What This World Means for Evil, God Means for Good

Looking back, I remember with such fondness the blessing the Lord brought into my life when He laid it on my heart, during a sad time, to join a Cornerstone Life Group. During this devastating time, when I was experiencing my second divorce and working two jobs in order fund my son’s college education, I was only available on Monday nights. 

As I reviewed the list of Life Groups, the one led by Jan and Dennis Bishop was the only group that met on Mondays. Their study at that time so powerfully focused on Joseph, who had experienced the extraordinary pain of being rejected and sold into slavery by his siblings. This excruciating experience created the pathway for Joseph to become a leader in Egypt and the champion who protected the people of this planet during a devastating famine. 

After protecting his loved ones during the famine, despite their rejection of him, and enduring the loss of his father, Joseph spoke God-inspired insights when he was approached by his brothers. His insights have become a theme for my life.

Genesis 50:18-20

'His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”'

Joseph understood that his healing didn’t arise from his success, but rather from the redeeming work of God. Joseph gave voice to the poignant truth that his enslavement ended up being the very thing that freed his community and family from famine and death. Like Joseph, I also cling to the truth that sometimes there is great purpose in our pain. God has been laying on my heart that I should look with gratitude at the way that He has blessed me through my earthly pain. He has leveraged it to purge sinfulness from my heart and to inspire me to be obedient to His commands and to trust in Him. 

Today, I know that our Heavenly Father loves me, and I love Him too. Unlike some who get mad at our sovereign Lord for their earthly pain, I feel extremely grateful that He did not allow the sinful me to continue my lifetime of disobedience. I was headed to hell because of my sinfulness. Now, because I believe in His sacrifice, I have begged for His forgiveness, and He has changed my heart as a result of this earthly pain, I pray that He will bestow on me Christ’s righteousness and allow me to worship Him in Heaven for all of eternity. 

Some other verses that emphasize this point can be found throughout the Bible. Here are some examples: 

Ezekiel 7:4

'I will not look on you with pity or spare you; I will surely repay you for your conduct and the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'

Hebrews 12:11

'No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.'

By being determined to love Him through our earthly pain and to see His tender mercy in transforming our hearts, we will be blessed by difficult times.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your love. As I look to my past, I know that I have brought much of my earthly pain on myself as a result of my sinfulness. Now, rather than focus on those painful circumstances, I focus instead on your tender mercy and allow my love for and belief in you to continue to transform me. I praise you for who you are and express my loving gratitude for your compassion and your willingness to transform me. Amen.

God Is Not Finished With You!

Sometimes I forget that God isn’t finished with me. I forget He will not be finished with me until He calls me home. I get stuck in today and forget there is still tomorrow’s journey that has yet to be walked. It is not that I think there is no more work to be done, in fact, it is quite the opposite. Too often I feel stuck in the failures of today, as if, God is done and there is no more work He will do. He will just leave me in this present state that I am in.

I forget that no matter my current season of life, no matter how difficult or impossible it may seem, He just isn’t finished with me. He still has much work to do in my heart and life. He still has many ways in which He can and will use me. My reminder of this today comes from Psalms 57.

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! My soul is in the midst of lions I lie down amid fiery beasts—the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory!  Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

This was written by David while he was fleeing from Saul. It was a difficult time for David, he felt that his soul was in the midst of lions. His enemy was all around him, ready to trample him. Can you imagine? I am sure we have all been in similar places both physically and spiritually. But David doesn’t get stuck in that particular day. He doesn’t say, “well, this must be my end!” No, He remains steadfast. He sings praises to the Lord! He remembers that God is still on the throne working out His purposes in David’s life. He exalts His God for what He will do. David doesn’t focus on today, He focuses on God.

My encouragement for us today is to take refuge in the One who knows His purposes for us. Rest in the knowledge that He loves us and will be faithful to fulfill His purposes in us. My dear friends, we can be “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6) So lean into Him, and even if you do not understand today trust the heart of the One who saved you and continues to perfect you until the day He calls you home.

Prayer: Oh Father, help us to take refuge in the shadow of your wings until our trouble passes. May we cry out to you trusting in your purposes for our lives. Help us to remember that, regardless of age or stage of life,  You are not finished with us. You still have work for us to do for Your kingdom. Give us a steadfast heart, a heart that sings because we are resting in You and whatever You might have for us.

Where’s Your Smile? Removing the Anxiety from Our Work Day

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 Looking back on my career, which has now lasted almost 35 years, I see so many different roles and so many accomplishments, all of which have one thing in common: anxiety. Why is it that work demands so much of us? As Director of Communications/College Relations at Elizabethtown College, I often got just one hour of sleep a night and sometimes worked weeks of 120 hours in order to meet all of the goals which I was assigned. As a single mother doing my best to partner with my ex-husband to raise our child, as my son’s primary financial provider, and as a mom who didn’t want to miss a moment of loving on her precious child, I often felt consumed by anxiety and stress.

With my son now grown and on his own, and with my new role at a new college, my life has a much different feel. But my work day still felt filled with anxiety. I was torn between my desire to serve our Lord with the talents that he had given me and my desire to please my employer by being perfect in my service. Every day, I felt increasingly controlled by my To Do list and frequently chose to give up sleep to do what I thought would please those whom I served. Gradually the anxiety mushroomed in my heart until I was crying myself to sleep at night and feeling like I had once again found myself trapped in a position that would consume me.

Then, as he so often does, Pastor Tim Ackley offered a perspective during a sermon that caused me to explore my heart. During the insights which he offered to our Cornerstone family, Pastor Tim suggested that, as a counselor, he would often encourage those whom he was advising to consider what in their hearts was really driving their fear or anxiety. As I pondered what was really driving my anxiety, the simple answer that I arrived at was “work!” But when I prayed about it and spent time in God’s Word considering the question, the real answer was not so simple. The fact is that my anxiety was precipitated by the fact that my heart has sinfully defined myself by what I do and not by what God has done for me. In my mind, I was good only if I could successfully accomplish everything on my To Do list and hear the accolades of the people whom I serve. OOPS! In His Word, our Heavenly Father emphasizes that is not the case. 

While this realization has not diminished my workload, it has altered the way I view it. I still strive hard to do my very best with every assignment and try to squeeze in as much as I can. I still work many weekends and some evenings, but I work with my wonderful supervisor to prioritize what needs to be done. I do request a comp day now and then to compensate me for a portion of the personal time which I have given up.

Every morning, I set the tone for my day by spending time in His Word and Praising and Praying to Him. This time with the Lord has been an important tool in the transformation of my heart and is changing my thoughts to be more like His. During my worship walk, I always listen to one of my favorite tunes, See the Glory by Steven Curtis Chapman, which reminds me that I am not defined by my work and that I should “wake up and see the glory!” While that is no longer a driver in my hard work, I do know that God calls me to do my best as I read his guidance in Colossians.

Colossians 3:22-25

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is not favoritism.

Then at the conclusion of my worship walk, when I am down on my knees, I always ask for

God’s discernment and His peace as I enter my day. I also ask for Him to help me follow His commands and approach my day not with an attitude, but with gratitude. I even put a sign on my office door that asks “Where’s your smile?” which reminds me to approach my colleagues and my work with joy and not with anxiety.

Actually, during my workday, there is much to rejoice in. He has given me a job working for a wonderful College and with wonderful colleagues. As I choose my focus, to remember the blessings that I have been given and not to focus on the length of my To Do list, I approach my day with a much different perspective. I am no longer defined by my work, and I continue to serve my employer and my church with dedication and the very best of my abilities. And, on this day on which I got up at 3 a.m. so that I could finish the church newsletter, do the first draft of this blog post, and not give up my time in His Word, my worship walk, or my morning prayer time before I had to head off to work, I do it with a smile on my face because I remember that I am defined by an awesome God who loves me and who sacrificed His Son, Jesus Christ, so that a sinner like me could forever worship Him in Heaven.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for reminding me that who I am is not defined by what I do,

but instead is defined by what you did. I am grateful for your love and the joy you bring to my heart. And, I know when the anxiety begins to build that I need to turn to you for guidance and hope, and to partner graciously with those whom you have designated as my earthly employers to make appropriate judgments about how most effectively to dedicate my time. Amen.

The Greatest Story Ever Told

“It’s story time!” My sing-song teacher voice called out amidst the playful atmosphere of the preschool classroom. Toys were shelved and play dough was squished back into little yellow tubs. Sitting on the carpet with book in hand, I faced quite the motley crew. Ranging from disheveled and squirmy to backs straight sitting criss-cross applesauce, this gang had officially lost their toddler pudginess and were about to spring into full-fledged childhood.

I was nervous. Capturing a preschooler’s attention is easy, sustaining that attention is difficult. The story I had in my hand was one I thought they may have heard many times before. The illustrations were simple and the size of the book itself was small. Thinking that I may have an attention deficit hyperactivity fallout on my hands, I commenced with a disclaimer: “Now, I know you may have heard this story before, but it’s really important we have our listening ears on. After story time we have a super-special egg hunt planned!”

You see, it was the week after Easter and the story was about Jesus suffering, dying, and rising again. These boys and girls were coming from Christian homes and good churches and by the time a child reaches four or five years old they’ve heard this story at bedtime and Sunday school enough to have it memorized. At least, that’s what I thought.

One little girl piped up, “I’ve never heard this story before!” Still wary, I thought she meant this particular rendition of the Bible account. I flipped to the first page. There was a cartoon drawing of a middle-aged man, bearded with long brown hair in a robe, surrounded by twelve other men like him. I began, “This is a real-life story. It actually happened a long time ago. It’s about this man right here and his friends.” At this point, the boy who always gets too close to the book so that everyone else says, “I can’t see!” He says, “Nope. I’ve definitely never heard this story before.”

There was a stirring in my soul at that moment. It was the Holy Spirit moving. Fidgeting was stilled, eyes looked expectantly at me, peace and hopefulness washed over the room. I settled into it. Lingering on page after page, I told them the simple story. “Jesus was a kid like you. He grew up and had a job. He hung out with his friends. He loved to tell stories.” And so it went with the enraptured kids on the rug.

I reached the tough part. “Even though Jesus didn’t do anything wrong, people hated him. They beat him up. They took his clothes. They pushed thorns on his head so that he was bleeding.” The distress in the room was palpable. One boy audibly sucked in his breath, then let it go with a drawn-out incredulous whisper, “Noooooo!” After gently explaining the cross, I reached the page with the empty cave and two shining angels. “Where’s Jesus?” Now the kids were on their knees straining to see what had happened in the picture. A boy shouts, “Those yellow guys took him!” Another child tries for the correct answer: “He’s behind those rocks.” At last, one quiet boy knew the truth and had the courage to speak up - “He’s not there because He rose from the dead.”

I think back on this memory with tears in my eyes. I had assumed they’d know the story. I had assumed it would be a boring rerun for them. How wrong I was and what an important reminder for me. The story of Jesus doesn’t ever need me to be apologetic for overuse. It doesn’t need me to jazz it up for the current distractible generation. For those the Spirit calls, the pure and simple truth must and will be enough. The gospel of Christ is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. If over the years you have come to approach telling God’s story with overtones of hesitation, defensiveness, or cynicism, may the Lord take you back to a preschool classroom and a childlike faith. May your spirit be renewed to tell the story like it’s the first time someone’s hearing it.

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. Mark 10:13-16

I Was Made For This

It was my Grandfather that would announce my pregnancy to my family - even before I myself knew that I was pregnant. He called my Mother with such exuberance and joy, saying, “Janis is going to have a baby!” My mother in her shock didn’t reply quickly enough before he enthusiastically went on, “I could tell she was pregnant the moment she walked in the house, she looked just as your mother did when she was carrying you and your brother.

It would be days later that my son’s father and I would do a pregnancy test on a Sunday night, as a practice run before doing one first thing the next morning, as the test indicated that testing in the morning would provide the most accurate results. But, before the kitchen timer even went off, two blue lines boldly presented themselves.

After realizing for sure that I had fell pregnant, to my best calculations, I had begun feeling ill the morning after I conceived. There is a princess who has made the condition I suffered from a common household term - hyperemesis gravidarum- throughout nearly 8 months of my pregnancy I struggled. I had IV fluids because of dehydration, I dropped weight instead of gaining, and largely felt I might, instead of having life created within me, be instead dying.

My son’s Father was not the least bit pleased with this turn of events. It was not in our plan book of the way our life was to play out. We were to be married till I was about thirty, travel, and jet set to places people only dream of. 

He did not want a baby. Now. He did not want THIS baby.

And, all I knew was that this person that was probably no larger than a small seed, that could be sucked from my womb and deposited with some trash, was my very own child. And I was made to be its mother.

My mind constantly felt to God’s word, spoken in Psalm 127:3 which proclaims “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.”

Creation was growing within me. I was chosen. What a lightness of heart I had while enduring the heavy reality of a life’s circumstances.

I was living the gospel in the things that no one saw. I was making a sacrifice for my child, putting his value ahead of my own. What an amazing calling God put on my life by gifting me with this child.

Weeks later, under the care of a specialist for high-risk pregnancies - there were signs I might be carrying twins - a doctor would do an ultrasound, and I would learn that the dear sweet babe who was sharing my heartbeat was a boy.

God had answered a little girls prayers. A little girl who only played with doll babies, and those doll babies should they have long hair instantly were given boy haircuts because it was my deepest desire to be the mother of a boy. Even back when I was five and got my very first Madame Alexander doll who I named Joey John.

I fought for this child’s life. I was willing to give up everything to carry my child to term and give him life.

There were those people around me who were quick to say why I shouldn’t have him, how I could have prevented him, and that I surely wouldn’t be smiling after he was born and I had to give up my plans for the future.

He was of so little importance to some people but - I would lay down my life for him, and 29 years later I still would. I would give up everything.

Then, and even more so now, children rank below careers, and travel, and leisure. They rank behind a trim body and a vacation. They are disposable entities. 

Yet for me, motherhood was not some bump in the road in my dancing career or finishing my college degree. Motherhood was and continues to be a ministry God ordained me for. To carry a child He had chosen for ME to mother before the foundations of the earth. The babe who would grow to be a man and carry my DNA, handcrafted by God, and share it with future generations.

By giving birth to my son I was testifying that I valued what God values. Life. I was standing for the defenseless, and the unwanted. At this moment, I gave up my petty desires, and my often selfish motives and decided to live for someone other than me. I lay down my imaginary future and instead grabbed with gusto the future God had for me as a mother. 

It was no accident I fell pregnant when I did. This world needed the presence of my son, and God had pre-ordained his days.

In faith, I stepped out and lived the gospel in all the things that no one sees when you are a mother. I lived out the lesson of calvary and put someone’s life before my own.

Motherhood is a calling, and it is God who does the calling. It is not for the faint of hearted, as they say.

It is the testimony of our lives as Mothers and as Women that should weigh heavily on our hearts, that our children will come to know the Lord through our actions and our teachings.

As Paul writes to Timothy acknowledging the importance of his mother and his knowledge of God,  “. . . knowing from whom you learned it.” (2 Timothy 3:14 b) He is talking about Eunice and Lois, Timothy’s mother and grandmother. There are three clues that lead us to this understanding. First, Paul refers (in v. 15) to this learning as happening “from childhood.” Second, we see in 2 Timothy 1:5 these words, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” So Paul has already connected Timothy’s faith with what he got from his mother and grandmother.

Whether it is for a few short weeks or for the rest of your life God specifically places THE PERFECTLY CHOSEN CHILD IN YOUR LIFE for you to have a ministry. Whether through adoption or surrogacy or mentoring we are called to care for children, step into your calling, step into your ministry, claim God’s promises because you were born for this.

Forego the Pedicure

My hands fluttered from position to position, marking the classical moves that would be a part of the next practice set. My eyes were riveted as the famed Madame Fokine, with her natural flourish, showed us what the steps would be. Our pianist set the tempo.

I am a trained classical ballerina. 

I have spent hours practicing, grueling class after class. In the middle of the summer, with temperatures soaring past those in the 90s, without fans. An arabesque, jetes, cabrioles, and my beloved pirouettes, the sweat running in rivulets down my back. 

So clearly as if it were yesterday, I remember when Madame Fokine asked me to speak with her after class. Throughout the studio when that command performance was issued, girls insides would tremble far more than their strained muscles, and there would be an instant hush. 

Her piercing blue eyes belied her age, and my own could not leave her face. Every bit the lady, she held her cigarette in a long holder reminiscent o the roaring twenties. She tilted her face up, letting smoke swirl above her head.

“It is time.”

I knew what those words meant without her having to explain. I was ready to take class en pointe. The torturous start to a real dancers start to life as a ballerina. The beautiful baby pink toe shoes would be bought, and I would come to recognize the craftsman who made the shoes I favored. 

Those shoes would become the bane of my existence and the beauty of my art. The hours spent at the barre, and then those awe-inspiring moments of performing.

Today, my feet ache each morning when I rouse from my bed. They have calluses that refuse to go away, despite the years of not having donned a leotard and tutu, and my many pedicures.

When I think of feet - especially my own - I think they are probably the most unattractive part of my body. They need constant tending and attention. Neglected, they become something many women would want to hide in boots rather than parade in strappy sandals. 

Oddly enough it is my worn feet that oft remind me of my Lord.

I think of His calling on my life, much like that of when Madame Fokine issued her decree that I was to meet with her. The Lord spoke into my young life, and a hush fell. I could not deny His existence, and I felt his power, and the attraction of His call matching the hole in my heart I hadn’t even known existed. A hush fell, and I listened to his voice.

I wanted to share my experience with everyone I came in contact with, and suddenly to my Lord, my feet became beautiful. And, now many years later they are even more so to Him.

Beautiful feet?

God through His word, as it is written in Paul’s letter to the Romans Paul exclaims, How beautiful are the feet of her [him] who brings who brings the good news. Paul is referencing Isaiah 52:7 which I find so poetically beautiful.

              How beautiful on the mountains

              are the feet of her [those] who bring good news,

              who proclaim peace,

              who bring good tidings,

              who proclaim salvation,

              who say to Zion,

              “YOUR GOD REIGNS.”

             

My life - as are my feet - is dirty and messy, and sometimes untended. I have calluses and rough skin, dry and most weeks I am in need of a pedicure. But, God doesn’t see that. 

My Lord sees my testimony of where He has brought me from and where He is leading me to, offers me the opportunity to share the work He is doing in me with others. He sees the beauty of my “feet” as I share what He has done in my life in less than eloquent words. He sees the beauty in my “feet” as I offer to pray for the check-out lady who loses her composure as tears threaten or when I awkwardly pray in the parking lot for a woman with two crying children who has just locked herself out of the car. And, He blesses my less than perfect sharing with the covering of His blood.

Forego your pedicure. Bring your tired weary earthy feet, callused and worn, which will be made beautiful in the eyes of Christ as you share his Gospel and His Grace.

New Beginnings

Do you get excited about new challenges?

New beginnings are full of so much potential … a new job, new friendships, a new semester, a new home and neighborhood, a new project or hobby to tackle. New beginnings offer us a fresh start and possibilities for something different and exciting.  It’s an opportunity for change, growth, learning and moving on from what was to what can be. New beginnings push us to leave the past behind and look forward to what’s ahead. It’s a chance to start with a clean slate and plot a different course … or at least purpose to find a better way to navigate a particularly difficult challenge that remains. And what better time to think of new beginnings than now, just days before our New Year starts!

The apostle Paul had something helpful to say about new beginnings. He realized the danger of looking back and getting stuck in the rut of regret. He also recognized how crippling a focus on past successes could become.  The apostle knew there was a better way and he wanted the saints in Philippi to know as well:

“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-14).”  

Wow! Do you sense the intensity in how Paul tackled life? He speaks of “straining forward” and “pressing on” toward a specific goal. This seasoned servant of God did not waste precious time aimlessly drifting through life. On the contrary, Paul was a man on a mission. He was intentional, purposeful and unswerving in his pursuit of God and all he was called to. He was after a prize that was worth his time, effort and energy. Earlier in the epistle, the apostle makes clear what his life pursuit is:

“I want to know Christ … (Phil. 3:10)”

In fact, he considers any other pursuit “a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus” his Lord (v.8). This was Paul’s passion … to personally know and experience Jesus in every way and to continue growing in greater understanding of and devotion to his Lord. This is what he lived for. This is the goal that Paul strained and pressed on toward.

What if this were our goal for the coming year? What if we woke up every morning asking to know Jesus more deeply and intimately as He really is? What if we took time to consider and plan how we would be intentional and purposeful about pursuing Him each day? What would it take to grow in knowing Him more? And what if we actually followed through with our plan, leaning on the Lord for His grace and help? What difference would a continuous passionate pursuit to know Christ make in our lives? What difference would that make in our marriages, our parenting, the way we work, how we relate to others, how we spend our time and money, how we respond to difficulty and hardship? What difference would this pursuit make in the world around us with lost friends and neighbors?

Did you ever stop to think of how it was possible for Jesus to fulfill His earthly ministry without wavering and how He was able to bring His Father such glory through it all? I was actually thinking about this Christmas morning before the busyness started.  It’s hard to wrap my mind around how Christ willingly left all He had in heaven in order to come down to His broken, sinful and corrupt creation and choose to live among us … and to be with us.  And then to think of all the mistreatment, animosity, agony and evil He willingly endured in His humanity is mind-boggling. How was Christ able to do what He did … and to carry out the rescue mission of mankind in a way that brought His Father such great glory?

The gospel account of Christ’s baptism came to mind. As Jesus came up out of the water the Father announced, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased (Mt. 3:17).”  God’s declaration of His love, pleasure, and identify with His Son spoke volumes of the relationship Jesus enjoyed with HIm from eternity past. In John’s gospel, Jesus proclaims, “but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father (Jn. 14:31).” There’s was a mutual love relationship that displayed the oneness they possessed. Christ was so secure in that perfect love that He was able to trust His Father to do whatever was needed, no matter what the cost. This love defied any fear, confusion or doubt. It enabled Christ to willingly submit to Calvary to do the Father’s will.

Can you imagine the power of knowing that kind of love? What difference would it make if those of us who belong to Christ really believed we were loved that deeply? How would it change the way we think, feel and behave? And what if we loved God to the extent that we were willing to submit to His will for our lives, no matter what that entailed?

What if we asked God for that kind of love toward Him? And what if we asked to continually grow in greater understanding of the depth of His love for us? We would be asking for the same thing the apostle Paul was pursuing! Knowing His love is to know Him. Wouldn’t this be a wonderful goal to press toward for the coming year? This could be a wonderful new beginning for 2018! 

To the One Who is Weary of Doing Good

Oh, sweet sister. I see you over there trying hard to do what is right. Trying to be the woman God created you to be. You give so much of yourself to others. To your family, friends, coworkers, and co-laborers. I see the joy and delight in your face as you serve. You know that this is what God called you to do. Most days you serve with such great joy in your heart for the privilege of sharing Christ with others.

Deep down inside I also see the moments of discouragement and heartbreak. I see your hurt. I know you have been misunderstood and others have taken advantage of your kindness. You say it doesn’t matter because you serve God not man. Yet I still see you hurting at times. You grow weary and your heart breaks as yet another person is unkind while you were trying to help them. There have been those who spread gossip and are critical of you and what you are doing. Hurtful words are spoken instead of words of thankfulness. You have been forgotten, overlooked and made to feel invisible. I get it. I have been there too. We all have.

My sweet sister, this is what I want you to know deep down in your heart. God sees you dear one. He sees you when you sit down and rise up. He sees you at work and at rest. He knows your thoughts, your heartbreak, and your hurts. You are never out of His presence. He is so delighted in you. He delights in you because you are YOU!  He has loved you from before the foundations of the earth were ever even created. Yes! Even then He was delighted in you!

My prayer for you today is that you might see Jesus in all that you do. I pray that in your loneliness you will feel the presence of His Spirit. In your weariness, you will feel His strength. I pray that if others are tearing you down that you will feel the overpowering presence of His Spirit lifting you high. I pray that no matter where you are today, no matter what is said about you, or to you, that you would be able to rise above it all and soar on the wings of His Spirit who holds you.

Dear sister I know how hard this life can be. I know how weary we can become in doing good but don't give up. Don't let the things of this world overwhelm you. Press on to know God. Press on knowing He walks with you and sees you.

Run into His presence, He sees you, He is with you, no matter where you are today.

Women Called to Leadership

Attending this year’s SHE Leads Conference with two other women from our church last Saturday was definitely time well spent.  I always appreciate hearing from other godly, influential women who are leaders in their field and willing to share their areas of expertise to help women grow in their leadership capacities.  I thought I’d pass on some of the things I gleaned, both new and old information that I hope will be helpful.  If you’re anything like me, you may have heard a lot of these thoughts before but when they are said differently, it gets my attention in a fresh way.

Our keynote speaker, Jenni Catron, reminded us once again that we are all responsible to steward our influence well, particularly so the lives of others can be changed for God’s kingdom.  Each one of us, with our specific personalities, life experiences, gifts, and education was made to influence our world in unique ways.  We all have the sacred opportunity and responsibility to shape lives! We are all leaders in some way and we each have a sphere of influence that God wants us to affect for His purposes and the good of others.  That sphere may include your family members (children & grandkids), friends, co-workers, life group members, etc. How well are you stewarding the influence you’ve been entrusted with?  Let that question sink in for a bit as you consider how you would answer.

There is one main obstacle, Jenni pointed out, that tends to kill our ability to lead and influence others well and that is fear. Some of these fears sound like,

•          I don’t measure up
•         I’m not enough
•         I’m not good enough
•         I’m not capable enough
•         I’m not strong enough

Haven’t we all said this to ourselves multiple times causing us to shrink back from an opportunity God has provided to influence others? Have you found yourself believing any of these lies recently? We need to replace each of these fears with the truth of God’s Word and the promises of His presence, His power and His provision to enable us to fulfill our specific calling.

Our keynote speaker brought out an interesting idea I had never thought about from the leader’s greatest command in Mark 12:30:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  Here’s how she broke this down:

•          Leading with all your heart/relationships:
•          Leading with all your soul/spiritual awareness
•          Leading with all your mind/wisdom
•         Leading with all your strength/vision

We each tend to lead from one of these areas but we were encouraged to pursue growth in each of these. Good leadership requires all of me.

One of the most helpful breakout sessions I attended that day on leadership was by Lisa Melillo on the topic of Resolving Conflict Through Spiritual Insight & Practical Skill. Here are some takeaways I found helpful:

·       Be alert to what your triggers are: lack of sleep, physical pain, stress, emotional family situation, being misunderstood or dismissed, etc.

·       The (potential) cost of conflict: time, eroded trust, broken relationships, stress/anxiety/tension

·       The benefits of conflict: growth, restored relationships, new perspective, reliance upon God, faith built up

·       Common causes of conflict: desire for different outcomes, competing priorities, change (too much; too fast), strong emotions (frustration, anger, etc.), offense

·       Conflict is inevitable. The goal is not to eliminate it but to reduce its harmful effects and maximize its useful effects.

·       Our enemy tries to stir up offense and conflict so we will become ineffective as Christ followers.

·       Our perception of ourselves may be very different than how others see us.

·       As leaders, we need to model humility when confronted and respond with grace and not defensiveness. Peacemaking is a demonstration of godly leadership.

·       What we say (content), How we say it (tone; delivery), When we say it (timing), Why we say it (to build up or tear down) all matter to God.

Do any of these strike a chord with you? According to 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, all Christ followers are called to a “ministry of reconciliation” just as Christ came to bring peace between hostile sinners and a holy God. This matters to God. The oneness, harmony, and unity the Father, Son and Holy Spirit enjoy with each other is the kind of relationship we, as image bearers, were created to participate in with God and with others. 

Hopefully, there was something here that pricked your soul, encouraged your heart or somehow prompted a desire to dig a little deeper in some area in your own life regarding your influence as a leader.  Don’t minimize the influence you have but seek to use it for God’s glory and the good of those He has placed in your circle.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Jeremiah 29:12

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

My husband and I were conversing the other day about “how do we know it is from God”.  Through writing this blog I am secretly thinking by the end I will have the perfect formula.  But don’t count on it.  What you will want to count on is an aptitude for God’s Word.  Because it is in God’s Word where the hearing begins.  It is in Gods Word where we find the compass for our lives. 

When I first began digging into God’s word, studying precept upon precept it was amazing how black and white the bible had become.  Having the Holy Spirit to guide me.  I hadn’t realized that in studying Gods word not only was I increasing knowledge but also I was building a relationship, a deep love for my Father. 

In any relationship, communication is key. Often there are miscommunications because of a lack of information. We might read a passage here or there in the Bible and not really know its meaning.  How then can we know more of His word?  Ask God for discernment.  Meet with a sister that might be ahead of you in her studies, meet with your Pastor.  If we are not in Gods word how can we know and communicate with our Father?  If we do not know our Father and His promises how do we know what to ask for, to be thankful for?  Psalm 106:1 “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good: For His lovingkindness (promise) is everlasting.

  Relationships take invested time.  Think of a bank account, to build wealth we need to make deposits, when we take time to read Gods word, a deposit is being made in your relationship account with God. When we serve people, being the hands and feet of Christ, we make a deposit into that relationship account with God.    When we join a small group we make a deposit into Gods account building a relationship with our Father.  All these deposits add up and you will notice as your deposits grow, your relationship grows and the ability to hear God becomes more discerning.  The largest deposit you can make is being in Gods word, and your quiet time with Him.  From personal experience, I find myself less anxious when I am studying Gods Word.   The lines of communication will open up.  The promises are in His word, the plans for our lives are in His word, the council for our troubles is in His word. 

On the flip side, this world would love to put all this static between you, (me) and our Father.  Nothing bugs the enemy more than when we are in fellowship with God.  He (Satan) puts obstacles in our way, hurdles, roadblocks; he lies to you, me about this or that.   Have you ever noticed that when you are getting ready for church, or a small group, or quiet time with God that distractions begin to escalate?  It is when our endurance, our hunger for a relationship with God, our praying, that these obstacles become like little gnats instead of huge mountains that we can’t overcome.  And our line is clear to hear from God, in His Word.

Recently I had to make some decisions in my career.  Asking God, “what should I do”?  Walking daily I would ask “what should I do”?  Even today I am asking Him that question without a clear-cut Yes or No.  What I do know is I have a choice daily to move in His direction.  No matter what I am doing I need to be doing it for His glory.  I can’t allow myself to freeze up with fear especially knowing God has a plan for me.  God’s word promises.  Reading Gods word will build the muscle of discernment; changes the plumb line of my decision-making.   My workout is staying in Gods Word.  By journaling, fellowshipping, reading, praying and listening. 

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flowers fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

Can you hear Me now?   I believe if we take the time to read the word of God, to trust what He has written, memorize scripture, and know His promises and to study His word; we will hear from our Mighty God!

Visions & Dreams (Inspired by Habakkuk 2)

If you were to read Habakkuk 2 for the first time you may tilt your head and wonder.  I did and what God revealed to me in this prophet enriched this season of waiting.   First, let me tell you why God brought this particular bible verse before me.  

I am in a season of waiting….waiting to see what the next move God has for my life.  It is an awkward place to be I might add.  Like a gawky teenager, not knowing what changes are going on inside, being in a place of waiting can have a similar feel.  One move you make will have no sense to it…while another puts you in the path leading you in the right direction.  Though if you are in the place of waiting as I am, as Habakkuk was, you sharpen your skills, draw closer to God, set yourself apart from the earthly things, and watchful for the vision. 

I needed to write down all God was showing me during this time of waiting and keep it in front of me.  God answered Habakkuk this way, “…record the vision, inscribe it on tablets.”

How can we know the vision?  God spoke to Habakkuk and stated, “MAKE IT CLEAR” for everyone to understand!  First, let me say, I needed to daily set myself apart from this world. Whether it was walking without headphones, or sitting quietly in my room with no TV/electronics, I needed to spend quiet time with God.  I needed to stay faithfully in His word, spend time with God quietly so I could hear His whisper’s.   May I note, I would go in with a pen and write it down all God showed me.  Often I can be so busy, even in my prayer life to hear from God; but when I go into prayer with a pen and a notebook expecting to hear from my Father it truly helps.   

Can you remember the last time you asked God a question and waited for a response? Silently waited?   Were there crickets or was there a vision?  A dream? A small gentle whisper, a desire for wanting what God wants for you?  Write it down.  Once I started doing this I was left with the question, “How do I know it is from God and not just me?”  I line it up with God’s word.  Plainly stated but true.  I know God has dreams for me, I know He wants me to use my gifts. 

  In Proverbs 29:18  “Where there is no vision the people will perish (are unrestrained), But happy is he who keeps the law.

The people got away from knowing God.  They had their own idols, their own gods.  There was no vision, they did not have dreams, they walked with sinners, they began to perish.  Though the contrast in this verse states - Those that chose to keep the law was blessed, they practiced justice, righteousness, they sought God with all their hearts, they knew His word.  God speaks to us through His word. 

His Word is the key to seeing and hearing clearly what He is asking of you “next”.  He puts dreams on our hearts and gives us abilities unique to us.  Our saddest day, my saddest day would be when I didn’t use what God has given me, didn’t dream, or believe God for His promises.  

Importantly, do not let the enemy tell you it wasn’t for you.  Do not let him tell you that you are not educated enough, that you are too old, too young, not qualified, etc.

Write down the whispers; talk with God about the visions and dreams that are in your heart.  God will not disappoint you, but like Habakkuk, we need to be patient.

For in the waiting is when the true growth appears.  When I think back to when I first heard the whispers of God and think presently as He unfolds His promises, it can only draw peace as I reflect on His mighty and perfect timing!  Oh if I had my way how shallow I would be.  The riches of walking in righteousness while seeking to hear from Him is a gift alone.  

 I end with this great commentary on Habakkuk 2:1-4 from Henry Matthews –

2:1-4 When tossed and perplexed with doubts about the methods of Providence, we must watch against temptations to be impatient. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we must observe the answers God gives by his word, his Spirit, and providences; what the Lord will say to our case. God will not disappoint the believing expectations of those who wait to hear what he will say unto them. All are concerned in the truths of God's word. Though the promised favour be deferred long, it will come at last, and abundantly recompense us for waiting. The humble, broken-hearted, repenting sinner, alone seeks to obtain an interest in this salvation. He will rest his soul on the promise, and on Christ, in and through whom it is given. Thus he walks and works, as well as lives by faith, perseveres to the end, and is exalted to glory; while those who distrust or despise God's all-sufficiency will not walk uprightly with him. The just shall live by faith in these precious promises, while the performance of them is deferred. Only those made just by faith shall live, shall be happy here and for ever.