greater than the pain that you're suffering." I know. That sounds nice, doesn't it? But how often do we really feel that? Let me tell you, I hear ya. When the bills come in, and those numbers are bigger than you'd expected, God's comfort seems pretty far away. When you suddenly lose a loved one, the agony feels like death to your spirit. When your relationships are strained, you feel so alone. BUT I can tell you that God's comfort is real. It is possible. I have experienced it. And I've experienced it more than once. These writings began as a quest for joy. I have to be honest: I have not felt joyful regularly in a very long time. But I pray that I'm on the right path to get there again. The way I always get there is through regular (daily!) reading of God's Word.

One of the names for the Holy Spirit is Comforter. The Spirit can be a difficult "God-person" (remember, God is 3 persons) to understand. But as our pastor has guided us through a study of Him, I've begun to get it. John 16:13 says, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come." Our pastor reminded us in his last sermon that the Spirit has come to us from the very throne room of God to speak to us. You may feel beat down, but the Spirit tells you that you will be okay. He will tell you what is yet to come. You may lose things you hold dear, but do not lose heart. You will be okay. "Weeping may endureth for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Psalm 30:5b, KJV). Other verses rose up and encouraged me this morning as well:

"Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy" (John 16:22, emphasis mine).

"Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete" (John 16:24b).

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters" (Psalm 18:16).

"The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?.... For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling" (Psalm 27:1, 5a).

"I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul" (Psalm 31:7).

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all" (Psalm 34:18-19).

I hope those verses encourage you as they did me. I have also been thinking this morning of Galatians 5:22: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." When I was growing up, I heard more than once the idea to focus on each of these traits at a time, working on developing that trait. There is some good to that idea, but I think the premise of it is all wrong. We make things so difficult for ourselves. Why do work that was never ours to do? It is the Spirit's work to make these things happen in us! If we are spending time with God, listening to Him, reading His Word, asking Him for guidance, then these are the fruits, the produce, the result of our "work" of abiding in Him. I think it is no mistake that the first fruit is love, followed by joy. If we experience God's love, we feel more loving towards others. And when you experience this sort of love, how can you be anything but joyful? And then I think the other fruits follow much more easily. If we can just learn the key to joy!

A few days ago, a friend and mentor prayed for me. I don't often cry, but I always cry when someone prays aloud for me. I guess I finally release some of the burden that I am carrying and let someone else carry it for me, for just those moments of prayer anyway. (The reality, of course, is that God will carry it for me, if I'll only let Him.) Please know this morning that I prayed for you. I prayed for an open heart, for wisdom, for peace, for direction, for joy, for comfort.

Grace, peace, and joy be yours today. And tomorrow. And the next day.

Being Still

This morning I decided to try something a little different in my quiet time. I decided to fix a cup of coffee (well, instant cappuccino, but it works) and go outside and sit on the back porch. I decided to be quiet. Normally, I promptly open my Bible, read some passages recommended in our pastor's most recent sermon notes, and then I write. I've recently decided that I need to do some praying first. But yesterday, as I thought about this morning's quiet time, I thought about needing to be quiet. So this morning I sat and...just sat. Because of our dog's aging bladder, I was up fairly early. And it was quiet. Our pool's waterfall hadn't begun to run (it starts up at 7:00), the planes hadn't begun to fly overhead, and apparently, the creatures hadn't gotten going yet either, with the exception of a bird and a squirrel. For whatever reason, I got up and walked around, and suddenly I could hear something. It was a constant rustling, not too close, but not too far away. It was the cottonwood tree in the front yard of the house next door. While we're not too fond of the cottony stuff the tree produces (it coats the outside of our air unit and can clog up our pool's inner workings), I love to hear the leaves. Probably part of why I love it is because it's similar to an aspen. My parents spent their college years in Colorado and loved it, so the cottonwood's unique song reminds me of them.

Now, this tree is tall. And as I looked across the rooftops to enjoy the visual dance of the cottonwood's leaves, I began to notice the tops of the two large oak trees that stand guard at the front of our house. And I noticed the clouds in the great expanse of blue, blue sky. I happened to glance down at our back porch. It looked so small. I saw the beach towels and pool floats draped around the table and chairs. Those are the things I usually see. I rarely really see the trees, clouds, and sky.

I often think to myself that I should go for a swim in these mornings when I'm up before the rest of the family. And so today I did. I stretched my muscles, stiff from the night's sleep, and felt the water roll over my arms as I moved them through the water. And I enjoyed what God has made.

It's funny how the small things usually seem large, so large that they block our view of the truly large things. And it's funny how the noise of life drowns out the silence that we so desperately need in order to hear the things we really ought to hear.

Before long, the waterfall began to rush, the planes began gliding with their buzzing rumble above, and I made my way back to the porch. And soon after, my toddler girl appeared at the back door, awake and ready for some attention.

I never made it to the Bible reading that I had intended for today. But God spoke to me anyway and confirmed that I had made a good decision about how I spent my morning.

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10a).

Dependence Day

Today is the Fourth of July, America's Independence Day. As the daughter and granddaughter of Air Force officers, I am a patriotic sort. My blood boils if there isn't silence when the National Anthem is played. I glare at the backs of teenage boys' heads if they don't remove their hats when I hear "O say, can you see." Respect and support for our country is a huge part of who I am. And when my mother and I took a summer vacation to England some years ago, I wanted to be sure we'd be back in the States on the Fourth of July; it seemed wrong to be in England on such an American holiday!

And while I honor our nation's past and pray that we continue to work against injustice, today I'm not thinking about independence. I'm thinking about dependence. As human beings--and especially as Americans, I think--the idea of dependence is distasteful. To be dependent upon someone or something is a sign of weakness. Or is it? Depends on whom it is, doesn't it?

Recently, I have begun to understand what dependence on God really means. I'm nowhere close to achieving it, but I'm beginning to understand what it means and how I can get there. The more I read, the more I listen to our pastor's sermons, and the more I mull over what I've heard in the past, the more I see that it all begins with having some time with God. Just you and God. And you have to be completely open with Him; you can't be tentative and guarded in your meetings with Him. It's pretty pointless anyway, seeing as that He made you and knows what you're thinking. As I see it, there are 3 main components of a good chat with God: prayer, Bible reading, and listening. You've got to talk to God, then You've got to see what He's been saying, and then you've got to LISTEN. What are you listening for? What God wants YOU to hear. Hmmmm...three components, three persons of God--the Father, the Son, the Spirit...coincidence? Doubt it. Interesting. You talk to Jesus, who's been here on this earth, in all its misery and frustration, so He gets it. You go to the Father for advice, encouragement, and motivation, and He'll give you what you need, just like a dad should. And then the Spirit.... The Spirit here means "breath," originally. So after you consult with the Son and the Father, the Spirit breathes in your ear what you need to hear and gives you the spirit to follow it. I'm sure I've heard sermons or read books that have explained all this before, but isn't "discovery learning" best? Sometimes you have to come to an understanding on your own.

I have a pretty strong background in church and religion. I don't remember not going to church, growing up. While this is good, it isn't enough. Once a foundation is built, it doesn't mean the building is finished; it's only just begun. I have to continue the work that my parents, grandparents, and teachers began and build my own house of worship for God and me. This idea of building a strong foundation on God is becoming more and more urgent to me by the day. My daughter is 19 months old. While I'm thankful for Nick Jr. and the Fresh Beat Band (Google it, if you're that curious), I want her to sing and dance to songs about God. I want her to not only be able to tell me that the sound a lion makes is "AHHHHHH!!!" (it's adorable, by the way), but also tell me that God made lions and that He even closed their mouths when Daniel needed protection. And as she grows up, she'll learn on her own how the story of "Daniel in the lions' den" applies to her life. Deuteronomy 11 says, "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds.... Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (v. 18a, 19).

So how can I be a good enough and wise enough mother to instill this in my child? How am I going to do or be anything I want to do or be? The only answer I have is to depend on God. And that starts with having regular conversations with Him, reading His advice book, and listening for what you personally need to hear. And really, quite frankly, just knowing that you don't have all the answers and are in need of guidance every step of the way. And that's dependence. At least as I see it. :)

Happy Dependence Day! Have another one tomorrow!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is my husband and my eighth wedding anniversary. We've been together for close to 13 years, but in our 8 years of marriage alone, we've been through quite a lot together. We've bought our first house, experienced the deaths of family and friends, gotten new jobs, remodeled most of our fixer-upper house and pool, experienced infertility, traveled to some beautiful and interesting places, started a business, had our daughter, lost a lot of sleep, and cooked a lot of excellent meals. Anniversaries are great because they remind you to look back on where you've been, remember what you've come through, and--perhaps most importantly--examine where you're headed.

June is a great month for me personally. My birthday is also in June, as well as a very important anniversary: that of my baptism. I was baptized 20 years ago this past Sunday. In these 20 years, I've been through quite a lot in my spiritual life. I've built upon my knowledge of the Bible, the foundation of which my parents built in me. I've made some bad choices, I've made some good choices, and I've chosen not to make choices at all. I've attended 11 churches, read a variety of authors discussing God and spirituality, I've conversed with a variety of people about what it means to be a Christian. I've pushed God to the back burner, I've made Him my first priority, I've had sporadic devotional times. Really, I guess the analogy of being married to God is a good one. Sometimes you're so focused on your spouse, you feel so in love, he is the first thing you think about when you wake up. And then there are those other times. Times that you forget about making your spouse a priority, when he's more of a roommate. In the case of God, He can become even less of a roommate because He can be so unintrusive. As the saying goes, God is a gentleman--He won't barge in. (At least, most of the time.) Why do we forget so easily? Why do we forget the people (including our Father!) who have supported us through the hard times? God, save me from memory loss! I suppose you could say time spent reading the Bible and in prayer is like omega 3's--it helps preserve your memory!

This morning I read Psalm 119:105-107: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word."

Couples sometimes hold a ceremony at which they renew their marriage vows. My husband and I have discussed doing this in the future. Again, it reminds you to think of your past, your present, and your future. But we also need to do this in our spiritual marriage. One of the things I love about marriage to God is that every day is a new one. Really, every moment is a fresh start.

Thank You, God, for these past 20 years. You've held me close through some difficult, lonely times--even when I didn't realize it at the time. Thank You for Your neverending love. Thank You also for my husband and our marriage. Strengthen us, teach us, inspire us to be the best we can be for You and for each other.