November 2, 2008

A time to SHINE!

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Of all the week’s in our nation’s history, I can’t think of a better time for Christians to really SHINE!

I began my study this morning diving into Philipians 2. I knew that our message today would be based on the passage and it also contains my “life verses” (vs. 3-5). But within the hour I was finding myself camping on vs. 14-18 and really trying to understand Paul’s message to the church of Philippi (and us).

Here he is in prison, probably awaiting his trial or something and he decides to write about how everything should be done without complaining or arguing. Why? So that this world could see “bright lights” and so that no matter what happens to him, he will know that the message and teaching he brought to them was not in vain. Hold firm, he says, and rejoice.

Well, that’s convicting! These past few weeks before the election have shown the world everyone’s true colors — and unfortunately, it’s not pretty. Not only has there been backstabbing and vicious mudslinging against the two “sides,” but even believers are arguing with each other. And when they are not arguing, my fellow co-laborers for Christ are complaining! Over and over I have heard… “Well, what are we going to do if…” Yeah, I’m guilty too.

Obviously, I have no idea what the outcome will be. But I do know one thing – we (Christians, that is) have a tremendous opportunity before us. SHINE! Rejoice! God will not be surprised by the result. He will still be very much in control. And who knows, maybe we will all be motivated to share Jesus with a bit more urgency than we have in the past.

Father – we pray for this nation’s leadership, no matter who ends up in the oval office. And I pray for all of us to remember how You have called us to live… as “bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Amen.

 

October 27, 2008

You’re Killin’ Me!

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Dear Father –

You have provided mountain tops and valleys throughout my journey. And no matter what or where, more often than not I seem to forget that You are at the center of everything in my life. It’s not that I don’t love You. It’s not that I don’t know You are there. It’s just that in the midst of everything my heart and mind drift away… and focus inward. And it’s easy. I can even look like I’m centered on You on the outside, but on the inside I’m seriously self-centered.

But You know my heart, don’t You? And little by little You’re getting to me. You knew when You called me to a church where communion was offered EVERY Sunday that I wouldn’t be able to resist You, didn’t You? You knew that a message series on pride would hit me right between the eyes, didn’t You?

You know I want to run. You know I don’t want to do it anymore. You know I’m tired. You know, don’t You? You know my next step before it happens, and You know exactly where I’m at.

Yeah, You’re killing ME. And I think that’s exactly what You’ve planned all along. I do want to serve You. I think… Can I serve you and still bring ME along? No? Well, I’m not sure how that works then, but I guess I’m gonna learn cuz at the rate You’re going there won’t be much of ME left soon! And that’t a GREAT thing!

Letting go little by little, Your daughter

 

October 20, 2008

Bittersweet Transitions

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Fall has always been my favorite season. When I was a little girl I couldn’t wait for new school clothes, new friends, and a new teacher. As I got older, it seemed as if it was always the season for new beginnings. And since 1994, being involved with Dare 2 Share, it has also meant the opening of a new student conference tour season – the fruition of months and months of hard work and planning.

Almost always these “new beginnings” are positive. But this season has brought some transitions that hold a bittersweet place in my heart:

  • Ministry friends move on – More than one close friend I’ve done ministry beside for years has been called to a new mission. But Carol Ann’s departure this month has hit me the hardest. I have been serving beside this wonderful woman for over 6 years and I can’t imagine doing ministry without her. I know God is going to use her in amazing ways to directly serve those in need in her new role. So how can I argue with that?
  • Rick reaches 50 – My incredible husband has spent half his life with me! That in itself is remarkable. I am SO thankful that his MS is stable and he remains in pretty good health – but my heart is broken because he continues to struggle with his job. He is the most loyal person I know and has weathered a lot of company ups and downs but is daily reaching the edge of his tolerance. Pray for God’s wisdom for him, it isn’t easy for a 50-year-old to embark on a new career.
  • TJ is getting ready to graduate – Tim has worked so hard! And although he has changed schools and majors, his degree fits him well. A bachelor’s in broadcast production with minors in interactive and digital media. Well done, son! He is a gifted writer and editor with an eye for understanding the audience. I am excited for him and nervous for him all at the same time.
  • New mission at Dare 2 Share – We are finalizing a new mission statement and with it will come more focus. I can’t tell you how excited that makes me! We have gone back to our “roots” so to speak and I truly believe the change is God-ordained. Now comes the hard part of shedding away those things that don’t fit – and while I recognize that this is necessary for us in many ways, it is still a fairly painful process.
  • New church home – We decided to begin worshipping at Northern Hills Church. We love the format, the people, really just about everything! Except the drive, that is. It’s 30-40 minutes on a great day, but it’s worth it. We have met some new friends and it’s been exciting but I feel the “tug” in my spirit as my connections with old friends has trickled away to virtually non existent. I miss them terribly and wish I could be in two places at once.

Transitions are always exciting because they bring the new and unknown, the fresh air of change. Bitter and sweet.

 

October 5, 2008

New Strength

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Yesterday I took some time to catch up and ended up watching a talk my friend, Doug Fields, gave at last year’s National Youth Ministry Convention. I was at the convention but didn’t have the opportunity to hear him. I was surprised by his vulnerability as he talked about how deficiant he felt when it came to caring conversations. He spent some time laying out what he called “faith blockers” and I quickly began to resonate with what he was saying. It’s a great talk for anyone in ministry, so if you have time check it out.

As Doug was summing up he brought the audience’s attention to Isaiah 40. Oh yeah, I thought to myself, I’m familiar with that passage. It’s the one that talks about the Lord’s sovereignty – “our everlasting God.” And as I moved into the next thing for the day I found myself humming the popular Christian worship song as well.

But for some reason the passage was on my heart again this morning. Could it be that these past few weeks of feeling worn out and weary were getting to me? As I opened my Bible I acknowledged my emotional state of being of late. Then I dove right in.

I prayed and meditated on the whole passge for some time. I read it out loud to Rick. And as I looked down at the words on the page again, something jumped out. In verse 31 it says, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.” New strength. Wow! NEW strength! Then I remembered that our God isn’t constrained by time like we are. He has the ability (and the desire) to constantly renew.

I am so encouraged that no matter where or when or for how long I am tired and weak, I just need to trust in Him and He will provide NEW STRENGTH. So my prayer is that when I am tossing and turning during those sleepless nights or wrestling to solve a problem or make an important decision during the day – that I may rest on this truth and be renewed.

 

September 22, 2008

All In

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Do you ever flip through television channels? Well, I don’t very often (mostly because I honestly believe that it takes testosterone to operate a remote control). But the other day I happened to be folding some laundry and decided to see what was on in order to make the chore a bit less routine. Somehow or another I ended up being intrigued by the “World Poker Tournament” I came across. I now know of at least three men who have played professionaly and I find that pretty interesting. I have never played the game personally, but obviously it’s becoming quite the “sport” (?)

I watched as a sunglass-wearing, straight-faced young man declared he was “all in.” It must have been a big deal, because the commentators went on and on about how strategic a move it was. Well, I didn’t stick around long enough to find out what happened — yep, I kept flipping! But I found myself thinking about it again while I was at church this Sunday. (sorry Rob!)

Rob was preaching on Romans 12 talking to us about our bodies being a “living sacrifice” and exhorting us to consider how God had gifted each of us to serve the Body of Christ. That’s when I thought… am I “all in?” Have I really given Him everything I have?

Knowing nothing about poker, I looked up the term on wiki. Apparently when the player goes all in he is betting everything he has. But here’s the catch: he can’t win any more than he has from any one player. So, in essence, he “caps” the pot.

What more do we gain by going “all in” for our Savior! He promises that our return will come back many times. We may not see our return this side of eternity, but it is a SURE THING!

 

September 14, 2008

Remain in Me

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For years I’ve struggled understanding the verb “abide” in the Christian vernacular. I’m not sure why. The word makes sense to me in other contexts. For instance, I am a “law-abiding” citizen! So this morning I happened to be spending some time in John. John 15 to be exact.

I know the Lord has got a lot more “pruning” to do as I continue to strive to remain in Him. But my desire is to be a Christ-follower that is not only faithful, but also fruitful. He has promised that if we remain in Him our joy will overflow! I know that I must consistently spend time with Him in order for this to happen. For me, it’s too easy to fall into a busy routine and focus on other things. That’s when I catch myself too… reacting to a crisis in the flesh, forgetting to put people before projects, forsaking balance in my life, feeling depleted and empty at the end of the day.

What an encouragement it is that Jesus considers us a FRIEND! I know I can go to Him any time, anywhere in oder to get centered and remain in Him.

 

July 21, 2008

Independance Day

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I realize July is half over, but how was your celebration of our nation’s independance? Rick and I were able to get away for the weekend and spent it up at Red Feathers Lakes, in the mountains north of Ft. Collins. It was a fun trip and we were able to see a fireworks show that rivaled any we had ever seen in the metro area. I spent time sleeping and reading, but mostly sleeping. I was able to finish The Shack though and that got me thinking about something.

I decided to read the book because it was given to me by a close friend and I heard a tremendous amount of buzz. Some good. Some bad. I personally had to put the book down for awhile at least once as I wrestled with the way some of the ideas were being communicated (suppose that’s the trouble with Christian fiction??). Anyway, no matter what you think of the book or it’s theology, there is one message that spoke to me louder than life.

Humanity’s constant insistance on independance.

Throughout Mack’s (the main character) encounter with the three members of the Trinity he is consistently faced with the implications of this one simple idea. And even though it’s been a few weeks now since I’ve put the book on the shelf, I keep considering my own independance and wondering if I will ever learn how to fully depend on God.

From strong passages like 2 Corinthians 1:5-10 to simple ones like Proverbs 16:3 my head begins to understand. But then I pull into the garage after a long day and reflect back… did I really depend on Him fully throughout the day? Nope. Failed miserably.

This last week I had one particularly tough day. I did everything I could to shake the overwhelming sense of just wanting to drive off a cliff:

  • Prayed and asked the Lord for immediate guidance.
  • Tried to focus on the task at hand – be a professional and don’t sweat it.
  • Talked with Rick.
  • Took a long, hot shower.
  • Prayed some more.
  • Talked to TJ.
  • Had a good cry.
  • Prayed some more.
  • Went to bed early.

Yeah. I still have a long way to go.

 

June 24, 2008

Crazy!

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That was the expression that sent me and my wonderful hubby into side-splitting, almost crying but not quite, laughter during our 25-year anniversary getaway this past weekend.

There we were just enjoying a nice meal at our newly discovered great breakfast spot in Carbondale when somehow I responded to a comment with a very nonchalant “crazy.” “Who did you pick that up from?” Rick asks. “I didn’t pick it up from anyone, it’s mine,” I declare. And, well, if you know Rick you know what followed. Yep. A very sarcastic “oh really…” Then it happened – lots and lots of LOL!

What a great few days in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been (Redstone, CO) with the most fabulous person I have ever known (my husband). Along with the postcard picture perfect scenery and unbelievable weather, Rick made this one of our most memorable excursions ever.

It started with 25 long-stem roses – one for each year – as I walked in the door on Wednesday evening after a long day at work. Then we headed out for one amazing anniversary meal at Texas de Brazil – a champagne toast, endless european salad bar, and all the meat you can eat. The kicker was creme brulee (my most favorite desert in the world) with a hint of citrus! Yum!

In Redstone, we stayed in a cozy and charming victorian cottage right on main street, but well hidden by incredible landscaping. We felt like a part of this quaint community. The people were friendly and there were a couple of great food spots and some fun shops to visit. It wasn’t packed with tourists (which was so nice) but we did spend one afternoon in Glenwood (about an hour away) to visit the Strawberry Days Festival – plenty of folks there!

We went fishing and belly boating, toured the 100-year-old castle, explored the history of the area, slept in, spent time in our own backyard hot tub, watched a movie, shared thoughts on a Louie Giglio video, barbequed, slept in, and just enjoyed each other’s company!!

Thank you Rick- for 25 incredible years of partnership! I love growing old with you!

 

June 12, 2008

Where will you eat dinner?

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My quest continues and my studies have led me to Proverbs 9. God paints a picture of a beautiful banquet, in a beautiful home, with a beautifully set table. And the invitation to this feast is sent to all, even the simple. The host of this wonderful meal? Wisdom. All we have to do is show up and partake.

But wait… later in the chapter it looks there’s another option available too. Yep, it’s wisdom’s counterpart, folly. Her feast sounds interesting, maybe even a bit more tasteful. Hmm…

As I study further and read through the notes in my Bible it’s clear what the passage is trying to say. Folly is offering a sort of heigtened “fast food ” experience that could get me into trouble. Ever eat something that tastes super good but then later you pay for it? I think that’s the point here.

Folly appeals to your senses, your emotions – where wisdom appeals more to your head, what you know to be right if you’d slow down and think about it.

I want to eat at wisdom’s table, how about you?

 

May 14, 2008

Wisdom in sorrow?

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I recently lost a young friend. She was 27 years old and six months pregnant with her third child. I had first met Lois when she was a high school student and joined my senior high girls small group. She was full of energy and joy for the Lord. Later, she came to work at Dare 2 Share while she was in college. She lit up the office with her smile.

Although I hadn’t kept in touch much with Lois over the past several years, her sudden passing jolted me in a way I can’t really explain. I struggled with a heavy cloud of sadness for days and still haven’t quite been able to shake it. I keep trying to grasp why the Lord would allow me (someone not that close to her) to feel this way. I even considered that maybe I was struggling with depression and this tragedy just triggered it somehow.

Then on Sunday, as I continued my “wisdom quest,” the Lord took me to Ecclesiastes 7. Here I was studying Soloman, and God decides to talk to me about death! Look at verses 3-4:

Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

My Bible’s notes talk about how people avoid death, not wanting to face it. I have always been that way. As a matter of fact, it’s easy for me to think of at least 3 funerals I purposely didn’t attend.

I think Solomon is trying to tell us that our sorrow should be used to help us understand how to priortize our lives and to give us a sense of urgency to fulfill our purpose here on this earth. As a matter of fact, look what I found a few chapters later in chapter 9:

Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

Thank you, Lois, for your reminder that we must live for the Lord every minute of every day! I will miss you!

 

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