Enjoying Jesus

Greener Grass

2010-06-26T16:42:00.004-04:00

Can I just get a little time to myself? That's been the whine of my heart. So, John left me at the entrance to the beautiful Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, as he set out for the children's water play that they so thoughtfully included in their design. I meandered through the gift shop for a while, and then struck out for the Woodland Walk with my Bible in hand. I found a quiet spot in a serene shade garden, and sat down on a bench. Ah, so peaceful. This is what I've been waiting for! After only a few moments of thinking that very thought, it hit me. No, what you have been waiting for over twenty years is to be a mother, and now the Lord has granted your request, and you spend your hours pining for the peaceful days. "It is but one side of a Christian to endeavor to do what pleases God; you must as well endeavor to be pleased with what God does, and so you will come to be a complete Christian when you can do both, and that is the first thing in the excellence of this grace of contentment." Jeremiah Burroughs

Image Idols

2010-06-12T14:00:00.003-04:00

In the middle of the mall. Another meltdown. Screaming, kicking, wailing. Eyes upon us. My friend Becky volunteered to watch Jada and her daughter, Megan, while I took Jesse to the restroom. Then we left our play date early, and I cried most of the way home. I'm not the mother I thought I would be. Picture perfect days with polite and precious children. Me, ever patient and kind. People praising, "such wonderful parenting." Oh, I'd forgotten again about sin, mine and my daughters'. As another of my idols comes crashing down around me, I'm reminded again of just how far I am from being like Jesus and just how desperate I am for His grace.

Memorial Day

2010-05-31T13:36:00.005-04:00

John took the girls to the War Memorial Ceremony this morning while I stayed home to scrub floors. He's resting, and I'm working, I thought. And my next thought was, Why, that's what Memorial Day is all about. Others' hard work has won our sweet rest. Men and women have fought for our freedom, so that we can enjoy sitting around sipping iced tea and firing up the grill for some good 'ole hot dogs and hamburgers. We must remember and give thanks. We must. And, of course, there is the One who fought the fiercest battle and bought for us an even better freedom. He did the work, and I now I rest in His great grace. We must remember and give thanks. We must.

Witnessed To

2010-05-27T14:37:00.003-04:00

I met a man named Moses, and he ministered to me by asking me if I knew the Lord Jesus Christ. There's just something so encouraging about finding a friend in the faith through their reaching out in boldness to bring the Good News. I, in turn, invited him to visit our church since he shared that he currently didn't attend one, and this past Sunday we shared sweet fellowship together, singing songs of praise and worshiping through the Word. Thank you, Lord, for your people, placed throughout the world, preaching the Gospel.

Witnessing Words

2010-05-17T20:00:00.004-04:00

There are so many wonderful ways to witness to others about the love of Christ, but one of my favorites is through literature. A while back I ordered copies of a book called Ultimate Questions in lots of different languages from a company called Multi-Language Media. I put them in a box in the trunk of my car, so whenever I meet someone from another country, I can quickly have access to timeless truths in their heart language. A mom at the park from Germany. Two clerks in the African American haircare shop from Korea. International students that attend VCU with friends. What a joy to think that when you walk away from a brief encounter with an unbeliever that they, in turn, may come to encounter the Living God!

New Clothes

2010-04-29T13:16:00.002-04:00

Look at me, Daddy! Look at me! Jesse runs from the room to show her father her new dress. Or her new shoes. Or her new hairdo. Her longing for his approval seems to come naturally, having never been encouraged that I can recall. Beautiful, he exclaims! Beautiful! And a satisfied smile crosses her face. I clothe myself in the righteousness of Christ, and I run to my Father in Heaven. Look at me, Daddy! Look at me! My longing for His approval was fulfilled through Christ's blood on the cross. Beautiful, he exclaims! Beautiful! And a thankful smile crosses my face. So thankful.

Personalized Plates

2010-04-22T14:39:00.004-04:00

I've never been an advocate for spending money on specialty license plates and then adding to the cost by getting them personalized. Just think of all the things that we could buy with that cash that we really need. John's the same way, so we've never had one since we've been married. Well, until recently. When I first saw the bright yellow "Choose Life" plates that came out in Virginia, my eye was drawn to the first car flying by that had one. The next thing I knew I was making up messages in my mind that I could put on one. And now, my car is adorned with "Choose Life," and my personalized message below it is IN JC. So, I reasoned with John, "If I can't see that it's reaching anyone, then I won't keep them." Yesterday, a man that was visiting a neighboring house, came and knocked on our door. "I don't mean to be presumptuous he said, but I noticed your license plate and just wondered if it meant, "Choose life in Jesus Christ?" Why, yes it does! We had met a brother and made a friend. And after he left, I turned to John with a smile and said, "I'm keeping those plates."

Overlooking Gems

2010-04-19T13:06:00.004-04:00

We've been bringing two young girls to church with us for over a year now, yet there's no indication that they've become Christians. Curiously, they continue to come, getting themselves up and ready in time all on their own. It is so easy to overlook these children in the sea of faces that fill up our facility. In the worldly way, they have nothing to offer us. There are no parents with time and talent for the edification of the saints and no tithe to contribute to the construction of the new building. No house to offer for hospitality, no knowledge to offer for leadership. Why, they're just like me before Jesus! Nothing at all to offer. But, my empty hands didn't stop my Lord from stooping down and picking me up in His arms. Oh, I pray to be like Him, seeking out the small and the weak that have nothing to offer and showering them with love.

Surrender All

2010-03-31T12:37:00.003-04:00

One moment she was quietly playing, and the next, she was suddenly asserting, "I am God." I looked at John, and he looked at me. Where did that come from? I think we were wondering. But we didn't wonder for long. Hadn't our two-year-old hit at the reality of all of our hearts? Hadn't she said what we all struggle not to say with the way we live our lives? Oh, Lord, the battle for control begins so early. From the very beginning. By your grace, may we fully surrender and not deceive ourselves with the dangerous dream that we are God.

March Madness

2010-03-25T13:05:00.003-04:00

We've been watching basketball. Big men with big dreams for a big win. I have no allegiance to any of these schools, so you would think that I could watch without any concern for who comes out on top. But every single time, I sense a sadness for whichever team loses. I watch the sullen faces of the players as they slowly walk back to the locker room, sometimes even sinking to their knees in tears. I think a friend pinpointed my problem when she remarked that she prays for these young athletes, that they will find a greater passion than a passion for points. Yes, that's it. My sorrow comes from seeing such misplaced emotion. Would it not be wonderful if the players of a losing team could rejoice with those who have won, knowing that their hope is not in the outcome of a game, but in a Great God who satisfies way beyond the buzzer?

God's Pursuits

2010-03-13T12:34:00.004-05:00

I hadn't been to this particular park in quite a while. Maybe a year ago? And even though it's within walking distance, I decided to drive so as to avoid continually having to reel in the two walking wanderers. The girls and I were sitting in the sandbox playing when we saw a young man coming along the path with his two dogs and, yes, a cat. He greeted us with a friendly "hello," and a conversation began. "Oh, you bought the house at the top of the hill? Have you found a church yet? We go to a wonderful church right near here on Coalfield Road called Grace Bible Church." "No, we haven't found a church, but I think a man I met with recently also recommended that church to me." Now, in my mind, I'm doubting it's the same church, but then he asked, "Do you know Jack Dove?" Well, Jack is an elder at our church, so my next statement just jumped right out of me: "God is working on you!" He didn't seem surprised or offended by my assertion, but rather, curious. After all, what are the odds that he'd have two invitations to the same church in one week's time? Unlikely. Unless you know the way the Hound of Heaven works. Keep working on him, Lord. Keep working.

Song Child

2010-02-28T13:25:00.003-05:00

Have I mentioned my melancholy side? Doing battle against discouragement is a daily endeavor. My main mode of defense is wielding the Word, but lately the Lord has been giving me an added weapon in this war: the sound of a two-year-old singing His praises. Upon waking, I often hear "My God is so big, so great and so mighty, there's nothing my God can not do." And, just before going to bed at night, I'm encouraged by rigorous renditions of "This Little Light of Mine" and "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands." Every day her storehouse of songs continues to grow, and as it does, spontaneous bursts of beautiful melody spring from her tongue. Maybe, it's not so spontaneous, but comes at the prompting of the Lord who knows that every True Word spoken, in whatever method He may choose, builds us up in our most holy faith.

Shadow Snow

2010-02-25T14:52:00.005-05:00

In the shadow of a great log, the snow still lingered. The warm afternoon sun had all but melted the rest away. I stood at my window and stared at it, thinking of how my own heart so often resembles the remnants of these icy mounds. Staying in dark places, away from God's Word and God's people, I stay cold toward the things of the Lord. But, if I bring myself into the Light, into His warmth, my heart begins to thaw. After missing a few Sundays at church, I didn't realize how I had quietly slipped into the coolness of the shadows. But, as the music began, and I lifted my voice with my brothers and sisters, as the Word was read, as the pastor began to preach from Hosea, I sensed the snow melting; the warm afternoon sun had reached my soul.

Appliance Time

2010-02-15T13:39:00.004-05:00

Sizzling bacon served up in six minutes. Ah, the microwave. Dazzling dishes ready to reuse in just under an hour. Ah, the dishwasher. Clean and comfy clothes washed and dried in only two hours' time. Ah, the washer and dryer. It is a rare day that I don't recognize with rejoicing the miracle of modern appliances. In many ways, they make my life much simpler than the moms of the past who did all these things by hand. But, so often, we use our new found free time to make life more complicated, filling the hours with a to-do list too long with temporal things. Lord, help us to make the most of the minutes we've gleaned from these great gadgets, focusing on eternal purposes, redeeming the time for You.

Sweet Service

2010-01-27T12:55:00.003-05:00

Lunchtime. I'm rushing around the room making mental checklists as I go. Salt and pepper on the table? Check. Sippy cups filled? Check. Mayo on John's sandwich? Check. Two-year-old Jesse suddenly asks, "Are you going to sit down with us, Momma?" Flashback forty years: From my earliest dining memories on up to my days of adulthood, I would get annoyed that my mom was not eating with us. In fact, it became an outright frustration to us three kids who felt that their mother never joined them at the table. I'm sorry, mom. I think I've finally figured it out: you weren't sitting because you were serving. "She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praises her." (Proverbs 31:27-28)

Worldly Sorrow

2010-01-23T19:48:00.003-05:00

Sadness swallows me, and I sink down into its dark belly. There the silence surrounds me except for the thoughts of sin that swirl about in my mind. Why does he do that? Sinner. Why do I respond that way? Sinner. Will things ever change? Not completely; we'll always be sinners until the Lord brings us home. Why does it sadden me so? I'm afraid it is not so much because of the affront that sin is against a holy God, but because it brings suffering into my own life. Lord, as I meditate on this maddening cycle of sin, let my sorrow not be wordly sorrow, and let my goal not be my own gladness. No, let my goal be Your great glory. "Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me." (Micah 7:8)

Remembering Him

2010-01-12T19:26:00.003-05:00

Arms that cradle, calming fears. Hands that hold, wiping tears. Lips that kiss, voicing cheers. As I freely give love to my daughters, I realize that these days will be forgotten by them. They will not remember the constant care and concern from their mother and father in the early days of their lives. How much have I forgotten of the love that has been shown to me by my Father? He created my inmost being and knit me together in my mother's womb. Before He even formed me, He knew me. He has kept my heart beating and supplies every breath that I breathe. He saved me, opening my eyes and ears to His Truth. Oh, Lord, I have forgotten much. May I remember the wondrous works You have done and the whole way that You have led me. May I remember You, keeping Your commands, walking in Your ways, and fearing You, for You have brought me, Lord. You have brought me. (Deuteronomy 8)

Delightful Delicacy

2009-12-31T18:59:00.005-05:00

If my calculations are correct, tonight will mark the eighth time I've read through the Bible. Impossible, I thought, years ago when we embarked upon a plan to complete it during a discipleship course called Master Life. Many failed attempts followed. But somewhere along the line of my life, I began to make progress, and what had seemed to be choking became instead gasping. Oh, it's life! It's food! I must have it! Just as we wouldn't think of going a day without remembering to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, we find that we can't make it through those same twenty-four hours without feasting on the most phenomenal words that have ever been written. Start savoring His supply, and you'll always want to come back for more.

Baby Jesus

2009-12-26T20:35:00.002-05:00

On Christmas morning, I hurried down the stairs with a nativity that I wanted to set up on a table before we got the girls out of bed. I carefully placed Joseph, Mary, three wise men, a camel and two sheep around the focal point, baby Jesus. Then, John came in the room carrying the huge box that held a Radio Flyer wagon, and he set it down right next to the table. Covered in a variety of wrapping paper and topped with ribbon and bow, it seemed to scream, "Look at me; look at me!" It was time. We opened the door to the girls' bedroom, and as we like to lovingly say, "set the captives free." "Come see what Mommy and Daddy got you to celebrate Jesus' birthday," we exclaimed with enthusiasm. Jesse ran into the room and was instantly captivated. By baby Jesus. And Joseph and Mary. And the wise men and camel. Even the two sheep. It took a while, but eventually we got her to open the box. Oh, Lord, how my heart longs for these girls to be ever so captivated with You. May it be so, forever.

Falling Short

2009-12-18T14:12:00.002-05:00

She's a bit rough around the edges. Foul language. Poor parenting skills. Secular worldview. And such were some of you. She doesn't know the right words to say to fit in or the right convictions to hold to be held in high esteem. And such were some of you. She doesn't try to pretend to be something she's not and that can result in an uncomfortable silence in a group where everyone knows how to act. And such were some of you. And, in all honesty, I grow quite uncomfortable myself. Until I remember, and such were I. Help us, Lord, to remember that before we were washed, before we were sanctified, before we were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, such were all of us. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Special Treats

2009-11-30T18:46:00.005-05:00

Amidst the mayhem of Thanksgiving morning, we paused to thank the Lord for all that He has done for us this year. I started a new tradition of having each person present write down in a journal at least one of the things that they were thinking about. Since two-year old Jesse hasn't quite grasped the concept of penmanship, I asked her, "Jesse, what are you thankful for?" Ready to record whatever she might say, I listened intently, yet not really expecting a reply. Slowly, she began. "I'm thankful for..." Pause. "I'm thankful for..." Pause. "I'm thankful for...special treats." My surprise that she had heard me and understood me could not be contained! Special treats are what we call candy, cake, cookies, ice cream, and just about anything else that we know will bring glee to our little girl. So she knows, I thought, that these are the things she's thankful for; she understands that these are things that bring her little heart delight. And, I began praying fervently that the Lord in His saving grace would begin to transform her special treats from the fleeting joy of food to the everlasting joy of making much of Him.

Watched Pot

2009-11-24T13:29:00.003-05:00

Oh, no! Not again! Almost every day I put a 2-quart pot of water on the stove to make iced tea. When the water comes to a boil, I add seven tea bags, let it steep for a few hours, and then I add a cup of sugar. Ahhh. Our favorite drink. In the time it takes the water to boil, I often convince myself that I can get some other things done about the house and still remember to come back to put the tea bags in. And yet, I don't always remember. Many times when I return, the water has almost boiled away, and at least four times, I've returned to find a completely blackened pot. (By God's grace, I haven't burned the house down!) How can I continue to make this dangerous mistake? Because of my stubbornness to believe that this time I won't forget. Too often, we can be this same way with our belief that we don't need God and His Word to live the Christian life. "Oh, I know what the Bible says; I've read it before," we mutter to ourselves. "I'll remember." No, just like my boiling water requires my immediate attention, so our souls need constant care. "With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!" (Psalm 119:10)

Windy Conditions

2009-11-13T12:48:00.002-05:00

Listening to the wind whip through the willow oaks outside my window, I begin to grow tense. What if one of those towering trees topples right onto our roof? "Preach truth to yourself," I say in response to my fears. Do not be anxious about anything. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Cast your cares upon Him. You are in no greater danger right now than you were when the sun was shining and the winds were at rest. The Lord holds me in the palm of His hand, and not even a sparrow will fall to the ground apart from His will. As the storm outside rages on, the storm inside grows calm.

Empathy Building

2009-10-30T12:52:00.002-04:00

Nine days with a nasty cold topped off by a twenty-four hour stomach virus. I tend to get a bit discouraged when I don't take a quick turn for the better, but the Lord always uses this down time for empathy building. As I lie so still trying to avoid the feeling of nausea, my thoughts go to all those who struggle with chronic illness. Prayers are said, and true compassion is felt. Heal them, oh, Lord, that they might be healed. Strengthen them with your grace. Help us to be patient in affliction. Enable us to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials of many kinds. Let our sufferings prepare for us an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all.

Hopeless Imaginations

2009-10-26T12:46:00.003-04:00

Our trip to the apple orchard turned out just as I imagined. Picture perfect weather complete with blue sky, wispy clouds, and cool mountain breezes. Hot apple cider and warm apple cider donuts. Spectacular fall foliage as a backdrop to row upon row of apple trees. Well, maybe it wasn't just the way I imagined. Did I fail to mention that Jada literally screamed for 40 minutes on the way there? Or that yellow jackets enjoy apple cider just as much as I do? Or that people, lots of people, seem to gather at places where their imaginations have led them? Or that plans can be interrupted anywhere by what we have aptly named "baby blowouts?" At one point, John said the most profound thing that was uttered that day, "It's a good thing we put our hope in God." Imaginations can dream up all kinds of "perfect" days, "perfect" people, "perfect" vacations, "perfect" anything, but in a fallen world we are sure to be disappointed in all of them. Let's put our hope in God and praise Him, our Savior and our God.

Plans Change

2009-10-19T13:44:00.003-04:00

Having play dates helps to keep the day from seeming too long, and it's encouraging to be with other moms, sharing life in community. So, I try to schedule them as often as I can. This day, though, plans changed, and I found myself without a friend to join me. Three phone calls later and still no one was available. I pondered the unthinkable: striking out on my own, two toddlers in tow. As I drove to our destination, I prayed aloud, "Lord, let us be a blessing; bring someone along whom You desire us to meet." A couple of hours later, I was having lunch with Elizabeth, and her son, Henry. While our children had been playing earlier, we had discovered we were both Christians, and she is in the adoption process with the same agency through which we adopted Jesse and Jada! I hope that we were a blessing to them, for they were certainly a blessing to us. "Thank you, Lord, for friendships in You that build instant bridges and bless our lives with joy."

Trash Removal

2009-09-26T20:30:00.004-04:00

Litter. Lining the roadsides. Litter. Lying on beaches. Litter. Piling up in parking lots. In fact, every place that I have ever been, from the most beautiful to the most remote, has been tainted by trash. God's creation has become to some nothing more than a receptacle for rubbish. As Christians, we are servants, and servants keep things clean. Recently, I was encouraged by a friend who stopped to pick up a plastic bottle as we walked together, and I was reminded that I should be willing to do small things for Jesus. If we find ourselves tripping over trash before we'll stoop down to pick it up, then maybe we need to ask ourselves if we've become too proud to do the humbling job of trash removal.

Getting In

2009-09-19T13:12:00.002-04:00

"I wanta get in," Jesse said, lifting her tiny toes toward the pages of her Jesus Storybook Bible. I smiled, realizing she was trying to climb onto the sand where Goliath of Gath had just fallen, smitten by the stone from David's sling. Oh, Lord, I thought, how precious that she wants to be there, among these ancient words, living the story instead of just hearing it. And what a lesson for me not to just read this beautiful Book, the Bible, but to imagine myself in each scene, meditating on what it might have meant to have been a small shepherd boy facing a giant or an Israelite seeing victory from the sideline. Father, may the words that we've read and reread come alive as we see them anew through the eyes of a child.

Eternal Rewards

2009-09-10T13:06:00.004-04:00

"Where are you from," I asked the friendly man making my sandwich. "The Philippines," he answered, smiling. "Oh, we sponsor a child in the Philippines. Do you know what I mean?" "Yes, and because you have said this to me, I will tell you a story. I, too, was sponsored by a couple. I grew up poor and abused, but because I was sponsored I was able to get an education and eventually to come here to America." "So, do you know Jesus?" "By God's grace, yes!" Graciano continued to tell us his story, how he came to know Christ through the love of these two people who had supported him not only financially, but spiritually and emotionally as well. He saw them as parents and told us that they had stood as such at his wedding here in the United States. What an incredible return on their investment: a life changed for eternity! For $38.00 a month, a child can be sponsored through Compassion International. That may add up to several thousands over the course of their childhood, but one more life loving Jesus and spreading a passion for His name: that's priceless! "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19)

Quiet Noises

2009-08-28T19:44:00.003-04:00

We have turned off the ringers on our telephone, and we don't have a television. So, after the girls are asleep, a sweet silence begins to seep into the house. By the time my head hits the pillow, all that's left are the quiet noises. The gentle whir of the ceiling fan. The faint chirp of the cricket. The shrill sound of the cicada. The hoarse croak of the frog. The occasional hoot of the owl. My mind is finally free to meditate on the One who made me as I rest in the wonder and stillness of the moment. "On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night." (Psalm 63:6)

Dark Drinking

2009-08-26T14:22:00.003-04:00

It was about 10 a.m. on a Saturday, and I was sitting outside a Subway while John picked us up some sandwiches for a picnic lunch. Adjacent to the sub shop stood an ABC store, and I couldn't help but notice the steady stream of customers that came and went in the ten minutes we were there. No one comes out of a liquor store empty-handed. It's obviously a place you go with intention to buy, but what you buy remains concealed behind a brown paper bag. It's a rare thing to see a plain, brown paper bag used for purchases since plastic seems to have become the preferred method of packaging. Somehow, though, it seemed fitting to me that something that has contributed to alcoholism, broken homes, car accidents, sickness and death remains hidden in the dark with all that rejects the beauty of the Light. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1)

Modesty Matters

2009-08-12T14:57:00.004-04:00

Too trendy. Too tight. Too costly. Too curvy. Too short. Too showy. Too low. Too little. What we wear matters to God, and for women there is the added responsibility of not becoming a stumbling block to our brothers in Christ. What we put on can make a difference in their day to day struggle with lust. As this problem grows, so grows the urgency to educate ourselves on what would be pleasing to the Lord. Read the results of The Modesty Survey on Alex and Brett Harris' website. Begin a study using the book Worldliness, edited by C.J. Mahaney. Carefully mull over The Modesty Heart Check written by C.J.'s wife, Carolyn, and their three daughters. Prayerfully meditate on the many verses in the Bible that address the issue of modesty. And as you learn, spread the word to other women. Lord, let our beauty not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, let it be that of our inner selves, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in Your sight. (1 Peter 3:3-4)

Sportsman's Paradise

2009-07-29T20:57:00.004-04:00

An entire room filled with fishing poles. An expansive wall glittering with guns. An elaborate building arrayed with accessories. As I strolled through the Bass Pro Outlet that recently came to our area, I was amazed at the extent of equipment that could be purchased for the hobbies of hunting and fishing. All of this to snag a smallmouth bass or kill a quail. All of this to search out prey that often provides little more than a day of fun and a free meal. We are called to be fishers of men, hunting for hearts that have yet to believe that God has raised Jesus from the dead. Our passion and zeal should far outweigh those who seek after something that will not last. The souls of men will live eternally, either in Heaven with God or in Hell, separated from Him forever. The sign at the entrance of the store read "Sportman's Paradise." Oh, Lord, help us to boldly tell sportsmen and all men that the only real paradise is knowing You.

Every Dollar

2009-07-27T19:49:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite scenes in the movie "Mother Teresa" depicts the aging nun in a board room surrounded my members of an association that was formed to further the cause of her "Missionaries of Charity." In front of each person sits a bottle of Perrier, and as an attendant walks by, she asks, "How much does a bottle of water like this cost?" "Three dollars," he replies. "For three dollars I could feed a child in my mission for a year," Mother Teresa mutters to herself. As the director of the association calls for a decision on a crucial issue that faces them, the Mother of the "poorest of the poor" stands to her feet and declares that a decision does not need to be made because "This association no longer exists!" Something inside me shouted for joy when she made that move to dissolve what had become a bureaucracy, and I resolved again in my own heart to be mindful of the money the Lord has entrusted to us. For ten dollars I could buy another toy that my child doesn't really need or another book to sit on a shelf with the others that I haven't yet had time to read. But what could ten dollars do for the poorest of the poor? Help me, Lord, to remember the least of these.

Sleepless Nights

2009-07-17T20:32:00.004-04:00

After about two hours of taking turns rocking and soothing, we finally have Jada down for the night. Well, not really. Two hours later, the first cries crush our hopes for waking up when we're rested. More rocking, more soothing. Back to sleep. Then we may have just one more wake up call at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., but sometimes it's a few more, and sometimes it takes an hour or two before she's back to bed. When morning comes, I find myself figuring out how many hours of actual sleep time I've had, wondering if it will be enough to be coherent that day. Advice has abounded on how we can secure ourselves some more slumber, but perhaps the best advice that we have received has had less to do with catching more z's and more to do with counting up blessings. In my wakeful moments, I start counting, and as the list grows longer and longer each night, I grow more and more thankful each day. Lord, help us to keep counting and to keep fixing our eyes on You.

Future Hopes

2009-06-27T14:01:00.002-04:00

My weekly strolls through the retirement center with the girls have given me great cause for reflection and some time to forge my own hopes for the future. I hope not to live in one. I hope to never be labeled "retired." I hope my last years are filled with the joy of giving gifts and sowing seeds and bearing fruit. I hope my children will wonder if I'm going to have time to come to see them instead of my wondering if they'll have time to come to see me. I hope I'm given the grace not to complain about all that ails me but instead to count my blessings and give glory to God. "So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come." (Psalm 71:18)

Spurred On

2009-06-22T13:45:00.002-04:00

The delivery driver pulled up just as I sat down on the front porch to read Adopted for Life by Russell Moore. "What are you reading?" he asked as he approached. I explained that the author compares God's adoption of His children with that of Christians adopting children, and thus began an hour long conversation. The excitement of being able to share with someone what Christ has done for me can not be compared with any other joy I've ever known, and as I am often home now, I miss being out and meeting people. But on this day, the Lord brought one to me, encouraging my heart, refreshing my soul, and spurring me on to love and good deeds. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to be a part of Your story. What a beautiful story it is!

Character Flawed

2009-06-13T15:17:00.002-04:00

I've been contemplating the clause "out of character." We often say it when we see someone behave in a way that doesn't seem consistent with what seems usual to us. Most likely they've done something that we would deem inappropriate or bad. "That sudden outburst was out of character for him." But, is anything really out of character for us as Christians? We are wretched creatures, completely dead in our trespasses until God gives us new life. Our default setting is slavery to sin. If we do anything good, it's by grace alone; it's His character that others see, not ours. So, if I'm behaving badly, I'm just back to being me. Lord, transform me! "Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5)

Seeking Lost

2009-05-28T09:19:00.003-04:00

Our neighborhood lies adjacent to a retirement center, and I have been sensing the Lord leading me to stroll the girls over there seeking out ways to serve. So far, we have met Dorothy who was scheduled for cataract surgery the next day, and Ethel who says she's lived there for eleven years and rarely sees children. A friend who works as a physical therapist says that she has patients there who've told her she is the only person that ever comes to visit them. Yet, most likely, these older Americans will soon meet their Maker and face the judgement. They are sinners like the rest of us, in need of a Savior and His saving grace. Lord, send us to Your sheep in the forgotten places.

Pool Time

2009-05-20T09:15:00.003-04:00

In the early years of my marriage one of my favorite summer pasttimes was parking myself poolside and working on my tan. Now twenty some odd years later, I have greater goals for my girls than piling up endless hours of pool time. There are other problems with the pool besides the pilfering of precious time, but if we are in a war (and we are are) with a cunning adversary (which he is), our time may be the most important loss in pool play. The Bible bids me to be busy doing good works. Jesus gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14) Lord, help us to sense the urgency of the Gospel and to believe that the real joy lies in living it.

Clean Later

2009-05-18T13:03:00.002-04:00

Holding two baby rattles in one hand, I quickly answered the door with the other. "Let's make this quick," I was thinking, as I smiled at a neighbor and sister in Christ on the other side of my mess. John had taken Jesse outside, and I was on a frantic mission to straighten up and bring order to our inside world. Though our friend had just come by to drop something off, she began to chat, and then she started to talk about spiritual things. My mind was flying from room to room as she shared some things from her heart. Though I did slow down enough to engage her in the conversation, it occured to me much later that I had never even thought to invite her in. Oh, Lord, help me to put people before projects.

His Timing

2009-04-29T09:21:00.002-04:00

Only hours after reading a blog written by a missionary in Japan, I met a lady from Kobe, Japan! In all the years I've lived in this area (46), I can't recall ever having met anyone from Japan. My mind was freshly filled with all things Japanese, and an easy conversation began to flow between us. Though she has only been in the U.S. for five years, her English was very good, and we parted with promises to get together again. Throughout God's Word, I see His Hand working to have people right where He wants them right when He wants them to be there. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

Be There

2009-04-21T14:36:00.005-04:00

Two people talking. Are they listening? Two people talking, occasionally taking a call on their cell phone. Are they listening? Two people talking, occasionally taking a call on their cell phone, occasionally texting. Are they listening? Two people talking, occasionally taking a call on their cell phone, occasionally texting, occasionally tweeting. Are they listening? Listening requires great skill and patience. It is rarely done well even in a quiet room with no interruptions, yet it is something we all long for and desire. Being heard, being understood. Lord, help us to love each other with lavish listening.

Motivating Growth

2009-04-17T10:57:00.004-04:00

By the end of summer, our lawn lacks luster. The long dry days, the multitude of moles, the frequent fights with fungus result in a less than appealing appearance. Nevertheless, as fall arrives my husband aerates, overseeds and fertilizes. He puts out mole traps and slug bait. He waters, transplants, and works! Not much happens...at first. Around December, he usually comments, "I think I'm going to give up on this lawn. It looks terrible, and I can't get rid of these moles!" But, then there's spring! Beauty, the fruit of his labor, blossoms at last. And, suddenly he is ready to get back to the business of making a masterpiece out of his mole hills. So often, in my efforts to share my faith with others, I don't see any fruit, and I am tempted to give up. Then the Lord will send the beauty of those first signs of growth in someone I've been praying for, and suddenly I'm ready to get back to the business of making His Name known among the nations! "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them they should always pray and not give up." (Luke 18:1)

Frequent Failures

2009-03-30T11:01:00.003-04:00

Can I confess to you that I fail quite frequently at living like Jesus? I was watching my one-year-old daughter trying to walk and run in a new pair of shoes. She was falling repeatedly, yet each time she would quickly jump up and continue on with the same zeal that she had had before she fell. My own failures often lead me to discouragement and despair. Lord, when I fall help me to get up and get going for Your glory! "Do not gloat over me my enemy. Though I have fallen, I will rise; though I sit in darkness the Lord will be my light." (Micah 7:8)

Sharing Faith

2009-03-24T13:43:00.002-04:00

He sat on a barstool behind the counter reading a book. "What are you reading?" I asked. He proceeded to tell me it was a novel a neighbor had loaned him and that it was "hard to get into." I responded by remarking that I liked Christian books. "Do you know anything about Christianity?" I asked. He did. He grew up going to a Pentecostal church. A door opened, and I shared my testimony. I sensed God had His hand on this young man's life, and it took me back to the days that the Lord gave me eyes to see more and more of my Master through the lives of ordinary people who were willing to tell me the Truth. He uses each of us to be His messengers to clerks behind counters and strangers on the street. I gave him a copy of "Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die," and I've been praying for him ever since. Will you join me? "I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ." (Philemon 6)

Good Idea

2009-03-17T08:59:00.004-04:00

Two rows of parking. One long line of cars. The guy in front of us pulled out of the line to look for a space in the second row. Good idea. We followed and found a spot in seconds. As we were struggling with the stroller and digging out the diaper bag, an SUV stopped alongside us. "You know, we were all waiting in one line to get parking," exclaimed the lady inside. "We didn't know," my husband calmly remarked. "Do you want this space?" I asked. "Yes!" came the quick reply. We packed up and pulled out. "That was a good idea," my husband said to me just after calling out "God bless you" to the woman. Fifteen years ago it would have been a different day. Where did what I said come from? Grace. Where did what my husband said come from? Grace. Where did what that lady received come from? Grace. It's a good idea every time. "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18)

Selfless Serving

2009-02-28T10:45:00.003-05:00

Mulling over the ministry reports of the missionaries our church supports helps me to put my life in perspective. As they log their life for accountability, they relay information about their day, and it is evident that these servants stay busy. But it's not the busy we often know best , busy running here and there: shopping, exercising, playing. It's busy self-giving: prayer, teaching, discipling, relationship-building with those who don't know Jesus. So often when someone in America says, "Maybe I should be a missionary," the return comment is "Why, you can be a missionary right where you are." Yes, we can be; but Lord, help us to see we have a long way to go. "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." (Mark 9:35)

Housing Hopes

2009-02-24T12:33:00.003-05:00

What began as a home for an aging parent became a home away from home for missionaries. A small house tucked behind another house, barely visible from the road, serves as a place for missionaries who are in the U.S. on furlough or for other reasons to live and rest and restore. A living area, a dining area, kitchen, bed and bath. A plaque hangs on the wall honoring the mother who had lived there, and tucked away in the corner a bookcase holds items from countries all over the world, left behind by the missionaries who have been blessed by this little lighthouse. As I sat on the well-worn sofa and heard the voices of the saints that had prayed in this little place, I dreamed a big dream to have a missionary house someday, a haven that can be a a little slice of heaven to those who are carrying the Gospel to the unreached people groups around the globe. What a beautiful way to serve the feet of those who bring Good News.

Fleeing Football

2009-02-12T13:17:00.003-05:00

I recently read about the raunchy ads that were played during the Super Bowl. An urgent plea was sent out to write to the NFL, to the network, and the FCC telling them that we had seen enough of this type of advertisement. I understand the reasoning behind this type of action, and I do think we are to fight against the things that our precious Lord died to save us from. But at the same time, I am not surprised when sinners sin; I am only saved by grace and would have no desire to do right but for the blood of Christ. So, why should I expect the secular to conform to my standards? An alternative to writing and urging them to change is to change ourselves and stop watching. Spend the time seeking the greater joy that's ours in giving. We have found that international students or neighbors have little interest in American sports, but they greatly enjoy dinner and some conversation. Also, single women often find football less appealing than a evening shared with your family. "Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called." (Ephesians 4:1)

Sharpening Another

2009-01-24T18:32:00.003-05:00

His small white truck pulled up in front of our house at 7:20 a.m. I was watching from the playroom. My husband had already gone outside to meet this friend who was giving him a ride to a men's breakfast at church. In the past several months I have given thanks for this man who loves my best friend. One night last week, he spent several hours working with him on a project. The end result was my husband securing a landscaping job with potential for more. But, that's not what really fills my heart with gratitude. It's the prayers they pray together, the time they spend studying God's Word, the phone calls for accountability. It's the love. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17)

Up Down

2009-01-14T19:04:00.003-05:00

I've decided to divorce; I just don't love him anymore. Down. My marriage is difficult, but I'm committed to it; I want the world to see the way Christ loves the church. Up. I just got a big pay raise, and I'm going to celebrate by buying that new car I saw. Down. I inherited a large sum of money this year, and I'm using it to support missionaries who are going to the unreached people groups. Up. I have this weekend free, and I'm going to sit back and watch the big games on television. Down. I got some time off from work so that I can go on that medical mission trip to Honduras. Up. Lord, help us as Your children to encourage one another and build each other up; protect us from bringing each other down, away from You and Your ways.

Adopting Again

2009-01-11T18:48:00.003-05:00

The call came just before Thanksgiving. Jesse's birthmother had another baby. "Would we consider adopting her, too?" The agency tries to keep sibling groups together. After all these years of waiting, hoping, wanting a child, suddenly there could be two. I could hear Sarah's laughter in my own heart. "Lord, I am 46 years old. Will I really have another child now that I am old?" Nothing is too hard for the Lord. He plans; He orchestrates. He adopts us, so we adopted her. Welcome with us Jada Abigail, and pray with us that we will raise her in the discipline and instruction of the Lord that she might someday bring glory to our Great God and Savior!

Watching World

2008-12-10T09:15:00.002-05:00

I hope my mailman knew I was a Christian before I told him. He explained to me that he learns a lot about people through sorting and distributing their mail: what they read, where they shop, how they give. He knows when they receive late notices or divorce papers. He knows when their names change or when two people live in the same house with different names. He draws assumptions, sometimes inaccurately, but nevertheless he draws them. All around us, people are watching. The men who pick up our recycling know what we eat and what we drink. The meter readers know how much electricity and water we use. The man at the camera shop has seen my photos. The world does not always see my heart as God does, so may the satisfaction that I find in Him manifest itself in such a way that a watching world is compelled to ask, "Why do you have the hope that you have?"

Wise Counselors

2008-12-09T09:24:00.004-05:00

My psychologist counseled. They suggested on the Today Show. My friend told me. Our pastor preached. The small group agreed. My feelings tell me. A book I read said. These are all openers to advice I've been given in times when I have sought spiritual help. They all came from Christians. I have come to look for certain criteria in my counselors. Do they spend time daily soaking in God's Word? Do they meditate on it and find it valuable enough to memorize? Do they point me to it and show me verses to support what they are saying? Do they spend time in prayer and do they pray with me? Do they love the Lord Jesus and does their life reflect it? Advice abounds; wise counsel is rare. "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Waiting Wars

2008-12-08T11:10:00.004-05:00

Sitting in a doctor's office. Standing in line. Waiting. Creeping through a toll plaza. Calling customer service. Waiting. We can convince ourselves that we have a right to better service. We can convince ourselves that our frustration is warranted. Don't they know I have to get back to work? Is this the best they can do? Don't they realize I have better things to do with my time? As our minds whirl with thoughts like these, we are demanding that others conform to our expectations. Join me in waging war against the subtle sin of impatience. Fill your mind with His Word. Sing songs of praise to the Lord. Pray for the others in line or the one on the other end of the line. "Love is patient." (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Joyful Hospitality

2008-11-29T14:52:00.002-05:00

Twenty people packed into a tiny two-bedroom apartment down in the fan. Two Christian college kids had agreed to host this outreach event. Some sitting on the floor, some standing along the walls, everyone smiling and talking. Conversations about Christ mingled with conversations about school. Hospitality offered and received. It doesn't matter if you don't have a big home. In fact, you will depend more on God and His grace if you don't. So, open the door, welcome folks in, and let the joy begin. "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." (1 Peter 4:9)

Losing Sensitivity

2008-11-28T13:02:00.004-05:00

Over twelve years ago we sold our television in a yard sale for $20, and we haven't had one since. It's rare that I will even see one except at a store or while visiting friends or family. Yesterday provided one of those occasions as all were gathered around the room while the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade marched across the screen in the background. Occasionally I would turn my eyes toward it, being drawn in by the drama of unreality. I was grieved by what I saw, and I was grieved by what others don't see. "Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as it indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more." (Ephesians 4:19)

Pondering Paths

2008-11-26T09:55:00.003-05:00

Standing at a crossroad, I strain to see what lies ahead. Voices vie for my attention. Some tell me to turn right, some to turn left. My own voice wavers as I weigh my options. God's Word is my guide, His glory my goal. The voices that speak as ones speaking the very words of God begin to gain ground amidst the clamor of the voices of the world. Lord, help me to hear You. Help me to discern Your way. "Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure." (Proverbs 4:25-26)

Aging Perseverance

2008-11-21T09:30:00.004-05:00

The question "How are you?" was not answered with the perfunctory "fine," but rather with a placid "Not too well." The residents of the nursing home we were visiting smiled as they saw baby Jesse, but were quick to turn their attention to their ailments. So soon these days will come for all of us! As Christians, let us be prepared to persevere with joy and hope in our great God and answer each "How are you?" with confidence in what the Lord will bring about. "Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." (James 5:10-11)

One Year

2008-11-19T14:24:00.004-05:00

Last year you were in labor. Last year you were choosing life. Last year you were leaving the hospital without your daughter. This year we're throwing a party. This year we're celebrating life. This year we have a daughter. Though we do not know you, we give thanks that last year you made this year possible for us. "May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)

Seasonal Friendships

2008-11-17T13:42:00.004-05:00

I'm feeling the absence of a friend. Closeness once shared seems to fade away like the flowers in my front yard that are folding up as the frost takes them one by one. A move is usually involved -- moving to a new home, moving toward marriage, moving in a different direction. It can be difficult, sometimes painful, but I have found that I can trust God with all my relationships. Whomever He puts in my life, for however long, may I love them freely and to the fullest for that season. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Shining Shoeboxes

2008-11-13T18:38:00.002-05:00

A teddy bear, a toy car, a notepad, and some pens. Toothpaste and a toothbrush; check the list again. Candy, gum, hair supplies, socks and crayons, too. Okay, I think we've got it all, unless we get the shoes. Thus begins our annual shopping trip to purchase items for Operation Christmas Child's Shoebox Ministry. After the boxes are filled, we write notes on the back of a photo of our family letting a child somewhere know that they are loved by us and, most importantly, by Jesus. The message of the Gospel is also included by OCC just before the boxes leave for their final destination. We have received one letter back from a boy in Uganda thanking us for the box he received. What an incredible opportunity to shine! "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise Your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Listen Closely

2008-11-12T09:25:00.003-05:00

Just me and baby Jesse down by the lake on a beautiful fall day. I scooped her up into my arms, and kissing her tiny head, I whispered over and over into her ear, "I love you; I love you." And instantly the Lord seemed to say to my heart, "That is how I am with my children; constantly whispering to them, 'I love you.' Look at the sun's light sparkling on the water. Look at the yellow leaves against the blue sky. Look at the graceful gliding of the ducks as they gather together. But most importantly, look at the cross." "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Confessing Sins

2008-11-09T14:09:00.004-05:00

Two friends. Two Bibles. Two books on holiness. We had sat down to study and pray together, and the discussion guide asked us to read aloud from Colossians 3. As the words came forth, it was soon apparent to me that there were not just two of us there, but three. The Holy Spirit used this Word, so often read and heard before, to bring me under conviction of sin in my life. Just as He had promised, where two are gathered in His Name, He will come and be there, too. With tears of repentance and prayers of thanksgiving, we shared time with our Father, and the healing came. "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." (James 5:16)

Seeing Hearts

2008-11-05T09:25:00.004-05:00

The line for food stretched about eighty people long, and as I stood at the door to greet the faces that walked by, I saw only one that was white. Since they had enough hands in the serving line, I sat down next to William, and in a rare moment, realized I was in the minority. We struck up a friendly conversation about his longing to return home to California, but all the while I was wondering, "Was he raised to be prejudiced against me just as I was raised to be prejudiced against him?" Lord, I pray that You would satisfy William with Yourself, and I pray that You would give us both eyes to see as You do. "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Better Tasting

2008-10-31T19:50:00.002-04:00

Hershey's Special Dark. As a child it was my favorite candy bar. But then I discovered Lindt Dark Chocolate Truffles, and once I'd tasted one, Hershey's was history. Movies, television, shopping. Once they were my favorite past times. But then I experienced God's goodness through sharing my faith, spending time with those who don't yet know Him, memorizing and meditating on His Word, singing His praises, listening to sermons, reading the biographies of Christian missionaries, and serving others. Life is a vapor; I'm going to spend time on what's better tasting. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalm 34:8)

Falling Leaves

2008-10-29T19:53:00.003-04:00

The window on my bedroom wall frames one of His most moving masterpieces. Autumn's leaves, beckoned by a gentle breeze, drift dreamily downward from their lofty boughs. In a bright array of colors and a seemingly endless variety of shapes, they fill the air. Swirling, twirling, floating, falling. Through dappled sunlight and a blue sky backdrop, their beauty proclaims the glory of God. "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth." (Psalm 96:11-12)

Hallow Him

2008-10-28T14:10:00.002-04:00

Tiny toys. Tasty treats. Truth-filled tracts. Halloween goody bags lined up on the table become opportunities to tell children about Jesus. After they're filled, they are prayed over: "Lord, use Your Truth to open these precious young eyes to who You are!" Others we know pull their grill out, light up the house, and serve up hot dogs for all the kids and parents and in their neighborhood. People are coming to us, knocking on our doors, and asking for a treat, and we have it! Let us not miss a chance at this holiday that one 9-year-old recently described to me as "all about evil" to honor our King. Hallow Him! "To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17)

Unthwarted Plan

2008-10-24T14:01:00.004-04:00

Forty-five years ago today, a baby boy was born to an unwed mother, living in poverty in a run-down apartment in Jersey City, New Jersey. His father was a trucker, married to another woman and uninterested in a relationship with a child the world labeled "illegitimate." He grew up on welfare with many needs unmet and many wants not realized, and he garnered a great dislike for roaches, rage, and reality. Many would see this as a great argument for abortion: Why should a child have to enter the world this way? I see it as an ordained path traveled by a man I love by the grace of God and for His glory. May He use you always for the furtherance of His kingdom! Happy Birthday, John!

Graceful Dreaming

2008-10-21T09:20:00.002-04:00

Snarling dogs were chasing me, and I was running as fast as I could. But, one was gaining on me, and I suddenly felt his teeth grab hold of my clothes. Terrified, I started screaming for help. "Wake up; you're dreaming," my husband said gently. That kind of dream makes for stressful sleeping. "Lord, let me dream as Jeremiah did. Fill my mind with thoughts of You and Your promises of joy to those who find their hope in You." "At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me." (Jeremiah 31:26)

Timely Tracts

2008-10-20T09:13:00.002-04:00

The smell of curry greeted us before we entered the huge convention hall. Music drifted through the doorway. Brightly dressed dancers entertained the crowd. The Indian Festival. Just before we had left home I had stuffed some Gospel tracts written in the Hindi language in the diaper bag. As we strolled through the booths, a man asked us to take his literature describing how we could have a stressless life through meditation and yoga. "I'll take your literature, if you'll take mine," I said, smiling. He agreed, as I handed him the tract. "Oh, I don't read Hindi very well," he said as he read the cover, "but I'll try." Lord, use your word to reach him. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Perfect Presents

2008-10-10T08:47:00.004-04:00

In the past, I would ponder what presents to ask for on my birthday. Perhaps jewelry. Possibly clothes. But, regardless of the gift I received or how expensive it was, the thrill at the moment of opening it would soon dissipate, and a new list for next time would begin. Now God has given me eyes to see the best gifts; this year it was a thank you note that read in part, "We are putting down roots and growing in faith. Thanks to you and John for planting the seed and providing the encouragement to get me started." I no longer ask for or desire material gifts, but I do so hungrily pray for the spiritual ones, to know that our great God has used me to touch a life for eternity. "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed you are our glory and joy." (1 Thessalonians 3:19-20)

Timeless Zeal

2008-10-09T19:47:00.004-04:00

Listening in on lunch time conversation between two friends, I find myself feeling encouraged. The conversation flows freely from two hearts that love Jesus, and the topic easily moves from soup and chicken salad to unsaved souls. One shares her passion to have a co-worker join her at church this Sunday; the other shares his desire for a friend at school to know the Savior. These two friends happen to be mother and son. One: age 43, the other: age 18. "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)

Avoiding Bandwagons

2008-10-09T09:59:00.002-04:00

Rolling along the road of popularity, bandwagons often come blaring what our itching ears want to hear. "Jump on; everybody's reading this." "Jump on; everybody's watching this." "Jump on; everybody's doing this." I have found myself suspicious of bandwagons as I have so often been deceived by what appeared to be prudent but proved only to be popular. God's Word must be our guide, and we must be wise and discerning in all our behavior. "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Oak Tree

2008-10-02T10:24:00.004-04:00

Rolling down my rooftop, acorns dropping from the branches above noisily make their descent to the ground below. This fruit of the oak tree has created a carpet where once there was grass. Squirrels scurry about, picking them up and running around, burying them in various spots. A breeze blows and the wind sends others flying wildly to land loudly in gutters, or on trash cans, or cars! When spring arrives, the seeds that are being planted now will be evident to all with the hundreds, thousands, of seedlings that will emerge. Oh, Lord, may I, like the mighty oak, be an abundant seed spreader! May I scurry about spreading Your Truth. May I busily blow the winds of Your Word. What joy there is in the seedlings!

Harder Still

2008-09-28T19:22:00.003-04:00

Quiet dinners with uninterrupted conversation. Picking up and going out to eat on the spur of the moment. Long distance car rides without stopping. Clean floors and uncluttered counter tops. These are some of the things I remember of what life was like for the twenty two years before we adopted our daughter. Now people ask me, "Isn't it hard to be a mom?" And I answer, "Yes, it is hard!" But, the truth is, not being a mom was harder still. Thank you, Lord, for the joy, for the blessing of a child. Children are a gift straight from You. (Psalm 127:3-5)

Rocking Prayer

2008-09-22T12:36:00.002-04:00

The gentle rhythm of the rocking chair on the hardwood floor soothes a crying baby and turns my heart toward prayer. Suddenly I am stopped from my usual activity, my frantic thoughts are finally focused. Have I forgotten to pray for you today, little one? Oh, what longing for this child overtakes me. "Make her yours, Lord! May the eyes of her heart be enlightened that she may know the hope to which You have called her, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and Your imcomparably great power for those who believe."

Making People

2008-09-20T18:13:00.002-04:00

Nine months of knitting at the hands of the Master. A baby is born. A new creation. One of a kind. Amazing. Staggering. Beyond biology class, this is a person. Only God can create a person. Mom and dad can donate the necessary components, but God makes us who we are. He forms. He shapes. He designs. It is a serious business, one that we would do well to take seriously. It has implications for how we live, how we love, how we act. We will be held responsible. "Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, '...We did not know this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?" (Proverbs 24:11-12)

Consider Others

2008-09-17T09:07:00.003-04:00

The lights dim, and she steps awkwardly to center stage. Anticipation hangs in the air as you glance around at the others seated in the auditorium. To your left are the doting parents. To your right, her best friends. The music begins, and she sings. Or dances. Or plays an instrument. And she's not that good. Maybe even bad. You close your eyes and say a quick prayer for her. Uneasiness comes over you, and you begin to rehearse how you might describe her performance politely without lying. Two weeks later, a video of the evening is posted on YouTube. Then it begins popping up on blog posts as an attempt to garner humor. Comments flow forth, joining in the joke. Paul reminds me, "Consider others better than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3) Help us, Lord, to laugh at the right things.

His Compliments

2008-09-16T08:05:00.002-04:00

Fine-tuned to hear compliments. So it is with my ears. My flesh cries out, "Tell me more; tell me more." But, I recall my previous way of life, my life before Christ. There was nothing good in me. Without faith, it was impossible to please God. Everything I do or say that is right is through His enabling power. So, if a compliment comes, I will pass it on to the One to whom it truly belongs. "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your Name give glory." (Psalm 115:1)

God's Jewelry

2008-09-10T20:20:00.002-04:00

A perfect pendant. Pale luminescent green with a thin line of gold ribboned around the top. Tiny spots of gold dotting the bottom. Exquisite. The chrysalis of the Monarch butterfly. Two women that worked at the botanical garden had been eager to point it out, and it was the first time I had ever seen one. Close by, an actual butterfly had just emerged from yet another of these amazing masterpieces. "This is so God!" My exclamation was met with no response, but clearly there could be no other explanation. "His invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." (Romans 1:20)

Reappearing Verses

2008-09-08T14:14:00.004-04:00

There it is again! I read The One Year Bible during my quiet time, and today's Old Testament reading was Isaiah 1:1-2:22. After reading and prayerful reflection, I picked up a book that I hadn't read in at least a couple of months. I've been slowly working my way through it and had just resolved last night to finish it. The chapter was entitled "Christianity and Race Prejudice" and was written in 1910 by Francis J. Grimke. He concluded with the verses of Isaiah 1:11-17! There it is again! The same verses I read in the Bible, amazingly ordained by God for me to read again moments later in "The Faithful Preacher." This is exciting to me, as if my precious Lord has a special message to me through reappearing verses. Today it was this: "Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." (Isaiah 1:16-17)

Not Me

2008-09-07T13:52:00.002-04:00

I'm not cut out for the mission field. Sleeping in a strange place. Eating strange food. Trying to learn a strange language. Building friendships with strange people. Facing strange trials. Fighting strange diseases. And me, a much-afraid. How could I ever make it? No, not me; I couldn't make it. But God can and does equip us to do those things that we can not do so that He will receive the glory. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 12:8) If you mean for us to go, Lord, let the world see and know that it was by Your great hand that it was accomplished.

Keep Praying

2008-09-04T13:32:00.003-04:00

God in His sovereignty chooses to work through prayer. It's mysterious, beyond my understanding, but confirmed many times over by the testimonies of His people. A friend has been praying faithfully for my toothache since my root canal last week. Each day there has been improvement, and each day she asks me about it and affirms her continued prayer for me. I believe God hears, and I give thanks to know that my Father is being approached on my behalf. If we reflect on how our prayers are affecting those for whom we pray, it may drive us more often to our knees. Thank you, my friend, for causing me to reflect. "Be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12)

Babysitting Andrew

2008-09-03T13:14:00.002-04:00

Two-year-old Andrew was happily playing with toys as Jesse plowed around him crashing through everything in sight. I got on the phone with my mom and kept my eye on them. Within minutes, I noticed that Andrew's eyes started tearing up, and I heard him whisper "mommy." I finished my conversation, we started to play together, and he was fine. In an unsure moment, he thought of his mommy, one of the two people who most show Jesus to him. In our unsure moments, let us also cry out to the One who our earthly parents prayerfully seek to reflect. God comforts the downcast. (2 Corinthians 7:6)

Interrupting Opportunities

2008-08-31T14:53:00.000-04:00

Returning from an afternoon walk, we stopped long enough to put the baby backpack into the trunk of the car. As we did, a neighbor quickly approached us, asking if we might have time to go pick up his granddaughter from her job at McDonald's. Interruption. Sitting in the playroom, enjoying time with baby Jesse, the doorball rang. Two neighborhood boys were at the door wondering if we might be able to take them to football practice. Interruption. After 21 years in this neighborhood, we have finally gained the glorious opportunities that come through interruptions. Thank You, Lord; thank You! "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people..." (Galatians 6:10)

Numbering Days

2008-08-30T15:42:00.002-04:00

Strolling a baby through a retirement community is a lesson in the brevity of life. How quickly the soft silky skin grows wrinkled and leathery. How fast the hair of red, brown, black, and blonde turns to shades of gray or falls out. Ears that hear so keenly and eyes that notice the smallest particle of dirt on the floor lose their ability. Legs just learning to walk will someday find it difficult again. "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:10, 12)

Ordained Wakefulness

2008-08-28T19:06:00.002-04:00

"Every sleepless hour is ordained for me by God." Written by Charles Spurgeon, gleaned from God's Word. Barking dogs. A crying baby. Intermittent snoring. A nagging headache. Cracks of thunder. An unsettled stomach. Sporadic coughing. An aging body. These are some of the things that keep me awake at night, but God has ordained my wakefulness. I can meet this time with contentment instead of anger or frustration. I can use this time to fix my open eyes on Jesus. "On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night." (Psalm 63:6)

Root Canal

2008-08-27T19:29:00.003-04:00

Sitting in the dentist's chair for two hours, I sought ways to redeem the time. I prayed for my dentist, his assistant, and everyone in his office. I prayed for a missionary in Afghanistan who is trying to start a small dental business as a ministry because the people there have very little dental care available to them. I reviewed Scripture verses, and as I did, I sensed the Holy Spirit impressing upon me one in particular: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (2 Corinthians 4:16) My body is in fact wasting away, but the eternal glory that awaits is far greater than all the suffering in the here and now.

Gaining Perspective

2008-08-26T13:05:00.002-04:00

Don Richardson arrived in Netherlands New Guinea with his wife and infant son in the early 1960's. They were missionaries to an unreached people group known as the Sawi, cannibals and headhunters. This tribe had never seen a white person. They had never seen boats or airplanes or lanterns. Growing up in America during the same time, I had seen all these things and so much more. But I didn't know much about the world beyond my backyard. I didn't know or think of unreached people groups. I didn't know of child slavery or witchcraft or torture. Reading the biographies of missionaries helps me to gain perspective on the eternal, to get outside of America and know that our mission as Christians still looms large ahead of us. Let's not forget. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19)

Great Cloud

2008-08-25T08:29:00.002-04:00

Sitting on the floor in my prayer closet, I am surrounded by books written over the centuries by men and women who love God. When I am discouraged I will gaze at the titles, remembering the words I have read and the lessons I have learned through their faithfulness. My Bible, too, is filled with stories of those who have gone before me, those who have followed in the way of the cross. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Too Legalistic

2008-08-21T08:16:00.002-04:00

It was 1991. Our first Bible study. There was one woman in the group who was different from the rest of us. She had a lot of things she didn't do. Our thoughts? Stifling. Too legalistic. But, we were wrong. The word legalism is not in the Bible, but it is synonymous with "works of law." One author defines it as "a self-reliant effort to demonstrate virtue to man and God." In other words, it is believing we can get to heaven by our works. Legalism is not the good works that a Christian does as he relies on the Holy Spirit. So, it is not so much "what we do, but the spirit in which we do it that makes the difference." We can not be quick to assume that a person's actions are legalistic without knowing their heart. In the case of our friend, she was pursuing holiness, and we have found in her someone to imitate.

Desiring Gold

2008-08-19T19:21:00.004-04:00

Flickering flat-screen televisions lining the wall at WalMart caught my attention. Images of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games exploded from side to side. Thousands of athletes have gathered in Beijing to compete with one goal, one focus, one purpose: to win the gold. They have labored their lifetimes for this moment, and most will not win. In four years, almost all will have been forgotten. There will be new names, new faces, new world records. "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold." (Proverbs 3:13-14)

Varying Views

2008-08-17T20:43:00.002-04:00

Friends. Family. Church members. Neighbors. Co-workers. Day after day we chat with people who have different views than we do. Some of these folks can be pretty determined that they are right. Some can be pretty persuasive. Some talk down to me, and I'm tempted to feel ashamed of what I believe. Some talk over me, and I'm tempted to feel silly for what I believe. I might succomb to the temptation to be tossed about by the varying views around me were it not for the anchor of God's Word. I go back to it again and again, searching the Scriptures to see what is true. Sanctify me in the truth, Lord: Your Word is Truth. (John 17:17)

Mail Call

2008-08-15T14:23:00.004-04:00

Ever since I was a little girl I have loved to check the mail. One just doesn't know what exciting news might be waiting there. A postcard from a pen pal in a far-off land. A letter of love from a long-lost friend. A card of encouragement mysteriously left unsigned. And now, in addition to the the old-fashioned mailbox, there are email and blog comments to check. I almost feel compelled to go straight to the computer each morning, and it can easily become the first thing I head toward in any free moment I have. As I thought upon this habit, the Lord impressed upon my heart that He has written the greatest letter that has ever been written, and the good news contained within it can not be outdone. Shouldn't I look toward my Bible with far more excitement, anticipation, and eagerness than I do my earthly mail? Lord, may I cry out with the Psalmist "My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times." (Psalm 119:20)

Moving Up

2008-08-12T19:25:00.002-04:00

Early in my Christian journey I read a book in which the pastor/author said that almost without exception he would counsel people not to move. His reasoning was that relationships are better built through time, and as those hoping to spread the fragrance of Christ, we would more likely have opportunity if we shared our lives with the same people. After almost 21 years in the same house, I have experienced the validity of his counsel. I have also experienced the truth that God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him, and we look more satisfied in Him to the world when we stay put or better yet, downsize. Several years ago, friends of ours left the suburbs for the city, moving from a "nice" neighborhood to an "undesirable" one with hopes to reach the least of these. Their unbelieving friends were mystified, and even many of their Christian friends discouraged them, but God was glorified. In reality, they were moving up. "He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights." (Psalm 18:33)

Reseeding Souls

2008-08-10T14:45:00.002-04:00

One of the Mormon missionaries returned, and this time he had two others with him. (See post from July 22nd.) My husband and I were just preparing to take the baby to the park, but the Lord had plans for us to gather again on the patio and reseed. In landscaping a lawn, one doesn't just plant the grass seed once. Each fall, new seed is planted to rejuvenate what has already been put down in the past. This is called reseeding. We had already planted seeds of Truth in the life of at least one of these precious young men, but God gave us an opportunity to reseed. We shared His Word with passion and with prayers in our heart for the Holy Spirit to rejuvenate, to make seem new and fresh, the seeds of Truth that have been planted in their past.

Unexpected Grace

2008-08-07T08:21:00.002-04:00

I was attempting to prepare dinner at the end of a long day, but the baby, Jesse, was tired and crying, and I was tired of the crying. So, I retreated to the front porch with Jesse for a little reprieve and change of scenery. I whispered a "Lord, help me" for my attitude, my weakness, my grumbling. Only minutes passed, and Jesse started trying to eat the tiny pieces of dirt, bark mulch, anything that she could find. "It's back inside," I thought, swooping her up. At that, a neighbor came quickly out asking if I was going back inside because she had wanted to see the baby. Forty-five minutes later my dinner was cooked, my husband was home, and the three of us were together, sharing our meal. My neighbor had held Jesse the whole time, playing with her, loving her. Grace. Sweet, unexpected, grace.

Being Doers

2008-08-03T20:48:00.002-04:00

"You have so much knowledge about God's Word on marriage; do you think that you will be able to live it when you get married?" I asked a young single friend recently. "Knowing and doing are two different things," she responded. Oh, how God shows me this truth in my own life over and over. I have read rich books, memorized many verses, and studied seriously the truths of the Scripture, yet when the conflict comes, I find the flesh winning way too often. "The one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." (James 1:25) Lord, by Your grace, may I do what I know.