Abide Here

Pressing in for the Good Stuff

2006-09-26T13:41:00.000-04:00

When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. (Matthew 5:1-2)

Maybe you know what happens next…Jesus gives one of the greatest sermons of all-time, The Beatitudes. These words are written everywhere, crocheted on wall hangings, gracing church bulletins. Even many people who do not subscribe to Jesus’ teaching at least are familiar with the words.

But this wasn’t a sermon delivered to thousands. This was a teaching shared with the few that were committed enough to follow Him beyond the crowds. Anyone can sit in church week after week being spoon fed by their pastor. How many will go after the meat that so few seek to eat from the hand of Jesus Himself?

Lord, I want to press in for more of You – for deeper revelation of who You are, and of who I am in You. I want to know what’s on Your heart to share with me.

This is what he said:
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are – no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drive you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
“Not only that – count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What is means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable…”
(Matthew 5:3-11, The Message)

Moses Meets His Match

2006-09-06T09:14:00.000-04:00

Joy of him finally being matched...Hope for a good life together...Sadness of never seeing him again...Wonderment of the pup who was so fiesty actually leading a blind person safely...It's difficult for me to put into words the mix of emotions I am experiencing this morning as I think about the meeting I had with Eric, the man that Moses will guide for the next several years.

Moses has been in training since December of 2005. When I dropped him off at Leader Dog, he still looked like a lanky puppy with the goofy face. Last night, before me was the serious face of a grown up dog. He leaped and pawed at me, giving me a little consolation that he, too, remembered our year together.

A couple answers to prayer...Eric loves dogs. That was my hope that Moses would guide someone that would also desire his companionship as well as his work. Eric is a Christian also. I would raise a pup for anyone, ofcourse. But how delightful to hear that Moses will be attending church! In Eric's words, "I got me a holy dog!"

The meeting brought the experience of raising Moses full circle. So now is the time of truly letting go...of finishing the scrapbook...of letting go of hope (and dread!) of him not making the cut...of filing him under "Dogs I have loved."

Changing Seasons

2006-09-03T21:05:00.000-04:00

The leaves have not yet begun to change, but the cool undercurrents in today’s breeze betray Fall’s stealthy approach.

I am ready. Having lived in a four-season climate my entire life, my body, mind and spirit cooperate in eagerly anticipating the next season. I am sick of my summer wardrobe and am looking forward to turtleneck sweaters and bulky scarves. I am tired of the hot sun and even ready to let my tan fade into winter-white chicken skin. I am ready for flannel sheets and apple pie.

Oh, for the day when my spirit is as discerning and anticipating the next season of God for my life! The writer of Ecclesiastes says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (3:1). There clearly are many seasons in our lives. Looking back we can chronicle them in photo albums and journals. We pass the stories over holiday meals.

But how do we know the next spiritual season is coming…and how do we prepare?

As strongly as I sense the imminence of Fall’s approach, so, too, do I sense a new spiritual season is around the corner. I’m ready because I know God is preparing me for it, even in ways I have yet to see. Until I see it with my eyes, I will rest in You and move faithfully day by day, according to Your Spirit, Lord. For in You I live and move and have my being.

My destination is sure,
The journey, exciting.
I will enjoy the ride.

35 never felt so fast!

2006-08-30T18:08:00.000-04:00

This is Mike, my son. We kid a lot, and he lets me use him in many illustrations (see previous blog posts), because he tells people our stories as well.

So, my Mike story for the day :) I picked him up from the movies last night - 9:30ish - and let him drive home to get some night driving experience. First let me say, that whoever thought letting 16 year old boys drive was a good idea was probably well advanced in years and didn't remember their own child being 16. This has been an interesting experience for me as a parent, one I have yet to grow used to.

We took all surface streets as opposed to the expressways, thinking that a safer option. Besides, I knew he couldn't go faster than 35 - surely my heart could take that! Thirty-five mph never felt so fast - it's dark, I'm tired, there's more traffic than I have ever seen!

But in all honesty, Mike did great his first stint at night. Bless his heart!

Holy Spirit Parenting

2006-08-29T09:58:00.000-04:00

My eyes opened and I was wide awake instantly. My heart raced. The room was dark and quiet. What woke me, I wondered? In a moment I heard the back door close as if someone was trying to close it gently, but the frame squeaked as it had swelled with the humidity of the night.

Then I remembered – a basement full of teenage boys. Something must be rotten in the state of Denmark!

I walked quietly to the window of our bedroom overlooking the driveway, where I captured a perfect view of a “crime” playing out below. The boys were concocting a homemade bomb!

“No, no and no,” I said firmly enough to stop them without yelling and thereby scaring them into throwing the contents on the ground. My nephew, the instigator, looked up and with the fear of God overshadowing him, whispered, “Aunt Amy,” as if the good Lord Himself had spoken to him. If my adrenaline hadn’t been full throttle by this point, I would have laughed.

My husband and I had prayed before going to bed that night to keep the boys safe while they had fun at my son’s 16th birthday party. I didn’t know exactly what to pray for – who knew they would be trying to set off homemade bombs at 4 am? But, the Holy Spirit knew exactly what to do.

…God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer our of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Romans 8:26-28, The Message

The good that came out of the situation? I had the opportunity to “hold it together” (not overreact as I am often prone to do), and Mike had the opportunity to see the importance of pausing to think about consequences. Good growth lessons for both of us – and we are the better for it.

Will my teenage son make any more bone-headed choices? Probably. We expect them; it’s part of growing up. But I’m learning that while I cannot always be there to make the decision for him, I can trust the Holy Spirit to alert me when we need to step in – even in the middle of the night.

Book Review - The Barbarian Way

2006-08-28T10:46:00.000-04:00

Think a moment about the cross…what happened the months, weeks and days leading to the moment when Jesus hung by His hands, taking His last breath? What do you think carried Him to that moment?

Love, Compassion, Conviction, Sacrifice – Radical living because of the Hope set before Him!

But is this what our church looks like today – untamed faith that settles for nothing less than capturing the heart of the Lord and Savior? Unfortunately, we, the church, have become downright civilized, domesticated, religious and ordered. We have fallen from our First Love.

These are not the days to bemoan the powerlessness pervasive in our pews! No, it’s time to rise and acknowledge the awesome inheritance we have, the powerful position we have in Christ and the Kingdom of which we are citizens!

Erwin Raphael McManus, in his latest book, The Barbarian Way, does a fabulous job of pointing God’s people back to the path of radical discipleship that Jesus’ first-called exhibited. He challenges all followers to leave the civilized life of safe Christianity and to take up the cross with Jesus the barbarian way – choosing passion over lukewarm religious practices.

The Barbarian Way may offend some Christians who think they have all the answers, or are satisfied with their "fire insurance." This book is not for them. Instead, this book is for the adventurer at heart, who fell madly in love with Jesus, picked up their cross without hesitation to follow Him, but somehow got “tamed” along the way. If you’re longing for your First Love and the life of adventure, McManus’ The Barbarian Way is sure to spark your faith.

Buy this book for less from a Christian-owned store - urfree2fly.com

Call My Name

2006-08-21T22:29:00.000-04:00

When he calls me Mom, my attention snaps to whatever he is saying.

When she calls me Mimi, my heart melts into puddles of love.

The more I study the Bible, the more I am aware of the significance of names. People intentionally chose names for their children based on their circumstances or based on the kind of person they wanted their child to become. God gave people new names after encounters with Him. Our name resonates in our bodies every time we hear someone say it – whether in love or anger.

My own name means “beloved.” I never thought much about the meaning until the times in my 20s when I didn’t feel much loved. But I would imagine my parents sitting on the couch late at night, my Dad’s hand on my Mom’s big belly, a baby (me) bursting at the seams to enter the world, and them picking my name with love on their minds and with love flowing between their hearts to mine.

What I’ve been thinking about lately is how our names and, therefore identities, are added to as we become parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. These are the names that grab my heart and pull them toward Heaven.

I remember the first time Mike called me Mom, and for every day thereafter. Because he was 14 and made a conscious choice to give the gift of mom to me, I hope I never take the title for granted. I hope hearing him call “Mom” always stops me in my tracks with the wonder of God’s plan for our family.

I think with great melting of heart the way “Mimi” (what my grandkids call me) sounds in the voice of a 2 and 3 year old. Just today, Natalie (almost 2 years old) and I spent some time together swinging, playing airplane, throwing pebbles (don’t tell her mom) and just being alive together. I can hear the softness of her toddler voice with hope and trust calling me Mimi.

I smile to think I am an Aunt to two boys. Perhaps the title with the least amount of responsibility, but with the greatest capacity for fun. I love talking with Hunter, who has a better vocabulary than many people with whom I went to college. And while they live too far away, I love that they are my nephews, and that we will spend fun times together, crazy times.

What’s in a name?

A prism of all that we are and more.

The testimony, Part 2

2006-08-03T20:46:00.000-04:00

They overcame him [the accuser] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony... Revelation 12:10 (NIV)

The awesome thing about sharing what God is doing in your life is you never know the impact your story will have. I shared in my previous post about the healing Mike received on his hand. The story doesn't stop there.

The weekend after Mike's healing, our family went on a leadership retreat with our church. We shared the testimony of what had occurred, and a woman jumped up and said, "I have a ganglion cyst on my hand!" So, a few people laid hands on her and began praying. The cyst went down before our very eyes, and the eyes of 18 other witnesses in that room. The shrinking seemed to stop, so Pastor Kim told me to go and get Mike who had received the same healing on the same hand only a week previous.

Mike jumped out of the pool, grabbed a towl and ran to the room to lay hands on this woman. The cyst shrunk to the size of a mosquito bite.

So often we talk about overcoming the enemy - the devil - by the blood of Jesus. And we do. However, reading the next phrase of the verse is something of great importance in our overcoming as well - by the word of their testimony.

First Peter 3:15 says," But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Alsways be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..."

This isn't just our testimony about how we came into a relationship with Jesus...although that is a very important story. But your story didn't end the day you came to Jesus - it just started! Therefore, we should have new stories all the time! If we don't - well that's another issue.

Jesus told stories. Jesus told those he healed, saved and delivered to tell others. There is POWER in the story! We never know how our testimony will effect others; it's not our responsibility to know. Just tell it!

Balm of Grace

2006-08-01T11:08:00.000-04:00

The Balm of Grace

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NIV).

“If this is for you, get up and run!” the preacher said. My son remained in his seat in spite of the invitation for healing that was extended to him.

The preacher sensed someone had a cyst on a wrist or hand that the Lord wanted to heal, and if that person wanted healing to get up and run for it. My teen sat planted in his chair looking despondently at the unsightly ganglion cyst that had grown rapidly to the size of a walnut over the past few months. Surgery was in fact scheduled to remove it.

“I guess God didn’t choose to heal me,” Mike said later.
“You didn’t run,” I replied.

Fast forward three days. Mike is at camp playing a game of capture the flag. He began running to tag someone when he felt a sharp pain in his hand. He stopped suddenly when he looked at his hand and realized the cyst was completely gone.

Healed when running as was offered to him a few days before.

God’s grace applied to the body of a teenage boy struggling to make sense of his faith.

We so often talk about the grace in God’s salvation – and that is huge. However, Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (NIV). I believe God wants to show Himself – desperately to desperate people. He takes His amazing grace and applies it to our healing, to our finances, to our relationships so that we will know we live by grace, even as we are saved by grace.

We all need God’s balm of grace applied to our lives. What area could you most use His grace applied to today? Ask Him to touch a specific area with His grace and look expectantly for Him to apply His amazing grace.

Father God, You are amazing and generous with Your grace. Thank You for giving to us extravagantly. Thank You for showing Yourself intimately involved in our lives. Please touch the areas of the hurting people reading this so they too may experience the balm of Your grace. Amen.

Want More?

2006-07-12T14:52:00.000-04:00

Want More?

The worst part about my favorite indulgence is getting halfway through the buffet line, spotting my favorite fried Chinese delicacies and realizing my plate is already full. Thankfully, most buffets are all-you-can-eat, so I can return to fill yet another empty plate. God’s methods of dishing out blessings are not much different. He is an all-you-can-eat God, willing and able to dish out His blessings in abundance to those coming to Him with an empty plate. The problem is, however, that so many of us have become complacent in today’s church culture, content to receive plate after plate of the Word every Sunday, pushing ourselves back from the pew, satisfied that we’ve been well fed that day.

Moreover, we return Sunday after Sunday to receive more spiritual food with our plates still full from last week! Eventually, our once satisfied bellies begin murmuring that we just aren’t getting fed like we used to. Of course not, you cannot feed a full belly, and in our full bellies breeds discontentment.

However, Jesus has the answer to our spiritual discontent no matter where He has planted us. Do you want more of the abundant life He promised? Then give away what you have already received. When he sent out His disciples, those to whom He hand fed, Jesus instructed them to give away the same ministry to others that they had already witnessed Jesus doing: Freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8).

We need not be concerned with how much we think we have received from God, but instead need to learn to give some away.. Have any received physical healing? Lay hands on and pray diligently for others who need physical healing. Have any been set free from an addition? Pray fervently with and for others who are bound by the same. Have any been blessed with an abundance of material blessing? Give some away – over and above a tithe.

God desires to give more abundantly to those who have made room on their plates for more of Him. However, so many of us have not taken the time to empty our plates in the form of giving away what God has given us in ministry to others. Perhaps we are worried that if we give it all away, we will be left with nothing. Perhaps we simply are lazy, busy, self-absorbed. The bottom line is that if we don’t empty our plates, we cannot expect to come to God to receive more. Only those who learn to freely give away what they have already received truly will come to know the bounty of blessings in Christ Jesus, and a well-satisfied soul.

Finding the Summer Groove

2006-07-10T02:08:00.000-04:00

One of the greatest challenges of writing for me is when I reach that point of too much time has past and too much has happened, and it seems impossible to catch up with it. Talking to other writers I find that I am not alone in regards to facing these dry writing times. Certainly there is no lack of things to write about, but rather there is no juice with which to write. So, the difficult task is to begin again, and again, and again....

Where do the days go? Since Mike has gotten off of school - nearly a month ago - I have yet to find a summer schedule. In addition to summer chauffeuring, we (well, mostly I) are the proud raisers of our second puppy for Leader Dogs for the blind. Her name is Bella, and is another black lab. Her blog is leadpup.blogspot.com...but also needs updates :) Bella is much, much mellower than our previous pup, Moses (who, by the way is still successfully completing his training at LD), but has been beset with various health issues. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on the perspective, those issues resulted in some pretty strong and quick bonding between Bella and me.

Mike got his driver's permit a few weeks ago, and even "helped" drive some of the way to Minnesota on our recent trip before the 4th. I would attach a picture of him behind the wheel, but I've been too busy clutching my heart, covering my eyes and holding my breath to even think about holding a camera. Who ever thought teaching a 15 year old boy to drive was a good idea must have been slightly nuts himelf.

Unity of the Spirit

2006-06-12T12:55:00.000-04:00

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:3-4

You don’t know what you got until its gone, goes the lyrics of a song to which I cannot remember the title. I used to think of it as not knowing how special someone or something was until they were no longer part of your life. Today I think that you don’t what you got – the real thing or just fluff – until it’s no longer part of your life. Too obscure a statement?

Recently we’ve met several families who have changed churches for one reason or another. The biggest regret? Losing the relationships they thought were solid once they walked out of the church for the final time. And I’m not talking about people who left under bad circumstances, but because of their sincere desire to follow God’s direction. Most often, it seems, that it is the people who left desire to continue a relationship, but the people who still attend the previous church do not. Why?

No idea. According to God’s Word, Jesus did not come to establish a denomination, but instead a Body – one body. We have fragmented His Body, not by creating many, many denominations, but by insisting on fellowshipping within those denominations. Thus, we’ve created an “us versus them” church culture. Someone leaves a particular church and the leaders take it personally. When careless things are said enough times about the person or family, pretty soon it is quite evident to others that fellowshipping with the family is not necessarily taboo, but will be “noticed.”

We quote often Ephesians 4:3-4, and declare how wonderful the unity of our body is. But what we really mean to say is, isn’t it great how well the people in these four walls get along? Again, because it bears repeating –
ONE Body
ONE Spirit
ONE Hope
ONE Lord
ONE Faith
ONE baptism
ONE God and Father over US ALL – aside from denominations, aside from concrete walls. If someone confesses Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives and seeks to walk out their faith based on God’s Word, isn’t that enough?

How can we stand in a pulpit denouncing racism when we are promoting denominational-ism? Personally, some of the most powerful times of prayer, some of the most intimate fellowship, some of the greatest experiences of God’s Spirit have taken place in a mixing bowl of God’s people. Unfortunately, we've been so busy building churches, that we've forgotten about the KINGDOM. The Kingdom isn't limited to four walls - none of us have all our theology right, so thank God it isn't! So why would we limit our relationships, our fellowship, our prayer to those we sit in the pews with 2 hours a week?

Don't you want more? I think most of us do. We want to see the power of God manifested on earth as it is in heaven. But God wants unity in His body -

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down the beard,
running down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
-Psalm 133 (emphasis mine)

Don't know what you got today? Don't know where you stand with others? Invite someone from another church to lunch - not to denounce their beliefs, but to share your common faith in God. You might walk away questioning some of your docterine. You even might desire more of God in a particular area of your life. Either way, you can bet that God was delighted that you took the time to join in unity on His behalf.

The Rainbow

2006-06-06T19:11:00.000-04:00

I looked up and there it was. I knew that it had to be near, but with the position of the sun poking through the spring rain, I figured it was out of my line of sight. Just knowing there would be one was enough. But I looked up, and there stretching across my street was a rainbow.

God marks His promise to never destroy the earth by flood with a rainbow (Genesis 9:13). But He has used the rainbow at key times in our lives to remind us that His promises are true – they are all “yes” and “amen” in Christ Jesus. He has sent us “our” rainbows during times when we were questioning our direction or decisions. Something in our hearts just knew that we knew we were in God’s will when God spread those rainbows across the sky.

Tonight, I was enjoying a summer storm from the protection of my front porch. Conditions were perfect for rainbows, but I didn’t go looking – since doing so would have meant going into the downpour. I was satisfied to remember the past times God had thrown a rainbow into our path…like on Easter Sunday, the year we were considering dissolving the ministry Barry led. Each Easter morning since we’ve been married we’ve awoken before sunrise and drove out to the highest point that we knew of in our area. We set up chairs, take devotional time together and watch the sunrise. A couple of years ago we were wrestling with the decision whether to dissolve a ministry that looked like it was dying, until God made it clear that Easter morning. By the time the sun was over the horizon, we were in unity about the decision to stick it out until the end of the year. Driving home, I looked out the window and saw a vivid rainbow. We kept the ministry running until the end of the year, during which time 7 people (of 15 attending) gave their lives to Christ.

More and more I’m learning to take God at His word, to believe what He says rather than what I see. That’s why I didn’t go looking tonight. I know God is there. I know God is here. But sometimes that’s not good enough for God. So when I looked up, I saw the rainbow as if it was rising up off the pavement of the street in front of me. God brought the rainbow to me! By the way, I didn’t need to go looking for what’s at the end of the rainbow; I already know.

*************************************************************************************

“The rainbow of Your grace contains every shade of light to counter every shadow of darkness. It is a constant reminder to us that Your grace is always sufficient and is present in every storm of life.”

Strange Fears

2006-06-04T16:16:00.000-04:00

My friend, Clarise, will storm the very gates of hell, but won't come within 10 feet of a dog. I knew about her fear of dogs, but what I didn't know is how fearless she was in other areas of her life until the night we went looking for her daughter.

Her daughter left home at the age of 16 in search of excitment and money on the streets. When I had been praying for her for several days, I began to sense she was staying and working near where I lived. So, Clarise and I began driving through the neighborhood, watching and praying for TJ. After a concentrated time of intercession, we looked up and saw a man, who we knew we were meant to follow in order to get some answers. He led us to a house, where Clarise immediately got out of the car, gave me orders to stay, pray and keep the engine running.

The exchange that followed their meeting Clarise at the door was rather comical. The guys were obviously stunned at this mother's bravado to march up to a house where illegal activities were clearly going on. Meanwhile, she demanded answers oblivious to any sense of potential danger, and got them. There was a fire in her eyes that night; a mother's love is fierce! By the way, her daughter had been in that neighborhood, but had left the day before in response to police crack-downs.

Which is why I am completely amazed at her fear of dogs. On the one hand, the pitbull/rottweiler culture in Detroit seems to propigate fear of dogs, especially in the African American community. However, I've tried - on many occasions - to explain that all dogs are different, and certainly ours (a docile chocolate lab) is as friendly as can be. The only thing Penny demands is strokes. Clarise plans to join the Redemption House we are launching tonight, but is totally scared of the dog being there.

I use her as an example, but we all have fears that seem completely unreasonable. We may know in our heads that God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love and of a sound mind. Marrying that knowledge in our hearts is a different story. I know I have my own fears - I can walk down our street at night in Detroit, but I freak myself out when I get up to go to the bathroom at 1 am.

My goal is to be afraid of nothing, and to know with all certainty that greater is He that is in me, than he who is in the world!

One more thing...

2006-05-31T11:12:00.000-04:00

This was from a writing exercise - if you only had ten minutes to write one last thing with only one minute to prepare...

I’d like to tell you something profound that will change the course of your life, maybe even of human history. But I won’t. I realize that there isn’t one big profound truth, but many smaller Truths that add up to one’s life. Those little Truths present themselves at key times during our journey. What we do with them makes us who we are. We can reject the small truth under the guise of waiting for the BIG TRUTH. In doing so, we will spend our lives on a fruitless chasing after the wind.

Who you are isn’t decided by the Big Deal you made or the Big Fish you landed; it’s determined by the deals you lost and the fish that got away. Your life legacy will be built on the people you helped and the people you discarded. The louder of the two will always weigh in more heavily.

What’s important is often not important, and what is important needs to be a consciously invested in. Life will sweep you away if you don’t learn to steer, if you don’t learn to navigate the currents and even go against them when necessary. Life will take you into dangerous places you never planned on going, if you don’t have a destination staked out, along with a plan to get there.

What do you want out of life? Decide now, even if it changes. Strike out your course, determine your path and WALK. If you don’t, someone else will push you along. You’ll stumble and you’ll fall. You’ll fall on your tookis and you’ll fall for any truth that people feed you. Feed yourself. Know what is real…what will last. Be a discriminate taster of life. Know what will satisfy you, and what will only arouse desires that will destroy you.

You can always change course. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. Only fix your eyes on that which is Real. Focus your heart on the one Truth that you can stake your life upon. Then, the world is yours, although by then you will probably have lost your taste for it. You’ll sights will be set on greater things, the dreams that are birthed in your heart.

Hasn’t anyone told you? You are free! You are free to pursue the Truth with reckless abandon. Be alive. Live your life from Truth to Truth to Truth and your path will become amazingly clear.

Fashionista - not

2006-05-25T17:54:00.000-04:00

I caught myself telling someone yesterday that flip flops were the new barefeet. The moment the words left my mouth, I wondered why did I say that what in the world did it mean, and who am I to be making fashion declarations? Me, who today is decked out in $2.50 worth of clothing (undergarments excluded - I never skimp on those...no pun intended, clever though it may be). The flip flops that I am sporting, which I paid a mighty dollar for last year, are loose and stretched out. So loose in fact, that I walked out of them twice at the mall. Now, my toes hurt from keeping them curled in order to keep my flops from flipping off.

Yet, I drop $3 at Starbucks without a second thought....

The Way I See It

2006-05-23T20:13:00.000-04:00

I’m writing this in the Fairlane Mall Food Court, sitting across from Starbucks, sucking down my second “BigBucks” coffee of the day (Barry’s pet name for the chain). Twice in one day? Extravagant, I know. I’ve invested $4 in their biz in exchange for the inspiration their coffee provides me.

Todd Olham – whoever that is – is quoted on my coffee cup: “The Way I See It” #106. He says “an open, nonjudgmental mind is the best tool for brewing creativity.” So I sit here in the food court, with an open mind, hoping and praying my brains don’t spill out in the process of opening my mind as wide as I can. And I wait…

And I began thinking, what if someone wanted to put my wisdom on a Starbuck’s coffee cup…What would I say? Would I be quippy or deep? Would I use my cup time to entertain or persuade? Hmmmm…I’ve been thinking about it for days now.

Tonight, I asked Mike what he would put on his cup. After seconds of deep teenage deliberation, he said this: “I would tell people to enjoy their life, because it’s the only one they’ve got.” This from a kid who, when I asked two days ago what he would do with $99,000, he – without hesitation – recited a well-rehearsed list, including but not limited to a new car, car insurance, xbox360, cable tv, big screen tv…and only stopped when he looked at me and noticed my “what-about- the-starving-children-of-Africa” look.

Still, it’s better than my answer, which is not yet ready for my Starbucks cup.

Leap, Leap - SMASH!

2006-05-23T20:09:00.000-04:00

Leap, leap – SMASH!
He threw his body against the chain link fence again and again. His tongue hung from the side of his mouth and his eyes were wide in desperation.

Leap, leap – SMASH!
He continued down the fence line hell-bent on finding his way back into the urban golf course. What was that little deer doing in inner Detroit anyhow?

Leap, leap – SMASH!
His face and shoulder bloodied from repeated contact against the metal. Up and down the fence line, first one way than the other. The same path. The same result.

Stop! Stop! I yelled at my husband, who like me, was gawking at the deer as we drove by. He continued driving in spite of my frantic pleas. He’ll get killed! His tongue’s hanging out! He needs help!

But he didn’t stop. Not because he didn’t care about the deer, but because he knew there was nothing we could do for it. Indeed, as panicked and frightened as the deer was, it would not only resist help, but perhaps injure us as it lashed out in fearful protection of itself.

Still, I felt totally helpless. And I hate that feeling. I hate being moved to tears with compassion and yet being unable to fix a situation…

I thought about my neighbor caught in the web of drugs who gets plucked out

of danger then runs back into it the first chance they get...

leap, leap – SMASH!

I thought of my friend’s daughter who has run away again,

unable to resist the empty promises of the street...

leap, leap – SMASH!

I thought about the kid who covers lies with more lies like a bandaid to his wounds,

constructing creative walls to keep people out,

then fights to climb over...

leap, leap – SMASH!

…Times so desperate that your heart breaks…Times when you want to reach into the confusion, pluck out the hurting dear who doesn’t know how to reach safety. But your help is refused by those whose eyes are wide with fear, reaching out with one hand while running away.

So you stand back, turn back, can’t bear to watch.

Leap, leap – SMASH!

Bragging Mom

2006-05-10T11:06:00.000-04:00

My son running track! He runs the 3200 relay, the mile (cut his time by 50secs. yesterday) and the 800 meter run. I hope that if the Lord blesses this kid with children, that his girls will get his long legs!

Ginger

2006-05-10T10:58:00.000-04:00

This is Ginger, perhaps the cutest puppy I have ever seen! We dogsat for her over Easter. She's a Leader Dog pup in training - only 3 months old. She reminded me of the dogs on the Advantix commercial (the summer camp one!) Very, very mischevious, however. During the ten days she was with us she managed to get ahold of and unravel half a pack of garbage bags, a roll of toilet paper and did a very interesting pattern of yarn work around the dining room table legs. We're convinced God made this pup extra adorable, but she is "extra stinker."

Wanting a King

2006-05-10T10:54:00.000-04:00

Based on an assignment for my writing class - from Luke 17:20-21...

Now, when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; not will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!" For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

I don’t know what to do. I don’t know who to marry, what career path to take, if I should get a dog, or move to Chicago. Honestly, the biggest part of me wishes someone would tell me what to do, leave me no options, draw a straight line from Point A to Point B. I want a king.

I’ve demanded answers from God, then without waiting taken the quicker route of advice from friends and mentors – wise people at that. But, in spite of solid counsel, their advice led me down paths I wasn’t meant to take, and the paths quickly dead-ended. I’ve fought life with my fists, plowed people down with my righteous indignation, guilted others into accepting Christ. But, it never worked when I was king.

Then, wrapped in my pride, I looked at the Israelites and the disciples and shook my head in disbelief: Why didn’t they get it, when Jesus was right next to them? Why couldn’t they see that Jesus had ushered in the kingdom of God? But, my eyes, too, have been dulled and blinded, my heart has been deceived, my hands have been lazy. Many, many times, I have looked for and expected the wrong kind of king.

I looked for a king everywhere. And when I found Jesus, I wasn’t sure He was the kind of king I wanted Him to be. He didn’t gallop into Jerusalem on a white stallion; He ambled in on a donkey. He ushered in a kingdom that would be run by God, not man, and would have to be lived in by faith, not by sight. His kingdom would need to be fought in the heart and for the heart; not fought on the battlefield. The weapon of His kingdom is love in place of the sword. Yet, He is the King above all kings.

We look to the right and to the left trying to match up what we see by how we think the kingdom of God should look. But the kingdom as we imagine is filtered through our wordly standards and weak eyesight. We settle for far less than the kingdom God meant for us to live in. Instead, the Spirit of God desires to manifests Himself in us and through us. This is the kingdom of God within us: He takes our broken heart and makes it whole; He tends to the scraped knees and elbows; He unscrambles the mind. The oil of His presence makes it easier to slip through life without the burden of permanence. His power empowers our engines to serve and then serve some more. This is the work of the true King.

The kingdom of God is within you, if you are born again in Jesus Christ. It is not a kingdom that needs to be forced or walled in. It is not a kingdom to hold tightly to your chest, but to hold with open and outstretched hands. The kingdom of God will leak out when you let it; the fruit of God’s work within you will overflow when you open your mouth. He alone is the King that rules with a heart of righteousness, peace and joy, and with His eye set lovingly on you.

Seeing over the Wall

2006-05-05T10:30:00.000-04:00

Barry and I saw "Akeelah and the Bee" last weekend. Fabulous, feel-good movie that I highly recommend. It was refreshing to see a movie with a message, minus the sex and swearing.

The plot may be predictable for some - most movies are - but the message about seeing over the wall is awesome. In short, the story is something like this: girl has tough life, girl discovers her unique gift, girl is challenged to use gift, girl fights doing so, girl eventually triumphs over obstacles and rallies those around her in the process.

The movie reminded me of something that Barry and I often talk about - that you have to boost others up to see over the walls in their lives in order for people to see the possibilities. So many people around us do not choose to live differently (although their drug addictions and baby outside of wedlock existence isn't what they want for themselves or their children), because they don't know what life otherwise is like. So, generation after generation, this behavior - alcoholism, poverty, fatherless children - perpetuates.

We have all built our comfortable little compounds in which we feel safe, in which life is relatively predictable. And for some, life is just not good. Life behind their wall may be the life that generations before have lived in poverty and self-destructive behaviors. Or life behind the wall may look a little more presentable with professional careers, but it still isn't the life you envisioned for yourself.

Have you seen the scenery on the other side, the possibilities of what you could be and do? There is no one else on earth like you right this minute. You have skills, talents and life experience that makes you completely unique...and we need you. This world needs you. Challenge yourself to challenge yourself today.

Fight the Good Fight

2006-05-01T11:20:00.000-04:00

This weekend Barry and I went to Bay City, Michigan to celebrate our anniversary and to enjoy a little rest and relaxation. We stayed at the most wonderful bed and breakfast. Simply walking in the place, our shoulders melted in relaxation. The B&B, Angel's Lair, is run by a couple with a very interesting story! In part, they have spent over five years renovating an old home to be used for a place of rest and healing for couples as a ministry. And they began this project for God, before committing their lives to God! How does that work? A long story that you'll have to ask them - and it's well worth the time! Their hard work and persistance has and continues to pay off. Not only is the home beautiful in presence and atmosphere, but it is beautiful in that people's lives have changed during their stay, especially the area of marriage healing and restoration.

Talking with Dan and Linda this weekend about all they have endured and continue to battle to develop this ministry, reminded me of what so many are going through right now. Those that are struggling are doing so not to build up their own "kingdom," but are trying to fulfill God's destiny in their lives. To those that are fighting the good fight, I say keep the faith! I pray "for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health - that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!" (3 John 2).

And some encouraging words from one who has already been where you are going...

"If you want a thing bad enough to go out and fight for it,
to work day and night for it,
to give up your time, your peace and your sleep for it …
if all that you dream and scheme is about it,
and life seems useless and worthless without it …
if you gladly sweat for it and fret for it and plan for it and lose
all your terror of the opposition for it …
if you simply go after that thing that you want with all your capacity,
strength and sagacity, faith, hope and confidence and stern pertinacity …
if neither cold, poverty, famine nor gout, sickness nor pain, of body and brain, can keep you away from that thing that you want …
if dogged and grim you beseech & beset it, with the help of
GOD you WILL get it!"
-Les Brown
(quoting Berton Braley)

Behold I am doing a new thing!

2006-04-27T10:24:00.000-04:00

I’m writing this while sitting in front of a pot of bright yellow mums on my kitchen table. The sun is well on its way up for the day, and is illuminating a newly leafed Maple tree, so that the tree looks like it’s on fire. The world has come alive again. It is Spring in Michigan, and I am renewed and hopeful.

Mind you, if you had talked with me three months ago, I would have told you that I was getting dizzy from going around the mountain – round and round, repeating the same mistakes and getting discouraged from the results. Like so many other people, I had gotten trapped in the ruts that I had worn over the years and began buying into the thoughts of not being able to change my life. My life was good; I had no complaints. It just wasn’t the abundant life Jesus promised us (John 10:10).

Shortly after the beginning of the year, something shifted. I began to wonder, “what if I got out of the boat.” I was tired of the boat, tired of status quo. Jesus said, “if you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth and the truth will free you” (John 8:28, The Message). Freedom? That’s what I longed for…
…freedom from past mistakes
…freedom from the expectations of others
…freedom to know who I am, not through the eyes of others, but through the eyes of the One who knit me together in my mother’s womb
…freedom from financial constraints
…freedom from religious tradition to pursue an intimate relationship

You know what? That’s exactly what God wants for us too. We put ourselves in a box; He tells us to get out of the box. We put ourselves in chains of shame; He died that we might leave our shame behind. Christ has set us free to live a free life (Galatians 5:1).

So I find myself ready and beginning to bust out of this cocoon that I put myself in. The old is gone and God is doing a new thing, not just in my life but in His church and in His people.

One place that “new thing” is very evident to me is at Spread the Word, an online Christian book and (coming soon!) downloadable music store. After prayer and deliberation, we bought a store. I'm so excited because I found a ministry/family business that promotes freedom – freedom to grow in your faith, freedom to grow in your finances, freedom to grow professionally, freedom to build the body of Christ.

I know people are skeptical of “Christian businesses.” I was most skeptical. But after my husband and I listened to our first Overview call, I began to sense that this business was different. Every call at Spread the Word is opened in prayer…and not just a little “God bless the children” prayer, but a soul-seeking, we-want-to-glorify-You prayer. Amen! Furthermore, my sponsor – along with other leaders in the company - blew my socks off with willingness to share anything they had to give – knowledge, time, prayer, even leads. Now that’s refreshing!!

A big eye-opener for me was learning that while over 13 billion dollars were spent on Christian products last year, over 80% of that went to secular companies. I'm all about the covenience of shopping on the Internet, but I am also the queen of deals. I found I can get all my books 25% off, and I know the money is going back into the hands of Christian families and ministries.

Check this place out - yes, it's for real - if for no other reason than to be encouraged that God is doing GREAT things in the marketplace!

Comfort

2006-04-26T13:50:00.000-04:00

I was watching Oprah the other day, when she interviewed a couple of families that had lost children through tragic accidents. Both of these families had turned awful experiences into incredible testimonies to the lives of their children. In one of the families, the sister of the deceased (about age 12, if I remember correctly), raised $10,000 to help build an orphanage for children in Africa, in an area where the previous orphanage had burned down. The other family’s story was equally amazing. As it turned out, the families, although they had lost their children in completely different and unrelated ways, lived very close to each other, and therefore witnessed each other’s stories on the local news. Both families were inspired and encouraged by how each other turned tragedy into triumph.

While I don’t know if either of these families believe in God, I do know God has made provision for these events in our lives. It’s a universal principle.

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more than the good times of his healing comfort – we get full measure of that, too. (2 Corinthians, The Message)

If you have ever received comfort from those who have not experienced your hurt, you know the power of encouragement from those who have stood where you now stand. If you have ever offered empty words of comfort from a well-meaning heart, and felt your words drop on the ground, you understand the feeling of helplessness in encouraging someone who is experiencing something about which your heart knows little. More often than not the exchange leaves both parties feeling decidedly undernourished.

Perhaps this is why I am so encouraged by this passage today. God has made provision in the Body of Christ – His Church – for hurting people. While people question why God would allow someone to o through such a terrible ordeal, people also need to know that God has made abundant provision within that time of trial to minister to a person with His own hand and heart…Then He sends others who have been in our place, to minister effective words to us… Then He allows us the privilege of ministering effective and life-giving words to others that are coming into the place where we have already been.

God is Big-Picture. Most of the time, we only see our little corner of the puzzle and therefore can easily get discouraged and overwhelmed with what life throws at us. But God in His great wisdom has provided so much more for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worded into something good (Romans 8:28, The Message).

Father, I pray for those who are in the middle of the valley today. Help these people recognize that You are their comfort in this time. Let them see with their eyes and experience with their hearts your grace and mercy generously poured out. Draw them near to You in an intimate way. Give them hope today for the future and give them vision for healing and triumph.

From Tragedy to Triumph

2006-04-24T07:54:00.000-04:00

Trumping Tragedy

2006-04-24T07:47:00.000-04:00

I was watching Oprah the other day when she interviewed a couple of families that had lost children in tragic accidents. Both of these families had turned awful experiences into incredible testimonies to the lives of their children. In one of the families, the sister of the deceased (about age 12, if I remember correctly), raised $10,000 to help build an orphanage for children in Africa, in an area where the previous orphanage had burned down. The other family’s story was equally as amazing. As it turned out, the families, although they had lost their children in completely different and unrelated ways, lived very close to each other, and therefore witnessed each other’s stories on the local news. Both families were inspired and encouraged by how the other family had trumped their tragedy.

While I don’t know if either of these families believe in God, I do know God has made provision for these events in our lives. It’s a universal principle.

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more than the good times of his healing comfort – we get full measure of that, too. (2 Corinthians, The Message)

If you have ever received comfort from those who had not experienced your hurt, you know the power of encouragement from those who have stood where you now stand. If you have ever offered empty words of comfort from a well-meaning heart, and felt your words drop on the ground, you understand the feeling of helplessness in encouraging someone who is experiencing something about which your heart knows little. More often than not, the exchange leaves both parties feeling decidedly undernourished.

Perhaps this is why I am so encouraged by this passage today. God has made provision in the Body of Christ – His Church – for hurting people. While people question why God would allow someone to go through such a terrible ordeal, people also need to know that God has made abundant provision within that time of trial to minister to a person with His own hand and heart...Then He sends others who have been in our place, to minister effective words to us....Then He allows us the privilege of ministering effective and life-giving words to others that are coming into the place where we have already been.

God is Big-Picture. Most of the time, we only see our little corner of the puzzle and therefore can easily get discouraged and overwhelmed with what life throws at us. But God in His great wisdom has provided so much more for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worded into something good (Romans 8:28, The Message).

I pray that you would be encouraged by God's own Hand and Word today if you are in the middle of valley. I pray that you would know His grace and mercy, and in turn, be willing and able to offer the hope you have received to others.

A deer in the headlights

2006-04-10T19:38:00.000-04:00

I am like a deer in the headlights lately. Except, I know I'm in a better position than the deer is in. We started a company Thursday, and I am completely overwhelmed with the magnitude of it (in a good way, I must add). That being said, I'm a little off-step, and a little dry in the writing department. Funny, I always give the guys a hard time because they don't mult-task effectively. I'm straight up in their single focus world!

I simply wanted to send out a blessing to each one reading this. I pray that you will make the world a little brighter today; that you will make someone's load a little lighter. And, most of all, I pray you will be blessed doubly in return.

Corruption, by Mike

2006-04-06T12:57:00.000-04:00

Mike wrote this poem this week...future English major? Anyway, he said I could post it. I told him, consider yourself published!

Corruption

In the world these days, you are not you you say you are.

They made you an enemy, taking something so beautiful,

only to destroy the perfect image God created.

They feed our minds confusion,

by sweetening the taste with pollution that makes us imperfect.

Some people call us brothers, maybe they could set me

free, these people hate each other.

But God has always been there for me.

I refuse to be like you, without life caving in,

I surrender, giving all that is within.

In this on coming world of confusion and destruction,

what is left to do?

How can a person hold on to what they believe,

when there is so much debating and corruption

in other people's lives?

Living in this world of pain, don't let it bring you down.

I believe that those on earth believe in love.

And I believe that you and I will overcome.

Our time has come, we lay and wait, don't hesistate,

when opportunity knocks, break the locks and rush the gates.

Never give up, because it will only lead to

the path of destruction and despair.

Trust in the One that created you,

He will set things straight and start repairs.

-Mike, April 2006

Adoption

2006-04-05T11:25:00.000-04:00

The goodness of God is overwhelming me today. We received an announcement from a soon-to-be official family member Karen, that Amanda (Mike's sister) will be legally, formally and finally adopted on May 9. Amanda, who turned 13 in March, and is one of the most beautiful girls that I know. Under the umbrella of Karen's love, she has grown and blossomed, is healing and becoming a really neat young woman.

It is a miracle.

Adoption is an amazing miracle, in that God takes strangers, wraps their hands together and calls them family. Sometimes, especially when adopting an older child, it feels more like two worlds colliding! The family may not be a mixture of complex genetic material, but instead they become grafted into one another. Either way, they spell family.

So not only am I overwhelmed with God's goodness in providing the perfect home for Amanda, but I also am overwhelmed (in a good way) with how crazy our family tree is beginning to look! I'm not sure what this "makes" Karen and Amanda to us, but I do know in my heart they are family. Perhaps it is time to scrap the family tree concept and proceed with a family vine….Lots of room to graft in branches…Lots of room for grapes!

The Beloved

2006-04-03T23:54:00.000-04:00

Throughout my readings of the Gospel of John, I have always been troubled by John referring to himself as the "disciple whom Jesus loved." Actually, more than troubled - I thought John was being downright hoity-toity. Mistakenly, I have interpreted that phrase to mean that John thought Jesus loved him more or better than He loved the other disciples. I was wrong.

John simply described himself in that way because he had had such an awesome revelation of God's love for him. As a matter of fact, Jesus' love was the single most important thing to him; John defined himself by God's love for him. Boy, if we could wrap our minds around that! If we could define ourselves and see ourselves how God sees us, instead of how our neighbor sees us, or how we see ourselves. God is much more graceful than we are.

God says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139).

God says that you have stolen his heart with one glance of your eyes (Song of Songs 4:9).

God says that He loved you so much that came into the world, not to condemn but to save (John 3:16, 17).

John had it all right. It wasn't just knowing God, it was being known by God (Galatians 4:9). It wasn't just the miracles that Jesus did: It was all about the Love He gave. John knew what we still can know today - that the powerful Divine Love still can rock our world.

Antidote for Fear in a Crazy World

2006-03-29T18:54:00.000-05:00

Penny (my dog) and I spent time hiking in the woods today. Being a weekday (but so warm and sunny I felt sad for those who weren't able to enjoy it!), we had the trails to ourselves mostly. When we got deeper into the woods, I began thinking that it had been awhile since I had been hiking by myself. And, despite having my dog with me, I felt a bit nervous about it. Even as I was sitting on a bench absorbing the smells of spring that rose from the muddied ground, I tensed at the sounds of movement behind me. Penny was resting in front of me; her ears perked also. I knew I should turn around to see what it was. It sounded big, like someone walking toward me. I was actually frightened!

When I finally looked around, I saw nothing and heard nothing. I waited a minute or so, then saw the scampering squirrel run out from behind a tree, make a beeline away from Penny, and run up another tree. I had been spooked by a squirrel running through dried leaves. Pathetic, I know.

I reminded me of the verse in 1 Peter 5:8, where Peter warns followers to be aware of "your enemy the devil [who] prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Note that the enemy is only like a roaring lion - a cheap imitation! We serve the true lion, the Lion of of the tribe of Judah who has triumphed! (Revelation 5:5).

Furthermore, thanks be to God, who "has not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power and of love and of self-discipline" (1 Timothy 1:7). While we need to be aware of the enemy's schemes, lest we ourselves be deceived, we do not need to be afraid when we follow in the footsteps of the true lion - the Lion of Judah.

WE!

2006-03-28T11:49:00.000-05:00

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

I remember meditating on this verse shortly after I committed my life to following God. I had a vision of a large woven tapestry that was bathed in rich and vibrant colors, and sensed that God was showing me what my life could be like.

Recently, I was meditating on this verse again, but instead of seeing one tapestry, I saw a line of them, of which I could not see the end. The other thing I noticed was that they were not rich in color like the one I saw before, mine included. It was then I realized I was seeing the works in progress. But they are so drab! I thought. Where are the wonderfully rich colors that I saw before? I looked down and had a can of paint and paint brushes in my hand, and I knew that I was supposed to paint the tapestries. As I began painting, I noticed other people painting with their own colors.

I am not God's workmanship. You are not God's workmanship. WE are God's workmanship! God may weave our individual lives with gifts and talents that will enable us to uniquely affect the world. But the beautiful colors come from each of us pouring into the lives of each other. None of us is alike, nor do we have the same color to offer. But the more people we allow to pour into our lives, and the more lives we pour into, the more amazing the final tapestry will be.

Moses, my muse

2006-03-26T18:35:00.000-05:00

Moses, my muse

Just got word yesterday that Moses is only two weeks away from becoming a bonafide Leader Dog for the Blind! However, while we are extremely optimistic, there remains one thread of dread since I have heard many a story of pups "throwing it all away" only days before they were to be placed with a blind student. Turns out the pups must have a sense that they are going to be spending the rest of their lives (until retirement) working...and some decide last minute that being a Leader Dog isn't for them. They pull stunts like refusing to cooperate with their trainer after performing great in previous weeks, or chew up anything they can get their mouth around, or decide to growl inappropriately until "career changed," then never misbehave again.

admittedly, we have mixed feelings about Moses making it. While having him lead a blind person into greater avenues of independence is why we devoted 11 months to him, we also became quite attached to the old boy. Although, after taking a tour of our backyard today, I was reminded quickly of his many destructo-dog moments, tearing out the edging along the flower beds as well as digging grave-sized holes to hide his tennis balls in. Funny how all the bad stuff falls away, and only the fun memories remain, like being able to nap on the couch with two dogs...one step away from heaven.

I'm in the process of writing a children's story about raising him - publisher, anyone? So, I'm banking on the fact that he will go onto a bigger and better life than just hanging out with the Smyth's, yet another family dog. I'm hoping Moses will join the prestigious rank of Leader Dog for the Blind. Will we raise another one? Perhaps. There was something wonderful about the doggy subculture surrounding Leader Dog puppy raisers. Rumor has it there are puppies available now, as LD is expanding their puppy raising from 300-500 pups a year. They are always looking for puppy raisers, as well as those who will host breeding dogs (and their newborn pups!) Just thought I'd throw that out for anyone who needs to complete one more good deed....

Where Feminism Failed

2006-03-22T13:15:00.000-05:00

Recently on Good Morning America, Diane Sawyer interviewed Linda Hershman, who contested during the interview that "feminism had failed." I totally agree with her statement, but find much fault with her assertions as to why it has failed.

Ms. Hershman says that feminism has failed because too many women want to be moms and want to stay at home to raise their children. She further says in her GMA interview that stay-at-home moms are "a threat to civilization" and that women are misusing education because an "educated, competent adult's place is in the office." Interesting.

Am I wrong in thinking that the original intent of the feminism movement was to give women a choice to go out into the workforce? Unfortunately, feminism has feminized itself out of its own movement. I believe all our human nature has a bit of rebellion in it, so when you tell someone she has no choice she most likely will desire the opposite. That's what is happening to feminism. Ms. Hershman's remarks were in reaction to a study she conducted wherein she found that while women were outnumbering men on college campuses, the majority of the women she interviewed intended to stay home and raise their kids should the opportunity to do so arise.

As a child of the feminism movement, and as a bit of a rebel myself, I appreciate that I had many choices available for a career path. If you would have asked me ten years ago what I wanted to do as a career, I don't think stay-at-home mom was even on the list. However, I now am, and am glad that I had the choice and the opportunity to stay home. Therefore, to hear a "feminist" tell women that their place is not in the home but in the workplace where they can use their talents makes me mad. As a matter of fact, it makes me want to stay at home and raise gaggles of children…maybe even home school them to add insult to injury.

Has feminism failed? Only if we are telling women that their choice to stay home is no longer a viable option. And, in that case, aren't we right back where we started?

2006-03-20T11:32:00.000-05:00

This is Penny, our perfect family dog. We found her at a local animal shelter, just one month to the day that my beloved Inde died. Inde (a black lab mix) had been with me for nine years, through some pretty turbulant years at that. She was perfect and amazing in her own right. I wasn't sure how I would do with another dog after her. But three weeks after her death I was on a mission to get another dog in our house (too quiet without one!).

I wanted a "pookie" dog (something to fit in a cute little bag that I could dress up in darling doggy sweaters). Barry looked crestfallen at the suggestion. I told him that if we found a lab at a shelter, I would go get it. One week later, I found Penny via petfinder.com, a fabulous website that searches all the animal shelters and rescues in any area in the U.S. After picking up Mike from school, we went to meet her. She was a total sausage - soooooo fat - but sweet as could be. It took me 30 seconds to decide (ok, I did have my mind already made up on the way over), the next day she was coming home!

Some people think that once their dog dies that they could never love another one. Perhaps they are afraid of the new dog reminding them of the old. I have yet to meet any one dog that reminded me of any other. Dog personalities, as far as I can tell, are as varied as ours...and can be just as quirky. Penny is incredibly well-trained, very affectionate (ok, demanding) and a little food obsessed. In a nutshell, she fits right in with the family.

Abide and Believe

2006-03-17T09:33:00.000-05:00

The word, abide does not flow often from our lips in conversation. Rarely does anyone say, “We abide in Michigan”, or “My friend abides with me in a cute, two-bedroom bungalow.” We use the generic term, live, which in my opinion is so much less colorful than the word, abide.

When I let the word abide roll around on my tongue, it conjures up a feeling of being settled, content, comfortable, secure. It speaks to me of overstuffed chairs and big, artsy coffee cups; of lots of room to roam, and safety. The word, abide, is a word that I have meditated on since the beginning of the year, when the passage from John 15 spoke so powerfully to me:

“Abide in Me as I abide in you” (v.4).

I am amazed that Jesus wants to abide in His people, that He wants to make Himself comfortable in us. And I am amazed that He expects the same from us: to make ourselves at home in Him. As I’ve been meditating on this awesome truth, I am again reminded that Christianity is unique from any other religion. While all other religions depend on the follower performing to earn favor with the worshiped being, Jehovah, is more concerned with our being than He is with our doing. God is more concerned with our character than our performance.

Indeed there is nothing we can do to impress God: our greatest wisdom is foolishness to the God who knows all; our acts of righteousness are as filthy rags when compared to what He endured on the cross; our love is self-centered, while His love is complete. God doesn’t call on us to impress Him, He only calls us to believe.

“Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent’” (John 6:29).

Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who lived a sinless life on this earth for 33 years, took all the sin of the world upon Him as He was crucified on a cross. Believe that He died, but rose from the dead three days later, and now sits in Heaven at the right hand of the Father. Believe that if you believe in Him, you, too, have died to the power of sin and death, and are a new creation in Christ. Believe that you have the same power that rose Jesus from the dead living in you. Believe that you are filled and sealed with the Holy Spirit of God, who will guide you and protect you until you are called Home.

Make yourself comfortable in the amazing grace and love of God. Believe that the God of the Bible is more than able to do all that He has promised.

That your joy may be full

2006-03-13T18:16:00.000-05:00

My son and I went on a retreat this weekend for teens around the state. The theme was "temptation," so I should have know that satan would be working over time. Not only were three of the four boys who were scheduled to attend sick (including my son), but also the youth minister fell ill the morning we were scheduled to leave. On top of that, about fifteen minutes outside of our destination, my husband called my cell phone with the unfortunate news that my son had left his luggage in the trunk of our car; meaning, he had no clothes, no tooth brush, nothing but the clothes on his body and the snacks in his hands.

Because our destination was two hours from home, I had no intention of returning, but also was not looking forward to breaking the news to him once we arrived. When we caught up to the other van load of kids at the hotel, I told Mike that he had forgotten to transfer his stuff to the van in which he was riding . He was upset…no, angry…and could not be consoled. While I reminded him that I was his mother, and that we could go to the store and pick up some stuff, he didn't want to hear it. Nor did he want to join us when we went into town for dinner later that evening.

I was struggling as well: Why didn't he want me to help him? Why wouldn't he ask me for what he needs, knowing I am able to provide it for him? I let myself wallow in my own hurt, reviewing my past failures of my short term of motherhood, wondered why he didn't trust me to care for him. On and on, I let my mind run, and my heart break. Yet something inside of me warned me not to get for him what he needed until he asked. So I stood by and watched my miserable, stinky kid.

Saturday afternoon, as I prayed to God, wondering what to do, I sensed that still, small voice prodding me: "Who does Mike remind you of?"

Hmmmm…I ignored the question, and continued in my fervent intercession, "Lord, help him see that I can help, that You will provide…"

"Who does Mike remind you of," the voice interrupted, a bit more insistent this time.

"I don't know, Lord," I replied sheepishly. Maybe I didn't want to know.

Silence. I waited for the answer, but my heart had already received it. "Me?" I asked cautiously. And then the light of understanding flooded in. I don't always ask God for what I need. Many times I stew about an issue or an obstacle until I have exhausted all my natural resources, and only then turn to God for help. I was looking at Mike how God must look at me in these circumstances. How many times had I assured Mike that he will have everything he needs. How many time does God assure us in His word that whatever we ask according to His will, He will do for us?

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:24, NKJV).

As we walked through the store with our cart full of t-shirts, boxers, socks and other stuff, Mike looked at me and said, "This is going to cost a lot."

To which I replied, "Baby, don't you know your mama would move heaven and earth to get what you need?"

And in my spirit, that voice whispered to me, "Baby, don't you know that I would move heaven and earth to get what you need?"

Yes, Father, I do.

Digging up Dreams

2006-03-09T20:51:00.000-05:00

I just returned home from having coffee with a friend. One of the recurring themes of our chat tonight was our dreams and the need to dream big in this hour. I believe and know that this is a season to dream big dreams, which implies that we need to cultivate the soil in which a dream can be nurtured and grow. Thus the challenge...turning off the tv and radio, curling up on the couch with a steaming cup of coffee and letting your santified imagination run wild. Spring is coming, the ground is softening, so start digging up those dreams.

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There is the sweet transporting dream that awakens our desires. The dreams that help us to remember what we have forgotten about ourselves. The dreams that get lost in the daily grind of laundry and grocery lists and navigating rush hour. The dreams that are planted in our souls at birth, excavated little by little, year by year. As we age, mature, the reality of who we are peels away like layers of a sunburn exposing the tender dream-skin beneath.

Dream this year. Not fantasy day-dreams, but dream life-giving and life-changing dreams. Dream that which already has been eternally planted within you. And by dreaming, let the layers of calloused life be peeled away so that the real you and the True Dream will live and thrive. Let the burn ensue, so that the healing takes place and eventually the new skin will emerge. Then, crawl in....

Thankfully Content

2006-03-06T11:47:00.001-05:00

O Lord, who lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness. --William Shakespeare

I had a "runaway" day this weekend - a 24-hour escape from humdrum life. Twenty-four hours with no one asking where the car keys are, or the phone; what there is to eat, or what I'm making for dinner; if I'd wash jeans, or had I seen a missing wallet; no other moods to contend with, no space to share. Just me and my own noise.

I find it astounding how quickly our human nature can go from one extreme to another. One day we bemoan, "If only I was married…" Later we cry, "He's holding me back!" We wish, pray and hope for kids, then threaten to pluck out our eyes if we have to do one more load of laundry, or make one more bag lunch. Unfortunately, our human nature revels in discontentment. It wants us to stay in the school of more, better and different.

By the end of hour 18 of my day away from my boys, I realized how easy is it to lose perspective in the trenches. Life becomes a daily grind rather than the miracle it is. The life that we hoped and prayed for is weight instead of wings. We find our dream list replaced by a to-do list. But it isn't life that has changed, or the circumstances that have changed, it's our attitude that has changed.

Fortunately, there is a weapon with which we can wage war against our fleshy discontent:

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6,7 The Message, bolding mine)

"Let your living spill over into thanksgiving" - isn't that beautiful? Now, I know I am idealistic (I've stopped apologizing for it), but what would a day look like if I, you, and everyone around us expressed thankfulness and gratitude for our lives, our families, our jobs (or the time we have away from them), the roof over our head, the food in our fridge and cupboards, the convenience of laundry machines, our car…Pretty nice place to live in, don't you think?

Needless to say, I was sooooo happy when my boys returned. Time and distance may restore our perspective. But, better yet, lives spilling over into thanksgiving consistently maintain perspective. That is a life worth living.

Be thankful.

The Challenge

2006-03-04T10:39:00.000-05:00

Each Tuesday, I lead a youth group for teen girls. This past week, we joined another group of teen boys for a discussion of John 6 and 7. Mike, my son, was part of the group. Therefore, when I asked the question whether any of them thought it is possible to have the intimate relationship with God today that Jesus had then, I was challenged when Mike quickly (too quickly!) answered, "no." When I asked why he thought that (knowing that the same Spirit that Jesus received on earth was given also to us when we accept Christ today), he said that he had never seen such a relationship. ouch.

Later, as I thought again about his comment, I was reminded of the atheist (his name escapes me), who said that Christianity sounded great, and if he actually ever met a Christian, he'd believe it. ouch. Mike's comment, along with this thought, have been swirling around in my head since Tuesday. I needed to hear that challenge again.

The challenge: To be Jesus to the world. Many people will never read the whole Bible, or any of the Bible for that matter. They will believe only what they see. Too many Christians (me, included) often get comfortable with "life in the pew" or their "fire insurance." Sure, we do a good work here and there, but do we live like we believe 2 Corinthians 5:10:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Hearing this challenge - and I take it as a challenge and not a rebuke - makes me want to live with abandon. Before I became a Christian, I was one who thought that most, if not all, Christians were hypocrites. Therefore, I didn't want to be one. But, that was faulty reasoning on my part. I believed that Jesus was, and was who He said He was. I believed He died so that my relationship with God could be restored. I just didn't want the pressure of having to live up to what a life lived in Jesus might look like. Again, ouch.

One of my favorite inspiring songs right now is by Nicole Nordeman, "Brave." I listen to it, and I want to do better, live livelier, love deeper, play harder, reach farther. I know it's not the song, but it's who the song reminds me of - Mike. I want my kid to have the fullest life he can have; I want him to overcome all things in Christ; I want him to know that all things are possible in Christ Jesus. So, yes, he makes me want to be brave for God...to live with abandoned holy boldness...to be a pure vessel of God's powerful love.

It is not mission impossible for people to see Jesus in His followers. I fall short, yes. But I serve a very big God who can take my feeble efforts, even the quaking of my knees and cause earthquakes. I want to begin my heavenly life with the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. " It's what I live for.

2006-03-02T12:30:00.000-05:00

Today I was hiking with my hubby in the woods. It was colder than I thought, and quickly began wishing that I had brought a hat. Lucky for me, my husband is very giving; he gave me his green snap-off hood from his jacket, which I promptly put on and fastened the buttons under my chin. Initially, I was grateful for the warmth and protection from the wind. Then, I took a step back from myself (figuratively speaking, of course) and really looked at the dork that I had become – fuzzy magenta pants, lilac wind jacket with a burgany polarfleece underneath, army green hat, dollar-store gloves...Who is that?! I wondered.

This brief experience sent me on a fashion review of my previous 33 years (well, excluding the years my Mom dressed me…her fashion sense was always better than mine). As a matter of fact, I realized I had gotten myself into fashion trouble about the same time that I began dressing myself. Again, thank God for Mom who always made sure I was dressed well for my “back to school picture.” I cannot take full blame for my many fashion mishaps, however, remembering that I did spend my formative fashion years during the 80s. While I escaped the Madonna-inspired look, I did fall prey to Michael Jackson’s fashion influence – parachute pants, anyone?

Today, when I shop, most often I purchase something strikingly similar to that which is already part of my wardrobe – khaki pants (half of all the pants I own are khaki), blue shirts of various hues and styles (but all solid color), and the requisite black turtlenecks. Yes, there are slight variations, but you’d be surprised how often I find that I’ve worn the same thing in pictures for a few years in a row. Moreover, as a stay-at-home mom/wife and fledgling writer, I feel no inspiration to develop my fashion IQ.

Why is this on my mind now? I’m seeing myself in the eyes of my teenager! While I don’t want to embarrass him with my lack of coolness, I feel that driving him to school in my pajamas doesn’t count. After all, I do have my winter coat on over them. However, seeing him wear what he thinks defines himself as cool, takes me back to my teen years when I – hey, weren’t we all – defined by cool. Looking back now, I think I just looked silly half (ok, more than half) of the time. It makes me wonder, as I look at my motley outfit that Lands’ End would be appalled at, when did I stop caring about cool?

Moses and Me...Missed the Boat

2006-02-26T19:48:00.000-05:00

I finished reading Marley and Me. Well, almost...I didn't read the final few chapters because Marley's end seemed imminent. I just could not bring myself to wade through the final sad stages of life with a dog, having gone down that path with my own. Too sad.

However, the rest of the book was priceless. Marley and Me is a classic tale of boy meets girl, boy and girl marry, girl's biological clock begins ticking, boy and girl get dog. Many of the stories were laugh-out-loud funny, which makes for great reading when your husband is trying to sleep next to you. I've heard some people claim that the author must have "embellished" in order to make the book more funny. But I know firsthand that life with a pup can be as crazy as one can imagine.

As a matter of fact, I was reading the book thinking to myself that I missed the boat writing this bestseller. Marley reminded me of Moses, and Moses of Marley. Marley would take every dog on "as a good time;" we had Moses neutered nine months ahead of schedule for that very reason. Marley's owners reached down his throat in attempts to retrieve beloved objects; I not only reached down Moses throat, but also had to pull undigested objects from his bum as well. Gross, you say? Well, when your dog is hunched over trying to both walk and poo while looking at you with the most helpless face, something has to be done. And I can pretty much guarantee that your husband and teenage son will be nowhere to be found at that very moment.

While Moses was not destro-dog inside, he did manage to pull up and/or eat every flower I planted in the back yard. I anticipate the spring bulbs popping out of the cold Michigan ground each spring. Last year was no different. I would patrol the yard each day (on a dual poop-flower mission), waiting for the afternoon I would find the crocus bloomed...or the tulip...daffodil. However, our yard seemed the site of a new phenomenon whereby the very day a flower was going to bloom, it jumped ship from its stem - some times landing nearby, sometimes disappearing altogether. When I figured out what was going on, I looked at Moses, and he looked back at me with his cocked head, "Whaaaaat?" It would take all three of us to corner him, with a little help from our mature chocolate lab, Penny. Then we would find the bulb-of-the-day stuffed into his cheek like snuff.

While some may shake their head in disbelief at Marley's antics, I nodded in sympathy. Been there, done that. My saving grace was Moses returning to Leader Dogs for the Blind for formal training...and with hope that the professionals can weed out a few of those issues! While I didn't finish the book, I can only imagine that Marley's owners - like us obsessive dog owners everywhere - would do it again, in a heartbeat.

Not-My-Puppy Love

2006-02-23T19:06:00.000-05:00

I've received two great pieces of advice from other writers. The first was, write, write, write. The second was "you are obsessed for a reason, so write about it." Thus I became free to write, write, write about my obsession - dogs. This piece is about Moses, a puppy we raised last year for Leader Dogs for the Blind. Yes, giving him back was hard.
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I fell asleep debating whether I would fall in love with him. I know he wouldn't be mine forever, and I was unsure if I was up to the heartache that undoubtedly would mark his leaving, his absence, his new life a world away from mine.

I think I had decided to throw caution to the wind before my dreams took over. My heart was set to fill with the unconditional love that is reserved for dogs, the place that I had kept locked up for months from the Leader Dog pup that lay a few feet from me curled up in the night.

At least that was my thought before the unmistakable belly warping sounds woke me from my sleep, proceeded by violent gagging and throwing of tonight's supper wrapped in grass that landed in a neat pile on his newly washed blankets. Before I could reach overhead to turn on the lamp, I hear him frantically gobbling the mess, which is already gone before the light floods the room.

I sat up and made eye contact with him. His vacant pupils glowing as he licked his mouth with a satisfied, "What?" look on his black face. Maybe I don't have to love this one, I thought as I leaned back on my pillow and turned off the light.

Again, I drift into sleep, resuming the love-him, love-him-not battle, when the belly wave, regurgitation cycle begins again. This time, I don't bother even to turn on the light. I know he'll eat it and he won't regret it. I know I'll never understand it. But I know I'll love him anyway.

The kid theme, continued

2006-02-23T18:38:00.000-05:00

As some of you know, I became the mom of a teen boy last year. He's my first kid, which has its positives and negatives (positives - I didn't know any better; negatives - I don't know any better). The thing for which I was most unprepared as a parent, was how differently I would give and receive love. With my husband, my heart swells gradually over time: I'm convinced that my heart is bigger now than before I knew him. But with the kid, my heart seems break on a regular basis. The upside-downess of it, however, is that breaking isn't a bad thing. Instead, the more my heart breaks because of and for him, the more that love pours through to him.

Yea, we don't get it either. But, I'm learning to enjoy the wild ride of teenage-dom. I'm just glad that this time I'm a bystander who watches the kids wizz by me screaming at the top of their voices as they plummet down the steep hill, then raise their arms in anticipation as they slowly climb the next hill, knowing that it, too, will take them plummeting straight down again. Thank God the ride ends eventually, and that most of them will have the good sense to get off...and not get back into line!

Loving Elmo...and other strange changes

2006-02-20T09:25:00.000-05:00

We sat there in the dark, leaning toward one another until our shoulders touched lightly. He had one hand resting on my knee, and another in the popcorn. His eyes stayed glued to the curtain that I promised the three-year-old sitting next to me would rise, and we waited together for Sesame Street Live to begin.

I was of the "I-can't-believe-people-spend-money-on-this-stuff" camp when it came to shows like Sesame Street Live, Disney on Ice, etc. That's all changed after last night. Hunter and I went to the Fox Theater for the performance. We climbed the steps to the balcony, bought some popcorn and took our seats. While I hoped that Hunter would be excited, I was not prepared for the excitement and anticipation I would feel.

People often speak about seeing the world through the eyes of a child, but mostly I used to think it was for those writing poetry...or greeting cards. This past year, however, I have experienced those soul-piercing moments when an adult enters into a child's world - if only briefly - and experiences the priviledge of seeing the world in a different light. My nephew, Hunter, gave me this gift last night, as I wiggled also in the seat next to him, clapped my hands to the music, laughed to make the picture machine work and yelled for Oscar to come out of his garbage can. The playing field was leveled; he and I were playmates for a few moments.

Aidan and Natalie, two other toddlers in my life have also transported me through that invisible barrier of adult and childhood. Aidan and I went to Greenfield Village together last autumn. It was during the harvest celebration, and the last of the sun's warmth followed us through our walk. One of the employees gave us an apple from the orchard. I only took one, figuring neither Aidan nor I would eat much of it. But as we sat on a bench watching kids from the metro schools walk by, feeling the sun warm our faces, we passed the apple between us, taking bite after delicious bite. Never have I enjoyed an apple like that. Again, worlds collide, playing fields are leveled, and we are just two human beings enjoying the simplicity of an apple late one autumn morning.

And Natalie...what can I say about this precious girl who has stolen my heart...The girl who lays her head on my shoulder, and stays that way that without falling asleep? Afterwards, I thought she was just having a hard time staying asleep, but I think she just knew I needed the comfort. She falls into your lap, and crawls up your arm, until she finds a comfortable position for cuddling. Her capacity to give comfort and love is amazing. Rocking together I cross the line into the peaceful and carefree existence of a kid without cares. It's an escape with her I welcome gratefully.

Sometimes I think that the difference between the ways that adults and children see the world is like Saran wrap and bubble wrap. Adults surround themselves with Saran wrap, protecting themselves from the things that can harm them. But it leaves them stuffy. Kids take life like bubble wrap: it can be used protectively when needed, but mostly it's for a party - a loud, wonderful, popping party.

Great Book!

2006-02-16T18:11:00.000-05:00

Is is just me, or is finding wonderful, absorbing fiction becoming more difficult? Why does "popular fiction" have to be depressing or about confusing gender issues to get on the Oprah book club? Don't get me wrong, big Oprah fan here...minus the book club. Deeeeepressing.

BUT, just recently a new acquaintence of mine recommended an author - Charles Martin. I picked up his book Sunday (soon to be a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie!), The Dead Don't Dance and finished it Monday evening. Lovely book. Bittersweet from the beginning. Interesting characters (you'll love the bagpiper), and the ending...well, don't want to ruin it for you. I'm breaking my rule of reading two books by the same author in a row by indulging currently in Wrapped in Rain.

If you read any of his stuff, let me know. I'd be interested to know what you think!

Upside Down, Inside Out

2006-02-16T09:48:00.000-05:00

What has surprised me most about following God, is that He teaches us to walk completely contrary to the way the world teaches us. God's ways seem upside down and inside out when we compare them with the culture. Yet, God's way is the only way that works out all the time! I've been attempting to follow God for several years, and am just now beginning to get some shadow of understanding about this! I am convinced that if those who called themselves Christians would GET THIS then the world would want what we have. Instead, we hop along asking God to apply bandaids to situations, rather than letting Him transform our minds and hearts in Christ Jesus.

When I finally stopped running after every inkling of what He might have for me to do for the Kingdom, and really started absorbing what He said in His Word to do, I was shocked. The world tells us to beat down the door of opportunity; God tells us that He will open a door no man can shut. The world tells us to look out for number one, because no one else will; God says, "greater love has no man than this, that he will lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13)."
Even most of us in "churchdom" have missed it. We have scheduled so many programs to cater to every conceivable person who might walk through our doors. Instead, God has called us to go into all the nations...baptize....teach. Yet, we chastise people for not going to church on Sundays. Hmmmm....let's not shirk our responsibility, folks of God.

What would Jesus do? The opposite of what the world would do - pretty much every time. The crazy thing is, doing it God's way is an adventure...it's joyful...and it works. Ironically, here my husband and I sit: he's laid off and I'm editing articles for peanuts; yet we have enough money to live and have a little fun, and we've never been happier. That's the Kingdom of God. Anybody can preach to you out of the prosperous times. Anyone can tell you of the power of God when they are on the mountain. We need those people to give us hope. But we also need those in the middle of the valley to increase our faith.

So, while the world is saying apply for jobs - make your own way; God is saying wait on Me.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:3). To which I say, Amen! So be it!

Why Blog

2006-02-15T18:25:00.000-05:00

Funny, I never thought I'd find myself here, in cyberspace, blogging for all to see. I wrestled with the blogging concept for quite awhile, never really being able to justify doing it. After all, wasn't blogging for teens, a place where they bared their soul? Not for me.

However, I find myself coming around the mountain...again...to this place called "Writing." It seems that no matter the direction I take, the degree I get, the place I live, the people I hang out with, I keep coming back to this place. So, big decision - I'm staying. I'm not fighting the writing bug anymore. I refuse to let the naysayers in my mind, and the one on my shoulder, tell me I can't do it...that I'll never make it...that nobody will ever pay me for words. I'm going to write anyway.

Thus, the blog. Too many years I've stayed huddled in the corner writing poems or letters to the editor that I never sent for publishing. Fear of rejection? Probably. So, this is my attempt to dip my toes into the public sphere. Throw my words out for others to chew on, or to spit out. Mind you, it is quite safe, as probably only my family and friends will occasionally drop by, and then only when I remind them. But I don't plan to stay. Abide here I will, but here is a big place.

Thanks for joining my journey. Walk with me a mile, or two.