Be Joyful

I had the privilege of sharing with the Middle school youth tonight at Mechanicsburg Brethren in Christ church.  One of the greatest blessings of presenting truth to others is how it stirs one's own heart towards deeper intimacy and trust in God.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I pronounced to the youth tonight that it was my task to make the seemingly impossible--always, continually, in all things--look very possible.  With the significant help of some very committed and loving colleagues known as small group leaders, we engaged the students.

Here are some thoughts from my notes...

Be joyful always.
Looking at David's life, we see an example of thanksgiving and praise that begins with acknowledging the difficulties--the "yuck"--of life.  The writer of at least 150 Psalms was not afraid to disclose his feelings, displeasure, fears, even anger to God regarding life's circumstances.  But he didn't stop there.  He remembered who God was.  And Truth, then, transformed his immediate perspective.  "Why so downcast, O my soul?  Why so discouraged within me?  Put your hope in God."  And he did.

God's economy on difficulty is very different than what our culture suggests, than what our flesh cares to hear.  But Christ-in-Us--the very Spirit of God--rejoices to hear that the testing of our faith develops perseverance, that God works for the good in all things for those that love Him.  Joy stands resilient in the face of adversity.  Joy deems a greater reality than the circumstances that surround us.  "He who is in you is greater than he that is in the world." --1 John 4:4

Pray continually.
I was in Mexico City and stood at the very gate of the Basilica where thousands would end their pilgrimage on bloody hands and knees, crawling all the way to the cathedral doors across the rough stone and rocky paths outside.  I do not think that this is the posture that Paul had in mind when he challenged us to continual prayer.  I propose these thoughts: 

1.  Always be ready and willing to pray with and for those in need
2.  Ask for help when in need
3.  Develop the habit of keeping this question before you throughout the day: "What are you saying/doing today, God?" 

This awareness and readiness to what God is doing in the midst of those around us keeps us listening and interceding as a lifestyle.

Give thanks in all circumstances.
Perhaps this comes full circle, looking a lot like "be joyful always".  David shows us that thanksgiving and praise are the entrance to the place of intimacy with the Almighty, exclaiming, "Enter His gates with thanksgiving; His courts with praise" (Ps. 100:4).

What do we know of God's character that begs our gratitude?  Who are the people He has used to touch our lives over the years?    Reflecting on these and then proclaiming to God our thanksgiving as a regular practice, keeps our hearts full and our humility in tact.  And joy will be the outflow when gratitude paves the way.

I leave us with this thought from Peter... "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." --1 Peter 1:8-9

He Will Do It

"May God himself...sanctify you... May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." --I Thess. 5:23-24

When I was new in my faith (and at times even now), I would read passages like this one and only see the words, "keep yourself blameless to the end" and know that I was totally incapable of this in my own strength. I would get discouraged. I would suck up my determination and try as hard as I could to walk blameless, and then fail in some way.

"He will do it"!

I was missing this key.

I would read Isaiah 30:15, "In repentance and striving will you be saved," when in actuality the text states, "In repentance and rest will you be saved."

My part is to turn. His part is to save, and that work is done. My part is to rest--trust, if you will--in that truth to where it becomes my reality in the inmost parts of my being.

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." --Phil. 1:6

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." --Phil. 2:13

He who started this work in me will complete it.

He who lives in me gives me both the desire and the ability to do what He desires.

He will keep me blameless.


In this truth I can rest, assured. In this truth I am free to live a life empowered by His very life in me.

The Skies are Speaking

“The heavens declare the glory of God...day after day they pour forth speech...their words (go out) to the end of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4

“We're already totally in the presence of God. What's absent is awareness. God is maintaining us in existence with every breath we take. As we take another, it means that God is choosing us now and now and now. We have nothing to attain or even learn. We do, however, need to unlearn some things.” --Richard Rohr

“For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” --Romans 1:20

I recall one particular day in Northwest Arkansas where I used to live. I was on a walk with God when my gaze was drawn upward to a flock of geese in formation, the tip of their flying arrow aimed at the South in anticipation of the upcoming Winter months.

As I watched and considered in simple amazement, the God-ordained system and organization with which those simple creatures instinctively knew, not only when but exactly how to migrate—and where—elated me. “What a God!” This simple act of nature resonated so strongly with my own spirit that day, in that one little moment in time. “How could someone witness this and not believe in You as Creator?”

“The heavens declare the glory of God...His invisible qualities are clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”

Look around you. See all that God has created, and listen to the proclamation of who this Creator is. What do you hear?

The Chicken or the Egg Run?

I had just dropped my family off at Agape Home School Co-op for the start of a new semester of weekly morning classes.  I had the morning to myself, with only two things on the docket: follow up a work interview at Chick-fil-A from last week, and pick up eggs from a local Amish farm.

If timing is everything, then the sequence of these two tasks and the events that ensued, speak as much into this story as the happenings themselves...

Arrangements had been made on Friday for me to make a follow up call to the owner of the local "inventor of the chicken sandwich".  What would be the status concerning my employment with our family's favorite food chain?  

My planner would have told me this, but I had it in my head that this call was to take place at 9:30 and not a half hour earlier.  That would explain why I heard, "I'm sorry, but (he) is not in yet this morning.  Can I give him a message?"  Hmm.  Okay, "I'll call back a little later.  Thanks!"  Next stop: egg run.

As I made my way through the open countryside, along the farm-strewn, two-lane roads, I could feel my inner space expanding.  Fields.  Trees.  Livestock.  Winding roads and creeks.  Bridges and barns and farm houses. For the farm-raised kid in me, just being in this environment is a real treat.  As a city dweller and on my own, this was also a retreat.

No sooner had I began my egg collecting journey than my mind began to be filled with the reflections of my morning time of listening in the Word.  "Deep calls to deep...in the roar of Your waterfalls...Your waves and breakers wash over me...Christ loved the Church...washing her with the Word as with water..."  I was being drawn in.  My spirit was being washed--flooded even--with the Spirit's presence.  His words continued...

I was burdened for a family member who was struggling that morning.  "My soul is downcast, therefore I will remember You." I remembered that one of the Spirit's roles is to "remind" us (John 14:26).  I began to ask the Holy Spirit to remind this loved one of what they knew to be true, that they would remember God and His goodness in the midst of all that was weighing on them.  (A later report would reveal that prayer was answered, if not in that hour, in those two hours that followed.  Thank you Jesus!)

Arriving at the little depot, my pick-up location for the eggs, my heart was so full!  I entered the tiny one room market singing.  It was self-help day, so I was again, alone.  I found so much joy in simply being honest with what I was taking, recording it in the ledger, and placing the correct payment in the cash box.

I collected my six dozen eggs.  As I walked out to my grand Caravan (mini-van that is, not camels), I stopped to breath in the fresh country air and take in the scenery around me.  Then I heard it, the babbling of the creek that wound around the bottom of the hill just below the drive.  There were the words again, "caring for her with the washing of water by the Word".  Christ loving the Church, washing us with the water of His Word.  I knew it in that moment.  I could almost taste the sweet water of the Rocky Mountain spring-fed creeks I once knew as a kid.  God was near.  No, God was within, stirring His truth to wash and refresh my own spirit, quickening me to intercede for others in their places of thirst.

I go to such lengths in my word pictures to illustrate that my heart was already full and content prior to getting back to the other task at hand for the day--the phone call.  

I have been nervous many times, anticipating phone conversations such as this one.  Not this time.  Did I need the job?  Yes.  But in light of my egg run retreat, the answer from a potential employer was in total perspective: if not this, He had something else for us.  

So when I heard the words, "I am definitely interested in hiring you...can you begin next week?", my excitement was tempered--dimmed--by the joy of hearing the Living Word in those moments and miles leading up to this point.

The significance of all of this for me, and thus the significance of the timing of it all, is that I did not need the job in order to be fulfilled today.  As one author states, "Jesus is the gift we seek.  Nothing else."  And another, "It is not the pursuit of God, but His pursuit of us that saves and sustains us.  Whether I pursue Him or not, He pursues me constantly.  Because He is for me--for you--He will be found by us..."

I rejoice in the Lord, the Living Word--Christ in me the Hope of Glory.  I thank Him for His provision via an opportunity to serve others and lead in the environment that is Chick-fil-A. I am grateful for the flexibility that this job brings, and the space to move up as I develop rapport with the existing leadership team. And I look forward to the other opportunities He will afford me by allowing us to stay in this area.

But in this saga, however grateful I may be for the chicken, I rejoice today in the One I found on a simple egg run.

Abby for Africa: Art for AIDS

Abby came up with an idea around Christmas to sell her artwork to raise money for orphans in Africa.  Inspired in part by our family's involvement in Annie and our recent celebration of the kids' adoptions, Art for AIDS is directly assisting Forgotten Voices, an organization committed to helping AIDS orphans in Africa, especially Zambia.

Here is a collection of pieces that are currently up for a recommended donation of 25 cents.  All proceeds go to Forgotten Voices.

Woven Rug

Apple Tree

Rocket

Flower with Streamers

Multi Splat

Primary Squared

Two Guys on a Log: That's It?

Ever felt like doing church has become complicated?  Ever felt like doing church has supplanted being the Church?

Gabe and I were reading his bible, a section entitled, "The First Church".  Simply written, the four page, largely illustrated account, records that the new believers gathered together, under the tutelage of The 12, to be the Church by participating in the following:

...study the Scriptures, learn about God and His plans, pray, sing songs and praises to God, eat, and celebrate the Lord's supper.

"They shared everything they had with each other, and God added more and more believers to the Church every day."  

There is something about being the Church to each other that is attractive to the world.


I love being the church at home.  One of my favorite times is reading the stories and teachings of Jesus with my family.  I hadn't thought of this much--had taken it for granted really--but this is being the Church of Jesus to each other.  When we talk about Jesus helping people, consider how we may do the same, and then go out and do it, well, we're being the Church.

I am also overwhelmed at times by the Spirit's reach through my oldest daughter.  Within the context of our night time tradition of me praying for her and tucking her in, we often find ourselves in deep heart-felt discussion about real life and God's perspective into it all.  As she reflects on her social circles, we are often discussing how she reflects Jesus to her friends and how they are ministering to each other.  We are often moved to pray into those relationships and the lives of her friends, believing God to move and touch them and her in a special way as emerging faith meets the gritty pavement of life.

How is God using you and your family to attract others to Jesus?  What simple ways is the Lord using you to be the Church to those around you?  

Are there opportunities that He is giving that you might be overlooking in the search for something more "significant"?  

How is God at work around you, and what is He saying to you as you observe what is going on around you?

Two Guys on a Log: Trumpets or Scalpels?

"Jesus said it's good to help people," says Gabe after a time of reading the Good Samaritan story and listening prayer afterward. Very simple.  Very direct.  I love child-like faith, don't you?  Interpretation is unclouded and practical.  

Gabe has been part of a community helpers class this semester, and he is really tracking what it means to help others.  And in practical ways.  The thread of that experience is being woven into his interaction at home as well as his thought processes throughout the day as we are out and about.  Even in the grocery store the other day, he commented on how he saw the clerk helping another shopper find what they needed.  So fun to watch the connections!

My mind is like a train yard.  Lots of tracks coming through, some parallel and others criss-crossing.  So it's easy for me to make the jump from Samaritan to Romans.  That said, as we shared our reflections and hearts this morning, I got to thinking of Romans 6:13, "present the members of your body as instruments of righteousness".  A question then emerged, and then another, like train cars being linked up I guess.

Instruments?  Musical, surgical, mechanical?

Members of my body?  Hands, feet, head, elbows?

Identified, how have I used them for doing good?



Who is my neighbor?

Are there ways in which God might be stirring me to use the members of my body to help others?  What has He commanded already towards this end? 

What stories do I have of spontaneous opportunities to help others along the way?  How have I been intentional in helping others?  Gabe wants to go out and look for ways to help others.  What ideas do you have for serving others?

What do you think? How have you used the members of your body to help others recently? Gabe and I would love to hear your thoughts!

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men...” 1 Peter 2:15 NKJV

HOT OFF THE PRESS...As I was writing this, an opportunity arose here at home that is worth noting.  The very child aforementioned had a crisis, a much-sensationalized one at that.  The milking of emotions often gets on our nerves, honestly.  But I was quickly prompted--as I gazed upon the tear-laced and sobbing face--that he needed the instruments of my arms to hold and comfort him, overplayed or not.  And another of my children needed the instrument of my mouth to instruct on how to loving express displeasure with the lack of following instruction.

In the end, both responded to the grace of God.  Forgiveness was asked for and received.  Reconciliation was attained in that moment.  And my mouth affirmed the choices to open hearts and arms to each other.

God at work in the smallest and often taken-for-granted moments.


For fun...

What instrument do you think best describes our personality?

As you have considered the "members" of your body, can you see any of them as instruments? instruments does each remind you of?