Today, I woke up to a beautiful morning. The sun was shining, the air was cool, and my surroundings... beautiful. It seemed the perfect time to take a walk and talk to God.
I've been feeling the need to escape my own circumstances and spend some time in heaven, viewing things from God's point of view. As my conversation with Daddy began, I was considering everything that was going on in my life. It quickly dawned on me to ask Him what He'd like to talk to me about this morning. It shouldn't have surprised me that it wasn't my issues He wanted to discuss. Of course not. Since He doesn't have problems, and He promised to be my provider, I must not have any problems either. Instead, He wanted to point out my opportunities.
At this moment, I live at one end of World Drive, in Orlando, and The Magic Kingdom is at the other. We are 10 miles apart. Every other piece of Disney World is between us. Everything around me is filled with innovation and imagination. Even the architecture in the apartment complex we are in is designed by the team that keeps dreams alive. As my son-in-love often quotes, "It smells of pixie stix and hope in here." What's not to love?
It's so much fun when God changes my perspective by reminding me of all that He sees. I know I can attract what I focus on, so my focus needs to change. If I focus on all my problems and short-comings, I will live a life of dread. If I focus on hope and dreams, I will be able to move into places where I can make a difference and enjoy each and every day that I am experiencing. My history has helped to mold me, but it doesn't define me. My present is but a moment and will be over the minute I look at it. My future is where I can draw strength. It's where my hopes and dreams live. All the possibilities of tomorrow become my creative inspirations for today. Wow, that sounds like something straight out of Disney.
It strikes me as funny how much God sounds like Walt Disney today. Sometimes, He sounds like my Dad. Other times, He sounds like my mentors, or even myself. I guess that shouldn't surprise me either since He created us all.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Broken Pieces
This morning, as with most mornings, I started my day by playing computer puzzle games. I am a "thinker". I can make quick decisions immediately upon waking from a dead sleep. I play games to calm my mind and give my body and spirit a chance to catch up with the morning events. This morning, I had a lot on my mind, so I turned my music on "shuffle" to further occupy my brain.
A teaching from Christine Caine came on, which was weird because I thought I only had music in this particular program. I left it playing so I would have even more to distract my brain. She spoke about God's ability to work with broken pieces.
If you read my last posting, you'll know how difficult this transition to Florida has been for Jeff and I. Our expectations of how this chapter of our life would look has been a lot different than the way it actually looks. I have learned that I don't always see everything that God is doing and I sometimes have to just trust that He is, in fact, working all things for good in my life. I have to find anything I can to thank Him for so I don't get focused on all the things that are not happening (you usually head toward that which you are focused on). The following are some of the points Christine taught on that helped me in this process:
From the story in Luke 9:10-16
1) God spends time building an infrastructure, when performing a miracle, so that it's magnitude can be measured and the miracle has a foundation to hold it.
2) Jesus gave thanks for what was never going to be enough... 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 5000 men plus women and children.
3) The miracle was in the breaking. In this case, the bread, in my life, my preconceived plans.
4) The power was in what was left over. The miracle beyond the miracle.
5) The storms in our life are to allow us to see what we truly believe about God.
In this house, we are transitioning. We can't afford to keep looking back if we want to move forward. Our country is transitioning. You can see it in the tension surrounding historical statues and traditional politics. Change (transition) is difficult, but often necessary. If I can grasp the idea of being thankful for what I do not yet see, rather than lamenting over what I left behind, my process will progress.
God has been preparing Jeff and I for a miracle. He's taken lots of time to build a strong infrastructure in our lives. He's taught us to be thankful even when what we currently see seems insignificant. He's showing us what "breaking" looks like and we look forward to experiencing what He does with the scraps leftover. This storm is bringing to light what we truly believe about his protection and provision, but it also instills in us our true identity. We will be better off having gone through all this. We will know He is trust worthy.
A teaching from Christine Caine came on, which was weird because I thought I only had music in this particular program. I left it playing so I would have even more to distract my brain. She spoke about God's ability to work with broken pieces.
If you read my last posting, you'll know how difficult this transition to Florida has been for Jeff and I. Our expectations of how this chapter of our life would look has been a lot different than the way it actually looks. I have learned that I don't always see everything that God is doing and I sometimes have to just trust that He is, in fact, working all things for good in my life. I have to find anything I can to thank Him for so I don't get focused on all the things that are not happening (you usually head toward that which you are focused on). The following are some of the points Christine taught on that helped me in this process:
From the story in Luke 9:10-16
1) God spends time building an infrastructure, when performing a miracle, so that it's magnitude can be measured and the miracle has a foundation to hold it.
2) Jesus gave thanks for what was never going to be enough... 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 5000 men plus women and children.
3) The miracle was in the breaking. In this case, the bread, in my life, my preconceived plans.
4) The power was in what was left over. The miracle beyond the miracle.
5) The storms in our life are to allow us to see what we truly believe about God.
In this house, we are transitioning. We can't afford to keep looking back if we want to move forward. Our country is transitioning. You can see it in the tension surrounding historical statues and traditional politics. Change (transition) is difficult, but often necessary. If I can grasp the idea of being thankful for what I do not yet see, rather than lamenting over what I left behind, my process will progress.
God has been preparing Jeff and I for a miracle. He's taken lots of time to build a strong infrastructure in our lives. He's taught us to be thankful even when what we currently see seems insignificant. He's showing us what "breaking" looks like and we look forward to experiencing what He does with the scraps leftover. This storm is bringing to light what we truly believe about his protection and provision, but it also instills in us our true identity. We will be better off having gone through all this. We will know He is trust worthy.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Waiting
Waiting is hard!
7 Months ago, we left California. Our life had taken a dramatic turn, two years previously, and we realized (after much prayer) that it was time for things to change. Since then, we have been waiting to see where we might actually land as we continue to wait for our ranch to sell. Our wait has involved listening, cautiously stepping, being patient, prayerfully checking-in, and doing everything we can to maintain a good attitude during the process. Waiting isn't easy.
What does it mean to wait? Imagine a dog and his master. There is a partnership there. The dog is commanded to "stay", but is constantly looking to the master for the next direction.
"Wait" is an action word.
Ephesians 6:13, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to resist the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
To stand.
To "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).
To "Wait upon the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart." (Psalm 27:14).
"They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength." (Isaiah 40:31).
To wait takes partnership, action, and courage. To react is easy. To wait takes will-power and often supernatural strength found only in Him. To wait is to be still and alert.
I have a wii-fit board at home. It's attached to a video game and is meant for exercising. Exercising is an action, but one of the exercises is to sit on it and Be Still. The board measures your every movement and lets you know how much you actually move when trying to be still. It's very hard to be still enough to not set off the alarm. It's the same for me in life. I fidget. I'm a do-er. I get impatient. But... I'm learning to wait.
Wait involves trust. Back to the partnership... you have to trust that your partner is going to do His part if He's asking you to wait. You have to trust your ability to hear correctly when your partner asks you to move. This is a good time to take a look at "roots". Roots are ideas in your background that anchor you to a thought process, which in turn, causes you to act the way you do. A damaged root can cause damaged thinking and/or action. Do I trust God? Do I hear God? What, in my past, has caused me to believe the way I do about trusting/hearing (or not trusting/hearing) Him? Has there been an injury? Just as a break in your leg needs to be re-set in order to work properly, so may your root. Usually the fix involves some kind of forgiveness that needs to take place (just a helpful hint).
Waiting may not need to happen if there is no partnership involved. If there is no partnership, there is an imagined freedom. You will be alone in your decisions and alone in carrying the load of responsibility. Because the opportunities in my life are HUGE, I need someone huge to partner with. I need to know I'm not alone.
So here I am... continuing to wait. My focus will not be on what isn't happening, but on waiting to hear the next direction. Where my focus is, there I will travel and there is where my heart receives strength.
7 Months ago, we left California. Our life had taken a dramatic turn, two years previously, and we realized (after much prayer) that it was time for things to change. Since then, we have been waiting to see where we might actually land as we continue to wait for our ranch to sell. Our wait has involved listening, cautiously stepping, being patient, prayerfully checking-in, and doing everything we can to maintain a good attitude during the process. Waiting isn't easy.
What does it mean to wait? Imagine a dog and his master. There is a partnership there. The dog is commanded to "stay", but is constantly looking to the master for the next direction.
"Wait" is an action word.
Ephesians 6:13, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to resist the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
To stand.
To "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).
To "Wait upon the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart." (Psalm 27:14).
"They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength." (Isaiah 40:31).
To wait takes partnership, action, and courage. To react is easy. To wait takes will-power and often supernatural strength found only in Him. To wait is to be still and alert.
I have a wii-fit board at home. It's attached to a video game and is meant for exercising. Exercising is an action, but one of the exercises is to sit on it and Be Still. The board measures your every movement and lets you know how much you actually move when trying to be still. It's very hard to be still enough to not set off the alarm. It's the same for me in life. I fidget. I'm a do-er. I get impatient. But... I'm learning to wait.
Wait involves trust. Back to the partnership... you have to trust that your partner is going to do His part if He's asking you to wait. You have to trust your ability to hear correctly when your partner asks you to move. This is a good time to take a look at "roots". Roots are ideas in your background that anchor you to a thought process, which in turn, causes you to act the way you do. A damaged root can cause damaged thinking and/or action. Do I trust God? Do I hear God? What, in my past, has caused me to believe the way I do about trusting/hearing (or not trusting/hearing) Him? Has there been an injury? Just as a break in your leg needs to be re-set in order to work properly, so may your root. Usually the fix involves some kind of forgiveness that needs to take place (just a helpful hint).
Waiting may not need to happen if there is no partnership involved. If there is no partnership, there is an imagined freedom. You will be alone in your decisions and alone in carrying the load of responsibility. Because the opportunities in my life are HUGE, I need someone huge to partner with. I need to know I'm not alone.
So here I am... continuing to wait. My focus will not be on what isn't happening, but on waiting to hear the next direction. Where my focus is, there I will travel and there is where my heart receives strength.
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Atmospheres
Have you ever left a bright and clear room and walked into the bathroom right after someone has taken a shower? Steam is everywhere, the mirror is fogged up, and it's hard to navigate your way around. This is how we've been feeling lately. I believe we may have just walked into an "atmosphere" that was unlike the one we just left.
Cities all have their own atmospheres. Even non-believers can "feel" the difference from one city to the next. Some cities feel warm and friendly, others feel chaotic and confusing. Abu Peak, our little piece of paradise in Auberry, was bright and cheery. We had spent a lot of time hosting God's presence there, and there seemed to be where He loved to rest. I feel like we were privileged to be a part of opening a port-hole to heaven that God seems to be keeping open for generations to come.
Tallahassee is a beautiful city. The hills, trees and lakes are like something you'd see at Disney World. People are friendly and history is everywhere. We knew this was where God was directing us, but everything seemed different here. Work quickly became frustrating for Jeff. I began to get sick and have terrible allergic reactions to things like biting-flies. The ranch still wasn't selling and we were quickly running low on the resources needed to keep up the payments. We knew we did not leave God behind in California (since Jesus lives in us and we are filled with the Holy Spirit), but we were having a difficult time hearing from Him or seeing His protection and provision. I believe we may have just stepped into a foggy atmosphere.
A few weeks back, I received a call from a young mother in southern California. She shared her life and dreams with me and let me know that her family was interested in Abu Peak Ranch. Yesterday, they made an offer and today we enter into escrow. Something about their offer was strange. It was the amount they were offering. The amount ended in $1,110. Our realtor brought it to our attention and mentioned that it was intentional on their part. She said the number 111 had to do with one of my blogs. I had absolutely no recollection of having written anything about that number, so I had to go back and see what that was all about. I believe this was all part of the "fog" I feel I've been under lately. Just living with the inability to see what should be right in front of me. On my blog, dated January 21 of this year, I had written about seeing the number 111 a lot and referred to Psalm 111. I wrote about the heart ache of losing an offer on the house, but I also noted the following verse...
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1).
This young family, connecting very well to heaven and all the promises stored up there, was helping me to cut through the fog I was experiencing in my own life. God chose to use them and the very place I had been wounded to bring clarification to all that He is and all that He is doing. He was showing me that He is still there. The wound could now be healed and He was turning me back on, like a fan in a foggy bathroom, to take authority over the atmosphere I had come under here. Tallahassee is a beautiful town and it deserves to be "seen". Great things are in store for this area. I'm happy we get to be part of it and I'm so excited for the new family who gets to take Abu Peak to the next level.
Cities all have their own atmospheres. Even non-believers can "feel" the difference from one city to the next. Some cities feel warm and friendly, others feel chaotic and confusing. Abu Peak, our little piece of paradise in Auberry, was bright and cheery. We had spent a lot of time hosting God's presence there, and there seemed to be where He loved to rest. I feel like we were privileged to be a part of opening a port-hole to heaven that God seems to be keeping open for generations to come.
Tallahassee is a beautiful city. The hills, trees and lakes are like something you'd see at Disney World. People are friendly and history is everywhere. We knew this was where God was directing us, but everything seemed different here. Work quickly became frustrating for Jeff. I began to get sick and have terrible allergic reactions to things like biting-flies. The ranch still wasn't selling and we were quickly running low on the resources needed to keep up the payments. We knew we did not leave God behind in California (since Jesus lives in us and we are filled with the Holy Spirit), but we were having a difficult time hearing from Him or seeing His protection and provision. I believe we may have just stepped into a foggy atmosphere.
A few weeks back, I received a call from a young mother in southern California. She shared her life and dreams with me and let me know that her family was interested in Abu Peak Ranch. Yesterday, they made an offer and today we enter into escrow. Something about their offer was strange. It was the amount they were offering. The amount ended in $1,110. Our realtor brought it to our attention and mentioned that it was intentional on their part. She said the number 111 had to do with one of my blogs. I had absolutely no recollection of having written anything about that number, so I had to go back and see what that was all about. I believe this was all part of the "fog" I feel I've been under lately. Just living with the inability to see what should be right in front of me. On my blog, dated January 21 of this year, I had written about seeing the number 111 a lot and referred to Psalm 111. I wrote about the heart ache of losing an offer on the house, but I also noted the following verse...
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1).
This young family, connecting very well to heaven and all the promises stored up there, was helping me to cut through the fog I was experiencing in my own life. God chose to use them and the very place I had been wounded to bring clarification to all that He is and all that He is doing. He was showing me that He is still there. The wound could now be healed and He was turning me back on, like a fan in a foggy bathroom, to take authority over the atmosphere I had come under here. Tallahassee is a beautiful town and it deserves to be "seen". Great things are in store for this area. I'm happy we get to be part of it and I'm so excited for the new family who gets to take Abu Peak to the next level.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
"Come And Know Me Better, Man"
Recently, I've been thinking about all the "first impressions" we get when we meet people. A lot of our impressions come even before we've actually met the person in front of us.
If someone looked at me, they would see a few outward markings that may give them some wrong impressions. Since most everything I do comes with a lot of thought and intention (even being spontaneous is intentional for me, lol), I thought I'd take a moment to explain a few things you may have been wondering about my outward appearance.
First of all, I have a nose piercing. Many people have a hard time reconciling nose ring with pastor, but here is where you'll see it proudly on display. My nose ring is a badge of honor. It represents the battle I overcame of fear and complacency. I had reached a certain age and stage in my life where I was handling everything fairly easily. I had actually become board with my life, but fear of the unknown kept me from venturing out very far. I was not a risk taker. I liked adventure, but only ones I chose myself. One day, my daughter said she was getting her nose pierced and asked me if I wanted to do the same. "No Way!" I had no desire to cause myself intentional pain like that. I watched her go through the process and went to bed that night having to confront all the fears that were suddenly exposed through the events of the day. I was afraid of everything! I was afraid of getting stuck, afraid of moving forward. I was afraid for my daughter as she moved in adventure and afraid for my other two kids who did not. I was afraid of everything I knew was coming and of all the unknown events ahead. After hours of categorizing all my fears, I realized that I wanted to be rid of them once and for all. I broke the partnership I had nurtured with fear in the wee morning light. The next day got my nose pierced.
I have two tattoos. The first one will forever be a strangely fond memory and learning curve in my life. In 1999, my then new daughter-in-law took me for a walk in Destine, FL, where my son was stationed in the Air Force. She brought me into a tattoo parlor and showed me all the pictures she would like to have inked into her body. She asked me if I would ever get a tattoo. I religiously replied, "My husband would never allow it." Deep inside, I thought it might be fun, but really had never given it much thought. When we arrived home, she asked my husband if I could get a tattoo. Much to my surprise (and a bit of horror), he said, "She can do whatever she wants." That moment marked something huge in our marital partnership. My husband saw me as he saw himself and trusted me to make my own decisions. I decided to bond with my daughter-in-law and accept her challenge. I got a small rose on my ankle (one of the most painful places to get a tattoo, by the way). Our kids eventually divorced, but she will always be someone I chat with God about, even now, because I have that memory on my body.
My 2nd tattoo looks a little strange when you first notice it. It's on my forearm and people have often thought it was of an alien. It's actually a ladybug in a hero costume. I had a daughter who inspired me more than anyone ever has. She lived 30 years with a disease that was scheduled to take her out before she ever reached her teens. She taught me what trust looked like and mentored me to be able to minister everywhere without ever using any words. She was my hero, but we called her "Ladybug". When she passed away, I drew her caricature and put it in a place where I would always remember the things she instilled in me.
There are lots of other things people probably notice about me before they ever get to know the person I am inside. These are the kinds of things that draw me to others too. I want to know the stories behind the things they wear on their sleeves. It may not be as noticeable as tattoos or piercings. It may be simply their hair styles, their clothing or their figures. I want to find out their stories, their battles, their victories. I want to be inspired and learn from all they've experienced. I want to connect and feel like this world isn't just a giant busy place. I want to know and be known. Don't we all?
If someone looked at me, they would see a few outward markings that may give them some wrong impressions. Since most everything I do comes with a lot of thought and intention (even being spontaneous is intentional for me, lol), I thought I'd take a moment to explain a few things you may have been wondering about my outward appearance.
First of all, I have a nose piercing. Many people have a hard time reconciling nose ring with pastor, but here is where you'll see it proudly on display. My nose ring is a badge of honor. It represents the battle I overcame of fear and complacency. I had reached a certain age and stage in my life where I was handling everything fairly easily. I had actually become board with my life, but fear of the unknown kept me from venturing out very far. I was not a risk taker. I liked adventure, but only ones I chose myself. One day, my daughter said she was getting her nose pierced and asked me if I wanted to do the same. "No Way!" I had no desire to cause myself intentional pain like that. I watched her go through the process and went to bed that night having to confront all the fears that were suddenly exposed through the events of the day. I was afraid of everything! I was afraid of getting stuck, afraid of moving forward. I was afraid for my daughter as she moved in adventure and afraid for my other two kids who did not. I was afraid of everything I knew was coming and of all the unknown events ahead. After hours of categorizing all my fears, I realized that I wanted to be rid of them once and for all. I broke the partnership I had nurtured with fear in the wee morning light. The next day got my nose pierced.
I have two tattoos. The first one will forever be a strangely fond memory and learning curve in my life. In 1999, my then new daughter-in-law took me for a walk in Destine, FL, where my son was stationed in the Air Force. She brought me into a tattoo parlor and showed me all the pictures she would like to have inked into her body. She asked me if I would ever get a tattoo. I religiously replied, "My husband would never allow it." Deep inside, I thought it might be fun, but really had never given it much thought. When we arrived home, she asked my husband if I could get a tattoo. Much to my surprise (and a bit of horror), he said, "She can do whatever she wants." That moment marked something huge in our marital partnership. My husband saw me as he saw himself and trusted me to make my own decisions. I decided to bond with my daughter-in-law and accept her challenge. I got a small rose on my ankle (one of the most painful places to get a tattoo, by the way). Our kids eventually divorced, but she will always be someone I chat with God about, even now, because I have that memory on my body.
My 2nd tattoo looks a little strange when you first notice it. It's on my forearm and people have often thought it was of an alien. It's actually a ladybug in a hero costume. I had a daughter who inspired me more than anyone ever has. She lived 30 years with a disease that was scheduled to take her out before she ever reached her teens. She taught me what trust looked like and mentored me to be able to minister everywhere without ever using any words. She was my hero, but we called her "Ladybug". When she passed away, I drew her caricature and put it in a place where I would always remember the things she instilled in me.
There are lots of other things people probably notice about me before they ever get to know the person I am inside. These are the kinds of things that draw me to others too. I want to know the stories behind the things they wear on their sleeves. It may not be as noticeable as tattoos or piercings. It may be simply their hair styles, their clothing or their figures. I want to find out their stories, their battles, their victories. I want to be inspired and learn from all they've experienced. I want to connect and feel like this world isn't just a giant busy place. I want to know and be known. Don't we all?
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
What Is Faith?
It's so interesting to actually go back to the Bible and read what it says rather than just go by what I've heard taught my whole life. When I do this, I notice treasures I hadn't before. This is revelation. It doesn't change the Bible, it brings it to life. It's no longer a story, but now becomes a life-style. Let me share with you an example.
I was reading in Matthew. If you're wanting to go deeper into a story, read everything around it too so that you get a context for the event. In Matt 8:22-26, there's a story of Jesus and his disciples facing a storm. I went back and read from the beginning of the chapter to get an idea what they were doing out there.
Jesus had been ministering to the people in a particular town. His disciples (students) were with him. One person said to Jesus, "If you choose, you can make me clean (heal him from leprosy)." Jesus said, "I do choose." On a side note... if God (Jesus and Holy Spirit) is the same yesterday, today and forever, then why do we still question whether it's His will to heal? He just said so in this chapter.
Next, Jesus runs into a centurion (an officer in the Roman army). The centurion tells Jesus that his servant is lying home, paralyzed. Jesus says He will come cure him and the officer responds by saying, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus comments on this man's amazing faith. In fact, Jesus said He had not seen such faith yet in all of Israel. Jesus spoke and the servant was healed, according to this man's faith.
When Jesus is ready to leave that place and go to another, he gathers up His students and gets in a boat. During the trip, a great storm arises and the disciples become fearful. They wake Jesus up screaming, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" Jesus calms the storm and comments on their lack of faith. This is where the digging begins...
The man with leprosy wanted to know what Jesus' will was for him. Jesus showed him (Since everyone is Jesus' favorite, he'll do the same for anyone). The centurion knew Jesus' authority, but had not yet experienced his will. Jesus notes the powerful faith and offers to heal the servant. These two men were having first experiences (encounters) with Jesus. They didn't have a grid to build on, but they believed He was who He said He was.
Back in the boat, we have the disciples, students of Jesus (his teachings, his ways, his will...). He tells them that He wants to go to the other side of the the body of water. He shares with them His immediate will. They just watched him manifest His will all over the land. They had never known a time that Jesus didn't get what He wanted, what He willed, yet they woke him up, afraid this might be the first time it would happen.
Fear is not of God. Fear has no power except that which we give it (because we have been given authority, Luke 10:9, we can transfer that authority to fear). The disciples side with fear and begin to doubt God's will... getting over to the other side. They wake Jesus up and spew their fear all over Him. This is how we often pray. We forget God's will, we forget His command to do what He has taught us to do now that He resides in us through Holy Spirit (Matt 10:8... Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons). We then partner with fear and run to Jesus with accusations that He's going to just let us die. Now do you understand His reply to the disciples, His students? "Why are you afraid, oh you of little faith?" He wanted them to learn, to do what He was doing. They were about to become apostles (culture changers). He needed them to know their authority, through Him, and get used to using what He was giving them. How could they do all they needed to later, with Holy Spirit inside of them, if they couldn't learn to do it now with Jesus right there with them?
Don't fret! As my friend, Allison Bown, noted on my Facebook page, "Thank God He has compassion and patience for when we miss our opportunities... and doesn't define us forever by them." The disciples were learning because they would be "doing". Where are we on this spectrum? Are we still learning? Are we doing? Maybe we're sometimes learning and sometimes doing. Both require staying in Him and He in us. Both require lining up with everything He has already taught us and demonstrated. Both require intimacy and both can result in a fun adventurous life. Now go! Have fun!!!
I was reading in Matthew. If you're wanting to go deeper into a story, read everything around it too so that you get a context for the event. In Matt 8:22-26, there's a story of Jesus and his disciples facing a storm. I went back and read from the beginning of the chapter to get an idea what they were doing out there.
Jesus had been ministering to the people in a particular town. His disciples (students) were with him. One person said to Jesus, "If you choose, you can make me clean (heal him from leprosy)." Jesus said, "I do choose." On a side note... if God (Jesus and Holy Spirit) is the same yesterday, today and forever, then why do we still question whether it's His will to heal? He just said so in this chapter.
Next, Jesus runs into a centurion (an officer in the Roman army). The centurion tells Jesus that his servant is lying home, paralyzed. Jesus says He will come cure him and the officer responds by saying, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus comments on this man's amazing faith. In fact, Jesus said He had not seen such faith yet in all of Israel. Jesus spoke and the servant was healed, according to this man's faith.
When Jesus is ready to leave that place and go to another, he gathers up His students and gets in a boat. During the trip, a great storm arises and the disciples become fearful. They wake Jesus up screaming, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" Jesus calms the storm and comments on their lack of faith. This is where the digging begins...
The man with leprosy wanted to know what Jesus' will was for him. Jesus showed him (Since everyone is Jesus' favorite, he'll do the same for anyone). The centurion knew Jesus' authority, but had not yet experienced his will. Jesus notes the powerful faith and offers to heal the servant. These two men were having first experiences (encounters) with Jesus. They didn't have a grid to build on, but they believed He was who He said He was.
Back in the boat, we have the disciples, students of Jesus (his teachings, his ways, his will...). He tells them that He wants to go to the other side of the the body of water. He shares with them His immediate will. They just watched him manifest His will all over the land. They had never known a time that Jesus didn't get what He wanted, what He willed, yet they woke him up, afraid this might be the first time it would happen.
Fear is not of God. Fear has no power except that which we give it (because we have been given authority, Luke 10:9, we can transfer that authority to fear). The disciples side with fear and begin to doubt God's will... getting over to the other side. They wake Jesus up and spew their fear all over Him. This is how we often pray. We forget God's will, we forget His command to do what He has taught us to do now that He resides in us through Holy Spirit (Matt 10:8... Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons). We then partner with fear and run to Jesus with accusations that He's going to just let us die. Now do you understand His reply to the disciples, His students? "Why are you afraid, oh you of little faith?" He wanted them to learn, to do what He was doing. They were about to become apostles (culture changers). He needed them to know their authority, through Him, and get used to using what He was giving them. How could they do all they needed to later, with Holy Spirit inside of them, if they couldn't learn to do it now with Jesus right there with them?
Don't fret! As my friend, Allison Bown, noted on my Facebook page, "Thank God He has compassion and patience for when we miss our opportunities... and doesn't define us forever by them." The disciples were learning because they would be "doing". Where are we on this spectrum? Are we still learning? Are we doing? Maybe we're sometimes learning and sometimes doing. Both require staying in Him and He in us. Both require lining up with everything He has already taught us and demonstrated. Both require intimacy and both can result in a fun adventurous life. Now go! Have fun!!!
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Roots
Imagine having made a terrible decision.
Most of us have at least one that comes quickly to mind.
Now imagine having to live with the consequences that go with it.
Some of us may have skirted past this part unscathed.
Finally, imagine having to face all that alone.
There are people, in this world, who feel abandoned in their biggest time of need.
These are the people who capture my attention and tug on my heart.
In my new hometown, there are some young women who fall into this category. They have found themselves pregnant and homeless. The decisions or circumstances leading up to their unique situations are now behind them. They are dealing with all kinds of fears and worries and have no idea of the monumental task ahead of them. Yet, they move forward in hopes of seeing a light at the end of their tunnel.
I have the opportunity to minister in a home for these girls. I want to be able to look closely at these girls and their situations. I will be watching the tell-tale signs these young women wear on their sleeves... Do they appear tough or scared? Are they dressing in a fashion to gain acceptance? Do they display trust issues with their attitudes? There are so many factors the world has and will continue to judged them by. I will not be looking for more fuel to throw on their fires, I'm looking for roots. If I can follow the action they display, back far enough, I just might find a root. A place where everything began, where everything connects. The very spot that explains the fruit bursting out all over. To tell these girls to "Stop doing that" or "Quit acting like that" does little to help them in the long run. Following directions may temporarily look like a cure, but it would be like pruning back poison oak in hopes that it will just eventually just shrivel up and disappear. To get rid of a crippling behavior, you must eradicate the source. This can only be done through trust, free will and love. There's where the story, I want them to hear, begins.
If I choose to join with them in their journey, my mission will be to introduce these girls to the One who is a good father, a comforting mother and gentle friend. They may have no grid in their past for any of these kinds of scenarios, but I do. I can share what I know, through the Bible and my own personal experience, and introduce them to someone who will never leave or condemn them. They will have an opportunity to develop their own relationship with God rather than have to live "grandfathered in" through someone else's interpretation of Him. They will learn that when God "judges", it is something He does out of love and is directed toward "sin", not toward them. Just as a doctor judges cancer and works quickly to kill "it", not his patient. They will learn that their sin is no worse than that of Adam's and that God judged it once and for ALL in the form of Jesus on the cross. They will learn that Holy Spirit is here so that we can have Him in us just as we are in Him. They will learn that they can have not only a ticket to heaven, but that it can begin right here on Earth. They can learn to do all Jesus did... now. They will now have someone who loves them and someone they can trust... forever!
Only then will it be safe enough to go after roots.
Most of us have at least one that comes quickly to mind.
Now imagine having to live with the consequences that go with it.
Some of us may have skirted past this part unscathed.
Finally, imagine having to face all that alone.
There are people, in this world, who feel abandoned in their biggest time of need.
These are the people who capture my attention and tug on my heart.
In my new hometown, there are some young women who fall into this category. They have found themselves pregnant and homeless. The decisions or circumstances leading up to their unique situations are now behind them. They are dealing with all kinds of fears and worries and have no idea of the monumental task ahead of them. Yet, they move forward in hopes of seeing a light at the end of their tunnel.
I have the opportunity to minister in a home for these girls. I want to be able to look closely at these girls and their situations. I will be watching the tell-tale signs these young women wear on their sleeves... Do they appear tough or scared? Are they dressing in a fashion to gain acceptance? Do they display trust issues with their attitudes? There are so many factors the world has and will continue to judged them by. I will not be looking for more fuel to throw on their fires, I'm looking for roots. If I can follow the action they display, back far enough, I just might find a root. A place where everything began, where everything connects. The very spot that explains the fruit bursting out all over. To tell these girls to "Stop doing that" or "Quit acting like that" does little to help them in the long run. Following directions may temporarily look like a cure, but it would be like pruning back poison oak in hopes that it will just eventually just shrivel up and disappear. To get rid of a crippling behavior, you must eradicate the source. This can only be done through trust, free will and love. There's where the story, I want them to hear, begins.
If I choose to join with them in their journey, my mission will be to introduce these girls to the One who is a good father, a comforting mother and gentle friend. They may have no grid in their past for any of these kinds of scenarios, but I do. I can share what I know, through the Bible and my own personal experience, and introduce them to someone who will never leave or condemn them. They will have an opportunity to develop their own relationship with God rather than have to live "grandfathered in" through someone else's interpretation of Him. They will learn that when God "judges", it is something He does out of love and is directed toward "sin", not toward them. Just as a doctor judges cancer and works quickly to kill "it", not his patient. They will learn that their sin is no worse than that of Adam's and that God judged it once and for ALL in the form of Jesus on the cross. They will learn that Holy Spirit is here so that we can have Him in us just as we are in Him. They will learn that they can have not only a ticket to heaven, but that it can begin right here on Earth. They can learn to do all Jesus did... now. They will now have someone who loves them and someone they can trust... forever!
Only then will it be safe enough to go after roots.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Hope In The Midst Of Pain
A couple of days ago I received three notifications of children who died from MPS (Mucopolysaccaridoses). This was a disease my daughter survived 30 years with. Every death makes me sad, but that's not what this article is about.
Mothers of special needs kids are a breed apart. Fathers who provide relief to those mothers, while holding down full-time jobs, are heroes. Siblings who lose out on attention and are robbed of a normal childhood are stronger than most, but this isn't what this article is about either.
This article is about hope. What do you do when you've lost the most precious thing in your life or have had the rug pulled out from under you. Most people know this feeling to one degree or another. Everyone has faced something scary or sad that seemed bigger than yourself. How do you continue to breathe when you feel like you've been punched in the stomach or the wind has left your sails? How do you motivate yourself to move on? You have to learn how to find hope.
My husband and I have been declared "hope dealers". Hope is that tiny little seed that hides under huge piles of dirt, thrives with a bit of manure and is often watered with tears. It's finding the ability to look beyond the current circumstance. Holding a magnifying glass up to the small pieces of "good" that were in the midst of the tragedy. Not everyone can do this, but anyone can learn how.
A good way to start is with something that isn't so catastrophic. Once you've mastered the ability, you can apply it to anything. It all begins with a person. One who will stay with you, cry with you, hold you, and keep your confidence. For me, this is Jesus. The rest has to do with focus and perspective.
I usually begin my journey to hope with a good cry and sometimes yelling. This not only allows me the chance to get everything off my chest and out in the open, but it also wears me out. At those times, I need to be able to get out of myself and my own feelings. I need to get rid of all that hurt and anger. If I hold back, the process takes longer. Jesus is pretty good about letting me take my time during this part. If I stop, he doesn't panic. He just waits for me to come back to the table and begin again. When everything has been poured out and I'm spent and ragged, His spirit comforts me and then the process of hope can begin.
Having a friend that can see beyond the moment is monumental. Jesus is good about pulling up the all the things I've either overlooked or forgotten while in my pain. He holds those moments tenderly in his hand, dusting off everything I've thrown over it, and holds them up to His radiant light, allowing me to see everything from His perspective... beautiful.
This may seem like a Pollyanna-ish dream, but I guarantee it works. Taking those little pieces of beauty that heaven has dusted off for you to look at is much better than wallowing in the hurt and pain of the boulder that just rolled over you. If you can look at the good long enough, you can change the way you see things... your perspective (this even works with people you're having a hard time with). A changed perspective cultivates a changed attitude. When your attitude changes, so does your direction. Now. instead of circling the drain, you're heading up and out. The sky's the limit, so to speak.
So that's it. That's how to find and encompass hope. Give it a try. Once you get good at it, you can help others to do the same. At that moment, you too have become a "hope dealer".
Mothers of special needs kids are a breed apart. Fathers who provide relief to those mothers, while holding down full-time jobs, are heroes. Siblings who lose out on attention and are robbed of a normal childhood are stronger than most, but this isn't what this article is about either.
This article is about hope. What do you do when you've lost the most precious thing in your life or have had the rug pulled out from under you. Most people know this feeling to one degree or another. Everyone has faced something scary or sad that seemed bigger than yourself. How do you continue to breathe when you feel like you've been punched in the stomach or the wind has left your sails? How do you motivate yourself to move on? You have to learn how to find hope.
My husband and I have been declared "hope dealers". Hope is that tiny little seed that hides under huge piles of dirt, thrives with a bit of manure and is often watered with tears. It's finding the ability to look beyond the current circumstance. Holding a magnifying glass up to the small pieces of "good" that were in the midst of the tragedy. Not everyone can do this, but anyone can learn how.
A good way to start is with something that isn't so catastrophic. Once you've mastered the ability, you can apply it to anything. It all begins with a person. One who will stay with you, cry with you, hold you, and keep your confidence. For me, this is Jesus. The rest has to do with focus and perspective.
I usually begin my journey to hope with a good cry and sometimes yelling. This not only allows me the chance to get everything off my chest and out in the open, but it also wears me out. At those times, I need to be able to get out of myself and my own feelings. I need to get rid of all that hurt and anger. If I hold back, the process takes longer. Jesus is pretty good about letting me take my time during this part. If I stop, he doesn't panic. He just waits for me to come back to the table and begin again. When everything has been poured out and I'm spent and ragged, His spirit comforts me and then the process of hope can begin.
Having a friend that can see beyond the moment is monumental. Jesus is good about pulling up the all the things I've either overlooked or forgotten while in my pain. He holds those moments tenderly in his hand, dusting off everything I've thrown over it, and holds them up to His radiant light, allowing me to see everything from His perspective... beautiful.
This may seem like a Pollyanna-ish dream, but I guarantee it works. Taking those little pieces of beauty that heaven has dusted off for you to look at is much better than wallowing in the hurt and pain of the boulder that just rolled over you. If you can look at the good long enough, you can change the way you see things... your perspective (this even works with people you're having a hard time with). A changed perspective cultivates a changed attitude. When your attitude changes, so does your direction. Now. instead of circling the drain, you're heading up and out. The sky's the limit, so to speak.
So that's it. That's how to find and encompass hope. Give it a try. Once you get good at it, you can help others to do the same. At that moment, you too have become a "hope dealer".
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Hearing God
The following was written about a year ago. Somehow, it got archived and not posted. It's still pertinent for me today, so I am posting it now.
When you are in relationship with someone, you talk. I have about a 40 minute drive to work every day and that's when I spend intense time in relationship with God. Sometimes, my conversation is with Holy Spirit and sometimes Jesus, but most of the time it's the one I affectionately call "Daddy" who chats with me on my way to and from work.
I feel like most people have some kind of conversation with God at some point in their lives. I know lots and lots of people "pray". I wonder if their prayer looks like a shopping list they park on the doorstep of heaven, or if it's a time of begging and pleading during whatever crisis they are going through. I have a feeling that it's a crap shoot for many. A time to ask questions and wonder if anyone out there hears them. For me... my relationship with Daddy took time to develop. Even getting to a point of calling Him Daddy was through He and I spending lots of time going over my past religious views I had of Him and buffing off the rough edges I had developed. I'm happy to say that our conversations are no longer one sided. I have learned to listen, as well as talk, in the time we spend together.
The other day, I was having one of those days where my spirit was churning. For me, it is a nervous feeling that seems to have no source of entry I can pinpoint. I got in the car and asked Daddy, "Who am I?" There was silence. When I hear nothing in return, I rephrase the question. "How do you see me?" Immediately, I had thoughts flow through my mind about conversations I've had with Him in the past. I was reminded of all the places He has taken me through and all the things that He showed me that I am, but still my spirit felt uneasy. "Who am I today? How do you see me today?" Bingo! There was the right question. I heard, "You are a seer and a hearer."
This might be a good time to explain what "heard" looks like. When God created me, he created a special place inside of me where my heart and mind connect. Often times, people refer to this place as our imagination. Christians often see it as a dangerous place to hang out, but those without that religious upbringing can utilize that place easily and tap into all the creativity of the One who made them. This is where I hear The Trinity when He speaks. My spirit knows how to connect with Trinity, and my imagination puts pictures to what my spirit is picking up. The video that plays through my mind, through the pictures my imagination has created, from what my spirit is sensing is what I call "hearing". Maybe I should call it "seeing".
This brings me back to what I felt Daddy was saying to me, "You are a seer and a hearer." When I hear a statement like that, from the One who created everything, I know that is not only a fact, but an invitation. He's telling me how He sees me because He's inviting me to go on a journey. When the creator of the universe lets you know what He sees in you, He's also letting you know what He created in you. If He put it in you, it serves a purpose. To find the purpose, you go on a journey of discovery with Him. He never takes you someplace He hasn't already prepared you to go. If He's leading the journey, then I know it's safe to follow. This is one of the places we call M.O.R.E. (Moving Out Radically Encountered, Moving Out Responsibly Equipped, and Moving Out Relationally Encouraged... any way you look at it, you're "moving out"!). The question remains, do I want to go or am I satisfied remaining status quo? If you know me at all, you know I'm an adventure girl. I want to go!
So, where are we going and why? Those are questions that remain unanswered at this point. Apparently, they aren't important right now. What was important was what He said, "You are a seer and a hearer." These are the words I'll need to keep in mind and refer back to every step I take into the unknown. These words become the anchor He's given me to keep me from feeling like I've just stepped off the edge of a cliff. These are the phrases that let me know He has something He's intentionally partnering with me in.
The churning in my spirit has now become more of an excitement. I now know that today is the beginning of something new.
When you are in relationship with someone, you talk. I have about a 40 minute drive to work every day and that's when I spend intense time in relationship with God. Sometimes, my conversation is with Holy Spirit and sometimes Jesus, but most of the time it's the one I affectionately call "Daddy" who chats with me on my way to and from work.
I feel like most people have some kind of conversation with God at some point in their lives. I know lots and lots of people "pray". I wonder if their prayer looks like a shopping list they park on the doorstep of heaven, or if it's a time of begging and pleading during whatever crisis they are going through. I have a feeling that it's a crap shoot for many. A time to ask questions and wonder if anyone out there hears them. For me... my relationship with Daddy took time to develop. Even getting to a point of calling Him Daddy was through He and I spending lots of time going over my past religious views I had of Him and buffing off the rough edges I had developed. I'm happy to say that our conversations are no longer one sided. I have learned to listen, as well as talk, in the time we spend together.
The other day, I was having one of those days where my spirit was churning. For me, it is a nervous feeling that seems to have no source of entry I can pinpoint. I got in the car and asked Daddy, "Who am I?" There was silence. When I hear nothing in return, I rephrase the question. "How do you see me?" Immediately, I had thoughts flow through my mind about conversations I've had with Him in the past. I was reminded of all the places He has taken me through and all the things that He showed me that I am, but still my spirit felt uneasy. "Who am I today? How do you see me today?" Bingo! There was the right question. I heard, "You are a seer and a hearer."
This might be a good time to explain what "heard" looks like. When God created me, he created a special place inside of me where my heart and mind connect. Often times, people refer to this place as our imagination. Christians often see it as a dangerous place to hang out, but those without that religious upbringing can utilize that place easily and tap into all the creativity of the One who made them. This is where I hear The Trinity when He speaks. My spirit knows how to connect with Trinity, and my imagination puts pictures to what my spirit is picking up. The video that plays through my mind, through the pictures my imagination has created, from what my spirit is sensing is what I call "hearing". Maybe I should call it "seeing".
This brings me back to what I felt Daddy was saying to me, "You are a seer and a hearer." When I hear a statement like that, from the One who created everything, I know that is not only a fact, but an invitation. He's telling me how He sees me because He's inviting me to go on a journey. When the creator of the universe lets you know what He sees in you, He's also letting you know what He created in you. If He put it in you, it serves a purpose. To find the purpose, you go on a journey of discovery with Him. He never takes you someplace He hasn't already prepared you to go. If He's leading the journey, then I know it's safe to follow. This is one of the places we call M.O.R.E. (Moving Out Radically Encountered, Moving Out Responsibly Equipped, and Moving Out Relationally Encouraged... any way you look at it, you're "moving out"!). The question remains, do I want to go or am I satisfied remaining status quo? If you know me at all, you know I'm an adventure girl. I want to go!
So, where are we going and why? Those are questions that remain unanswered at this point. Apparently, they aren't important right now. What was important was what He said, "You are a seer and a hearer." These are the words I'll need to keep in mind and refer back to every step I take into the unknown. These words become the anchor He's given me to keep me from feeling like I've just stepped off the edge of a cliff. These are the phrases that let me know He has something He's intentionally partnering with me in.
The churning in my spirit has now become more of an excitement. I now know that today is the beginning of something new.
Monday, March 6, 2017
Movies, Christians and Hollywood... Oh my!
The fun thing about a blog is that you get to share your own opinion and get things off your chest. I highly recommend blogging for anyone with convictions and something to proclaim. That having been said, although I love sharing my perspective and opinions with the world, I try to keep in mind that they are just that... MY perspective and opinions. Just because they're mine, it doesn't mean they are right. They are just my view of life, as I see it.
This weekend, I went to see a couple of new movies. One was "The Great Wall" with Matt Damon (from Bourne Identity). The other was "The Shack" with Tim McGraw (Country singer) and Sam Worthington (from Avatar). I posted, on social media, about both and was surprised at the reactions that arose.
The Great Wall was a fantasy movie. It depicted a legend involving the Great Wall of China. When I posted about it I received the typical questions, "Did you like it?" "Can you give a review?" People wanted a general idea if it was entertaining enough to warrant spending their hard earned money on this kind of relaxation.
The Shack was a fictional movie about one person's idea of what an encounter with The Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God The Holy Spirit) would be like to a person who had been severely injured by life's experiences. I would have thought that people looking for a hopeful movie, leaving one feeling good, would really enjoy this movie. I know I did. What I found, instead, was a very strange backlash from particular sects of the Christian community. The very community that criticizes Hollywood for leaving God out of everything. This activity is really bothering me. Mostly because it sends out mixed messages about Christians in general. Now, back to my rant.
The Shack won the 2009 Dove Award from The Evangelical Christian Publisher's Association. The proclamations of some Christians calling it heresy is confusing to me. The author, himself, says it's a book about, "the house you build out of your own pain". He never says it's a replacement to the Bible or for people's own theology. He's just sharing his own perspective of the road leading from tragedy to hope.
I think the main issue some Christians have with the movie is that God is portrayed as a sweet black lady (played by Oscar Nominee Octavia Spencer). God is also portrayed as a male "Father" later in the film (by Canadian Indian Graham Greene). To say that God is either male or female could be an issue, because He is neither. He is God. To say He has neither characteristic would be inaccurate too since He made us both male and female, "In His Image". To focus on this point and say the book is heresy makes me think some have missed the forest because of all the trees. They totally missed the point of the book and the author's illustration of a Father's love. The role is depicted this way because the main character has "father issues" (both with his dad and with himself) and would not be able to accept anything coming from a typical father. This is further explained in the movie.
There are other issues sited in the infamous "heresy" controversies, but they all boil down to the same thing. People want a movie about God to be portrayed through their own personal viewpoint and perspective. They want it to line up with their own interpretation of the Bible and to be consistent with their current theology. If they are walking close with The Trinity, they want movies to ecco their most recent revelations. This movie is not meant to be a replacement for The Bible or a Theological depiction. It's entertainment. It's one man's story to tell and who has the right to judge or criticize his heart and feelings?
My husband and I laughed, we cried and we left the theater feeling loved and good. Isn't that what we've been begging Hollywood to do for quite some time? Therefore, it is my PERSONAL OPINION that Hollywood is doing a good job and that I have been thoroughly entertained this weekend!
This weekend, I went to see a couple of new movies. One was "The Great Wall" with Matt Damon (from Bourne Identity). The other was "The Shack" with Tim McGraw (Country singer) and Sam Worthington (from Avatar). I posted, on social media, about both and was surprised at the reactions that arose.
The Great Wall was a fantasy movie. It depicted a legend involving the Great Wall of China. When I posted about it I received the typical questions, "Did you like it?" "Can you give a review?" People wanted a general idea if it was entertaining enough to warrant spending their hard earned money on this kind of relaxation.
The Shack was a fictional movie about one person's idea of what an encounter with The Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God The Holy Spirit) would be like to a person who had been severely injured by life's experiences. I would have thought that people looking for a hopeful movie, leaving one feeling good, would really enjoy this movie. I know I did. What I found, instead, was a very strange backlash from particular sects of the Christian community. The very community that criticizes Hollywood for leaving God out of everything. This activity is really bothering me. Mostly because it sends out mixed messages about Christians in general. Now, back to my rant.
The Shack won the 2009 Dove Award from The Evangelical Christian Publisher's Association. The proclamations of some Christians calling it heresy is confusing to me. The author, himself, says it's a book about, "the house you build out of your own pain". He never says it's a replacement to the Bible or for people's own theology. He's just sharing his own perspective of the road leading from tragedy to hope.
I think the main issue some Christians have with the movie is that God is portrayed as a sweet black lady (played by Oscar Nominee Octavia Spencer). God is also portrayed as a male "Father" later in the film (by Canadian Indian Graham Greene). To say that God is either male or female could be an issue, because He is neither. He is God. To say He has neither characteristic would be inaccurate too since He made us both male and female, "In His Image". To focus on this point and say the book is heresy makes me think some have missed the forest because of all the trees. They totally missed the point of the book and the author's illustration of a Father's love. The role is depicted this way because the main character has "father issues" (both with his dad and with himself) and would not be able to accept anything coming from a typical father. This is further explained in the movie.
There are other issues sited in the infamous "heresy" controversies, but they all boil down to the same thing. People want a movie about God to be portrayed through their own personal viewpoint and perspective. They want it to line up with their own interpretation of the Bible and to be consistent with their current theology. If they are walking close with The Trinity, they want movies to ecco their most recent revelations. This movie is not meant to be a replacement for The Bible or a Theological depiction. It's entertainment. It's one man's story to tell and who has the right to judge or criticize his heart and feelings?
My husband and I laughed, we cried and we left the theater feeling loved and good. Isn't that what we've been begging Hollywood to do for quite some time? Therefore, it is my PERSONAL OPINION that Hollywood is doing a good job and that I have been thoroughly entertained this weekend!
Monday, February 20, 2017
Re-inventing A Life
Well... we made it! We have traveled close to 3,000 miles from the mountains of Central California to the rolling hills of Tallahassee Florida, and are settling nicely into our new lives. For those of you who were disconnected from us during this process, let me catch you up on the details of our new adventure. It all began with a thought... What are we doing here?!?
Jeff and I spend a lot of time running ideas, thoughts and speculations past each other. One day we were looking back over our recent past and began to question where we were going. Our daughter Tiffany, who had consumed so much of our time and energy for the past 30 years, was no longer with us. In fact, she had been gone for more than 2 years, yet our lives really hadn't really changed much. We were so in the habit of our everyday existence that we were beginning to let time just slip by unnoticed. That's when we asked the question, "What are we doing here?!?"
I believe that every adventure begins with a compelling thought. Questions like, "Are there better opportunities over seas in America?" "Is finding gold in California worth the risk of exploring unknown territory?" "What do you suppose lies beyond our atmosphere?" These are all ideas that crossed the minds of those unique individuals with pioneering hearts. That is one thing Jeff and I have in common. We are both pioneers, not settlers. For us, to risk the unknown is worth every moment. We love seeing what's just beyond the next ridge, and what opportunities will present new ways for us to become creative conquerors. We will not become status quo and fade away quietly. We want to boldly move forward and make the most of the second half of our lives.
So, that's where it all started.
Next began a journey with God regarding purpose and destiny. I love that God is very creative with His answers. Just because He said, "Turn left," the last time we spoke doesn't mean He will respond the same way in our next conversation. Jeff began asking God the question, "Where should we go?" The answer was clear, "Where would you like to go? I will be there!" Jeff felt like his heart was being drawn to the South and he began applying for jobs meeting that criteria.
For me, I spent time with God like a child would her Daddy. I would just ask if I could crawl up in His lap and watch what He was about to do. It was a very precious time. God would gently show me things from His perspective that I couldn't see from my own. He pointed out all the needs He had met for me and the ones He was now meeting for Jeff. Our time together made me realize that I had no agenda in this next chapter. I was just excited to be along for the ride.
Time passed slowly as work in Auberry came to a close. We began consolidating our possessions and purging all the "junk" we had managed to accumulate. Our kids, Jimmy and Cody, were a great help to us in this process. They suggested we create three piles: One to keep, one to sell, and one to give away. They advised us to go through the piles weekly, moving more and more items from the first pile into one of the other two. This was the best advice ever! In the end, all we owned fit easily into a tiny U-haul trailer, making it easy to travel from one side of the nation to the other. Jeff eventually received three job offers and chose to accept a teaching position at a re-entry center close to Tallahassee, Florida. Our destination now became clear.
Selling Abu Peak was the biggest hurdle we faced. We received an "all cash" offer within the first 10 days, but it fell out of escrow when the buyers realized they couldn't face living in a home where someone had died. They had no idea how special that moment had been for us with Tiffany. Whatever fear they were dealing with had stolen their dream from them. This also created obstacles in our adventure, but none of it surprised God. So in the late afternoon on January 28, tired from packing and battling bronchitis, we set off to parts unknown.
Here I sit, three weeks later, in a small apartment in the city of Tallahassee, sharing my story with you. The travel was fun. Finding a place to land, not so much. Exploring our new area and dreaming of creative things to do together... priceless! We still have no idea how God will use us in this area, but we cling to His promise to do so. Abu Peak still hasn't sold, but it will. For now we're just two, happy, middle aged people feeling energized like a couple of college kids setting out to conquer the world... together.
Jeff and I spend a lot of time running ideas, thoughts and speculations past each other. One day we were looking back over our recent past and began to question where we were going. Our daughter Tiffany, who had consumed so much of our time and energy for the past 30 years, was no longer with us. In fact, she had been gone for more than 2 years, yet our lives really hadn't really changed much. We were so in the habit of our everyday existence that we were beginning to let time just slip by unnoticed. That's when we asked the question, "What are we doing here?!?"
I believe that every adventure begins with a compelling thought. Questions like, "Are there better opportunities over seas in America?" "Is finding gold in California worth the risk of exploring unknown territory?" "What do you suppose lies beyond our atmosphere?" These are all ideas that crossed the minds of those unique individuals with pioneering hearts. That is one thing Jeff and I have in common. We are both pioneers, not settlers. For us, to risk the unknown is worth every moment. We love seeing what's just beyond the next ridge, and what opportunities will present new ways for us to become creative conquerors. We will not become status quo and fade away quietly. We want to boldly move forward and make the most of the second half of our lives.
So, that's where it all started.
Next began a journey with God regarding purpose and destiny. I love that God is very creative with His answers. Just because He said, "Turn left," the last time we spoke doesn't mean He will respond the same way in our next conversation. Jeff began asking God the question, "Where should we go?" The answer was clear, "Where would you like to go? I will be there!" Jeff felt like his heart was being drawn to the South and he began applying for jobs meeting that criteria.
For me, I spent time with God like a child would her Daddy. I would just ask if I could crawl up in His lap and watch what He was about to do. It was a very precious time. God would gently show me things from His perspective that I couldn't see from my own. He pointed out all the needs He had met for me and the ones He was now meeting for Jeff. Our time together made me realize that I had no agenda in this next chapter. I was just excited to be along for the ride.
Time passed slowly as work in Auberry came to a close. We began consolidating our possessions and purging all the "junk" we had managed to accumulate. Our kids, Jimmy and Cody, were a great help to us in this process. They suggested we create three piles: One to keep, one to sell, and one to give away. They advised us to go through the piles weekly, moving more and more items from the first pile into one of the other two. This was the best advice ever! In the end, all we owned fit easily into a tiny U-haul trailer, making it easy to travel from one side of the nation to the other. Jeff eventually received three job offers and chose to accept a teaching position at a re-entry center close to Tallahassee, Florida. Our destination now became clear.
Selling Abu Peak was the biggest hurdle we faced. We received an "all cash" offer within the first 10 days, but it fell out of escrow when the buyers realized they couldn't face living in a home where someone had died. They had no idea how special that moment had been for us with Tiffany. Whatever fear they were dealing with had stolen their dream from them. This also created obstacles in our adventure, but none of it surprised God. So in the late afternoon on January 28, tired from packing and battling bronchitis, we set off to parts unknown.
Here I sit, three weeks later, in a small apartment in the city of Tallahassee, sharing my story with you. The travel was fun. Finding a place to land, not so much. Exploring our new area and dreaming of creative things to do together... priceless! We still have no idea how God will use us in this area, but we cling to His promise to do so. Abu Peak still hasn't sold, but it will. For now we're just two, happy, middle aged people feeling energized like a couple of college kids setting out to conquer the world... together.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Just Being Honest
These are the days that test everything I think I know about God... Does He really care or even see me? Does He have great plans for me or does He give me just enough to get by? Am I really big enough to get in His way and mess up all He has in store for me? These are the moments when I compare my journey to Moses facing Pharaoh and demanding that he "Let God's people go" with not only everything they possessed, but also with all the spoils of Egypt as well. These are the situations that stretch the fabric of my faith to the point of tearing. What do I really believe?
Here we are, getting ready to move across the entire nation with no travel route planned and no place to settle when we get there. We have nothing more than a couple of chairs, a bed and a job waiting in unfamiliar territory. Up to this point, all of this looked like one big adventure. Tonight it feels like we're facing the fiery furnace. We've come too far to turn back and are precariously balanced on each step forward. Nothing seems certain, each spot we place our feet feels as if it could be our last. I lay awake at night wondering if I'm now too old to appreciate a good adventure or am I just too tired to see the light at the end of the tunnel? I suppose time alone will tell.
What ever happened to testimony? Where are the stories, from this generation, of the big, big God we sing about? Have we become so self sufficient that we've worked miracles right out of the picture? Have we pulled away so far that God can no longer even find us?
Lately I've been seeing the number 111 all over the place. Jeff mentioned that his phone displayed that number as he read to me another counter offer we received on our house. The offer was incredibly low and broke my heart. I went into my bedroom and cried out to God (not in a noble way, but more resembling a kid throwing a tantrum). When I finished, several minutes later, I looked something up on my phone and noticed it said the same thing... 111. Usually, mine and Jeff's phones display the exact same time at the exact same moments. This time, they seemed to be several minutes off. Tonight I looked up Psalm 111 to see what it said. Here is the revised standard version...
Here we are, getting ready to move across the entire nation with no travel route planned and no place to settle when we get there. We have nothing more than a couple of chairs, a bed and a job waiting in unfamiliar territory. Up to this point, all of this looked like one big adventure. Tonight it feels like we're facing the fiery furnace. We've come too far to turn back and are precariously balanced on each step forward. Nothing seems certain, each spot we place our feet feels as if it could be our last. I lay awake at night wondering if I'm now too old to appreciate a good adventure or am I just too tired to see the light at the end of the tunnel? I suppose time alone will tell.
What ever happened to testimony? Where are the stories, from this generation, of the big, big God we sing about? Have we become so self sufficient that we've worked miracles right out of the picture? Have we pulled away so far that God can no longer even find us?
Lately I've been seeing the number 111 all over the place. Jeff mentioned that his phone displayed that number as he read to me another counter offer we received on our house. The offer was incredibly low and broke my heart. I went into my bedroom and cried out to God (not in a noble way, but more resembling a kid throwing a tantrum). When I finished, several minutes later, I looked something up on my phone and noticed it said the same thing... 111. Usually, mine and Jeff's phones display the exact same time at the exact same moments. This time, they seemed to be several minutes off. Tonight I looked up Psalm 111 to see what it said. Here is the revised standard version...
Psalm 111 ~ Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who have pleasure in them.
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy,
8 they are established for ever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant for ever.
Holy and terrible is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
a good understanding have all those who practice it.
His praise endures for ever!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who have pleasure in them.
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy,
8 they are established for ever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant for ever.
Holy and terrible is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
a good understanding have all those who practice it.
His praise endures for ever!
A friend who stopped by mentioned that she was envious and excited too see the life we were about to embark on. Adventure often looks different to those watching on the outside then it does to those experiencing it. As I prepare myself for the journey, I'm reminded of the verse, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1)." There it is again... 111.
As I stated earlier, I'm at the point of no return. All I can say is the same thing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed′nego said when about to be thrown into the furnace... "My God can save us. My God will save us, but if He doesn't, He is still God!"
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