Mothers and Daughters

Hi, Friends. Sorry I haven't been able to blog for a few weeks - computer viruses! I think we are healed - at least this one for now.

And I have had so many thoughts about mothers and daughters, I don't even know where to begin.

For starters, I'm so thankful to God for a child of each gender, because they both have taught me so much about life, love, and God. My daughter is my first-born (like I am), possesses some perfectionist tendencies (like I do), is very driven (like I am), and tends to be a bit bossy at times (like I do). In sum, she's pretty much my mini-me. As I've observed, many daughters are quite similar to their mothers - and with good reason. We're the ones they imitate (like when she's two and she struts around the house with her pretend phone and mimics your every word), and we're the ones they look to for that example of womanhood. It's no wonder we're so alike. And that has its benefits and its draw-backs when it comes to our relationships.

How about the fact that you can give your daughter a look and she knows exactly what you're thinking? Ever try that with your son? Yeah . . . not so much.

And how about the joys of sharing the same tastes and activities? A mom told me the other day that her 7-year-old asked her if they could go to a coffee shop, have a hot drink and read their books together at the table. Daughters can't necessarily share all that with their dads, but there's always Mom when you have an itch to go to the mall or watch a chick-flick.

Or what about the need to talk to one another? My best friend from high school lives far from her mom, but they talk every day. What do they talk about? Silly things like dinner and clothes, and serious things like raising kids and loving their husbands. When daughters are grown, we even become good at meeting these conversational needs for our mothers. My mom called me last night in distress and tears. Once she had shared her heart with me, though, she said she felt so much better just to be able to say it aloud to me.

One more thing I'm learning about mothers and daughters, though, is even though we assume they understand our love, we still need to verbalize it. Just like I wrote last time about being sure I tell my son in creative ways that he is a priority to me, I need to express my love to my daughter as well. I've left it unsaid with her plenty of times. Unfortunately I haven't left the criticisms unsaid. "That shirt doesn't match" "Your hair is a tangled mess" "Why can't you pick up your room better?" I sometimes think that because our daughters are so similar to us, and because we are leading by example, that we imagine them as little extensions of ourselves. And then we start treating them like we treat ourselves - critical, harsh, exacting. Am I hitting a chord here?

I remember my mom being so great at encouraging me. I think it may be because she saw how much her words of affirmation meant to me, how much I sought her approval and praise. I do remember (and still hear it often) her telling me that I could do anything I set my heart to, and how proud she was of me. She tells me now that I turned out great IN SPITE of her parenting, but I believe much of my success and sense of self-worth is BECAUSE of the mother she was. Though she was demanding at times (as we all are), I knew she valued me and loved me for ME.

So lately, I've tried to remind myself that my daughter needs to hear and see how much I love her and think the world of her. She needs my encouragement, not just my correction. I believe we all need to express our love carefully and deliberately to our daughters, instead of assuming that they know what we're thinking. Let's write our thoughts in little notes on pretty paper, whisper how wonderful we think they're turning out to be in their ears at night, take them out on special "dates" to places they like, and play with their hair as we express their potential to them. Because, like our sons, our daughters too may question our priorities based on how we spend our time or how we constantly tell them what to do and how to be.

I, for one, never want my daughter to question whether or not I love her as deeply as I truly do.

I love you more than . . .

OK, confession time.

My son and I play a very silly game. Sometimes we'll be playing it and my husband will just look at us askance like we're from a different planet. But I still defend that it holds purpose.


Before I tell you about the game, I want to explain that I believe there is a unique bond between a mother and a son. It's different than any other relationship on the planet. I'm mostly at a loss for words to describe it, but I think non-sexually romantic and sweet is how I'd start. There's somewhat of a mutual admiration and fierce devotion that is very special for mothers and sons, and I've seen it in action in other families as well.

And that will help you to understand our little game. So I'll say "I love you," and he'll say "I love you more" and then I'll say "I love you more than ______________," and he will try to one-up me and say what he loves me more than. There's times it's more hilarious than one could possibly imagine, like "I love you more than band-aids," and then there's the really deep ones, like this one he said to me the other night: "I love you more than Star Wars Legos."

"Whoa," I said. And I knew I'd have to come up with something huge to top that.

"I love you more than books."

"Oh," he replied in amazement. "That's a lot. 'Cause you really love books, Mom." Yes, it is a lot, Sweetie. But, honestly, there's not even a comparison.

Which made me wonder: do our kids see where our priorities lie? Do they know we'd take a bullet for them? Do they understand how they rank in matters of importance? Because the average observer might not. By the way I spend my time on errands, cleaning, cooking, working, reading, writing, cleaning, cooking, laundry, talking on the phone, sending e-mails - well, you can't really tell my priorities by how I spend my time. And to hear me talk to him sometimes you might wonder as well. One time my kids asked me why I was so bossy. Yeah. Ouch. So I'll keep playing my game with him because you know what? Some days it's all I've got. My one chance to show him how much he really means to me.

So bring on the rolling-of-eyes, Husband, Dear. I love you more than books too.

Next time . . . daughters!

Bible Quiz Friday!

Well, I'm not giving out prizes this time, but I think we can still have fun, don't you?

So here's a doozy:

When Moses and Aaron took a census of the Israelites in the dessert, a) which demographic did they count and b) which tribe was the largest?

Bonus: In your opinion, what is the significance of this? Can you draw any life application from such a detail?

The first to comment with the correct answer gets a round of applause from yours truly!

Keep reading God's Love Letter every day!

Empty of everything else

So my newest epiphany is this: every day a follower of Christ should take a few moments to do what I'll call a heart-flushing. And before you think I've gone schizo, let me clarify.

If we look at the state of our hearts, we might find a lot of clutter. Worry, guilt, shame, fear, materialism, ambition, pride, desire, pain, selfishness, and so on. If we were to write down the contents of our hearts, it would not take long to fill up the notepad. And by necessity of life, our hearts will be filled with these things daily. And I believe God expects us to face them and deal with them. After all, He's not in the business of denial. But if we desire to experience the fullness of the Presence of His Spirit, we must make time to focus on Him without distraction from anything else.

Here's what I read last night. It from The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, a 17th Century Monk from France. Brace yourself:

"I know that for the right practice of [spirituality] the heart must be empty of all other things, because God will possess the heart alone; and as He cannot possess it alone without emptying it of all besides, so neither can He act there, and do in it what He pleases, unless it be left vacant to Him."

So is my heart left vacant to Christ? Am I able, even for a few moments, to flush everything else and let Him claim it? Are you?

Granted, this is no easy task. Life is hard. Sin is tempting. Our enemy is cunning. Stress abounds.

But with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)

Jesus said to all of them, "If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing to give up their lives daily to follow me." -Luke 9:23 (NCV)

Some people might try to tell you that being a follower of Christ is easy, that all your problems will be solved if you ask Him to save you, that He will give you whatever you want just because you ask for it.

Don't believe them. Following Christ is expensive. It will cost you everything you have. It will be painful at times, and the trials will not cease until you meet Him in the air. He will ask you for that which you count most dear: your heart. He will want to take it over and reside within you, draw as near to you as your very breath.

And you will love Him even more than you thought possible. He will help you to cleanse your heart of all else save His Presence, and then He will fill you with His love, peace, power, and comfort. You'll chase after Him and ask Him for it.

The most beautiful part of it all? He'll be here waiting for you to do it all over again tomorrow.

Flush.

Does the Bible ever make you laugh out loud?

You know, God does have a sense of humor. The Bible says laughter is medicine for the soul.

Like this one: Job 19:17a (NIV) "My breath is offensive to my wife . . ." Yeah. Been there.

And how about when the Bible talks about bad drivers? 2 Kings 9:20 (NIV)"The lookout reported, "He has reached them, but he isn't coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi--he drives like a madman." I guess road-rage isn't a new concept.

It's good to remember that God is funny and He likes to laugh with us. I bet He thinks we're pretty hilarious at times too.

What about you? Has the Bible ever made you laugh? What jokes have you shared with God lately?

If you haven't had a good laugh with Jesus recently, try it. Let Him tickle you, like every good parent does. It's one of the countless ways He loves us!

First Book Deal (kind-of)

Well, today I came home from my fabulous Pastors' Wives Retreat to a surprise - a box of 10 of my new books: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Mothers. My story is one of the 101 devotions! I haven't read the others yet, but I'm sure they are wonderful, and I'm excited to make it a part of my daily time with God. If you'd like to check it out, click here

And, thank you, friends and family for all of your love, support, and prayers along my writing journey.

P.S. I'm thinking of doing Bible Literacy trivia once a week from now on. I just had so much fun with you last week!

Biblical Literacy - Part 4

Can I just say that I've had a lot of fun with you this week? If you're new here, let me just re-cap again: we're spending a few days this week testing our Biblical Literacy, and by that I mean - how well do we know the Word of God and how it applies to our lives? Please go back and quiz yourself to see if you know the answers from the past few days.

Yesterday I asked you about the Gifts of the Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit, and I got two really great answers. I'm really proud of us so far! I'd just like to add my explanation of the between the two, in support of what Denise and Jama wrote yesterday.

The Gifts of the Spirit are given to every Christ-follower upon his or her confession of faith in Jesus for eternal Salvation, and are given for the two-fold purpose of 1. edification of the Church 2. spreading of the Gospel into all the World. We should all aim to use our gifts consistently. The Fruit of the Spirit, on the other hand, are evidences of God's power in our lives to transform us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus, through the working of the Holy Spirit in us. Every Christ-follower should generally see a growth of these fruits throughout the course of his or her life. If you're not seeing more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, I would suggest you need to do one of the following: 1. Check yourself - do you accept Jesus as your Savior? Is He the Lord of your life? (2 Corinthians 13:5-6) 2. Surrender once again and daily to the Holy Spirit and His influence over your life. Cooperate with His will and allow Him to mold you into the person God created you to be. Remember: maturity is gradual.

Okay, so on to our next question for a prize! If you don't remember the rules, here they are again: open-Book, provide scripture reference to back-up your answer, and the first one to comment below with the correct answer wins a super-great prize!

Question #4: Who was the reigning king in Judah when Babylon invaded the nation of God's people and sent them into Exile, and in what year did this happen? For bonus points: Explain the significance of the Exile in the History of God's people. (I told you they'd get harder)

Ready, Set . . .

Biblical Literacy - Part 3

If you're just joining us, we've been doing something new this week - a test in our Biblical literacy. We've also been learning some more about the Bible and what Jesus wants us to know. Yesterday I pulled a dirty prank and asked you to find a reference for something that's not really in the Bible, but many people quote it as if it were. Dawn and Jim knew their stuff, though, and we talked about how it's important that we know the difference between Bible and mythology. BIG difference.

And before I ask my question for the prize of the day, I'd like to talk to you a little about one reason NOT to study the Bible: Pride in your own knowledge.

Ironic, I know, but truly God - here's what I read from my daily reading plan this morning: "Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels . . . What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either." - Matthew 23:5, 13 (NLT).

Ouch.

Please take a minute today to read all of Matthew 23. It just might be the most hard-nosed portion of Jesus' ministry on earth. He berates the teachers of the Scriptures over and over, saying their knowledge of the Bible is not enough because their actions do not align with, but rather contradict the law they've memorized. It's all a show. A Broadway-like production featuring pride, pride, and more pride. And it absolutely disgusted Jesus.

So, as we talk about learning, knowing, and understanding the Bible, there's one big reason NOT to, and that's for flaunting your knowledge in front of others. Don't. If that's your reason for learning, just put it down now and pray first. Ask God to show you what His Word is truly purposed for: redemptive love. He shows us His love for humanity, His sacrifice to redeem us, and subsequent ways we can reciprocate that love back to Him and others. THAT, my friends is why I believe Biblical Literacy is important.

"Okay, okay . . . get to the question already, Robyn," you say.

Here goes. Remember, it's open-Book, and I want references. The first to answer in the comments gets a super-fantastic prize. And please chime in about your thoughts on Biblical Literacy - I'm curious what you think, too.

#3 Name at least 3 Spiritual Gifts and at least 3 Fruits of the Spirit and explain the difference between the two categories. (see, I told you they'd get a little harder each day.)

Ready, set . . .

Biblical Literacy - Part 2

Yesterday Jim answered correctly that a gentle answer turns away wrath. May we remember that in our moments of heated discussions and arguments.

To re-cap, we're doing a series of Bible trivia questions as a test of our Biblical literacy. Since the Bible is the basis of our beliefs (or, rather, it should be), we want to know it. For me personally, I'm a perpetual student of the Bible. I'm absolutely enthralled with the fact that I learn something new, fresh, and full of life-application every time I open it. No joke! And I think I open it just about every day.

I'd also like to take a moment to challenge you to read the Bible from cover to cover if you never have. Truthfully, you might come across some confusing or boring passages, but you know what - KEEP GOING! I have realized that after I've read the entire context of the Bible, when I go back and read those parts again, they actually make more sense to me and sometimes it's exciting to see how even a set of ancient laws or a list of names can come alive with discovery when I see how it fits into the mosaic puzzle of the whole of Scripture. Try it. I dare you.

Here comes our second test, but even if you're not the first to answer, put your response in the comments too, as well as your thoughts on what I asked yesterday: Would you call yourself Biblically literate? How would you define the term? How important is it to you?

The first one to comment with the correct answer gets a super-fantastic prize. Open-book. One question per day. Scripture reference to back up your answer. They'll get harder as we go.

Ready, set . . .

#2 (Fill in the blank) Heaven helps those who help ________________. (remember to include your scripture reference to back up your answer)

Is Biblical Literacy Important?

Well, you probably already know my answer, but I wonder what others might think.

Most of the population might answer, "Well sure, if you're a Christian." However, the Barna Research Group might beg to differ. As it turns out, reading, understanding, and knowing the Bible isn't as important to Christians as one might assume, or as it once was. "Less than one out of every five born again adults (19%) has a biblical worldview, which is unchanged in the past 15 years." (George Barna, 2009)

So, let me get this straight: they claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, but they don't know what He believed or said - pre- or post-incarnate? They claim to know God, but they've never read His Love-Letter all-the-way-through? They go to church and let the preacher spoon-feed them, but they don't pull up a chair to partake of His feast Monday through Saturday?

Hmmm . . . doesn't quite add up does it?

What about you? Would you call yourself Biblically literate? How would you define the term? How important is it to you?

Tell you what, let's play a little game. I'll give a surprise to the first person to comment with the correct answer to my Bible trivia this week. Open-book. One question per day. Scripture reference to back up your answer. They'll get harder as we go.

Ready, set . . .

#1. According to the Bible, what turns away wrath?

(you never know, it might be a really great surprise I've got behind my back!)

fighting with love

I recently attended a conference where I was able to learn from a panel of "experts" on justice and compassion. These are people who are on the front lines - doing the hard work of acting on behalf of those in need of a voice and a friend, as well as writing and speaking on their behalf to bring awareness to those not yet involved in this lifestyle.
Here are a few bites to chew on:

"You can't be greedy and fight against greed." - John Perkins

"There was a point when I realized that conversion was not only about my relationship with Jesus, but about conversion of the world and its institutions of injustice . . . We can't divorce justice from the Gospel." - Lisa Sharon-Harper

Jesus was God walking on earth, turning everything we are on its head. He was the ultimate hero for justice. And we are His followers. Should not our lives resemble His? Hanging out with sinners and poor people . . . establishing reconciliation where there is quarrelling and war . . . speaking out for children in need of a blessing . . . challenging the attitudes of the greedy and hypocritical . . . meeting the needs of the sinful with extravagant Grace . . . these are the actions that characterized His life. Are they the actions of Christ-followers?

I would say not always. I would even go so far as to say not often. Too often we are characterized by our desire to be blessed, our judgemental thoughts, words, and actions, and our need for power and control. And, my brothers and sisters, this must change.

"Lord, send revival, start with me . . " -Matt Redmond

Are you ready? Are you already in the midst of this battle? How has God called you to be a justice fighter?

Let us fight the powers and institutions of injustice, and let us use the foremost weapon that we alone carry: Love. May we be warriors of Justice every day. In our awareness, our words, and especially our actions. God has called us to it. Jesus has led the way. The Holy Spirit has and will continue to help us.

"This is the kind of fasting I have chosen:
Loosen the chains of wickedness,
untie the straps of the yoke,
let the oppressed go free,
and break every yoke.
Share your food with the hungry,
take the poor and homeless into your house,
and cover them with clothes when you see them naked.
Don’t refuse to help your relatives." -Isaiah 58:6-7 (GWT)

Obedient Thoughts

How much control do you have over your thoughts? A lot? Not much at all? If you were to engage in a little meta-cognition, what would you find? A disciplined, self-controlled thought-life, or one of random, chaotic, lascivious indulgence?

If you think about your own thoughts, and even the thoughts of others around you, what you'll find is a wide spectrum on the meter of intentionality. It seems some people are able to use their minds for positive purpose and direction, yet others seem to be floundering, wavering, even drowning in their own thoughts, or in the thoughts of others. Why is this?

It's a matter of Spiritual Discipline. Notice I did not say SELF discipline, because it goes beyond our own human abilities to control the direction of our thoughts. It takes a profusion of help from and cooperation with the Holy Spirit. If by your own power you try to reign in your thoughts, you'll be straining against a runaway team of wild stallions. But if you continually surrender to God's influence over your mind, and fill your thoughts with His Word, you might just find yourself leading a well-trained mare before a smoothly drawn carriage.

"Of course we are human, but we don’t fight like humans. The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. With them we destroy people’s defenses, that is, their arguments and all their intellectual arrogance that oppose the knowledge of God. We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ." - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (GWT)

God has lovingly granted us weapons to use in fighting this battle in our minds. We are not left defenseless. May we use what He has given us, these powerful weapons of Spiritual renewal and regeneration to destroy the negative thoughts of others, as well as the chaotic internal workings of our own minds. What are these weapons, you may ask? The Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), and the Gifts of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). May we learn to wield these divine weapons as we surrender to the Spirit's leadership, both in our actions and our thoughts. We can ask God to make our hearts and minds pleasing to Him (Psalm 19:14). And if we do ask, He will help.

endurance lessons from a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer

Over the past few days, I've been loving both pastoral epistles to Timothy from Paul. They are so profound, not only to pastors and church leaders, but to everyone - so practical and thought-provoking, so life-changing, if we'll allow it.

Yesterday I was completely smitten with this one:

"Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor." - 2 Timothy 2:3-6 (NLT)

I love how real Paul is here, instructing his young padawan-learner, Timothy, in the delicate art of ministering to a church of sinners and new disciples. Here's my own paraphrase of the chapter: Shepherding this flock will not be easy, but the Lord will help you and give you strength. After all, Jesus is our example, and even He faced suffering and trials. When you come up against opposition remember these three victorious examples as well:

* a devoted soldier who doesn't get caught up in civilian affairs that don't concern him, but rather keeps his focus on his loyalty to his commander. (Remember that we serve THE Commander, and His orders are always for the best of both the troops and also for victory on the war-front.)

* an honest ball-player who doesn't cheat just to win. He plays by the rules and wins the noble way so that no one can question the validity of his trophy in the end. (Remember, righteousness is the good and prosperous way that true champions live.)

* a diligent farmer who toils for his share of the produce. In the end he is entitled to partake in the fruit of his labor because he didn't give up when the work was hard or the drought seemed insurmountable. (Remember, it takes time to grow something from seed to harvest - be it apples, oranges, or a healthy church body.)


I know this will seem like a no-brainer, but we're not in heaven yet. Life on earth is hard work, and once you become a Christ-follower, you don't all-of-the-sudden get to skate by on easy street (contrary to some beliefs). Devotion, honesty, and diligence are key to living the lives God has destined for us here on earth, so let's hunker down and get 'er done! Heaven will come someday soon, and there will no longer be a need for such efforts. We'll all be made perfect in our devotion to the Lord, there will be nothing but honest workings in the new heavens and earth, and we'll no longer have to toil for what we need - God will have it all done for us!

For the time being, let us keep our eyes on Jesus! Though He faced trials, troubles, and persecution, He was able to fight the good fight until the End, and He will help us to do the same.

30-days for me challenge

Ok, so I'm responding to fellow-blogger, Amber, and her challenge to take care of my body for the next 30 days. Starting tomorrow (7/23), we can set some goals together, keep one another posted, share tips and secrets, and keep each other accountable to do something positive for ourselves.



And, for those of you who know that I try to live Biblically (if it's not in Those Pages, it shouldn't be in mine), try this one on for size - no fitting room or full-length mirrors necessary:

"You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God." -1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Paul instructs here that it is a good thing to take care of our physical bodies because it is the residence of the Holy Spirit. Just as people took care of their Tabernacle or Temple in Bible times, and just as we care for the maintenance of our church buildings, we should put effort into caring for our bodies. Not just for me, but for Him. Because as much as I love me, I REALLY love the Holy Spirit. And I want my body to be a nice, hospitable, welcoming, and aesthetically pleasing place for Him to come in, put up His feet, and fill to overflowing with His presence. (Pardon the slightly melodramatic metaphor.)

OK, then. So here's my goal for next week: I'd like to carve 30 minutes out of five days next week to exercise. I've got my work-outs recorded on the DVR (faithfulworkouts.com), and I'd also like to give up sugary sweets and treats as well. I never feel worse about mistreating my body than after I've binged on too much ice cream or brownies. I WILL NOT DO IT! And the Holy Spirit will help me to have the self-control to stay away from sweets, because that's a part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5).

Won't you join me? You can go to Amber's blog to see more information here.

Stepping out of the traffic

"Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything." - Psalm 46:8 (Msg.)

In light of the sermon this week and the powerful message God sends us, I think it would be beneficial to think about HOW we might go about stepping out of the traffic of our lives. So while it's important to realize that busyness happens, and that even Jesus was busy, we've somehow got to figure out how to regularly and purposefully get away from the hectic pace to be alone with Him.

I've heard of and tried several ways of doing this, and I think above all, it's important to know that this will look different for each individual Christ-follower. For some, (including myself) this will include carving several minutes out of each day to read God's love letter/instruction-manual-for-life-on-earth, the Bible. I'm a reader, though. I devour written words like some people do movie-theater popcorn. (How can we eat so much of the stuff in the span of just two-and-a-half hours?) But not everyone takes a break with pages and words.

Some people step out of the traffic by taking a walk in their neighborhood, or in the woods. They walk and pray; listen and observe. They leave the preoccupation with "doing stuff" by walking away from it. Literally.

Still others might find a place in their home or yard to just be still; to take a deep breath and breathe in the Holy Spirit as they turn theirs back on dishes, check-books, and even conversation with family members. They have a certain spot of seclusion where no one can interrupt or steal their attention away from the Better Thing.

How about you? How do you "step out of traffic"? What deliberate measures to you take to get away from the again-ness of your crazy life in order to sit at the feet of your Creator? Please share your secrets - we're dying to know!

Creativity

You know, one of the things I admire most in people is creativity. I don't know if it's because I don't seem to have a lot of the stuff, or what, but whenever I meet or observe a really creative person, I just end up amazed, with my jaw hanging down at their gift. And there are all kinds of creativity - like the kind that my mom has to do paintings, or the kind my friend has to sew and draw and sculpt. There's also ministry creativity - "doing church in ways it has never been done before" like Pastor Mark in DC, and entrepreneurial creativity - making a business by doing something new and different.

I believe we should live our lives creatively, even those of us who don't necessarily have a knack for it. I think we all ought to strive toward the new.

Why?

Well, because it's Biblical, of course! (You knew that was coming, didn't you?)

OK, so we could start in Genesis where God CREATED, and then said that we are made in His image (so we're creative too, get it?) See Genesis 1:26.

And then there's this:

"Forget about what's happened;
don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new.
It's bursting out! Don't you see it?
There it is! I'm making a road through the desert,
rivers in the badlands." -Isaiah 43:18-19(MSG)

God does something new every day in our lives, creates new miracles right under our noses. Are we creative enough to even acknowledge what He is doing? If our minds are caught in the past, or in the mundane again-ness of our existence instead of the creativity in our midst, we might just miss out on some really awesome living!

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

And if our minds are not open to creativity, we could also ignore the amazing regeneration He has planned for our character-building. He can attempt to make us a new creation, growing more and more in holiness, but without our cooperation, He might not get very far. We need to be creative enough to see our potential - the possibility of what we might become.

I could go on, but you probably get the point by now. Let's just leave it at this: I truly believe that even the dullest humans on the planet have at least one creative talent in them, however deeply it may be buried. To look at myself, I would classify me as lacking in creativity. But . . . there is at least one thing I can think of that is creative about me: I like to write stories. And I like to write about stories. I like to use words creatively - to inspire and to change. And so I do - because there are new stories to write and new ways to write about stories.

So I challenge you to do the same. Live creatively today. Think outside your little box. Make something that you've never made before. Go somewhere you've never been. Be different just because you can (different, not rebellious - there is a distinction). And then smile, because you've just lived out your God-given God-image. And because you can be sure He's enjoying your creativity too.

Life hurts sometimes

As a Colorado Native, April 20th means something special to me. Not only is it my sister-in-law's birthday (love you, Kates), it's the anniversary of the shooting at Columbine. I still remember with shocking clarity skipping my classes at CSU, and staying home to watch the news while sobbing with my roommate, Lorie, in each other's arms. The violence was appalling, the horror paralyzing. And it was so close to home. I don't think any parents wanted to send their children to school the next day. And who could blame them?

I remember September 11th much the same way.


Sometimes life hurts more than we think it should. We think we've seen the worst, and then we're shocked again to see that we were wrong. Last week a mother I know lost her battle with cancer. Her children are still in preschool. They will grow up without her. These wounds cut so deep, take so long to heal, and leave such ugly scars. Life can be so very painful.

We ask Why?, we mourn, we cry, we hurt from the inside out. And hopefully we seek the Healer. Jesus knows that Life is painful. We don't follow a God who is unaware of the shocking injury that living on planet earth can inflict. He knows; He understands; He feels it too.

And sometimes that's all we need to know. It helps us to remember that God feels. His heart echoes the outcry of injustice that we shout. He understands what it feels like to be shocked into greater pain when you thought you had experienced it all. He sees. He feels. And He wants to do something about it.

"Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help." -Hebrews 4:14-16 (MSG)

I don't know what shocking pain you may be experiencing today. Perhaps you are one who is living through the deepest hurt of your life. Sometimes the only comfort you can hold onto is that Jesus knows how you feel. Because if He knows, He'll have the sympathy, empathy, and compassion to help you. And if anyone can help, it's Him.

it's not about you

Well, I think some of us need to be reminded of that every once in a while. It can bring PERSPECTIVE to our minds and hearts. (Yes, perspective is my word for the year. KLOVE was challenging people at the beginning of the year to pick a word to reflect on, learn, and apply, and God led me to that one. So if you get sick of me saying it, well, forgive me. It's just my word.)

First of all, cleanse your spiritual palate with this: If you were the only soul on earth, Jesus would have died for you and you alone. He loves you that much, so in a sense His passion was about you and all about you.

That being stated and applied, let's dig into the entree . . .

"We do violence to the Biblical revelation when we 'use' it for what we can get out of it or what we think will provide color and spice to our otherwise bland lives. That results in a kid of 'boutique spirituality' - God as decoration, God as enhancement. The Samuel narrative will not allow that. As we submit our lives to what we read, we find that we are not being led to see God in our stories but to see our stories in God's. God is the larger context and plot in which our stories take place." (From Introduction to 1 Samuel, the Message Bible by Eugene Peterson)

I think it's important to remember this. If we are growing and becoming more mature in Christ's love, our prayers should increasingly move from "God help me today with . . ." to "God, can I be a part of what you're working on today?" Do we ask for help? Yes and always. Isn't that why God is here? Yes, but not in totality. He's here to minister to you, but also to equip you to be a minister to others.

Eugene Peterson's words struck me this morning because I feel like I've been exposed to some very self-centered people lately, and I need to resist the urge to smack them. (I know that's hard for you to imagine, but you just might not have met that side of me yet. And if you're reading this, I'm probably not referring to you, so don't get all insecure on me, now.) And while I was underlining that paragraph in my Bible, I got to thinking that sometimes I can be that way too. I can self-seekingly read the Bible for what's in it for me, rather than for a greater understanding of how I fit into the context of God and His story of redemption and radical restoration. It doesn't revolve around me, but I am an integral piece.

Balance . . .

I recently did a Beth Moore study with my girlfriends (love you, Sisters!), and this was something she prefaced in the beginning. She said, not every study we do has to be ABOUT us in order for us to gain increased Bible knowledge and grow spiritually. It was great to hear that from her, because she is very applicational by nature. But, once again, when we read it or study it or learn it, we have to get to the point where we value it as the precious words of the Almighty Creator and Savior, regardless of whether or not we see our names written on the page. (And I know you've been there, too!)

So today, look yourself in the mirror and repeat these words: "It's not all about you!" And today after you ask the Giver of all good things to bless you and help you with your agenda, try asking Him this, too: "Jesus, would you give me the honor of helping You with Your important agenda?"

And then hold on tight, because I think it's a prayer He'll enjoying answering for you . . .

Not to be sold or exchanged

Ok, so I told my friend Stacey last night that I finally feel like I am functioning again after returning from Haiti. I was in such culture shock for a couple weeks that I didn't know what to do with myself. I'd find myself wondering what I should be doing and then get zapped back to reality and say, "Oh, maybe I should do some laundry." You know, stuff that usually came automatically wasn't because I just had so much to process.

And after pondering and praying, I have something I'd like to share with all of you . . .

I can't stop thinking about the best ways to continue to help Haiti, but in so many ways the corruption of their government makes it somewhat difficult. Our team spent thousands of dollars (American dollars) on food to distribute, but the bags of beans and rice we purchased had originally been donated by the US. They said (in English, not Creole) "Product of USA - Not to be sold or exchanged" right on the bag! They were meant to be GIVEN to the hungry people of Haiti, but instead were taken to warehouses and stores by the government or wealthy "bourgeois".

I read this verse while pondering this conundrum on the airplane back to Pittsburgh:

"You're a hard-hearted bunch and hard to help.
I'm ready to help you right now.
Deliverance is not a long-range plan.
Salvation isn't on hold."
- Isaiah 46:12-13(MSG)

But don't we all find ourselves rebellious and hard-hearted at some point in our lives? Maybe it's before we come to God, maybe even it's after we've known Jesus for years. We'll resist His free grace and ignore His plan for our lives. Or perhaps the free forgiveness He provides is sometimes exactly the thing some people end up extorting and trying to "sell." The favor of God is NOT FOR SALE. His grace is not to be stored up in the warehouses of our churches or holy clubs, but it is intended to be distributed free-of-charge and without limit.

May we receive God's free gift today. Let it wash over us afresh. Open your hands to receive it. And then be sure to GIVE it away. Share it freely with people around you who are starving for His mercy and forgiveness and love. Do not hoard. Do not extort. Do not sell it for penance or shame. Give the free gift for free.

And please keep praying for Haiti and so much of our world who are in desperate need. Pray that we will find creative ways to love them despite the difficulty. God didn't give up on us when we were "hard to help". He still sent Jesus, and He continues to draw people to Himself with the sweet offer of His free liberation from sin and death. As His followers, may we persevere as well.

about the rest of my trip

Hi, Friends.

I haven't been able to finish blogging about the last two days of my trip for several reasons, including not wanting to waste a moment with the people by sitting in front of the computer screen, not knowing how to summarize everything, and not wanting it to be over. So, it's Saturday now, and I've come to grips, caught up with my family time, and even squeezed in a few loads of laundry (LOL!). I know there are some things I still want to tell you about Haiti, though, so thanks for being patient with me.

On Sunday night we had somewhat of a slumber party - a few of the girls got to come to the hotel with us for the night and we played Haitian card games and laughed more than I thought possible. Ruth braided my hair into 6 braids, which turned out to be much cooler on Monday as we did VBS in 80 degrees under the blazing sun.

My arms were sore on Monday after puppet-ing, but it was so wonderful to meet all of the children today who normally come to school at the mission. Since the earthquake they have not been able to come because of the collapse of the dorm, but Emmanuel is determined to start up classes again in the next week or so, I think under the tarp where we held VBS. At least these 100 kids will have a school again. That's much more than I can say about hundreds of thousands of other children in Port au Prince. For whatever reason, be it poor construction or random chance, 90% of all schools from elementary schools to colleges were completely destroyed, so the children haven't had anywhere to go during the day. I saw many children just sitting next to their parents' road-side "stands" (which was really just sitting on the concrete or maybe a stool if you're lucky, and selling out of a basket or off of a blanket or sheet, probably the same sheet you slept under last night), as they tried to sell some food or produce or whatever wares they had to sell. All in all, I come away with the knowledge that those associated with the Greater Works Mission are blessed by the Lord. It is a testament to His goodness and their faithfulness to serve Him.



We had a lot of give-aways at VBS including candy, big blue punch balloons, lunch, a big bag of food for each child (some older siblings had to carry 2, which was barely manageable), foamy animal masks, and other little toys. We watched the end of the line coming and there was one little girl left in line and guess how many toys we had left on the table - that's right one - we had exactly enough! Talk about your loaves and fishes! It was such a joy to bless them, I cannot even express the fullness in my heart to see their smiles and know how thankful they were for a simple trinket!



Monday evening was a riot - I played war again with the little girls. They would say "won, tuu, tree!" and slap down their cards. We would call out the winner's name as she took the cards and do it all over again - so fun! When I won they would call "Wobeen!" LOL! Another slumber party on Monday night, but I was so zonked that I fell asleep in my clothes and didn't make it next door where the girls were. oh well . . .

Tuesday was a sad day of good-byes. Many of the girls, young and old made drawings or wrote letters for me, saying they love me and will miss me and they hope I will come back to Haiti soon. I asked them what they would like me to bring if I could come back, and they said, first - more Bibles! After that, they wanted dresses for church, earrings, make-up and perfume - typical young girls! How I wish I could give them everything they dream of! I encouraged them to read their Bibles each day and asked if they had ever read all of it - cover to cover. They said no and I gave them my schpeal about reading 4 chapters a day and getting through it in a year. They were hanging on every word - so precious. They really are hungry for serving God and knowing Him more. We have so much in common, my new sisters and me.

After peeling myself from their arms and getting into the truck as I wiped away the tears that just would not stop, we made our bumpy way to the airport and I got another glimpse at extreme poverty as we drove by sewage-scented tent neighborhoods, thousands of people standing on the streets, no jobs to work and no homes to clean, despair and hunger filling their eyes.



The plane ride to Miami was quiet - we were all quite reflective and somber. Upon our arrival, however, we became giddy with exhaustion and managed to draw looks all around the airport as we laughed at everything and nothing at all. We were stopped at a bathroom for a potty break and saw another team who had been in Haiti on mission too. Laura came out of the bathroom and said "Wow, it sure is nice flush the toilet without having to fill a bucket and dump it down!" Someone from the other team said, "You had buckets?!" LOL for about 10 minutes straight!

And I continued to find it hard to adjust as I indulged in simple pleasures like a soft bed and pillow, a hot shower, and scented lotion. While I was and continue to be thankful for so much, it's also hard to be constantly reminded that we take so much for granted and I'd love to be able to give it all to my new friends and family in Haiti. I've gained a new appreciation for things like smooth roads with yellow lines and traffic signs, carpet and rugs, water that comes out of the faucet that you can run your toothbrush under, my washing machine and dryer, electricity that doesn't cause the air to reek of diesel, and a refrigerator full of food to feed my kids.

So what now? Prayer.

Would you pray with me for Haiti? The devastation is far from over, and they are still in so much need of our help and love. They are hungry for Jesus, and we need to authentically demonstrate His grace and power through our giving and going.
Would you pray for God's direction for me? I have an idea of what comes next, but I could use increasing clarity.

Thank you and I love you with the Love Jesus keeps pouring into my heart by the power of His mercy and provision.

a powerful day

This morning I woke up very excited to go to church in Haiti. Our ride was over 30 minutes late, and Jim (team leader) was hesitant already to let us leave, but then they showed up and minds were eased.

The church was not far, and when we got there, they had seats reserved for Bob, me, and Jaun (pronounced Gina) up front with the pastors on the platform. How embarrassing! After worship, Pastor Simon introduced the guest missionary speaker (who is from CA) and then us. I got up and said a quick hello and gave our love from the United States. Pastor Simon was one of the guys I met last Wednesday, and he is a great man of God who loves his congregation. His church is closer to downtown than the mission, and his congregation was filled with over 500 people inside, and maybe 50 to 100 more outside (and that was just the first service). They had the microphones turned up super-loud, and they kept ringing, but the worship was AMAZING. They all stood with hands raised, and sang with all their might to the Lord who rescued their lives and their souls from great disaster. Their passion was palpable and I wish I could have bottled it to bring home to bless all of you. I was filled with joy and tears filled my eyes, though I understood few of the actual words. It truly was the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The main sanctuary was intact, but the school was severely damaged, and they cannot use it as of right now during the week for the children or for the Sunday School classes. I think Pastor Simon was upset because he knows that people can't come into the service, and they have to stand outside. There were several new guests, who stood at one point, and four people received Jesus as Lord for the first time today. People are hungry for Jesus here - they have seen first-hand what God can do, and they desire the God who is in control.

At one point Pastor Simon leaned over to me and said, "Don't forget us when you go back, please." I could never in a million years!!

I spoke with the missionaries when the service was over, and they were a blessing and joy to meet. I could tell that they have a heart for the people of Haiti and desire to help in the most effective way possible. They have been in France for 6 years, and last September, God called them to come back to Haiti, where they spent their first Missionary Term. After January 12, they knew exactly why He did so.

We also got to take a drive downtown after we got back to the hotel, and saw more of the devastation in the worst parts. I tried to take some pictures, but the Haitians don't really appreciate us taking pictures of them, and I desired to remain respectful. It was so terrible to see an entire city of little more than rubble. The poverty here is shocking, and we definitely saw people in extreme need and desparation.

On the way back to the mission, our driver told us that one of his friends died in the church near our hotel that collapsed (Church on the Rock) and that he was in class studying in Bible School to be a pastor. I couldn't hold my anger back and told God that I thought that was the wrong person to take. Who am I to question Him and His ways, but my tears of injustice and mourning would not stop from spilling out, and I had to stay in the truck for a while to compose myself. I'm sure the two of us will continue our conversation tonight before I go to sleep.

We prepared for our outreach tomorrow for the children who used to attend elementary school here in the mission (they are unable to now because of the building that collapsed). They will attend a one-day VBS and receive a bag of food as they leave. I am excited to do some kids ministry and am putting on my puppeteer hat in the morning. FUN FUN!

More love from Haiti!

a busy day and a joyful day

Sorry for not blogging last night. I really only have one window each day where I am here at the mission and not otherwise occupied, and last night that window was filled with giving facials to the older girls here at the mission. It blessed them to be pampered, and I was able to massage their sinuses, which have been sore from breathing all of the dust. I gave them shoulder massages and they didn't want to get up. I got lots of thankful hugs and I was so pleased to be used by Him.

Ok, so yesteday was so so busy! I began by preaching a short message of joy and healing to the first group of about 100 people who were waiting in the mission to be seen at the clinic. I think a lot of them were Christ-followers already, but some were also not. I prayed for many of them afterward individually before I had to begin my duties as pharmacist.

We saw 226 people yesterday and did not finish until about 5:00. We were so tired and drained, but it really did feel like a great success to see that many people, give them prayer, the Gospel, individual attention, treatment, and food. I really do believe Jesus was glorified and pleased with our efforts.

We saw one man who brought his one-year-old son in to be seen for an upper respiratory infection. He had waited in line since 5:00a.m. We saw him at 4:30p.m. I just want to say I will never complain about waiting in the doctor's office again. This man demonstrated such patience, grace, and humility. He was so thankful just that we would see him and give his baby antibiotics. Beauty lived out loud.

Today we saw 210 patients, bringing our total to 776 people seen and treated and fed. Dr. Beasley said yesterday, "If you had told me we were going to see 500 people I would have laughed in your face." And we saw more today. Who's laughing now? :)

We had enough medicine, enough food, and enough energy - all by the grace of our mighty and powerful God! From our prayer team we got a count today of 40 salvations over the week of the clinic. That is 40 people who accepted Jesus as their Lord, and 40 people we will see one day in Heaven. That is the greatest success of all!

One case I remember clearly from today: An 8-year-old named Patrice had an abscess under her right arm that was swollen, oozing, and painful. Dr. Bob had to give her a Vicodin, local anesthetic, and lance the wound to drain it. It was a very painful procedure, and I got to put my Child Life skills to work. It was more rewarding than I can say to hold her hand and encourage her and pray as she held as still as she could and asked repeatedly if it was over yet. I told her Jesus sent her a doctor all the way from the United States because He loves her and knew she would need one. I pray she never forgets His love.

God helped me to make some contacts today and Bob and I will be able to go to an Assembly of God church that is not far from here in the morning. I cannot wait!!

I love you all and thank you soooo much for your prayers and encouragement. I feel the Lord's provision of energy and strength and encouragement today, and I am so very very thankful and humbled by this opportunity.

More love from Haiti!

a tearful day

I have to admit I got to my breaking point today.

I could not hold back my tears as we saw the people at the clinic today. We saw many people affected by the earthquake - many injuries, including one man whose leg, while not broken, was still very swollen and painful to walk on; 2 baby boys who were being cared for by neighbors - both of their parents died (one baby was found in his dead mother's arms); and many many others with serious need and malnourishment. I just kept praying for them, asking the Lord to encourage their hearts and fill them with supernatural hope and joy.

I enjoyed being one of the pharmacists again today, and I also got to give out small toys, bracelets and lollipops for the kids. I kissed the babies on their sweet little cheeks, gave as many smiles as I could manage, and basically poured out all of the energy the Spirit gave me.

Last night I painted a lot of little toe and finger nails, and got to help the little girls here at the mission to make some crafts. They are so funny because they love to have their pictures taken and they pose like they are little supermodels. I laughed so hard that I almost cried. They just keep hugging me and kissing me and I just keep hugging and kissing them back. I know some of the hugs and kisses are from you too!

It's hard for me to organize my thoughts right now, but I hope you can hear my heart. It is so broken, so full of love, so inadequate, and so joyful all at once. It is what I expected to be, only so much more magnified.

Of everything I have to share, I'll leave you with this. I saw a little boy today that absolutely wrecked me. He is about three and had no shoes, which we quickly remedied, and both his parents died in the earthquake. His neighbor is now caring for him, but she already has four of her own children. How is she going to provide for him? How he must still miss his family! Oh, if only if I could do more than give him a smile and a lollipop. All I can think of tonight is how Josiah asked me if he could have a Haitian brother to keep and sleep in his bunk bed.

I know God can answer my prayers for him, but I cannot keep my heart from hurting and my eyes from crying. To see it and to touch him, to hold him and kiss him - please just take my word - it is so much heavier in person . . .

it was amazing!

I was able to meet with Pastor Fleuridor today as well as his council members and one interpreter. The meeting was amazing and I was honored to have their time and attention. They all told me some amazing stories of God moving and also some very tragic and sorrowful ones of pain as well. God's presence was among us and I was able to give Bibles, a tent, blankets, and more. What they gave me was encouragement, priceless information, many prayer requests, and the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and I'm praying a successful ministry partnership as well.

After my meeting I proceeded back to my "position" of prayer, but the patients had already been prayed over, so I assumed position of pharmacist, which I loved. It was so awesome to see to the needs of the people, earthquake related or not, and be able to give them medicine and treatment for it. We saw a lot of kids too. We also gave out vitamins and food, as well as hygiene kits.

MORE people tomorrow for Dr. Bob and the nurses to see. Thank you for your prayers and please do not stop!

More love from Haiti.

I would love more comments - I miss you all. I can think of about thirty of you who would love to be here.

Robyn

longest day ever!

So much happened yesterday that I could blog about for the next two hours and not tell everything. I felt last night at 8:00 that I had lived enough in that day to last for about a week! A few highlights . . .

Miami airport wanted to charge us thousands for our overwieght bags and extra luggage (14 extra bags). After pleading, praying, and waiting, they finally decided to only charge us for 7 extra bags and waive all overweight fees. Praise God - all of that money is now in Emmanuel's hands to reimburse him for the food he bought which we will bag and give at the clinic.

When we arrived in PaP, it was a madhouse trying to find and count all of our bags, which we did, then negotiate a price for help into our 3 vehicles that were waiting for us outside the security gate.

It was very stressful because I could not drive my cart very well (I think it was broken) and needed help, but we were not supposed to let people on the street help us because we had already negotiated to pay a few men to help us. But one man did have to help me and I did end up paying him a few dollars. Another man kept asking for money too, but I let someone else on my team tell him no. "No pay" she said. I wish I could have given more and let more help. I had to fight back tears when I escaped into the sweltering 15-passenger van.

After a frightening journey through the hectic and rubble-strewn "streets" where we saw so much devastation that was still so shocking, even after viewing all of the pictures from our media, we finally arrived at our hotel. This too is frightening. One building is reduced to nothing more than a pile of rocks, another seems to be teetering on pillars that are left at sick angles (which I have to walk past each day to get to the street), and the last is in good condition, where our rooms are located. The room is fine, nothing special, but I come to realize I might as well be staying in a palace in comparison to where everyone else in the nation is sleeping. A boy tells me today that he wants a tent for his mother who is too frightened to sleep in the house.

After dropping off our personal items, we headed to the mission to sort and unpack our luggage contents and ministry supplies. Medicine, clothes, toys, crafts, etc. Then I got to help pack some food bags in a sauna of a room that held sacks and sacks and boxes and boxes of food and had about 12 people as well. I think the room was the size of Josiah's bedroom. (Crowded much?)

After this I got to give Kori's sparkle jeans to a sweet little girl named Jennifer. She hugged me and kissed me and said merci several times. Today she is wearing them and I took her picture. Can't wait to show you, Kori. She is so special. She likes to give me hugs, even today. I showed her a picture of both Kori and Josiah and she wanted to keep it. I might give it to her before I leave, but I'll keep it for now to show everyone else.

I was also able to give out many of the Bibles I brought to the older girls here who lost theirs in the collapse of their dorm. They were so thankful and insisted that I sign each one. I wrote a prayer and Psalm 20 reference because it has become my prayer for the trip. What a privilege to deliver God's word to hungry hearts!

We had an organizational meeting and then headed back to the hotel to sleep. I slept well once I went to bed, but got up early because I was anticipating my meeting this morning. I'm so very anxious and I need to get off for now and pray for God's will and favor.

Love from Haiti!

Prayers answered already!

Praise God, He is paving our way with His goodness and favor. We were able to check 14 extra bags, and over 25 over-weight bags (which could have cost a few thousand dollars) for FREE!! Now we can save all that money to buy food down there. My leader says he has never seen that measure of favor in his many years of traveling to Haiti. Wow, God, Wow!

Thank you for your prayers and let's praise Him together. He is so cool and loves us so much.

And thanks go out to the kind and gentle woman who patiently checked them all and gave us the authorization to take everything for our mission! Pray for her - she is pregnant with twins. She has 4 boys already and is praying for girls!

Keep praying, friends!

Last night here in US

Before I leave, I've prepared some scriptures to be praying over the people of Haiti.

Would you be praying them with me?

In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
May he grant your heart’s desires
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory
and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the LORD answer all your prayers.
Now I know that the LORD rescues his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him by his great power.
Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the LORD our God.
Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm. Give victory to our king, O LORD!
Answer our cry for help.
- Psalm 20 (NLT)

God, you are my God. I celebrate you. I praise you.
You've done your share of miracle-wonders,
well-thought-out plans, solid and sure.
Here you've reduced the city to rubble,
the strong city to a pile of stones.
The enemy Big City is a non-city,
never to be a city again.
Superpowers will see it and honor you,
brutal oppressors bow in worshipful reverence.
They'll see that you take care of the poor,
that you take care of poor people in trouble,
Provide a warm, dry place in bad weather,
provide a cool place when it's hot.
Brutal oppressors are like a winter blizzard
and vicious foreigners like high noon in the desert.
But you, shelter from the storm and shade from the sun,
shut the mouths of the big-mouthed bullies.
And here on this mountain, God will banish
the pall of doom hanging over all peoples,
The shadow of doom darkening all nations.
Yes, he'll banish death forever.
And God will wipe the tears from every face.
He'll remove every sign of disgrace
From his people, wherever they are.
Yes! God says so!
Also at that time, people will say,
"Look at what's happened! This is our God!
We waited for him and he showed up and saved us!
This God, the one we waited for!
Let's celebrate, sing the joys of his salvation.
God's hand rests on this mountain!" -Isaiah 25: 1-5, 7-10(MSG)

On-Mission

Yup, I'll be in Haiti in less than 6 days. Team meeting tonight, and finish packing and family preparations this weekend. Leave for Miami (overnight) on Monday and I'll be delivering Jesus' love to the hurting people of Haiti on Tuesday. Thanks for praying, and thanks for giving. I just want to say I know some very generous people.

more to come . . .

worthy

I just finished reading "Clara's War: One Girl's Story of Survival" by Holocaust survivor Clara Kramer. It was amazing, sad, horrifying, and encouraging all at the same time. I LEARNED so much that I had never heard about regarding the war and the Holocaust.

The saddest aspect of it all was that as a 14/15 year-old, the most precious thing she had in life was her dear and beloved sister, who, after fearfully running out of their hiding place, a "bunker" that was dug under the house of a Polish peasant, was captured by the Nazis and murdered ruthlessly. One of the quotes that stood out most to me from the book was this, which she penned in her diary after they learned the story of how her sister was killed:

"And now, we had to go on without her, our lucky charm. We were still alive, whether we wanted to be or not. I now knew there was no such thing as a broken heart. It will go on beating to taunt you and mock you and tell you that even in grief it is indestructible and full of love."

I just think that is such an amazing testimony about how, no matter how much life hurts, no matter how much pain and discouragement we suffer, and no matter the brutality we see around us, our hearts were made to love, and love they will.

Another quote that brought tears to my eyes and a rush to my heart was this one, which she wrote as she recalled the joy she felt that the polish Catholics, who hid her family and others (18 total) for two years while endangering their own lives to do so virtually every day, were abdicated of treason charges:

"When I think of the one thing that we had, and the others didn't, it was the Becks. Everything I have learned about love, honour, and courage, I learned from them. After all that they did for us in the bunker, I know that nothing in life is impossible. When I left that bunker over 60 years ago, I felt that my life was no longer mine alone. I knew I would have to lead a life worthy of having been saved."

Read that last line again. Isn't that us? Haven't we been rescued from the worst Holocaust of all, Hell itself? Haven't we also been saved by Someone who risked everything and endured unimaginable pain so that we wouldn't have to? Should we not also feel the compulsion to lead a life worthy of having been saved? This is not my life alone; not yours alone either. The breath we breathe, the moves we make belong not only to us, but to the One who paid our price.

He alone is worthy, and as a follower of Christ, this life is not fully worthy of living if not lived in light of His Salvation and Grace.

I hate religion

"We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another." -Jonathan Swift (17th Century politician, author, and chaplain)

Satan has a new ally: Religion. Well, maybe not new. Religious people have been sabotaging the Kingdom of God for centuries, some so stealthily successful that they have been able to deceive even the most devout of believers.

I have a new Enemy: Religion.

I hate it. It is trickery at its finest, rules at their most hypocritical, and hatred at its height.

Wait, before you cry "heresy" let me explain: there is a wide chasm between religion and Restoration. One is a laundry list of rules, prerequisites for membership, and dont's, the other is the freedom to live faithfully by God's Grace through Jesus's sacrifice. Religion is the worship of worship. Restoration is the worship of God Himself. Religion is pride in putting others down. Restoration is humility in the presence of the Almighty's holiness.

"Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They're only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren't above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents." - Romans 16:17-18 (MSG)

"Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be shamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they're not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul." -2 Timothy 2:14b-17a(MSG)

We as Christ-followers need to heed Paul's warnings in these timeless letters. Religion no longer defines worshipful surrender to the one true God, as perhaps it once did. Say the word to anyone on the street, and you'll most likely get a bad reaction. Why? Well, for a lot of reasons, none of them having to do with any fault or lack on God's part. Because of the devil's schemes, religion has become pious poison, empty talk, nitpicking cynicism, and sly abuse of the unsuspecting.

When someone makes an assumption about me and says, "Oh, you're religious, then," I must answer with a bold NO, to dispel all evil conclusions they might jump to before they take the heedless leap. I follow Christ. I believe in His saving Grace. Because of the glorious love He poured out for me, I choose to live my life as His willing, grateful servant, doing the good He created me for and avoiding the evil with which His enemy tries to tempt me. I must almost forcefully lay down that distinction so as not to lose my witness with the potential new follower.

Let us not fall into the trap of religion - it is an empty shell of true Restoration - real Relationship with the God who saves, the Creator who loves, The Jesus who IS. I challenge you to live your life in sanctified rebellion against anything less.