What Child Are You?

Today I am thinking about my childhood, and thinking about my Mom. I loved my Mom, and she taught me a lot. I remember being proud of her, and loving her so much. I talked about her to all my friends who didn't know her and I was always quoting her wisdom..."My Mom says this and my Mom says that" because I knew that she was very wise and her solutions to problems were mine to share.
My friends all loved to come over to my house, and our house was always full of them. Partly because my Mom was a good cook, but mostly because she was there. She was a great listener. She welcomed everyone with open arms and whatever we had, which was never anything much, was always for sharing.
My Mom was kind and loving to all who knew her. I know her love touched the lives of many young people as she accepted them without judgment. So I was always excited to share her with my friends and I wanted them to meet her, because I knew that they would feel loved and accepted. I remember feeling so secure and confident in that.

I had one friend, we weren't necessarily close, but I do remember going over to her house on a couple of occasions. She would always warn me before I went, that I needed to take off my shoes before I went inside because her Mom would "have a cow" if we tracked anything in. She would give me the rundown on acceptable and unacceptable behavior, and I remember feeling afraid most of the time at her house, fearing I would do the wrong thing and set off her Mother's wrath. It didn't make me want to be there, and I felt sorry for my friend who had such a difficult Mom to share.

So, what child are you? Because I know what your Dad is like. If my Mom could be so welcoming, and so full of grace and love for people in all walks of life, then how much more grace-full is our Father? But do we present Him to others like He really is? Do we share Him with our friends with excitement, because we are confident in His love? Or do we misrepresent Him as a strict Dad, warning them all of the rules and regulations that they must try and meet in order to make a good impression? What child are you?

You Might Be An Evangelical...



If you insist on a "real" Christmas tree because it is part of the true meaning of Christmas...

If you read your Bible and have your quiet time every morning, then don't give God another thought the rest of the day...

If you attend church where you do because you "like the worship" and they preach "the word"...

If you go to every conference within a 200 mile radius of your house...

If you tithe religiously, but you won't help out your jobless brother Bob because he is a Mormon...

If you love everyone except gays...

If you have alienated most of your extended family in your attempts to "get them saved"...

If you are pro-life when it comes to babies, but pro-death when it comes to criminals...

If you go out of your community to buy your adult beverages so you don't cause anyone you know to "stumble"...

If you believe all democrats are satanists... 

If you judge every pastor who dresses differently than you, or believes differently than you, or worships differently than you a heretic and call it "discernment"...

If you fast for three days every year and practice gluttony the rest of it...

If you read this and take offense, then have to work through forgiveness and inner healing...you just might be an Evangelical!

Happy Holi...oops, I mean Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

 

Oh Give Thanks!!

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!" (Psalm 105:1)


This Thanksgiving will be different for us. We won't be gathering around a platter of turkey. I won't be worn out from two days of food preparation. And our whole family won't be together. Yet I find so much to be thankful for, and feel even more gratitude in my heart than ever. Sometimes when the external things are stripped from us it causes us to dig even deeper to discover and celebrate the abundance we have been given.

I am thankful for my imperfect yet beautiful family, who in our imperfections give God even more opportunities to display His goodness and amazing grace!
I am thankful for new life, reminding me that we are all part of a much bigger story, a story which will continue to be told throughout time.

I am thankful for long time friends who have appreciated me, warts and all, and shown me that I do not have to be perfect to be loved.

I am thankful for new friends and discovering their beautiful stories of faith, and for developing even more relationships in which to grow.

I am thankful for difficult people who challenge me to exercise the abundant love and grace I have been given.
I am thankful that to God there are no difficult people, only kids who need His love.

I am thankful for death and passing on, and for every new member of the great cloud of witnesses who surround me and have gone before me.
 I am thankful for missed opportunities which remind me to grab hold of each opportunity that comes my way to prevent any more missed ones.

I am thankful laughter, good old gut cramping belly laughs that make me feel so alive.
I am thankful for tears, for grief and sorrow that cleanse my soul and allow the sweetness of God's comfort to be made real to me.

I am thankful that I know for sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God is real.

I am thankful that I now also know for sure that God is good.

I am thankful for the trials which have all become catalysts for God's goodness to be revealed to me in greater measure.

I am thankful that He has shown me that His goodness can be relied upon every day in every situation.

I am thankful beyond words and beyond measure!!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."!!!!! (Psalm 28:7)  

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! 

Stand Up!!!

I had an interesting experience last week. I was working as a "temp" with some other also-temp people. I mostly listened to them as they were all quite talkative and full of stories about their lives. I love to listen and hear what makes people tick. Sadly, these people...one woman and a young girl in particular...seemed to be ticking off their illnesses constantly. I mean, between the two of them they had every illness every diagnosed and then some. They had strange accidents, broken bones, and the more I listened the more I realized that pretty much all they talked about were their afflictions. It was as if their "conditions" made them feel special. And that just plain made me sad.

I was reading in the book of John chapter 5 recently. We all know the story. The man who was waiting by the pool of Bethesda. Evidently angels would stir the waters from time to time, and if you happened to be blessed enough to be in the water at that moment, you would be healed.
The man was waiting there...every day...waiting, waiting, waiting for 38 years, for someone to carry him into the pool. I don't know the details of his condition, but evidently he was too sick, weak or maybe even paralyzed to walk himself into the pool. Now, I don't want to come across as heartless...but I imagine if that were me I would try rolling into the pool. Or maybe dragging myself in there. Hanging on to the guy next to me. Something...anything...to get by butt into that pool and get healed!
Jesus asks the man "Are you here hoping to be healed?" Is it self pity I hear in the man's response to Jesus? Or is he just a whiner by nature? The man answers Jesus by making excuses for himself. "I can't get to the pool...nobody will carry me...waa waa waa."
It is funny if you think about it. Jesus knew full well why the man was there and what he was hoping for. Yet he asks him "What do you want?" Now that is a loaded question! But really, maybe my take on this guy isn't so cruel and far fetched. What did he want? Did he want to be pitied? Felt sorry for? Commiserated with?

I confess I must ask myself these same questions at times. What do I want? Do I just give up and wait for someone else to carry me? Do I believe I cannot move? Do I want to be pitied and felt sorry for? Do I feel defeated?
Jesus doesn't give the man what he thinks he needs. He thinks he needs help. He thinks he needs carried to the pool. But Jesus didn't pick him up, He didn't coddle him at all. Jesus commanded him, (which sounds to me like stern talk), and said "Stand up, carry your mat, and walk."
Ouch. Get up you big baby! Get off your butt and carry your own mat, and get moving! No pity there!
And it is interesting that Jesus mentioned to him to carry his mat. Because it was the Sabbath and Jesus knows the rules, He knows the law. He knows that they were forbidden to carry anything or do anything that was considered "work" on the sabbath.
Jesus gives him specific instructions to disobey the law! Maybe because the law kills and Jesus was proving a point here. Rise up! Get out from under the law! WALK!
The man did just that. After 38 years, he stood up...no more weakness, no more pain, no more depression, and no more shame! FREEDOM!!

What is holding you down? Who has convinced you that you cannot do what Jesus is asking of you?
Maybe it's time for you to "Stand up and walk!!"
.

Guilt Trip

Jesus gave us life. He gave us eternal life, as we were meant to have it from the beginning. He restored our birthright to us. It was a gift. We all know that. He came, He conquered, He lives, we live through the grace that He provided. A gift. He said it is finished, and it is finished. End of story. Done. A done deal.

A gift:  the transfer of something without the expectation of receiving something in return.

Say you are a teenager who, like all teenagers, love to drive. Your Dad comes to you one day, gives you a set of keys to a beautiful car, and tells you, "I got you a gift! She's all yours! Enjoy!" WOW!!! How cool would that be and how excited would you be? Now....suppose a week goes by and you are leaving to go for a drive in your beautiful new car. And suppose on your way out the door your Dad calls you back and says, "Where are you going?" and you tell him you are going out for a drive in the beautiful new car he gave you. Dad comes back at you with this, "Well, if you are going to keep that car then there are some things you need to do for me. I want you in church every Sunday. And you need to keep your room clean. Maybe then I will let you go for that drive!"
"What??"  And it suddenly hits you like a ton of bricks that your Dad's supposed "gift" has strings attached. In fact, Dad is going to use it to get you to do what He wants. He will guilt you into living as he wants you to live, every time using the gift he gave you as leverage. Wow. That sort of takes away the giddy feeling you originally had. Maybe even makes you want to give him the car back!

We received our Salvation, our life....as a gift. It was freely given by our Heavenly Father through His Son's obedience. And it was all finished....left there on the Cross.
But then...because we struggle believing that we could ever truly receive anything without strings attached, we start to place a guilt trip on ourselves and on others. Yes, it was free but now we have to do something, anything, to keep the gift. It is subtle, but it creeps in and begins to rob us of the giddy feeling we originally had.

How many messages have we heard telling us we must "do" more to get more of God? My Bible tells me how to receive His fullness, by experiencing His love!
"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (NLT) Wow! That is amazing. I receive God's fullness....as I become rooted and grounded in love. Part of my being grounded in love is believing that God is a loving Father to me. And believing that He gave me a free gift with no guilt trip attached. That kinda makes me giddy just thinking about it, and it should!!

If our goal is to make disciples, then it would seem to me that the best way to do so would be to remind them constantly of the reality, of the scandalous free gift of grace which they have been given by a generous God who IS love and loves them dearly.
Instead we fear this message, we believe we must now convince them to work to stay in God's good graces.
There seems to be so many teachings right now on things that we must "do" to be acceptable to Him. Sometimes they are worded as steps we must go through, in order to have "more" of Him. It is almost like God is seen with a grace pitcher, and initially He pours out a little drop of grace in us to get our attention, but then in order for us to fully receive all of Him we must work hard and follow these steps and then He'll pour out a little bit more, then a little bit more.....until....what? We are full? When are we full? How do we know when we are full? What is the capping point of God? And why are the steps that we must follow different depending on who is preaching the message?
Ultimately we teach that Salvation was a gift, but maintaining it takes a lot of work and effort on our part.

I don't think God is into giving us grace, then giving us a guilt trip. I know, Jesus was Jewish and Jewish mothers have a reputation of laying guilt on their children to get what they want. I just don't believe Jesus is like that. And I want to live gracefully...and eternally giddy for His fullness in my life.
"And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace...." (John 1:16)

Eye Salve

I have been praying for at least a year for the eye salve...so that I can "see"...and crying out that I want to see Jesus. I want my eyes opened to His Kingdom. I want His perspective. I want to see His face. I want to look into His eyes. This has been the cry of my heart.

My eyes are open...open to the fact that the answer to this prayer, this desire, is not exactly what I had in mind. To have my eyes opened, and to truly see is to be made painfully aware of the needs around me. If I can see, then I must look...and in looking, see Jesus...in the brokenness, the pain, and the lost eyes of so many. If my eyes are open and I can see...then I must look and not turn away. Because Jesus is there, in all of them...I can see Him in the hurting, the lost, the angry, the depressed, the tormented and the addicted. He is there.

I asked for the eye salve so that I could see Jesus...and now I see. I see Him everywhere, all around me. The eye salve has been applied, and I am no longer blind. Certainly gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "I once was blind, but now I see." 

The Elders are Warriors.

The elephant is defeated. The elders know this to be true, because they know that the Great Spirit said Himself that the battle belongs to Him. The Great Spirit also said that the battle was finished. So, what does this mean? How can the elephant seem so very alive, when in reality it is dead?

The elders are warriors. They were created for battle. The battle has already been won. So where is the battle? The elders must partner with the Great Spirit to see the threat of the elephant brought down. This is where the battle is fought, in the "seeing". Seeing is believing. And the elders cannot yet see the dead elephant. They look.....and their eyes tell them that the elephant is alive and well and lurking and stealing their offspring. But wait. Is this truth, or do their eyes deceive them? We have now discovered the battle ground.

The Great Spirit created the elders to partner with Him. Not because He needs their help. No, the Great Spirit requires no help. The battle is already won! Yet He designed them to participate in the battle. He desires their participation, because out of that partnering their relationship grows. And their need for Him grows as well. Their need for the Great Spirit soon turns into desire. And from that desire their relationship is fulfilled. From that desire the warriors are strengthened.

But....the warriors are often wounded. The battle becomes so intense, and their wounds so bloody, that they need time to rest and heal. Yet even during those times, those healing times, they are always anxious to get back into the battle. It is not enough to just hear that the battle has been won, they want to be a part of the winning, a part of the action! The elders are warriors. And warriors teach others how to fight.

So, even though they know the outcome and they trust in the happy ending to the story, they also are made aware that to believe the elephant is dead is to have their eyes opened to it's deadness. And to become aware is to engage in battle. With every arrow shot, with every attack, the elder-warriors are strengthened. And with every battle, their eyes are being opened. Until one day, they see what has been there all along, a dead elephant! It is a day of feasting! It is a day of declaration! A day of victory! They dance in the clearing, "The elephant is dead! The elephant is dead!!" and it seems that everything has changed, and it seems....for a little while.....like the battle is over.

In reality, the battle has just begun. You see, the elephant was already dead. The elders just couldn't see it. One day, more sooner than later, the elders will be tempted to forget. Their memories of the slyness of the elephant, along with a feeling of impending danger, will rise up in them. They will begin to question if the elephant is truly dead, or if it was all a dream. This is when the battle intensifies. It is most difficult to declare that the elephant is dead when it seems to be so very much alive. It is a challenge to dance the victory dance while faced with the threat of the elephant. Yet this is how warriors do battle.
A true warrior knows that the elephant is already dead. A true warrior spends his life reminding himself and others that the elephant is dead. A true warrior lives in partnership with the Great Spirit. An elder-warrior has been given sight, and no matter how many shadows may look like an elephant, no matter how many times it may sound like an elephant is on the edge of the clearing, a warrior keeps his eyes focused on the Great Spirit, constantly reminding himself and others that the elephant is dead. This is our battle. This is our declaration. We are the elders. The elders are warriors.

The Clan and the Elephant

She can't really remember when the elephant first started coming around. But looking back, she sees it was always  there throughout her childhood. She just didn't notice. That's the odd thing about elephants. How can something so large go unnoticed?

Life went on, she grew up, and joined clans with another. She was not aware that the brave she married had an elephant of his own. He was not aware either, at first. That's the thing about elephants. They are very large, but also very sneaky. They know when to be silent.....lurking in the background, deep in the brush, waiting for the most opportune moment to show themselves.....and trample on life.

Some years after the elephant appeared  in their little clan, they thought it was defeated. The clan had begun to grow, and the elephant seemed to grow as well. It was causing problems. Huge problems. Yet even though they recognized the problems it was creating, they didn't know how to get rid of the elephant. You see, the elephant had become so familiar to them, it had become such a huge part of their every day lives, that they were almost afraid to chase the elephant off. An elephant is very large, and it takes up a lot of space within a clan. The clan might even seem empty without it. But finally one day, out of utter desperation, they cried out to the Great Spirit and the elephant went away. Life became peaceful. A calmness settled over the clan. What they didn't know then was that the elephant was not really gone, it was just waiting.....deep in the brush.....for the perfect moment to appear again.

Time passed quickly and life without the elephant was rich and good. They lived out in the open, in a very large clearing full of lush new growth that can only appear when the elephant is no longer trampling. But the elephant was waiting......silently......for the opportune moment to show itself....again.

At first they didn't recognize the elephant when it came back. Years had passed. The elephant started hanging around the eldest offspring because it knew the importance of the first born son. The elephant was sly, as it had always been. It befriended the first born at the impressionable age of his right of passage from boyhood to adulthood. It lured him with all of the tricks it had used on the elders, and so many before them. By the time the elephant had him fully trapped in its charms, there was nothing the elders could have done to stop it. They saw the elephant had returned, and knew the Great Spirit could get rid of the elephant before it harmed the first born, but they also knew that as long as he was petting the elephant, it would stay. Regardless of their warnings, the elephant would stay. Because an elephant always stays where it is welcomed.

The whole dynamics of the clan changed. All of the lush growth was being trampled by the elephant, the new green life had turned to mud. The elephant trudged on, luring the first born out of the clearing and into the brush....deeper into the brush and further from the safety of the clan. Tribal legend says to let the offspring go...for the elders to turn their backs on the offspring.......letting them go into the brush with the elephant, sometimes coming out alive, and sometimes not. But the Great Spirit spoke otherwise. The Great Spirit reminded the elders that He had pursued them, and He asked the elders to follow Him into the brush, after their first born. They did. They went bravely into the brush in pursuit of the first born, quite certain they could defeat the elephant and rescue him before any more damage was done. But this elephant had been around a great many years. It knew the brush better than the elders, it knew where to hide with the first born. And while the elders continued on with faith in the Great Spirit's power, the first born seemed to get further and further out of reach.

The clan was fractured. The damage the elephant had caused was great. The elders came back, hoping to repair the damage and to protect their other two offspring from the lure of the elephant. And the elders were successful...for a time. Life went on in the fractured clan. The first born would come back into the clearing and join the clan for the tribal feasts. But the elephant always came with him. They pretended not to notice, but it was always there. The elders were confident that their other offspring, having seen the damage the elephant had done, would always steer clear of the elephant and its danger. The elders were wrong. They watched as first one, and then the other of their off spring were lured into the brush....into the very same brush with the elephant and the first born.

Grieving, the elders left the clearing.....the original home of their clan. The memories were too much, the mud too deep. They set out to another clearing, trying to survive. It was a very difficult time for the elders. There is much darkness in the forest and they were often unsure they would survive the journey. But the Great Spirit was always with them, guiding and comforting them. And even though the Great Spirit seemed to have no power over their offspring, they knew otherwise. They knew that without the protection of the Great Spirit, their offspring would not be alive. And so they trusted their offspring to the Great Spirit's care, trudging on through the dark forest to find another clearing.....to try and live again.

After many years, the elders came to another clearing. It was lush and beautiful and full of life. Weary from their long journey, they settled there and enjoyed a much needed rest. They dwelt there with the Great Spirit watching over them, and reminding them that their offspring were being looked after with the same loving care that was being given to them. And the elders' hearts were soon restored to hope. They were strengthened and renewed. They no longer trembled in fear when they heard something in the brush, hoping that the elephant wasn't coming back. They saw the elephant for what it really was, and realized that even though it seemed too big to overcome, that it was really just a coward.....hiding in the brush and stealing offspring. They had confidence again that the Great Spirit would ultimately defeat the elephant, and their offspring would be set free.

And while the elders wait for that day, the day that the clan is restored, they do not grow weary. They have learned much from the Great Spirit about the power of love. They no longer fear the elephant or the brush. Every day, the elders come together in the clearing and talk with the Great Spirit who encourages them, and they encourage each other with visions of hope. They picture a great feast.....the celebration to come.....when the first born comes back to the clan.....along with the other offspring; when they enter the clearing to enjoy the abundant life of their elders. And at this great feast, there will be laughter and tears. There will be stories, and life. At the center of the table will sit a beautiful ivory carafe, filled with the best wine the clan has ever tasted......made from the tusk of an elephant.

Amway Christianity

"Hi, are you building a home?" "No, actually we are remodeling one." "Really, we are too! Where do you live?"
This became a familiar conversation and experience years ago when we still had our farmhouse and were constantly doing DIY projects, spending a lot of time at Home Depot. The thing is, at first we thought we were meeting some really friendly people who wanted to be our friend! We soon discovered that they had an ulterior motive. After the first two times this conversation took place, and we were called by the nice man we had spoken to in the store and given part of his sales pitch for Amway, it was evident we weren't popular after all, we were potential investors....and they weren't after relationship, they were after our wallets. Sad. And honestly hurtful.

Time went on, and we became wise to the pitch. It was really shocking how many times we encountered the same scenario. But we were able to quickly recognize it for what it really was, and we learned to ask up front "Do you sell Amway?" It was kind of fun actually, to see their surprised faces as we called them out on their ruse. What we hated most about it was how suspicious we became. It was like anyone who tried to smile or talk to us in public was avoided like the plague because we had been used in this way and didn't want to be suckers again.
The sad thing is, I am beginning to experience a lot of this same marketing strategy within the body of Christ.

It seems that lately I have met people in the Christian community who at first seem to just be friendly and genuinely desiring relationship with me. When I am asked for my email address I innocently assume that they just want to be able to contact me and get to know each other. Soon I discover that there is more to it. I receive their first contact informing me of an upcoming mission trip, and their need for "support" followed up by many more emails asking for my presence at various fund raisers from pot lucks, desserts, car washes, and many other creative ways in which they solicit money for their spiritual endeavors.

My question is, has this Amway approach infiltrated the church and become our idea of the "I AM" way? Don't get me wrong, I certainly understand that God calls some to travel and be involved in different works across the world. And I know that we aren't all independently wealthy. That is where it gets sticky for me. Aren't we supposed to be "dependently wealthy"? I mean, aren't we supposed to trust that where God calls, He also provides? Do we have to use dishonest, or at the very least disingenuous tactics to fulfill God's call?

We have been moved to give to many different "missionaries" (for lack of a better word) over the years. I can tell you that we didn't give out of being "guilted" into it. (Well, actually maybe a few times we did.) But usually God would lay a need on our heart and He would instruct us as to how much to give. It has always amazed me, and been a tremendous testimony to His faithfulness. Also, it has been a demonstration of how Holy Spirit is able to get things done, if we only stay in tune with Him. And I have even gone on a mission trip or two. I remember sending letters to family members and close friends soliciting their support. Looking back, I am embarrassed that I used them in this way and I may even need to send out letters of apology. I am thankful they are still talking to me, and don't run the other way when they see me coming, assuming I am going to hit them up for another small investment.

I remember as my kids were growing up, we had a philosophy that if they wanted something "extra" they should have to work for it. We knew that it would make them appreciate and value it that much more if they had a hand in the process. To just hand them something seemed to cheapen the experience, and we found them to even be more careless with the new acquisition because it really held no value with them.
But if they sacrificed for it.....it was a much different outcome. They had a sense of ownership, and they really took care of the new bike or whatever it may have been, because they were involved in the process.

I know, "fundraising" is a lot of work and so you might say that someone who is having bake sales, making  phone calls and sending the emails to acquire support for their mission trips are working and part of the process. Yes, they are. But is it really God's way? Is it the way of His Kingdom? Are we really supposed to be reduced to the status of beggar? Does our Father truly own the cattle on a thousand hills? If He does, then why do we feel the need to manipulate and "befriend" people in order to get their contact information so that we can hopefully gain their financial support? Aren't we called to walk in truth in our innermost being? Am I walking in love if I begin to see others not as friends, but as potential investors? If God is all about relationship, is He OK with us using relationships for the sake of our mission?

Honestly, I don't know the answer to this dilemma. I know that mission trips can be good, and it is evident that some people need the financial support of others in order to go. I just wish we would step back for a moment and examine our tactics. In our zeal to go and spread the gospel, are we using manipulation and deceit to gain funding? Can this really be part of fulfilling our call to the great commission?

Scandalous Grace

If you know me at all, or if you read my blog posts, you might find me a little "unconventional" and I would say without apology, that's a good thing! I haven't been to any conventions, but they don't sound like much fun to me. The purpose of this blog is to think about things and whether you agree with me or not, to ponder them.

I think about God. A lot. We talk a lot too. Lately we have been talking about how scandalous His grace has been in my life. It's funny. It was the grace of God that saved me, yet afterward I think I sort of became afraid of grace. Not afraid of it for myself, but afraid to really test it. I mean, what if it went too far?
But I have found that grace is much more than just withholding judgments. The grace of God is truly scandalous. Read your New Testament and you will see it time and time again. Jesus was just too much! He kept healing people, touching unclean people, going to dinner with sinners, hanging out with prostitutes and thieves, I mean there were no limits to His scandalous grace!

scandalous: causing general public outrage by a perceived offense against morality or law.

Interesting that it causes outrage by a "perceived" offense against morality or law. So the scandal is a scandal depending on how it is perceived. And we all know that the religious order of the day perceived everything Jesus did as absolutely scandalous, to the point that they insisted on His death in order to stop it!
That is what the law does today, isn't it? It puts to death scandalous grace wherever it can find it. Which makes me wonder, which side are we on? Sadly, I often find myself on the side of the law, afraid that too much grace, too much scandalous grace will offend Jesus, the very Jesus Who offended the religious leaders of His day with all of His scandal!! How did I get here?

And yet, His grace chases me down continually. His grace is alive in me. His grace personified, in His Son, is alive and well and active on the earth.

grace:  the unmerited love and favor of God toward man. Divine influence acting in man to make him pure and morally strong.

So His grace continues to work in us and through us, to make us pure and morally strong. We can trust in this grace. We can trust it's work in us, but more importantly, we can trust the work of grace in others. Now, that is freeing isn't it? We don't have to police or remind others of the law, we can freely love as we were called to do, and trust that where sin abounds, grace is abounding even more. But do we? Do we really trust that is the case?

We talk about someone having "fallen from grace" and we are usually referring to someone who has, in our estimation, turned from God....turned back to their sin....and therefore have fallen from His grace. What kind of doctrine is that? In Galatians 5:4 the Bible clearly states: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." OK wait....so that is saying that actually it is when we go back to the law, when we go back to trying to keep the law that we have fallen from grace. Another translation goes so far as to say: "You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law, you have fallen away from grace." Yikes. Herein lies the danger of judgment my friends. If we judge others by the law, then we ourselves come into judgment by that same law, and we fall from grace. I think we worry way too much about sin, and not enough about falling from grace.


I think the biggest hindrance to our operating in the scandalous grace we have been given is that we have become the prodigal's brother. Now that we are in the "in crowd" with Jesus, we don't want to see Him taken advantage of by someone else. So we stand on the side of the prodigal's brother saying "God, don't you see how awful he is? Fix him, Lord! If you don't then I will. I'll give him a piece of Your mind!" We can't bear the thought of God truly standing with open arms to welcome the prodigal son back into the family. He doesn't deserve such a welcome. Such love and grace is just too.....well, it is too scandalous. He is not only going to receive him, he's going to throw a party for him too? And he hasn't even repented properly! This is clearly going too far!
And isn't that what Jesus did? Everywhere He went, He went too far! In grace we are introduced into a realm that is beyond us. We are moved from this realm into the Kingdom realm, and into freedom!

But we withhold grace. We fear that too much grace will cause someone to go over the top in their sin. And mostly, well, they just aren't really deserving until they get their act together. Well, I have news for you.....NOBODY IS! That is what makes grace GRACE!!!! I am so very thankful that He loved us while we were yet sinners! The challenge is, can we do the same? Can we love with the same love we have been given? Can we extend the same scandalous grace that was extended to us? And continues to be extended to us? I rely on His grace daily, don't you?

I have never felt the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit more than when I am operating in God's grace....when His scandalous grace is moving through me. Funny, I don't remember ever really experiencing His presence when I was quoting the law, or standing on the side of judgment. I wonder if the people who are yelling their protests and carrying signs feel the loving presence of God in that moment?

"Oh God, may I be a vessel of Your grace. Everywhere I go, may grace abound! Your grace is bound up in the Person of Your Son Jesus! Before He came, before scandalous grace came to us, all we had were the rules and the law. But now, now we have a Person to relate to, to listen to....in Whom we live and move and have our being! He died a scandalous death, the death of an outlaw! And He lives in us! May this grace we have been given create a scandal wherever we go! So outrageous is Your love for us!"

"If I were to preach a compromised version of the Good News, then the scandal of the cross would come to an end." Galatians 5:11

Clarification

Sometimes we all feel misunderstood. I imagine God feels misunderstood a lot. I mean, He has all of these humans speaking in His Name, defending His honor, taking over His business and trying to help His cause here on earth. And yet, He designed us this way...to partner with Him. It is something that I don't believe I will ever fully comprehend this side of glory.

I posted earlier this week regarding the danger of reveling in Osama Bin Laden's death. This post may have been misunderstood by some who thought I was saying that Jesus is some weak pacifist who cringes at the thought of conflict. I do not think that at all, and feel the need to make my point clearer (maybe for my own peace of mind :). Anyway, here is an example of what I was trying to say:

A while back one of my sons found himself in a conflict, a battle, a war if you will. He was riding along with his girlfriend one night in the wee hours. She was driving, and she had her window part-way down. While waiting at a light, suddenly out of nowhere a man appeared at her driver side window, reached in the car and grabbed a hold of her hair and began trying to hit her. WHAT?? I can only imagine the panic from such an evil attack. Before he could even think, my son flew out of the car, ran around it and grabbed the man and began to beat the daylights out of him. The guy got a hit or two in, but was unable to fend off my son's defense and his pure adrenaline. The man ended up lying in the street, his face bloodied and broken, unconscious. While the altercation was going on, my son's girlfriend had called the police. Thankfully, a patrol car was just driving by as my son and his girlfriend were dragging the unconscious man over to the sidewalk, and he began to try and arouse the man. An ambulance came and transported him to the ICU where he remained for a couple of days, according to the officer who followed up with the kids. The police, after talking with my son and his girlfriend and an eye witness, said that they believed this man was either going to carjack the car, or take the car and the girl and do who knows what with her? At any rate, he was stopped.

Now, the point of my story is this. After this happened, my son found himself totally distraught. He was visibly upset and had difficulty even relating the story to us. In hindsight, he was horrified remembering the sound of the punches as they plummeted this guy's face, and the damage that was done to him by my son's own hand. It was simply awful, and traumatic, and he was worried that the man might not recover.

All I can say is how thankful I am that this was my son's response to the incident. While I believe he did exactly what he needed to do in that moment, I rejoice that he did not have an attitude of bravado about it, an attitude that says "Yeah! Sucker got what he deserved! I should have killed him!!" because that would have broken this mother's heart.

I am thankful that my son and his girlfriend both survived the attack. And I hate that there is evil lurking in darkness to attack my loved ones. But there is, and I know that in that situation my son's reaction was absolutely appropriate. And I also think that his attitude in afterthought is equally as appropriate, because it shows that while violence is sometimes needed, to glory in it is never humane.

And that was the point of my previous post. Thank you for allowing me to share my heart.

"And (may) the peace of God, which transcends all understanding......guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Don't Stone Me

Osama Bin Laden is dead. This seems to be the topic of the day. It also seems to be a reason for rejoicing. While I agree that he was a man who allowed evil to take him over, I wonder if God is rejoicing in his death?

I remember Jesus saying something about "forgiving others seventy times seven". Wow, that is a whole lot of forgiveness right there. I don't remember Him telling us to hate anybody. I don't recall Him showing hatred for any person. In fact, the very man who traveled with him, performed miracles with him, and ate with him also betrayed Him with a kiss and gave Him up to the ones who would eventually have Him killed. Yet what did Jesus call Judas in that moment? He called him "friend".
I am a friend of Jesus. Maybe that isn't so much because I am a good person, maybe it's because He is.

Do I believe that God created me? Do I believe that God values life? I do. Did God create Judas? Did He create Osama Bin Laden?
I wonder if Mr. Laden had a mother. I wonder if her dream for him was that he would one day be overrun with evil and facilitate the killing of so many innocent people? I wonder if Osama believed he was doing right, even pleasing God by doing evil? I wonder how hate replaced love in his heart. I wonder when he began to attribute hate as one of God's characteristics?

Am I agreeing with the heart of God in prayer and in life, if I rejoice in the death of a life that He created?
Does God grieve when His creation chooses evil over Him?
Does God rejoice in killing? Is life sacred to the Father?

Who crucified Jesus? What was their motivation? Was it love, hate, or fear?
Sometimes I must resist becoming a part of the angry mob.
Today I choose love.

What If?

What if we are all "living epistles" as Paul said, living letters (hopefully love letters) that God is writing to be read by those who don't yet know Him? Or what if we are each "a word from heaven" (as Jason Upton puts it in song) and therefore none of us shall return to Him void? (meaning each of us will accomplish that for which we were sent or created)...."So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isa. 55:11) Doesn't the Bible say that God "spoke" the world into existence?

OK, so what if the Bible is actually a story book? What if it is a book filled with "lore" (acquired knowledge) and it was given to us for the purpose of reading stories about the lives (words?) that have gone before us....in order to learn how God intervened in these lives, and about the Author and His character (He is good!!)? And what if the story isn't "history" but rather His Story....and His Story continues...in each of us? What if His Story is still being written in you and in me?

What if we are all a part of His Story, but some of us just haven't had our eyes opened to this fact and can't read God's story....yet?
What if those who don't yet know about His Story need to read us to find out about Him? What are they reading when they look at us? Are our lives a good read? Do people read us and want to know the Author?What if this story, His Good News Story about His great love for mankind (remember He created us in His image....so He must think we're really cool) is still going on, making us all part of the current story?
What if God wants us to enter into His Story, so that we can live with purpose, and know what our "character's" role is?
Have we taken this Book, the Scriptures, and made it into an idol, when it was intended as the greatest ongoing Love Story of all time?!

Maybe we are each a chapter in God's big "Book of Life". What if, by eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve read ahead in the story, they jumped ahead and that's what got them into trouble? What was Satan's downfall? Wasn't he trying to re-write God's story and make it about himself? Yikes, don't we do that all the time?
We have been plopped right smack in the middle of an action-packed adventure. But do you see it in the lives of people who's eyes haven't been opened to His Story?
"This is the Chapter of John Doe's Life on a Bar Stool" or This is the Chapter of Jane's Life on the Sofa in front of Reality TV" don't seem like chapters worth reading, and sure don't reflect a great Author!
If my life and your life is being recorded as a chapter in His book, what do we want our chapter to be titled? That's something to think about right there!

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us....." (John 1:14)

What if we don't fight evil with the written word, but with the Word (Himself) living....and loving....through us?
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) What is John saying here? That the Bible was there, in the beginning of time? Or that the Story has always been, Jesus, the Word;  God's story lived through His Son Jesus.....was there in the beginning, in the mind and imagination of God! "He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together." (Col. 1:17) And so we read the story that has always been, and of which we are now a part because we were born into it, and we learn about the Author, and about love because He originated it!

What if the Truth that sets us free is a Man, not a book? "You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free"....."I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life...." What if the Good Book is a Great Story about True Life?
What if this amazing Story is a prequel and a sequel all in one? (prequel: a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting. sequel: a narrative or other work that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work.)

What if the "Word" cannot be contained in the pages of a book? What if instead of worrying so much about what the Bible says, "Is it in the Word?", we remember that Jesus is the Word. "Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him." (John 1:3) What if rather than looking things up in the pages of a book, we spend more time with the Person who wrote it? Is a book greater than the author? What if the reason the Bible was written in the first place was to lead us to Him?

The B-I-B-L-E

Remember that song from Sunday School? "The B-I-B-L-E....that's the book for me...." Well, I don't remember it because I never went to Sunday School. But I heard it when my boys were little.
Sometimes I think we have re-written the song...."The B-I-B-L-E....third person of the Trinity...." (Thank you, Graham Cooke for that wonderful insight.)

I have often heard people say "I love my pastor. He only teaches THE WORD." I wonder if they think God is trapped within those pages? They must  be saying that their pastor just reads the Bible aloud on Sundays. What else could they mean? Because if he reads the Bible and then expounds on it at all, then he is also teaching his interpretation of the Scripture, and sharing his revelation. And isn't that OK?

Does the New Testament say "Do not forsake going to Bible studies..."? Instead it says "Do not forsake the fellowship of the saints". I think what God's saying is "Don't forget, you need each other. You need to constantly encourage each other because life is hard." Sometimes we would rather beat each other up with our personal knowledge of the Bible, which usually doesn't leave us feeling very encouraged at all.
I wonder why Jesus said He was sending us a helper, a teacher, someone to guide us through life.....someone even greater than Himself. Why would we need such a Person, when we have the Bible to refer to?

I wonder what happens to people who can't read? Or to people whom Jesus visits, in countries where there are no Bibles? I wonder how they manage?

One time I was prayed for by a severely mentally handicapped woman. I mean, she has the intellect of maybe a toddler.....and she certainly can't read. But when she prayed over me "Jesus.....Jesus.....Jesus....Jesus" I felt His manifest presence in a way I haven't felt Him since. How did she know Him, and why did He move through her when she can't even read the "Word"?

Sometimes people quote Scripture to me, during a conversation. I never know quite how to respond. Do I say, "Good job! Great memorization skills!"? Do I try to think of a passage to quote back to them? Sort of a Scripture memory verse ping-pong tournament? I don't ever find quoted Scripture during conversations makes me feel very encouraged.

Why did Jesus tell the religious people of His day:
"You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me!" It's almost like He was saying "Put the book down, you idiots. I'm standing right here!" I wonder if He is still saying that today?

I love my Bible. I read it all the time. Not because I have to, but because I like to. And sometimes I don't read it. I don't read it every day at exactly the same time though. I also don't pray in a closet. The reason I read my Bible isn't to worship it, to memorize it, or to find within the pages a "road map for life". I read it because it seems like I continually need reminded of Who Jesus is, why He came, and how extravagant His grace is. The Bible reminds me of God's character. Just like in our Savior's battle with Satan while in the desert for 40 days...it isn't quoting the Bible that saves us. It is knowing who God is, and what He is like....and it is His kindness, displayed to us by His grace, that saves.

Pocketful of Poo

Tiffy and I just got home from our walk, which is the highlight of our day. It is kind of a procedure getting out the door though. I have to strap on Tiffy's pack that I carry her in when her little legs get too tired, and remember to bring my house keys so we can get back into the house. I have to determine the temperature so that I can decide what jacket to wear, and if Tiffy needs her sweater. I must remember to bring a ziploc sandwich bag for Tiffy's poo. And now I have added one more thing to my list, my recently purchased canister of mace. The mace isn't for my protection mind you, (I figure how much protecting could I need when I usually have a pocket full of dog poo?) but Tiffy....well, she is very small and vulnerable and hubby insisted that I get the mace just in case one of the many large and mean sounding dogs we walk by ever got loose.

So......once I go through my mental check list we are off. While enjoying the southern Oregon sunshine today, with my pocketful of poo and mace in my hand, my thoughts drifted back to a video I had watched right before I departed. It was Bill Johnson from Bethel Church in Redding, and he was sharing about how we are all an "open heaven", and that we just need to remind ourselves of that fact. We can practice living in and sharing the heavenly presence, by just taking a moment and reminding ourselves this truth.

I loved what Bill shared, and was pondering it (which I do a lot, hence the name of this blog).....and I found myself laughing out loud (which I probably shouldn't do so much while walking by myself)....because I realized that there I was proclaiming to be an open heaven, with mace in one hand and a pocketful of stinky poo. (See? You would have been laughing too!!)

It occurs to me that is often what we are like! We pray and want to be the Good News displayed to everyone around us, yet we are so stinky because we have sin that we think we are hiding (like a pocketful of poo). And we want to be a light, but more often than not we sting others with our self-protecting remarks (our mace). But He chooses to come and live in us, and allow His glory to be displayed through us! I am an open heaven! Oh man, God is so funny sometimes!

Exposed

Earlier this week as I pulled into our driveway, a nice Hispanic man approached me and gave me his card. He said he needed work, gardening, pruning, etc . and that he even "does windows". So when hubby came home I passed the card and info on to him.

Later on while sitting on our balcony with our glass of wine (for purely medicinal reasons), hubby with his stogy (because he looks really cool and pensive), we noticed the nice Hispanic man was loading up his truck next door. So he went down and talked to him about pulling out all of the ugly lopped off arborvitae trees that line the back yard. We had discussed early on how ugly the trees were, and how a fence would be much nicer. But.....once he hired the guy he realized that besides paying him for his work, he would need to buy materials for the fence, and he tried to cancel. He called, and they had a nice chat wherein dear hubby tried to make it clear that we just don't have the extra funds to hire him at this time. Evidently, he didn't understand because he showed up the next day and began pulling out the trees....in the pouring rain. Wow, what a hard worker! And what are we gonna do now? Oh well.

Anyway, the trees are gone and while it looks really nice without them, we are exposed! I am thankful that our neighbors live "below" us (in case you haven't heard, we are a "city on a hill", and I am the Queen of Medford) but still.....it feels so different, so "bare". Oh well. We are exposed. Deal with it.

It makes me laugh because God continues to expose me daily. He requires me to live totally transparent and completely exposed, my life is an open book. He is teaching me that He is my Defender, and also my Safety. The trees seem to be a physical example of how I have felt in this process. And you know the funny thing? The neighbor gal was talking to Sean (what a funny name for a Hispanic gardener) while he was finishing up, and I saw her out there (because I can see everything now that the trees are gone) and I waved from my sliding doors in the hallway (because now she can also see me), and opened the doors because she was talking. She was saying how nice it is with the trees removed, how she will be able to see my lilac hedge now and it is so pretty in full bloom.
And I thought, "Wow, what a picture of us, a physical example of how God desires us to live."
Because others can only see our true beauty when we are transparent and exposed......

Goodness Gracious

Lately I have been struck with a rather disturbing realization. We have been duped. We "carriers of the gospel", ambassadors, Christians, whatever the current term to describe believers in Christ....we have bought into a lie. It is a lie of "entitlement". There is something in us that assumes that we deserve the best, or the biggest, or we deserve to be the first in line, or the richest....all because we are Christians? Americans? What? Where did this lie come in?

What has struck me most while watching the footage of our dear brothers and sisters in Japan is how very polite and orderly they are. In the midst of this horrible tragedy, they continue to conduct themselves with such dignity and graciousness. It is a beautiful thing to behold. I think of the looting and ugly behavior that goes on here in my own country any time there is a disaster, and I am ashamed.

You might think, yes but the looters are clearly not Christians! We would not behave that way! I say go to any conference and you will see our "entitlement mentality" on full display. We storm the doors and run into the building elbowing others to get the cushy seats, or the ones nearest the front. We want the best parking spots, we desire the things of this world with the same fervor as those to whom we are to be exampling the character of Jesus.

I have been thinking about graciousness, and what it is. We would all agree that our Lord and everything about Him is full of grace. He is the most gracious Man who ever walked the earth.....kind, gentle, generous in spirit, merciful, compassionate and thankful. All of these traits describe our Lord. But do they describe us? I confess to you that upon close examination of my own life and behavior I fear I do not find a person whom others would describe as gracious first and foremost. In my weak moments, I find that I want the best for myself. I don't often want to play nice and share.

I am determined to change and grow into someone who exudes this beautiful trait. I believe thankfulness is the key. It is difficult to complain while being thankful. It is hard to put my wants first while in a conscious state of thankfulness for the abundance that I already possess. When was the last time you thanked someone for a simple kindness? Or thanked someone for doing their job? Or thanked a family member for a meal or a clean home or working so hard to pay the bills? Goodness gracious.....what a lovely way to be!

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

We've all heard the phrase "familiarity breeds contempt" and if you are like me, you have always understood it to mean that the more we get to know another person, or the more familiar we become with them, the more in danger we are of despising them. I am experiencing another meaning of this phrase being played out in my life.

I confess that there are many aspects of life where I enjoy a certain "sameness". Yet while I resist change, I also delight in it. It is a strange paradigm in which I am trying to learn to live.

God is never changing, yet He is always new. There it is again, that paradigm. So here am I, this mere mortal who lived for over 20 years in the very same house, on the very same property, in the very same (and very small) town, went to the very same church (and the very first church I'd attended) all of those over 20 years. Take this same woman, and shake her up like a cup of dice in a game of Yahtzee and what do you get? A LOT of changes in a very short span of time. One would think that I would have gotten used to change in these past 5 years. But that is where it gets sticky. While I have loved the adventure and the excitement of all these changes, I find that I still have this deep-rooted expectation that things will somehow calm down now and remain the same....at least for a while. And I am confronted daily with the realization that this may not be the case.

So today I am thinking of the Israelites and all of their 40 years of desert wandering. And I am laughing at them because I see myself reflected in their plight. I understand now that maybe they weren't particularly "lost" in the desert, but perhaps more comfortable there and unwilling to leave! I realize that I am constantly trying to be comfortable in whatever place I find myself, and seldom do I desire to leave and move on toward my promised land. And how strange is that? Why would I rather be in a desert than in a land flowing with milk and honey? Because, as I have learned, I would rather be here in the familiar than venture into the unknown.

There is a price to pay going into the unknown. Everything is different. Nothing "feels" comfortable and familiar. And there it is. I want things how they are, I like comfortable....so that I don't have to think, or be on my toes, or awake, or present or aware....of God? Isn't that the danger? Is that perhaps why He continues to prod us on, to move us out into the unknown?

Remember, "familiarity breeds contempt." When we become too familiar with our circumstances or "life as we know it" we also tend to become "scornful".....or another meaning of contempt is "lack of respect or reverence" and oh my, that would not be a good thing at all. So while I confess to you that I often grow weary of all of this change, I am thankful that it keeps me clinging to the One who never changes, and as I cling to Him in reverence He sustains me....yes, even in the midst of all that is unfamiliar. His love never changes. And I am learning that is the only thing in this ever-changing life on which I can rely.

Not Feeling Like a Winner

Allow me to preface this blog post by saying that I am not here to judge anyone. I felt led to write not because the story is all over the media and I want to jump on that band wagon. I think I mostly needed to face something and in doing so cleanse my heart.
There have been so many jokes, so many references to Charlie Sheen that one would have to live in a cave to have missed the story. We don't even have cable TV, yet I know what's been going on with the man. And while we all want to make light of it, joking about his tirades and ridiculous sayings, me included, I have to say that if I look at the situation.....I mean really look at it without the laughter.....it brings me to tears.

I have faced that same horrible demon or sickness or whatever we are most comfortable calling it. I have sat and listened to the very same tirades and egotistical rants, and have looked into the wild eyes of someone knowing I wasn't looking into familiar eyes, I was looking into other eyes all together. It was the worst nightmare of my life.
So, I have to ask myself why am I able to jump on the silly train making fun of this man when it hits so close to home with me? I think it is probably because to laugh and make light of things is way easier than looking at them in all of their ugliness.

Alcoholism and drug abuse are ugly. Anyone who has been exposed to an addict's behavior most likely recognizes the same thing that I see in Mr. Sheen. It is dark, evil, ugly, and destructive. It hurts everyone around who tries to love and help, and it's ultimate goal is death. Not a laughing matter at all.

I am thankful that my loved one was not wealthy and had no means to perpetuate their facade this far. But I can say that they did have plenty of people around them who tolerated.....no, encouraged their over the top destructive behavior. It has always been the way of the insecure bully to revel in another person's destruction in order to take everyone's eyes off of their own.
How awful that I even for a few minutes was a party to such behavior. Because I know and realize full well that this man has a family.....a family who are probably out there right now trying their best to devise a plan of rescue....a family awake at night praying to whatever god they hold dear for the life of their loved one. A family dreading the ringing of their phones and the bad news that might be lurking on the other end. A family who is terrified that their loved one might not ever make it back, might not ever return to them as they knew him. I know this terror first hand and my heart aches for them.

So I for one, will no longer subject you to jokes about this sad situation, nor will I be a party to the media frenzy. If I speak of Charlie Sheen at all, it will be to lift him up before the Throne of grace, and pray for the healing love of God to overwhelm him.

Gleeks

OK, I confess.....I am a "Gleek". And while my husband might not want to be identified as such, he does also enjoy watching a certain show where people bust out in song at any given moment. And we are not alone, which causes one to wonder why a television show, a musical of all things, has become so popular?
For me, "Glee" sort of typifies my life. No, I don't go around singing my feelings (OK, maybe I have been known to occasionally...) but I do believe that we were created to sing, make a joyful noise, or whatever we want to call it.

We, the body of Christ, have entered into a new season. I know for sure that I have. While the past years have been full of heartache, trauma, family wounds, and most recently a sort of desert experience, I believe we are now entering into a time of receiving; receiving God's goodness at every turn. I remember a specific time where God told me to hold out my hands, palms up, and receive. He said that this would be my new posture. He told me He was going to knock my socks off. He has lived up to His word. We have received so much since then, from grandson to new home, and the blessings continue. My song must continue also.

The thing is, I went through the valley of death and I learned to sing there. My song at first was tearful, and sometimes without words. But God received each note. And through those years He turned it into praise.....in the midst of every trial and heartache, I learned to sing His praises. I learned to be thankful, to find something to thank Him for. It was never too difficult, once I learned to look. And this sacrifice of praise was received and came pouring back out upon me as refreshing water to a thirsty and hurting soul.

What did Jesus say to the woman at the well? "Give me a drink." I am sure that she was way more thirsty than the Son of God. Why didn't He immediately, recognizing her need, minister to her and give her what her soul was thirsting for? Why did He instead ask her to give Him a drink? What do we have to give to God, besides a song of praise? When we give Him a drink, He meets us there.

What I love about Glee is the example it gives us. They are always singing.....through good and bad, their songs come forth. The very definition of the word "glee" speaks to my life with the Lord:

1. Jubilant delight; joy.

2. Music A part song scored for three or more.....(how about the Trinity and I in unison? That is glee for sure!!)

So now in this season we must learn to receive......His blessings....His goodness......His abundance....which can sometimes be more difficult than praising Him through the trials because we all struggle with receiving. (How many of you are much more comfortable giving a present than receiving one? There you go.) Yet Papa is gently teaching us that while it is more blessed to give than to receive, receiving is also a blessing. How could I say no to Him?

As we enter into this new season, this season of abundance, let us not forget to sing! I can hear some of you thinking "I can't believe she is even saying this! Sooner or later the other shoe is going to drop and then what?" (First I would remind you that we do not live under Murphy's law, but we live under the law of the Kingdom!) Should trials come, I will SING LOUDER!!! We often cry out "We're thirsty, Lord!" Yet God supplied all that we need. He said that He came to satisfy us with abundant life. It is OK to be always desiring more, yet completely satisfied. Whether I am blessed or broken, I will sing with abandon! And my soul will be satisfied!

May our whole lives be filled with praise. May we savor each moment, delightful or difficult, with a song.  May we all be Gleeks......Gleeks for Jesus!!! Oh yea!!!

I Don't Know

Three little words. But oh how we hate using them, we avoid admitting our ignorance. We want to "know"...after all, knowledge is power....right? (I am not so sure about that phrase, but will leave that for another blog.)
Today I am struck yet again, with the realization that the longer I walk with God, the more time I spend seeking Him, the less I know. The really amazing thing about it is, I am OK with not knowing. So then I am left to wonder if maybe that is the point of it all, to bring me to a place where I am OK with not knowing!

I spent my weekend working on my house, and praying. I was praying for a family who's husband/daddy was in the hospital very sick and in need of a miracle in order to live. I don't even know this young man, but I know his wife, and her family, and God chose to put him on my heart in a very deep way.

Well, yesterday morning he went to be with the Lord. Now, I hate every reference....every trite term that we use to describe someone who has died. We say they have "passed on" or "gone on to glory" or "God called them home" or whatever it is that we say. And the strange thing is, that is about all that we say. We don't want to talk about it much. We spend days, weeks, sometimes months praying for someone to be healed and then when it doesn't happen, we sort of avert our eyes, don't make mention of it any more, because we don't know what the heck just happened. We like to explain things, and we like  knowing exactly why things happen, so when that is not the case we prefer to avoid the subject all together and move on.
And honestly, this might be the better choice than the one that some who refuse to admit they don't know make.....and you all know what I am talking about.....those who give their own pat explanations  such as "It was her/his time to go." "God needed another angel in heaven." (Newsflash, we do not turn into angels when we die.....angels are created beings just like we are...they are a whole separate form of life.) "He/she is in a better place." "She/he is no longer suffering." On and on they go with their little stupid answers that bring no help, no encouragement, but only serve to help them through their own awkward feelings in the situation.

I am one of those people who believe in the healing power of God. I have experienced it first hand, and I have witnessed it in others. My own son was dramatically healed of a really horrible case of asthma when he was quite young. My brother-in-law was told he would have no children, he has 5. I have prayed over a feverish child and felt his body cool under the power of God. I once visited a dying man in the hospital, and while worshiping and praying with him and a friend, a Light filled his room, he was totally healed, and left the hospital shortly after. I could give you more examples, but the thing I want to convey is that I know that I know that God heals people. But I also know that He doesn't always. And I don't have any idea why.
Please don't quote Scriptures at me. I know the Scriptures. I love my Bible. I don't know about your translation, but mine says that Jesus went around healing ALL the sick. Yet, that has not been my experience of Him. Has it been yours?

I think what frustrates me the most in this whole life and death issue is that I always think "OK, Lord. Here's Your chance. You can heal this person, and everybody watching.....all of the people who don't believe You are real will see this miracle and be amazed at what You have done, and fall on their faces in awe of You!!" God never seems to like my ideas much. He seems to have His own way of doing things. What about the miracle of the loved ones who are left here, in this life, in their grief.....and yet.....they go on, in strength.....not relying on alcohol, drugs, or any of the other empty escapes that others use to numb their pain? They not only go on, they thrive....in joy....in hope....and in love. What about the miracle of such beauty? Talk about glory!!

A dear friend of mine died a few years ago. After her death, while I was grappling with this issue (why do I grapple, when will I learn that I will never know?) I had an experience. Whether I was in body or out of body I do not know, but I had an encounter with my friend. I will never forget the look of complete joy on her face. We did not speak, but she communicated clearly with me. I asked her what it was like, knowing that she was now in "the after life" or "in glory" or in heaven or wherever she had gone. She said to me, grinning from ear to ear,  "You're not gonna believe it!" That experience left me changed. It gave me an amazing glimpse into that unknown world that even as believers we sometimes fear.

The ultimate point that I learn each time I go through another unexplainable thing like this is that I am in His story.....He is the Author, He wrote the book of my life, and your life, and everyone's life.....He doesn't need me to defend Him or to tell Him what to write. He knows He can be found by anyone who takes the time to look for Him. He knows full well that this life, this existence here on planet earth is only a brief moment in time......and He knows that time has no place in His eternity, and this life is not the main point of our existence. I do not yet fully grasp this, therefore death seems like an awful thing to me.

So, I will continue to pray when someone needs to be healed, full of faith, believing for their ultimate restoration. I will not pray weak prayers of "If it be Your will, Lord" because that just seems like a cop out  like leaving Him a loop hole so that we can explain things afterward...."It just wasn't His will to heal" (which I believe is complete garbage when I read that Jesus healed ALL who needed healing, and I know that God treasures life because it is His creation, so why would it not be His will?) Yet I know through experience, watching loved ones die before their time (in my mortal opinion), that God will be glorified whether it be through life, death, healing or not.....He will be glorified by those who truly know Him.
Because to know Him is to know that He is good. To know Him is to know a Love that is absolutely life changing, bringing with it a security that cannot be shaken......and to know Him is to know that "I don't know" and to be completely OK with not knowing.