Clearing a Path
You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Luke
4. Jesus defeats Satan in The Big Temptation. Then He heads home to Nazareth, announcing
His purpose and the beginning of His ministry. The hometown crowd is less than
impressed and ready to throw Him off a cliff. In fact, they DO try to throw Him
off a cliff. But then:
He walked right through the crowd and
went on his way. (V30)
WHAAAAT?
First
of all, talk about being IN THE PRESENCE of enemies. We’re talking shoulder to
shoulder. Hands pushing, pulling, gripping. Forcing Him to walk--to His DEATH.
You can’t get much more In The Presence than that.
Secondly,
these were not garden variety enemies. These were Frenemies. They were His
neighbors. His childhood buddies. The kids He played Red Light Green Light
with. The parents who gave Him messages to give to His mother. They watched Him grow up--for THIRTY YEARS.
NOW
they want to KILL Him--NOT for what He DID to them, but simply for the words He
spoke.
Have
you ever had enemies that vile? Me neither.
Back
to Luke 4. “His way” took Him to
Capernaum. There they were amazed at his
teaching, because his words had authority. (V32) He drove out many spirits
and healed many diseases.
The
people of Capernaum wanted Him to stay with them (and probably eat at their
tables), recognized His holiness (being anointed with oil declared you set
apart, holy) and told everyone in the area about Him (His cup overflowed for
sure).
What
His Frenemies (and The Enemy) intended for evil, God turned into good.
Have
you ever seen a God that good? Me too.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
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A Simple Vow
Choreographed
first dances. Save the Date cards. Special flowers honoring the mothers. Wedding
planning today is more complicated that it was when I did it 25 years ago.
There’s
an awful lot of “To Do” to say “I Do.” Is it all necessary?
My
early religious background included many meaningful things, but also things I
had to wade through or stumble over. Was all of it necessary?
Like
Martha in Luke 10 we tend to be worried over many things when only a few are needed.
Really, all you have to have for a wedding are a license, vows, and someone to
officiate. To follow Jesus you need a repentant heart, a decision to make Him
your Savior and Lord, and to be baptized.
Honestly, it’s the simplicity of the plan of salvation that almost tripped me up. “Surely
there must be more to it. It can’t be that easy.”
But
it is. That’s the genius of Gospel. So simple that anyone, and everyone, can
take those few steps, make those few arrangements, and become the Beloved Bride
of the Prince of Peace.
Thursday, June 05, 2014
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Expectations of Time...and Forever
Jesus is on His way from Galilee to Jerusalem for
the final time. He knows that once He enters the city He will never leave again. He will die in a matter of days. He tells His Twelve, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and
everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be
fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will
mock him, insult him and spit on him, they will flog him and
kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” (Luke 18:31-33)
He knows EXACTLY what is coming.
Outside of Jericho He encounters a blind man. He has
29 miles to go.
“What do you
want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want
to see,” he replied.
Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight.” (Luke 18:41-42)
In Jerusalem a few days later, when He is at his very
weakest, in more pain than we can possibly imagine, He makes arrangements for
His mother’s care and chats with a fellow crucifixee.
Wait, what? Really? REALLY?
Who could conceivably have presence of heart and mind
to take chunks out of the few precious hours He has left and break stride,
change focus, and heal someone? And provide for another? And forgive a third?
What can we expect from this Jesus? We can expect
Him to make time for US.
Let’s make time for Him, to ponder in our hearts all He in His Love has done for us. This song is a good place to start.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
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Marching On
“ ‘And when he finds it (her,) he joyfully
puts (her) on his shoulders and goes home.’ ” (Luke15:5)
“Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is
marching on.” I’ve loved the tune of this battle hymn since I was a
young girl in grade school. Every year now, I get to revisit it as a 4th
grade teacher. I pass out the not-so-familiar-song, attempt to carry a tune
long enough for them to catch on, sing through it once or twice with them, then
off we go. We march to the beat of the rhythm all around our school grounds in
worshipful prayer. This year we waved flags and ended in the hallways where the
5th graders (some of my former 4th) came out and joined
in.
Then,
last week, our principal arranged to have the entire school—kindergarten
through 8th grade—surround the inside walls of the sanctuary. There
was a conference going on, and we were to march around one time, stop and pray
through the walls. We were to be quiet, as if it were a fire drill. Well, my
beautiful songbirds couldn’t hold it in. They began to sing—not the battle
hymn, but "Holy Spirit, You are Welcome Here." It was as if God had given them their own
“heartbeat.” They sang and marched on quietly in one accord, led by the
Spirit beating within their individual hearts.
As
I finish this up, I reflect back on the above verse from Luke and the story of the lost sheep. You may have noticed
Wednesday’s post missing. Yet, we “marched on.” Our sister-writer will be back.
For now, we are surrounding her with prayer in order for the unison of God’s
heartbeat to bring complete peace and healing. Jesus is holding her up on His
shoulders and marching on.
Thursday, March 06, 2014
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God's Measure of Love
“Are you crazy?’ The father, whose son lay in I.C.U. with a gunshot to his 15-year-old body, shouted over the phone. “You want me to love my enemy?” As if that were even possible, he thought before shoving his phone back into his jacket pocket.
Thirty minutes later,
this same man, pastor of a local church, wet the sheets of his only child’s bed
with tears in hope of understanding.
“Jay,” he heard the Father’s
voice well up within his heart. “Who does your son love—the most?”
“Why,
You, Lord. Ever since he was a toddler.”
“When,
and I’m not saying now, but when, he passes from this life to the next, where
will he be?”
“With
You, Papa, with You.” Pastor Jay slid to the floor next to his son’s bed.
“Why
do you preach?” Papa asked.
“What
do you mean, God? You know why. To spread the good news.”
“Who do you preach to?”
“The
lost.” His own answer pierced his heart.
The
loud wail that came next from room 201 brought the night nurse to the door. She
paused when she saw the pastor in a fetal position. She glanced past him to the
monitors of his son and noticed
his vitals signs were normal for the first time since he was admitted. She crept away from the intimate scene in silent
prayer.
When
the teen’s father rose from the floor, he knew what he must do next. His hands
shook as he dialed the number. He steadied himself in the worn leather chair
and waited for an answer.
“Mrs.
Wells,” Pastor Jay began. “Can I talk to your son?”
Detecting her hesitation,
he quickly added, “I want to tell him how much his heavenly father loves him. And,”
Jay swallowed hard, “that I forgive him.”
“And,”
now his voice almost squeaked, “I love him and want to visit him when ...”
Before
he could finish, he heard her crying. “Oh, thank you. Thank you. You don’t
know what this means.”
Even
though the connection went dead, the peace of 1John 4:19, “We love because He
first loved us,” filled both their rooms.
(Certainly not a funny measurement, but a
divinely one of God’s perfect love for each and everyone of us.)
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
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Lost But Found
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save
what was lost.” (Luke19:10)
“Oh,
my gosh! I don’t know where my checkbook is!” Most of us have lost something of
value at some time in our life, or so we thought. In reality, it’s not lost.
There is One who knows exactly where the item is or what has happened to it.
Thirty-six years ago.
“Have you found her yet?” He asked, knowing the answer.
“No,
Sir, but we will keep searching,” the winged-beings assured their Maker.
“Any
clues?” The eyelids of the Father rose a bit, but a warm electrical wave rolled
forth from his presence, and the servants rested for a minute in peace.
“Yes,
she entered that clinic.”
“I
see.” The Father glanced downward—his hand rubbing his hairless chin. “We will
soon have a newborn joining our kingdom family.” While sadness seeped from his
words, the peace the King carried remained. “You best be going. She’ll need you
when she awakes.”
“But
what if . . .”
“I
know. She may not welcome you this time, but soon.”
“Of
course, your Majesty. You alone know the condition of the hearts of your
creation.”
“Yes.
Even though she seems lost, her “name is found written in the book.” (Dan.
12:1c)
Three and a half years later, 1981.
“I’ll
go to church with you this one time if you promise not to bug me about going again,”
she had told her new friends. They agreed, believing that God had prepared her
for the day.
“Make
sure nothing stops her from going,” the King told her Protectors.
“We’re
on it, Master,” their faces beamed. “Now that a new child grows within her, she
seems to have slowed down in her pursuit of self-destruction.”
That Sunday.
“Oh,
Dear God, can you ever forgive me?” Tears soaked her six-month protruding
belly.
The
words, “I already have, my child,” melted her once hardened heart. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift
of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.” (Rom.6:23)
“And
my first child?”
“Resting
in the arms of the Savior.”
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
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Nothing is Impossible
“Without
vision my people perish.” Proverbs 29:18
“What
is your big dream for this coming year?” We asked our readers. Funny, I asked
something similar during one of my holiday dinners. While I had grandiose
plans, a co-worker simply said, “I hope to get through the second year of my
mother’s death and all the decisions surrounding the home on the coast she left
me.” Another just wanted to hang onto his job for the year. I understand their
hope-frozen state of mind.
When
my baby daughter was in the hospital dying from cancer, a friend came to visit.
During lunch she had the nerve to ask, “What is your vision for the future? What
are your dreams?” All I could think was, How
can you ask me such a thing; all I can think of is my family? Yet, it was just the prescription I needed:
focus on something beyond the temporary roadblock.
Without
Christ, the hope of glory, I’m near-sighted. With Him, there is no dream too
big, nor too small. My big 2014 dream is physical in nature: walk the Santiago
pilgrimage trek from southern France to the St. James cathedral on the coast of
Spain with my eldest brother. Not for religious reasons but for relationship. I
want to get to know my brother better. I also get to know the heart of the seekers and the natives we meet along the way.
Spiritual,
I want to embrace a deeper level of who my Master Creator is. I want to
experience another one of God’s European counties—the dawns and dusts of his rising and
setting sun. I want to taste the fruit of the Spanish vineyards, walk the dusty
roads of past and present all the while praying and pouring out what God equips
me to release. I want to be his secret missionary interceding for all I see
and meet.
No
matter what the dream—fun, small, huge or hard—I lean on the verse from Luke:
“Nothing is impossible for God.”
Wednesday, January 01, 2014
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Truth Be Told
“He is too!” “No
he’s not; just ask your dad.” Scary words for parents who haven’t prepared
their child for the truth behind the jolly, breaded-bearer of gifts.
I
admit. I don’t care for all the attention Santa
gets in place of Christ. The only figurine of Santa I display is that of him
kneeling. I wonder what he would say if he knew he got as much if not more
attention than the one he believed in.
Truth
be told, Saint Nicolas is said to have been the only son of wealthy Christian
parents who died in an epidemic while he was young. A devout Christian, he
wanted to follow the words of Jesus, and “give to the poor.” He looked for ways
to give away all he inherited to those in need. The most famous story about him
states he threw bags of gold through the windows of three girls destined to be
sold into slavery. He did it “mysteriously” in hopes of not being found out.
I
like the idea of “not letting the right hand know what the left hand is doing.” Recently I delivered a cash jar to a family in need. My friend
had put it together and didn’t want the receiver to know whom it was from. It
was about giving without needing to receive
recognition. Her act of generosity stirred my thoughts. Who do I know in need, Lord? By the next day, I had my answer.
Truth
be told, if you haven’t already acted as a Santa to someone in need, ask God.
He’s good at answering prayer and providing for the needs of others through
willing “helpers.” Proverbs 18:16 states: “A gift opens the way for the giver
and ushers him into the presence of the great.” I believe St. Nick, the
gift-giver, is in the presence of the great
I AM.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
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A New Familiar Story Comin' to Town
We start by the narrator saying the best place to start is
the beginning: when Santa was a baby.
A baby? How incredulous!
First, when Burgermeister Meisterburger heard of him, he ordered
to get rid of the "brat". In the process
of removing him, there was immediate trouble but the babe was whisked away and cared
for by a loving family. As he grew in wisdom and stature, he was taught to strive for quality… worthy of a King.
Years go by and he is filled to overflowing to share love. Now
a man, he is strong and ready to face any obstacles. He finds opposition is great and many burdened
by daily duties, especially the children he cherishes – working hard to gain
acceptance. “That’s the only way they judge you around here, by how many chores
you do and how clean your stockings are”, they grumble.
“Don’t you cry” he
explains, “I’ve come to town!” He proceeds to share gifts of love which are not
accepted by all. He challenges threats
of other’s imprisonment by taking blame and instead is told he is a rebel and a
non-conformist and an outlaw. Traps are set to catch him yet he melts the heart
of one who mocks him, now responding “If I want to
change the reflection I see in the mirror each morn, you mean that it's just my
election? To vote for a chance to be reborn?”
Finally locked up and sent away for good, when Burgermeister
thought it was over, you hear Jessica say “Today is not the end. It’s only the
beginning.”
And so it was. There was an escape. Time went on and people grew to accept the
gift of profound love dedicated on one night.
The narrator finishes by explaining [Santa] is not an outlaw anymore but there are “poor, misguided
folks. They missed the whole point. Lot’s of unhappiness? Maybe so. But doesn’t [Santa] take a little bit of that unhappiness away? Doesn’t a smile on
Christmas morning scratch out a tear cried on a sadder day? Not much maybe. But
what would happen if we all tried to be like [Santa] and learned to give as
only he can give: of ourselves, our talents, our love, and our hearts? Maybe we
could all learn [Santa’s] beautiful lesson and maybe there would finally be
peace on Earth and good will toward men.”
Hmmmm…seems to me this story is vaguely familiar…no?
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
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He's Coming!
This time of year is full of visits
and visiting. We look forward to seeing family, friends, and “old
acquaintances” as the song goes. With less than ten days left, children world-wide wait with anticipation. And as much as I hate to admit, I, too, find
myself singing the words, “You better watch out, you better not pout . . .” In the busyness of it all, I try to redirect my focus; replace some of the words, "Jesus is coming to town"; and
make sure my “heart prepare Him room.”
Too
many of the traditions reflecting on the “reason for the season” have slowly
been replaced. Just in the past three years “someone” decided it was
politically incorrect to say those sacred words, “Merry Christmas.” It’s time
to put the intentional back into the
celebration of our Savior’s birth. How would it feel if the children you
invited to your child’s birthday party arrived with the greeting: “Party-time,”
or, “Where’s my gifts?” Instead of
“Happy Birthday!”
This
week we will focus on the meaning behind the man Santa. Let's also “watch out” and put the “Merry” back where it belongs during Christmas by spreading the good cheer to all. Father God loves to
celebrate his only begotten son by
giving gifts to all of His extended family. One day we “will see THE SON OF MAN
COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27)
Sunday, December 15, 2013
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Harvest: He Calls You And Me
What strikes me most about this verse is what Jesus didn't say in this analogy. He did not mention a wish or desire to see workers preparing the ground and planting a field. The hard work of preparing the soil for a bountiful harvest had already been done. The long season of watering and waiting was now complete. His plea was for laborers to go into the fields and bring out what the land was yielding.
Have you ever gone to a field to pick your own strawberries or to a pumpkin patch where you are greeted with row after row of round orange delight just waiting to be picked? Imagine if you will, what if instead you were told you had to do all the hard work of planting and maintaining a section of land in order to receive its harvest. If you've ever tried to grow anything edible, you know just one misstep or neglect of water and you've killed the plant. For this reason alone many opt out of being small backyard farmers. It's just too much work, too much risk.
That is the very attitude we have when we are told to share Jesus with others. We're afraid of failure, of rejection, of being responsible in remembering to do what needs to be done, we're afraid of making a complete mess and being mocked for even trying. It's just too much work.
What we should remember instead is that God is the One who
does the preparing of the soil, the heart. He is the One who plays the most
active role because no one can believe in Jesus without God's help. Scripture
says "the Lord who is in CHARGE of the harvest" because it is
"HIS fields". By the Holy Spirit, the promise of His word is already
planted and He is asking for laborers to do the harvesting. Think about that
the next time you walk through a pumpkin patch this Fall. Remember He has called us to join Him in His
fields. The laborers He calls are you
and me.
Monday, October 07, 2013
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Prepared for C-C-C-C-C-Cold!
I
grew up in the near Chicago suburbs with my very own view of the Sears Tower. I walked the six blocks to St Luke’s School--no,
not uphill both ways, but yes, trudging through mountains of snow. In high school I walked just as far to the CTA
bus stop and waited…and waited. I know a
thing or two about cold.
I
can’t recall looking like the little brother in A Christmas Story, but I think
I probably did. From boots to stocking
caps, snow blowers to shovels, when it came to Chicago winters, We. Were. Prepared.
That’s
my approach to all things cold, be it weather or life.
How
do I deal with cold? Here are a few
tips:
Dress
in layers: These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress
them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk
along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie
them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write
them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy
6:6-8)
Travel
in Groups: If two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can
one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two
can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes
4:11-12)
Have
Plenty of Fuel: Five of them were foolish
and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did
not take any oil with them. The
wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. (Matthew
25:2-4)
Stock
the Basics: He said to
them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t
have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. (Luke 22:36)
Before
All Else Fails, Call For Help!: “Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray
hair, I will carry you. I made you and I will support you; I will carry
you and rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4 NET)
Debbie Legg is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
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True Dependence, True Freedom
One
of the stumbling blocks I had in accepting Christ was the fear that I would
have to give up things that were fun and follow a bunch of boring rules. It took a while, but I learned that Jesus
didn’t come and die to make us moral people. He came for much more--to speak good news, restore sight,
free captives, proclaim God’s favor. (Luke
4, Isaiah 61)
Did
you catch that? Jesus came to FREE us, from
the law of sin and death to a full and abundant life. (Romans 8:2, John 10:10) We can’t do it ourselves, no matter how much effort
or free will we exercise. Freedom comes only from the One who can free. (John 8:36)
Jesus
frees us FROM, not only from The Law, but also from other aspects of life as a
fallen person in a fallen world. Freedom
from peer pressure. Freedom from
worry. From addiction and idolatry. From jealousy, pride, selfishness. From the wounds we endure and from the lies
we believe about them.
Jesus
also frees us TO--to become all He created us to be, to pursue with abandon those
deep desires He placed in us, to love as He loves us--with a love so powerful
that nothing in the world can separate us from it. (Romans 8:38)
I
recently heard it said that captors can make their captives do anything, even
eat their own excrement, but they cannot make the captives love them. We are always free to make that choice. Freedom to love is the truest of all
freedoms.
Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8)
Debbie Legg is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Thursday, July 04, 2013
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Why We Do Not Have
Shirley: Father God, Sandra is having a rough time
right now.
God: Yes, she is. What would you like me to
do for her?
Shirley:
Please be with her, Father.
God:
I am already with her, just as I am always
with you.
Shirley:
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
There
is a lot about prayer I don’t know. One
thing I do know is that “Be Withs” are not effective. God is already with that person. If we want Him to do something we must ASK Him
to DO SOMETHING, something specific.
Do
you want healing? Ask for healing. Do you want blessing? Ask for it.
Comfort? Wisdom? Guidance?
Ask. Ask. Ask.
And then ask some more (Luke 18:1-8), and add some gratitude in there
(Phil 4:6).
You do not have because you do not ask
God (James 4:2). But
here is the caveat: When you
ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives… (James 4:3)
We
must pray according to His will. How can
we do that? The way Jesus did it: My Father,
if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as You will (Matt
26:39).
Even
so, there will be times He will tell us no.
The healing won’t come in this life.
The disaster will not be avoided.
How do we pray then?
Those
are some of the most difficult, heart-felt, agonizing prayers. Those are the times we pray what we know, in
gratitude--not what we see, and not what we feel. “God, I KNOW You love us. I KNOW You hear us. I KNOW You work all things for our good. Thank You for all these and more. I don’t want this, I don’t understand this, but
Your will be done.”
Ask
specifically. Submit to His will. Pray the truth of His Word with gratitude. Then wait patiently for Him to act (which may be
harder than the praying part). You’ll
experience things that a simple “Be With” could never accomplish.
Debbie Legg is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
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Heartburn, Hot Wheels and Sunday Morning Worship
You may be surprised to learn that when I leave Sunday
worship these days, more often than not, I am tired and frustrated. (That is if
I actually make it to church and I am not at home nursing the
latest victim of pink eye, ear infection or flu).
While I used to spend most Sunday worship services uplifted
and nourished, nowadays, it seems as if I spend the entire 60 minutes dragging
little feet out from underneath the pew, explaining for the 77th
time why we cannot go out to the playground yet, and assuring a certain shorty
in urgent, whispered, “I’m-not-playin” tones, that he needs to stop
crashing the cars. (I seriously RUE the day I ever decided it was a
good idea to allow my son to bring toys into the worship space. Rue. The. Day.)
To top it all off, because I step out to attend children’s church with my kid,
I can count on one hand the number of live sermons I’ve actually heard since
last Fall.
I miss hanging with Jesus on Sundays. It’s the truth.
You know what else is truth?
Worship is about focusing so much on Jesus that your heart
will burn within you as you begin to recognize Truth. That’s
worship. (Luke 24:32)
I worship every chance I get…in my car, in the moments
before I sleep, and even on walks when my unexpectedly pensive four-year-old
suddenly asks about heaven and the idea that someday one of us might arrive
before the other. I focus on Jesus and I pray for the words of Truth to offer
an assurance that will be worthy of his heart.
I worship often. But often, it just doesn't happen at church.
In answer to the Daily Fast Fuel question of the week, “When
you leave worship, what do you take with you?” I say this: “When I focus on
Jesus, and begin to recognize Truth, I take with me the message that God is
alive and well and deeply entrenched in the business of rebuilding, restoring,
and refreshing.”
It is this message that drives me to worship with
every available moment of my life until the shorty entrusted to my care, himself,
focuses so much on Jesus that his heart burns within him and he begins
to recognize Truth. And THEN, my friends, we will worship together…every chance
we get.
Maybe even on Sundays.
And then we’ll work on his brother. (Luke 24:34)
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
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Elizabeth: Perfect Imperfection
In the time of Herod king of Judea there
was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight
of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was
not able to conceive, and they were both very old. (Luke 1:5-7)
I
like this passage, and Elizabeth, because they remind me that you can do
everything right–love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; love
your neighbor as yourself; follow God “blamelessly”—but life will not be
perfect.
There
will be disappointments. There will be
pain. We will suffer. Some of it we bring on ourselves. Some we won’t “deserve.” But, everyone has an imperfect life. No one is immune.
Jesus
didn't come to earth and die on a cross so that we could be happy. God’s love runs much, much deeper than
that. Jesus came and died so we could be
made holy, and if infertility is what will bring holiness, He will use it.
Sometimes,
though, our trials are not about us.
While even the holiest of us can use some growth, Elizabeth’s barrenness
wasn't about her, but about God’s glory.
After all, what explanation can there be for a “very old” couple to
become pregnant other than that God did it?
Even
beyond our holiness and God’s own glory, God is interested in our hearts, that
we trust Him and grow more in love with Him.
Elizabeth and Zechariah were definitely brought closer to God through
their experience.
And
I am guessing that since all
the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea
people were talking about all these things (Luke 1:65), that quite a few
other people were also growing in holiness and glorifying God.
That’s
not due to Elizabeth’s and Zechariah’s perfect lives, but to their perfect God.
Debbie Legg is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
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Journey to the Nations: It’s a Different World in Here
In the last 10 years, I have participated in 22 mission
trips. Twenty-Two. You may be surprised
to discover that not one of them required a passport. Instead my mission trips
took place in locations like Lodge Grass, Montana; Onancock, Virginia; and Schuylkill
County, Pennsylvania.
Every one of my mission experiences has been within the
United States.
In Lodge Grass we served the people of the Crow Nation. They
had more than their own law enforcement there on the reservation. They had
their own language and lifestyle. The poverty was so severe, I saw a family of
six sharing a one-bedroom, single-wide trailer with holes in the walls. It was
another world.
In Onancock, we served a vast immigrant population. Many of
the kids in our “Kids’ Club” did not speak a word of English. Right there on
the Eastern Shore of Virginia, we encountered first generation Americans from
Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras. Their families came here for a
better life but were all found to be struggling in poverty amid gang violence. It
was another world.
In Schuylkill County, we served several small coal-mining
towns. I had thought America was the land of opportunity, but in talking with
local parents, one sensed the presence of a hopelessness in their poverty so
pervasive that it made one marvel at the difference a single industry could
make. It was another world.
What have I learned from all of this?
When it comes to mission work, you don’t have to travel far
to be a whole world away.
Now, dear friends, may you have the privilege to bring the Kingdom of God with
you to worlds unknown…be they near or far.
“The kingdom of God
is within you.” – Luke 17:20
Amen.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
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A Timely Letter to My Younger Self
Hi
Debbie!
Yes,
I know you just heard from me a couple of weeks ago when I wrote A Letter To My 18 Year-old Self as a guest post for Julie’s blog. This is
different. I need to tell you about an
overarching theme in your life, an area God will work on, but you will…um…resist.
It’s
about time management.
Stop
rolling your eyes and let me finish. This
isn’t about being lazy or watching too much tv.
This is about control—and who has it.
You
like to set your own schedule. You get snippy
when anyone messes with your plans. God’s
plans for your day (and life) are ALWAYS BETTER. DON’T fight it. Go with God’s flow.
There’s
more. God not only wants control of your
scheduled time, but also your unscheduled time—the time in your head, when you
plot out every possible scenario so you
know how to handle it when it happens (This includes all of those, “What I
Should Have Said” conversations).
You
imagine 1,000 ways a scene could play out, but it NEVER goes the way you think. God always goes with the 1001st
way, the one you never imagined. DON’T
WASTE YOUR TIME TRYING TO CONTROL WHAT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN.
Remember
these things:
1.
“God is always on time, rarely early.” He created time. His is perfect.
2.
Do not worry about…what you will say, for
the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke
12:11,12) Quit writing dialogue you’ll
never use. Focus on listening and hearing.
3. Corrie Ten Boom said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” He’s already
in tomorrow, preparing everything you need, to help you and not to harm you (Jeremiah 29:11).
Plan ahead and organize, but don’t stress, worry, manipulate or try to
control. Let God control your time. He will do an amazing job. You will not be sorry.
Love,
Me
PS—In
a few years, when your friend Steve tempts you to try the El Grande Burrito
with extra hot sauce, don’t do it. Trust
me. It won’t be pretty.
Debbie Legg is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
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Sara's Favorite Bible Verse
Sharon, one of my "spiritual moms", drew away and returned with small boxes for each of us. I knew what was inside. My heart raced. Opening the small box I saw a silver ring. Around its edges were Hebrew letters, that spelled out the verse I had requested:
"Fear not, little flock, it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32
We had each been asked to find a verse that was meaningful for us concerning our time in Cairo. I'd been stuck on this verse since the beginning of my Cairo adventure. I loved how Jesus refers to his disciples as his "little flock" - a small band of believers. He encourages them by sharing how God desires to give them the Kingdom- they who may feel so small. It's God's delight to do so. It encourages my heart that God loves to gather his people together and give them access to the Kingdom. Sharon exhorted us as we left that we were to take what God had done in us and bring it to others wherever God takes us. I look at my ring everyday, remembering God's faithfulness in building community in my life and giving us the Kingdom.
Last week I had a special opportunity to pass this verse along to 22 third graders. I made them necklaces, imprinting my ring around the edges. I told them about my ring and how I wanted to build family wherever I went, and see how Jesus would show up in the midst. It was their turn now. I encouraged them that as they left my classroom, they were to take the love God had poured out and give it freely to others - to let others know they could be a part of the family too - and that God was delighted to give us the Kingdom, no matter how small our flock was.
May you too be encouraged. It is the Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Pssst. Pass it on.
Thursday, June 07, 2012
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Remember the Resurrection
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"He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified, and on the third day be raised again.'
They remembered His words. (italics and bold emphasis mine)
Sometimes, we forget so much of what He has told us.
What do YOU need to remember being told by the very One who conquered sin and death on our behalf?
This week, we will celebrate the Resurrection.
And this week, I specifically pray that you will be reminded of the promises He has made to you.
Remember.
And live.
Joline Atkins is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Saturday, April 07, 2012
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