Yesterday, I had a phone conversation that will haunt me for the rest of my life. Some of our dearest friends on this planet, Bruce and Ruby Pritchard, lost their treasured 18 year old daughter Kaci in a tragic car accident. Dear God, I can barely type it. This family took us under their wings in our first pastorate in North Carolina and ministered to us much more than we ever did them. Most of you have a Kaci in your life - a vivacious young woman who loves family and Jesus and for whom the world is full of promise and opportunity. We love this child so much and to think she is gone is more than I can put my mind around. This is my favorite picture of her and the boys taken a few years back. There was never a darlin' girl who enjoyed my kids so much. The affection was completely mutual.




My favorite devotional is called Daily Light for the Daily Path. It is simply a stringing together of like verses and my ritual is to pray through each of the scriptures each morning and then journal what resonates with me. Reading yesterday's entry, He proved once again that His Word never falls upon us accidentally:

"God raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:6) Do not be afraid;...I am He who lives, and was dead. (Rev. 1:17-18) Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory. (John 17:24) For we are members of His body. (Eph. 5:30) He is the head of the body, the church , who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. You are complete in Him, who is head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:10) As the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release from those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15) This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this moral must put on immortality. Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written; 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Cor. 15:53-54, 58)

These words are balm and I would ask that you would pray them into the gaping wounds of this family and those who love them.

Also beyond coincidence, just two weeks ago I discovered Natalie Grant's song, Held, on an old WOW cd I found in the car. Can you believe I'd never heard it? I've cried every single time it has played. Now, it not only speaks to my heart but from it.

Bruce and Ruby, Stephanie, Bryce, and Ryan, family and friends: We love you so much and grieve deeply with you. May the God of the Universe gently, tenderly hold you in the palm of His sovereign hand.

There have been all kinds of happenings this week and if I were a more dedicated blogger, each would have its own post. As it is, my brain is fried and the thoughts of putting to screen any series of coherent thoughts is just not working out for me at the moment. So, how about a random list of stuff that you can weigh in on if you feel so compelled?

1. Miss California. This could really be a full-blown rant but I'm sure there is nothing I could say that you've not read elsewhere. However, have you ever watched the movie Tombstone? (If you watch it, see it on cable because it bleeps the bad words.) One of my favorite Doc Holiday lines in the film is, "Wyatt, your hypocrisy knows no bounds."

And apparently neither does the hypocrisy of Keith Lewis and Shanna Moakler. According to this article on Fox News, several former Miss Teen USA's and former Miss USA's are filming a PSA to hail the diversity of California. Among the lines included are: "I believe when I express my opinion I have a responsibility to do it in a way that respects others who may not agree … I believe in love … I believe when two people with opposite views communicate with love and respect both points of view can be heard … I believe no one should be silenced if they are speaking from their heart with respect … I believe in the beauty of California."

Are you stinkin' kidding me? No one should be silenced but we will pressure you to resign your position and try our best to discredit you with photos taken in an underwear photo shoot? And if that isn't good enough, then we'll 'respect you' by photoshopping a few more to call your faith into question. But we, the Tolerant Ones, love you and agree everyone should have the right to express themselves. PUH-lease.

And let's not forget that Katie Blair WHILE SHE WAS REIGNING MISS TEEN USA, was partying with THE REIGNING MISS USA, Tara Conner (who entered rehab for alcohol and drug abuse while being allowed to retain her crown) and the two reportedly kissed one another during MISS UNIVERSE's birthday bash! I guess as long as they were expressing free love then we can celebrate them and put them in PSA commercials. Or of course, we could be like Shanna Moakler and strip down to nothing for Hugh Heffner. I know that's a role model I want for my daughter.


Okay, so I said I wasn't going to full-blown rant, but it's too late now. It may sound fatalistic to say this is the sad condition of our United States of America and I really don't believe the overall climate will ever improve. Personally, I believe these things - the utter collapse of any moral and financial structure - must come to pass in order to set up the return of Jesus Christ. For myself, I've concluded this is an exciting time to be alive because we are eye witnesses to His Coming Kingdom!

What has become urgently important to me is making sure I am teaching my children and calling on Christian women to be counter-cultural. That we preserve ourselves as a holy remnant. That no matter how much we are in the minority, that we are not afraid to speak out and be set apart from this current age. Our stage may not be that of Miss America's, but we can not fool ourselves into thinking the days are not already here where these same defining questions will be asked of us and we will have to be ready to give account for the hope that is within us.

We are here for such a time as this.


2. See Number One.

As if I have time for any incapacitation whatsoever, it now appears I can add vertigo to the list of ghosts in my machine. After some quality internet self-diagnosis and advice from my FaceBook friends, my conclusion is either A: I'm having inner ear issues related to the floating death called pollen that is coating everything here, or B: I've Shredded too much and gotten dehydrated. That may not be the case, but it sounds like a good reason to take a couple days off from it. I finished through Day Ten and can I just say that even though Jillian is a beast, the woman can flat get results. I've already lost a couple pounds and several inches and feel quite a bit stronger - except for the fact I can't stand up without falling over. She may kill me but dern if I won't look buff in the casket.

In other news, I have to tell y'all the coolest thing we are doing as a family during our nightly devo times. I have struggled to find a family devotional that is appropriate for both Luke and me as well as the kids. I think I mentioned the other day that I'd been sent the Fireproof Bible Study to review and included was The Love Dare. As I began reading through it, I realized, "WOW! This could be so easily adapted for families!"

I don't know if your crew is like mine, but can I admit that sometimes we need to reboot? Just shut it all down and start over? Our lives are crazy stressed and it is common for us all to be grumpy, impatient, and generally unloving towards one another. Luke and I have been re-writing the lessons in The Love Dare to apply to the kids - as well as ourselves - and tweaking The Dares. I can honestly say that after only a few days there has been a marked changed in the atmosphere in our home. Praise Jesus.

I've laughed my head off at the kids' interpretations of The Dares. Day One's task is simply not to say anything negative. We also added, 'No Retaliation'. Apparently the boys think that is a license to be silently annoying until the point a brother/sister is ready to lose his/her mind. At the breaking point, the offender will sing-song, "Remember...Nooo Retaliatioooooooon." Obviously, Luke and I are learning we are having to write a lot of qualifiers into The Dares.

An example would be on Random Act of Kindness Day. Each kid was assigned another for whom they would have to do something nice. {Boy Two - the fabulously witty one - asked his assigned brother, "Would you like Roses or Carnations, darling brother?" He's funnier accidentally than I could ever hope to be on purpose.} Here's where another qualifier comes into play. Boy Three - The Stinker - was in a foul mood this morning so we've now added that if you are being unkind to a sibling, you have to do forced Random Acts for the person you've wronged. His list currently includes making his sister's bed two days in a row and cleaning my toilet.

Man, I love this.

Okay, it's time to gently lay the computer aside and try to do household chores that don't involved bending over, turning my head from side to side, or getting up. So basically, I'm going to sit on the couch and catch up on movie watching. And write in some more failure clauses into the Love Dare: Family Edition that will benefit my inability to do housework.

I'm sunk if the kids start getting the point in all this.


Y'all have a Happy Tuesday!

It’s a quiet morning at home and I’m sitting in my living room listening to a wonderful summer storm. The thunder is a low constant rumble and the rain is coming in bucket-sized drops. I’m no fan of violent weather, but a benign slow soaker can soothe the stress right out of me. It reminds me of being at my great-grandpa’s house as child in the same type of skies. His house had a metal roof that would multiply the crash of angry clouds. Pop knew I was scared so he would stick out his dentures and all other manner of ridiculous things to make me laugh until the storm had passed. He was wonderfully, hysterically crazy. I never doubted that he delighted in me and I loved him better than life. He’s been gone for 15 years and I still miss him so badly I could just cry my eyes out.

Nix that. The tears have come. Good thing I haven’t gotten out the mascara yet today.

I wasn’t planning on waxing nostalgic. I actually wanted to share something profound that Jillian Michaels said in the 30 Day Shred Video. Y’all may have heard a thing or two about it around the web. I could share how sore I was the first few days but honestly, who can tell that tale better than Melanie? The girl is a comedic genius and I bow at her feet. Today, that is. On days 2 and 3 of Shred, I could barely bend my legs to use the bathroom, much less pay homage to Big Mama.

So back to Jillian. (Can we all agree she has an evil smile? It never quite travels to her eyes. It’s like she knows we expect one but can’t quite convince herself she can do it. Or wants to. Scary.) On Level One – which I’ve ventured past once only to quickly return – she made a statement I loved. In convincing us that the hard work was necessary in order to see changes she said, “You can’t phone this one in.”

That statement completely resonated with me. How many times have I practiced a phoned-in faith? Wanted to get big spiritual results with minimal effort? Believed there could be huge gain with no pain? I heard David Jeremiah on Moody yesterday say something to the effect of, “Many of the men and women of faith with whose names we are familiar have been completely crushed in order for God to use them mightily. I had always hoped I could be the exception.” Amen, my brutha. I would totally high five you if I could get past your security guards.

I’ve got this on my mind this morning because during my time with God, I asked Him to do something in me that will probably hurt. My prayer went something like, “Lord, I want you to help me change (a personal issue). But, can you please do it gently?” And in a way only He can speak, He said, “For you to be truly changed may require my shaking you up so badly that you’ll never want to go back. “

And then I might have said something like, “Okay then, I take it back.”

Okay, not really. But I wanted to. That is until I realized I was just phoning it in. Wanting to be different without any sore muscles involved. Of falsely believing I can transform into some spiritual giant while sitting on the couch eating Kettle Cooked Lay’s Potato Chips. (Oh my word, those are the best.)

So I resolved my prayer with this thought: It may hurt, but I’m better off shred. The end will justify any temporary discomfort and hopefully, prayerfully, I’ll be one buff warrior when it’s said and done. I ask that for myself, and I hope you don't mind if I do the same for you as well.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
~2 Corinthians 4:16-17

...that I love Jesus and can hardly get over that He didn't just save me, but gave me a ministry that keeps on saving me? If He didn't give me opportunity for working out my salvation, I would be a shriveled up wreck. Of course, I still am at times, but not one without hope or a confirmed direction when I need to get back on track. I'm horrified of less-traveled roads, but I've not walked one yet that didn't thrill me. Who ever dreamed God could be so much fun with a side order of roller coaster terror? I can't tell you the number of times lately I've screamed through a grin at the things He's allowed me. Is there someone out there today that needs to know that God isn't just flat out mad? That He laughs and will get one out of you eventually even if He has to scare you to death to get one?

I need to quit now before I have me a spell.

Before I got sidetracked, I meant to tell you how much fun I had this past Saturday. I had the joy of speaking at a women's tea for New Liberty Baptist in Ringgold, GA. They did one of those fabulous luncheons where a woman hosts and decorates each table differently. Seriously. I don't know how many different ways there can be to theme a table scape but it appears you wonderfully creative girls out there have no where near exhausted all the possibilities because every one was completely unique to any I have seen before. I could just kick myself for not having a camera.

Wanda, my precious new friend and contact for this event had the greatest idea. Her theme was, "Through the storms of life, with God, you can dance in the rain.." She had a darlin' rubber rain boot as her centerpiece with a spring arrangement and get this - the fabric from a hot pink disassembled umbrella as the foundation. Who would have ever thought of that? Certainly not this girl! I just couldn't take my eyes off all the details.

I also can not overlook how cool God is in making connections. It turns out that the girl who was asked to introduce me is my second cousin! What?! I had no idea she went to church there and she had no idea it was me coming to speak until a couple days prior. Is that not a hoot? I loved seeing you, Jenny, and your beautiful, grown-up Kelly! I hope we see one another again outside of a funeral or reunion. :)

I can not even begin to communicate how much I enjoy these frou frou get-togethers. It still amazes me that a guy's idea of a good time is offing Bambi, gutting her, and dragging her lifeless corpse to a grill to enjoy with his buddies. No, thank you. Chicken Salad and Quiche will serve us girls just fine. And I have to give a shout out to the men who served us. Y'all, they had on matching white aprons WITH THEIR NAMES EMBROIDERED ON THE BIB. I've never seen such awesomeness in my life. You guys have set the new high bar for every other group of church men out there. I need a picture of you to blow up as poster boys of servanthood. You were spectacular and I know we all appreciated your loving on us so extravagantly.

New Liberty: THANK YOU. It is humbling to me to know the amount of prayer that you put in to bringing in a teacher and that in some miraculous way, God gave you my name and you extended this invitation. I loved every minute with you and I pray God's Word will be an abiding one to every single lady there. You can believe me when I say He road tested that message in every figurative and literal way. May it change us all.

Okay, so now I'm off to clean out my closet. I would show you a before and after, but you would judge me. Oh, you say you wouldn't, but trust me. It's just that bad. There are not two of my shoes within a foot of one another in the bottom of that thing and I'm certain I'll find several Christmas presents hidden in the top that never made it to their intended recipient. Oh well. Maybe I'll have a head start on this year.

Y'all have a wonderful Monday!

....but aren't we all?

Every Easter, the brutality of Jesus' death and the celebration of His Resurrection seems to bring about a different primary emotion than the one before. I remember feeling particularly melancholy last year and really having to remind myself that there was no need to dwell on the events of Friday because I was and am living eternally in the victory of Sunday.

The past few days, melancholy has given way to indignation. Not towards a person or race, lest you misunderstand me, but towards Satan who seems to never have much trouble finding those who will do his bidding. I've been pondering the injustice of the Holy Week and the Jewish establishment who broke all of their own laws to destroy the One who had never violated a single one. I've been thinking about the alliance between the chief priests and the hated Romans who found a common bond in wanting to see this Man dead. Their motivation? Convenience and Control. Perhaps the saddest thing is that all involved truly believed they were justified in doing whatever necessary to maintain both.

Things haven't changed much have they?

The thing I will never get over, and I mean never, is that not once did Christ open His mouth to defend Himself. The only time He spoke was to confirm that He was who He claimed to be. Had he reminded the crowd of the laws being broken, had He called on them to rescue Him, had his earthly father been alive to begin a Maccabean-inspired revolt (pure speculation here), then no doubt all Hell would have broken loose. And I do mean that in the most literal and spiritual of ways. But instead, His silence assured His death while sealing our eternal life.

It occurs to me that if we follow a desirable command, our response isn't obedience but compliance. If you say to me, "Lisa, come to the table, it's time to eat!", I'm totally there with no argument whatsoever. There's willingness at work in my response. But God saying, "Lisa, this thing is unfair, it doesn't make sense, and it will hurt like crazy but for your good and My Glory I'm asking you to do it anyway", requires obedience - not compliance. And God never said, "Comply with my commands." He said 'obey' which implies I may not always want to do what He is asking.

The only comfort I find is in knowing that Jesus didn't want to do what God asked either. The proof is in Mark 14:35-36, "And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will." Ultimately Jesus obeyed. Somehow He was able to proclaim, "It is finished!!" rather than, "This isn't fair!"

And that is the place where I rest and the point of all my rambling: Sin and pain and injustice were the required mix for this to be an act of obedience rather than compliance with a more desirable scenario. And at the time Jesus was walking this thing out as an example to us, no one knew. No one yet understood the price being paid. And so in essence, even though the first glory was a private one between Father and Son, God was fully satisfied by His Son's willingness to endure the most horrific death imaginable rather than one relatively quicker and less painful.

When I am tempted to cry foul, like Christ, I have to look through the injustice to see what obedience I'm being called to on the other side. Even if no one knows the cost, God does. And I have to believe the more it hurts and the more it goes against everything natural in me to do what He has asked, the more it glorifies and satisfies Him when I am sanctified by acting in accordance with His commands. If the thing isn't hard, it really doesn't count for much, does it?

So, let's decide. Obedience or Compliance? Lord, please make us to understand the refining value of the one instead of expecting the ease of the other. And, may it be that we experience a full measure of joy in both.

Praying you and your family experience a wonderful celebration of Christ's Resurrection. He is worthy!!!

Hosanna!

This morning, I drove over to the local park to have my Spa Time with Jesus. (Those of you who listened in to the Woman Inspired Conference get that reference.) For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, I shared with the girls that the word 'delight' is actually a feminine word meaning "to find pleasure in", but it also has a sub-definition of "to pamper". When we are truly delighting in God, the end result will be a sense of serenity and joy that the best massage and/or facial can't begin to rival.

It has been my personal, constant prayer over the past months to not only work out my salvation based on the love of Christ towards me, but to be able to attach a full range of emotion in the act of returning worship to Him and serving others. My faults are legion, not the least of which is my being a book nerd who often chokes on the information that is desperately trying to journey from head to heart. Considering also that I'm not a skip-through-the-daisies-holding-hands kind of girl, full engagement of all the sympathies hasn't come easily for me. However, I don't think I singularly decided one day that I would like to have my compassions ignited. I believe this is a continued work of the Spirit to mold me into the woman He desires. He desires my delight. And I desire to be delighted. Not in a superficial, blubber-at-every-Hallmark-commercial kind of way. Rather, in a way that all of my heart, mind, and spirit are equally and fully employed where all things Christ are concerned. I don't want a chance to view the Dead Sea Scrolls to excite me more than seeing and participating in the life of one who has been transformed by them. I can say the God-words to Him and to you and I can mean them, but I want to feel them.

Have I lost you yet?

My reading this morning took me to John 15 and the oft-quoted passage on the Vine and the Branches. Verse Five particularly resonated with me, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

As I prayed through the relevance of this verse, it occurred to me that what I desire is a Holy Possession. What I want is to be enveloped by Christ but also indwelled. On one hand I don't want you to see me, but God. On the other, I want to be changed in such a way so that I look like Him either way. For lack of a better visual, I thought of the Exorcist-type movies I used to watch before I got some good sense and how the unholy possession would completely arrest the entirety of its victim. Shouldn't a Holy Possession have the same effect, but hopefully with a decidedly more lovely result?

How do desire, delight, and possession relate you ask? I wondered the same thing. That is until I remember the words of Philippians 2:13 which say, "It is God who causes us to will and to act according to His good pleasure." It is the Holy Possession of God causing me to desire my mind, body, and spirit to be fully taken over by Him in equal measure. And that is for His good pleasure of seeing me walk in a way that doesn't just see black and white, but is willing to use thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and mercy as a foundational passion for the things He has called me to do.

John 15:5 ends by saying, "Apart from Him, I can do nothing." The word nothing literally means, "not even one single thing." Not even. I can't even get out of bed in the morning to please Him apart from our mutual agreement to abide in one another. I don't have the power to be the woman He envisions lest He is the one functioning through my flawed will. What a God we serve who would want such a thing. Who considers us worthy to be joined in such a way. It makes me want to cry.

Which hopefully is a good sign He is answering my prayers.

Proverbs 10:19 says, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise." I could say many, many words about these pictures, but I prefer to let them speak for themselves. This is the baptism of my 9 year old son. I can't even express the joy at his confession of Jesus Christ as Lord. For those of you who know him, you understand why. And so y'all know, this is Luke baptising him. As if the baptism isn't enough, the whole father/son dynamic slays me all over again.







Thank you so much, Deedra, for ministering to us through your gift of photography. I'm seriously considering staging a fake baptism for the other boys so I can have a collage. You've captured the most important day of our son's life with pure innocence and perfection and I'll forever be grateful!

....I was reading a book of poems by Emily Dickinson at the ballfield the other day. {Seriously. Do you know another nerd on the planet who reads Dickinson on the bleachers?) Anyway, I was struck by one in particular called, The Master. It reads:

He fumbles at your spirit
As players at the keys
Before they drop full music on;
He stuns you by degrees,

Prepares your brittle substance
For the ethereal blow,
By fainter hammers, further heard,
Then nearer, then so slow

Your breath has time to straighten,
Your brain to bubble cool, --
Deals one imperial thunderbolt
That scalps your naked soul.



That day at the field, I was quite captured by how the poet describes the wooing of the Holy Spirit. I thought about how very much my experience mirrored the one she described and remembered fondly the day that thunderbolt struck my own soul.

That thunderbolt has struck again.

Except, this time, it wasn't my own soul scalped, but that of my nine year old son. He has asked many questions over the past few months. They boiled hot, then cooled until last night in his room when he couldn't resist any longer. He had the sweetest, purest confession and I couldn't be prouder of him.

So needless to say, we are rejoicing! I do hope you will join us..:)

Okay, girls. Better late than never! Let's get to it on Chapter Four of Spectacular Sins!

I'm not sure to what extent you enjoy deep theology but I have to admit that my mind wants to shut down when I feel myself beginning to think in circles. For me, the sovereign, He's-got-the-whole-world-in-His-hands view of God is the blanket I wrap up in when I can't tie a tidy bow around some deep concept of Scripture. This week, that idea is God's causative will versus His permissive will. When I read Proverbs 16:4 which says, "The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble", the first questions that come to mind are : "Does that mean God creates evil and disease and calamity? Isn't that against all He is?" And when it gets too much to consider, my faith stamps "GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD" on it and puts it to bed.

And that's easy enough for me to do because I've never faced the devastations many of you have. It's easy for me to say because I have faith as a background where many people with these same questions do not. I suppose I love this book so because it gives order to the many beliefs I have but don't quite know how to express to those searching for a true representation of God's character. As much as I don't want to voice the words, I am also aware I am not immune to some unimaginable grief. God forbid calamity happen, but if it does, I want an overflowing reserve of Truth to bandage to my tire-ironed heart.

But there are many of you who have faced the worst-case-scenario. The child is gone. The husband left. The money disappeared overnight. What then? Is there a purpose for the evil or are the details of our lives left to random chance? Worse yet, did God cause it by not preventing it? All difficult but valid questions to which there is but one solution: We believe and trust God and we do not accept any answer to any question that in any way degrades His holiness and/or the fact He is FOR His children always.

I've said all of this to set up what is perhaps the foundational truth of this chapter as quoted from Frances Schaeffer: God is the God who is there. Page 59 states "We don't make Him, He makes us. We don't decide what He is going to be like. He decides what we are going to be like. He created the Universe, and it has the meaning He gives it, not the meaning we give it. If we give it a meaning different from His, we are fools. And our lives will be tragic in the end."

So considering Proverbs 16:4 already referenced, I back up to page 56 which says, "God has done this (made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble) in His own mysterious way that preserves the responsibility of the wicked and the sinlessness of His own heart. We should humble ourselves if we cannot explain how this can be. We are told that it is so. Beware of bringing to the Bible assumptions that are not taught in the Bible. That is how God's word is nullified."

We are told that it is so. When did that stop being enough? God told Eve it was so in the garden and yet she listened to the voice which asked, "Did God really say...?" The most dangerous place in which to find oneself is with one ear to the Word and one ear to the world. The Word says God's goodness and love and mercy and forgiveness and redemption and justice are so. The world tells us we are closed-minded and weak for swallowing an archaic religion without question.

We are going to approach this week's discussion a little differently. I know there was much more to this chapter than what I've presented but I believe this issue of why bad things happen to "good people" is one that is foundational in our arsenal of answers for those who do not yet believe in Christ. It's a huge hangup and one which we need to be able to address biblically.

So here is the one scenario I have for you today:

You are in a coffee shop reading your Bible. A stranger sits beside you and asks, "How can you believe in a God who allows terrorists to fly into towers or children to starve and die?"

Based on all we've learned so far, what do you say?

UPDATE: I just want to thank all of you on Luke's behalf for your phone calls of concern since circumstances beyond our control made him unable to attend the conference. Such is life in the pastorate! More than anything, I think it is important we communicate that we don't begrudge staying behind when God has made it evident there is critical ministry taking place at home.

Luke will die when he reads this but I don't hesitate to equate his investment into the lives of people to that of Paul who said in 2 Cor. 11:28-29, "And besides those things that are without, there is the daily [inescapable pressure] of my care and anxiety for all the churches! Who is weak, and I do not feel [his] weakness? Who is made to stumble and fall and have his faith hurt, and I am not on fire [with sorrow or indignation]?" (Amplified)

If he weren't equally invested in our own family, I might feel neglected but though it may be most times to his detriment, he refuses to allow me or his kids to feel second place. It's important to me that anyone who knows us knows this about him. He's the same man at home that you see in the church house and I'm so proud to call him mine. So again, thank you for your calls but please don't consider him pitiful....consider him joyfully doing that to which he was called.

{However, while we are on the subject, he could use your prayers as could the multiple unspoken situations that God is fully aware of.}

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


I'm waiting for the dryer to chime telling me Luke's jeans are done so I can put the finishing touches on his suitcase. He and 40+ men from our church and community are going to Woodstock Baptist a little later this morning for the Temptation Island Conference. I get very sentimental this time of year because it is through this particular event and a long-time friendship that Luke was connected with the congregation we now serve.

Back in 2005, our great friend Maury called me to invite Luke to come along to the conference. Maury and his wife Kim were some of our best 'couple' BFF's in our pre-Jesus days but since we had lived out of town for much of our born again years, we hadn't seen each other in quite some time. I assured him that Luke had nothing to do that weekend and not to dare listen if he tried to turn him down. {Luke is quite the homebody and doesn't go anywhere without being compelled no matter how much he knows he would enjoy the trip.}

Luke said yes. He didn't have much choice since I had his bag packed before we could really talk about it. I knew he needed some refreshment and I was all too happy for him to visit Woodstock since he, like me, esteems Dr. Hunt highly. I took Luke to meet Maury and I'll never forget the words out his mouth:

"Our church is looking for a pastor you know.."

And I knew. Right that instant. You PW's out there may can testify to the 'oughtness' that comes over you sometimes when opportunity is presented. I immediately knew in my Spirit we would end up serving that body even though several months passed before this was confirmed. I don't believe in coincidence and I know God used Luke's relationship with Maury to direct us exactly where He meant for us to be.

In reality, not only has orchestrating our current pastorate been on God's mind from eternity past, it has been brewing in Earth time for the past 20 years. I am freshly blown away by the premeditative mind of God each Sunday as Kim and I look onto the stage and see our husbands with songbooks and Bibles in their hands instead of a Budweiser (or Milwaukee's Best depending on how cash-strapped we were. Actually that was most of the time?) There was a day I would have expected the roof to split wide open if we all walked into a church. Now there would be collective wonder if all our seats were empty. Wow.

And that's what this time every year feels like all over again. It is a reminder of the oughtness of our call here. It's a remembering of the click of the key in the lock. It's hearing freshly the creak of the door when it opened. We belong in this place and this morning I am grateful all over again that God saw fit to send our friends to show us the way home.

With all that said, if you think of it, please pray for our guys and the 8000+ others who will be at the conference this weekend. {Are any of your hubbies going?} That they will not be as those in 2 Timothy 3 who are 'ever learning but never coming to the full knowledge of truth.' For our men and all those in attendance, may what goes into your heart come out through your hands. May lives be changed to the glory of God and the redemption of generations to come.



p.s. Maury, you just called. I was writing this beforehand so don't think I just fabbed it up because of how sweet you are to Kim and me..:))

There are so many times when I am studying for something I'm teaching that I refrain from sharing what God is showing me in Scripture because I don't want it to be a repeat for those who will hear it later. Well, I hate it for you today. One of the passages I'm digging on has me ON FIRE so consider this a spoiler alert if you want to wait for the expanded version at the 'Stronger' retreat.

How do you handle Disappointment? Disillusionment? Catastrophe? Flat-out Pain? What do you do when that roaring lion Satan pounces on you and has you lying flat of your back? I know what I've done. I've laid there believing if I just stayed still that maybe I could avoid the deadly blow that must surely be the only thing left after the beating I'd taken. So in effect, Satan's accomplished exactly what he intended by incapacitating me to the point of uselessness.

The good thing I've found about lying flat of my back is that, if I'll open my eyes, the heavens are there waiting to pour out wisdom and strength. A huge dose of both is found in 2 Corinthians 6:3-7:

"Giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left."

Paul had just finished telling the Corinthians in 4:11 that he was "constantly delivered over to death for for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in the mortal flesh". Girls, I've been delivered over to some death but the question we have to ask ourselves is what are we going to do once it's been handed to us? What are we going to do when we are down for the count?

The answer?

We rise. We always rise.

I want you to read the passage I just quoted and notice the Paul's purposeful shift in perspective. He begins by telling the Corinthians all the horrors he has endured in what should have been his death but then goes on to explain what rising looks like. He died in affliction, in hardship, in great pain but he rose in purity, in the Holy Spirit and in genuine love. Why? So the ministry would not be discredited. So the death of Christ would be manifested in his willful decision to live even though no one would have blamed him if he stayed on the ground.

Rising is hard and rising in the Spirit is even harder. When a person in your life is the one who knocked you flat, our first reaction is to come up swinging. When calamity comes, our nature says we should shrink back in bitterness. When too much time has passed on our prayers, we wallow in impatience and doubt. And to what end? A blight on the reputation of Jesus Himself who promises rest for the weary, strength for the journey, and light for the way. Do not be the one whose fall causes offense, dear sister. There is more than you at stake.

Instead, look in your hands. In them are your 'weapons' of righteousness. A mean left hook of Prayer and the powerful right jab of Truth. Fight back! There's no more time for wimpy Christianity. No one ever accused me of being the queen of mercy and compassion but today, maybe you need someone to tell you to sternly to get off your backside and get back to this thing called LIVING. Don't you dare keep lying there in self-pity and defeat when your God has called you to bear His Name! {And I say that with all tenderness. Truly!}

If you're still breathing, then "Behold, Now is the Acceptable Time" (2 Cor. 6:2) to ask the one who raised Christ Jesus from the dead to work that same energy in you, dear one.

And when He does (and I know He will because He promised - 2 Cor 4:14),

You Rise.

I only have a minute this morning but I wanted to share a verse I read in my quiet time...

"Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand." ~ Proverbs 8:1-2

I know each of us has different things by which the Holy Spirit shapes our walks. He's been hammering on me about finding my strength in Him as I daily, rather moment by moment, present myself a living sacrifice.

The thing about sacrifices is they are painful. Nothing was ever slaughtered that didn't get slashed and bloodied. (sorry for being so graphic this early in the a.m.) Do I eat it or not eat it? Buy it or not buy it? Go or not go? Serve or not serve? Have that conversation or not have it? In each one of these things, there's a decision to be made. There's a crossroads and waiting for us there is a woman called Wisdom.

She was the first of God's works and appointed before eternity and God graciously says, "Ask and I will give of her freely to YOU." To me. It bends the mind that the God of the Universe would set my feet on a path and when it is time to choose the right or the left, He will grace me with the same wisdom by which He formed the oceans and created mankind. I can KNOW what He wants from me. All I have to do is ask.

But in the asking is also the obligation to obey. Sometimes we don't ask because we don't want to know. May it never be! Though it kills us, my prayer for myself and for you today is that we will answer simply, 'Yes, Lord.' Even if I walk away from this thing limping, I choose You.

May every split in the road you face today be met with Wisdom! Be blessed, my dear family and friends!

Hello, Girls!

So I've been taking a blog break and I have to admit that putting my computer away for the past couple of weeks has been the best thing I could have done to clear my prayers and thoughts. Can we all just be honest and admit these things can fog our brains? I assumed I was only recapturing some time to be thoroughly focused on Christ and my family during the holidays, but the uncomfortable reality is that I've needed to re-boot and re-prioritize how blogging will fit into my life for 2009 - but I'm jumping ahead of myself. Let me back up and share a few of my favorite Christmas moments.

1. Bible Jeopardy.

My sister Christi and her hubby Rocky were the Pat and Vanna of one of our parties this year. They brought a game they had made set up just like Jeopardy (wait, isn't that Alex Trebec? And he has no pretty blond assistant?) Oh well. I still like calling them Pat and Vanna.

I would love to tell you that my team won the game but that would be a big fat lie. We were actually the biggest losers at -3700 points. I'm not even kidding. My team was myself, niece Kayla, and BIL Heath. Our motto was, "If you gonna go, go big." We chose the 600 point question every time and missed it every time. Heath had to work that night and was trying his best to hang with us until we got a question right. He finally had to leave or be totally late.

Perhaps the most humiliating part of the game was the fact that Luke and I missed all the Bible questions. To our credit, the OT references were obscure and not oft-quoted but that fact meant nothing to everyone who laughed at the pastor and his wife for completely blowing the Jesus category. Geesh. Pride doth go before a fall. And after it, too.

2. Dirty Santa.

We had another gathering with the same sis and bro's present. This one also included my sister Casey. Christi and Casey had shopped together and bought two purses they were going to fight for. In a piece of strategy worthy of the best Survivor episode, Christi ended up with both of them. It was pure genius. Just to show what a good girl she is, she gave the purse back to Casey. I got an awesome wicker laundry basket. So much fun.

3. The Christmas Story.

One of my absolute favorite times with the kids during Christmas is when we read the Christmas story. This varies between Christmas Eve or morning but this year, it was the morning of. Every year, we buy a 6-pack case of glass bottle Cokes that are replicas of old bottles. We drink our Cokes while Luke reads the story and then he prays over us all. Memories are made in the smallest details, yes?

4. Christmas Eve Movies.

We live about an hour away from family and don't get to be with them on Christmas Eve because we typically have Candlelight Communion that night. Instead, we take the kids to the movies on Christmas Eve day. This year we saw The Tale of Despereaux and enjoyed it thoroughly though my youngest boy who has read the book says the two are nothing alike. {Y'all know I love me some quotes. My favorite in this movie is, "Sometimes a broken heart grows back crooked." Don't know why that resonated, but the statement is sadly true.} Two other families joined us this year and we ate Chinese buffet together after the movie. It was pure, unstressed fun.


There are plenty, plenty more things I can tell you about. The kids' Christmas play was fantastic. My youngest son did the Cabbage Patch during the Jesus songs. I was so proud. The youth black light drama was powerful. My oldest son identified himself to us as "The top of the 'S'. Church in general during the season was magical. I've loved every moment.


So going back to the whole blog focus. Without going into too much detail on how the realization came about, it has become clear to me that I've concentrated more on stupidity than ministry. Instead of using my mental energy to create content that would be spiritually edifying, I've given you fluff and that is not really the intent of my presence here. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not going get all stuffy on you. I still intend on sharing the absurdities of my life if they are indeed that. However, I no longer will spend a great deal of time trying to figure out how to spin my daily life into entertainment. Sometimes I just do laundry and wash dishes and love on kids. On those days, I pray I find myself telling you more about how Jesus is revealing Himself in my studies instead of how I washed a crayon in the laundry or accidentally spilled a half-stew pot of chicken and dumplin's in the floor.

Does that sound heavy? I don't mean for it to! It just is what it is. 2009 is coming quickly and the word that God has given me to prepare for it is 'Stronger'. Proverbs 24:10 says "If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!" I'm done with wimpiness. I want to be stronger, better, more. {I have no idea how to punctuate that last sentence to read like I want it.} I want to live above circumstances, not whine because of them. I want to be powerful - not in my strength but God's. I can't do this life adequately on my own which is why in every area I have to clear room for Him and then dwell with Him there. That means if this blog is to continue, He'll have to be the largest part of it.

I hope y'all are feelin' me here. If you don't, please don't tell me. I might cry.

Okay. It's church time and I've got to get out of my pj's. I love you dearly family and friends - visible and invisible! I pray this will be a Stronger year for you, too.

So obviously this isn't Monday but I ran across this post while looking for something else and quickly realized what a sentimental time capsule it was for me. It is originally dated March of 2007. {I only began blogging the month before.} God had been speaking intensely to me for a few months about not being afraid to do something a little bit bigger for Him (though I had no clue what that would look like) and I was answering, "I can't.. I can't.. I'm not enough!" He was also pressing me to sit still and focus - unfortunately, He's still having to reinforce that message. However, what touched me the most were the comments. It's especially funny to see Patty say...."I've been here twice now.." Patty, who knew? lol

So anyway, I don't think it's any accident I ran across this today so hopefully you'll enjoy a repost :)


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In my continued study of Moses I am reminded of the God's gracious enforcement of quiet and solitude in this man's life. Though I am certain it did not feel like an act of blessing at the time, peace and rest are necessary in order for our spiritual house to be built. I will be experiencing an enforcement of stillness tomorrow. My vehicle will be in the shop and I am already breaking out in hives.

Have you ever seen those ocean documentaries that show fish whose bodies are designed to live at a certain depth? Let them go deeper and they'll implode or come up to close to the surface and they will explode? Fascinating. I think I am like one of those fish - designed for a certain amount of activity or something is going to blow.

My prayers as of late have been centered around asking God to show me what activities I am currently engaged in that 'exceed the call'. Because I believe so strongly He has given me a ministry to women, I understand it is time to begin saying 'no' in areas that fall outside those boundaries. The letters N - O are like the Q and X of my alphabet....much needed but seldom used. However, God is making it clear to me now is the time to develop a single-minded focus on eternal things. I think it best to willingly hand Him my days in hopes of avoiding His Enforcing Hand on the matter.

I must make it abundantly clear that just because I feel this urgency to make these changes does not mean I expect a life of leisure. May I share with you when I feel my rest will be ordained? Follow me to Deuteronomy 3 for the explanation.

In this chapter, Moses is recounting the distribution of land to the Israelite tribes. He tells the men of the tribes who are given land in the east bank their families can settle, but they must fight with their brothers until they are at rest. It is only then they will be free to go home and rest themselves. Hear Deut. 3:19, "But your wives and your little ones and your livestock (I know you have much livestock) shall remain in your cities which I have given you, until the Lord gives rest to your fellow countrymen as to you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God will give them beyond the Jordan. Then you may return every man to his possession which I have given you."

My heart's desire is for all of us to possess the land - spiritually speaking of course. To experience the peace and rest and abundance of God Almighty. A place we can live unhindered, unashamed, unbound with our faces ever towards the sky. Will you hear my heart and believe me when I say that God has placed such a heavy burden on my heart for you? I will not rest until you do. If I can cross the river with you, fight alongside you in your battles, and help you settle in...Wow. What more could a girl ask for in life? I can't enjoy mine until you are enjoying yours. This same passion is for my family as well. Short of heaven, they deserve haven. I pray I'm giving that to them.

It is on my heart today to let you know how I dearly love all of you - whether you be family, old friend, or new to the sistahood...Thank you for giving me courage...I hope to give it back.





Blessings on you, my sisters!

We look for perfect faithfulness from people and that is the last place it will ever be found.

There.

I said it.

I was supposed to share that one simple thing Sunday morning - in front of the church people. I know this because as I prayed God impressed this thought on me so heavily it took my breath. First, I was afraid our Southern Baptist congregation would think I had gone all co-pastor on them. Ultimately however, I second-guessed myself into believing this was just one of my own random thoughts so I held my tongue.

And He hasn't let me forget about it yet.

I thought a little more about how that could apply to me personally. I've been guilty of making someone a god who never wanted to be. Of depending on their obedience (or lack of it) to justify my own . Of trying harder to please a person than Christ - in essence making them an idol. (Any NOG girls out there?) There have been other times when I've been the person of whom too much was expected. Goodness knows if anyone is looking at me for a model of godliness, they'll be sorely disappointed by the end of the day. I've also resented when I've been forcefully placed on a pedestal and then criticized when I fell from it. And then, worst of all, is when I have spent too much time trying to tweeze a splinter out of someone else's eye when I had a telephone pole flopping around in my own because I wanted to make them better when they weren't the one who needed fixing.

So practically what does this mean?

Girls, it's time we worry about our own faithfulness instead of someone else's. That we use the time we are complaining about other's issues to get our own junk together. That we stop looking horizontally for perfection when we'll only find it when our eyes are to the sky. Let's ask ourselves: What if the person whose faithfulness we are questioning is looking back at ours? Could they be just as disillusioned?

(That was a right hook to my chin, girls. Truly, I'm beating myself up here.)

The point? There's only one Jesus. Only one who is Perfect. Only one who will never let us down. Only one who can be fully relied upon no matter what the circumstance. Let's cling to the hem of His robe and let everyone else in our lives off the hook for not taking care of us - or themselves - like only He can.

We'll lead far less disappointing lives. Shoot, we may even get some joy back when we stop expecting a mere mortal to be our Jesus.

Can I get a witness?

"It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man." ~Psalm 118:8

During my daily bible reading, I came across a little nugget I couldn't wait to share with you.

In light of 700 Billion Bailouts and executives profiting from the ruination of a nation - and lo, even a world - it is tempting to develop a fatalistic outlook where our own futures our concerned. As Luke and I have watched our tiny nest egg shrivel to a nest shell, I have been guilty of a little anxiety over the economic crisis we are all facing. If we decide to buy a home one day instead of living in a parsonage, will that even be a possibility considering the hoops banks will now require we jump through to secure financing? Will we be able to buy a vehicle when the Suburban finally breathes her last? I don't know. I'm a financial market dummy so I really don't have a clear understanding on how all of this mess affects our day-to-day lives except for the fact our latest retirement statement made me shriek out loud.

We don't have much, girls, but what we do have? Let's just say I counted on keeping it. It's baffling to me to think that the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth on Wall Street has the power to ripple through Small Town, USA. That someone not paying their mortgage in Hoboken, or St. Louis, or Los Angeles could somehow affect our personal savings. Truly, did anyone have any idea? Do we even know how we got to this place?

So now for the nugget. Hear with me the words of Isaiah 33:5-6, "The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and He will be the stability of your times. Abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge, and fear of the Lord is Zion's Treasure."

He will be the stability of your times. Oh my goodness, you have no idea what those words do to me! Our God does not tremble nor does He move. He's still up there, on His throne, guarding treasure for each of His beloved children. Indeed, He Himself is our very great reward. We were never called to accumulate an abundance of stuff, but an abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. We are not to fear the earthquakes rocking Wall Street, but our Lord who is the bedrock of our very souls.

There is no need to lament the times. Jesus said it would be like this. Even though these concerns have tickled the edge of my prayers, I haven't come right out and asked God to !fix this God please fix this! because I'm a girl who believes there are consequences to godlessness and in these last days, those consequences will affect the godly with the ungodly. I word my prayers instead with "thy will be done" and "teach me not to worry about my temporal life". Instead of dreading the headlines, let's welcome them as the mother whose birth pains signal her child is near. Christ is coming and I can't wait.

Even if we are stripped of every material thing, even if we lose our very lives, eternity waits. Our retirements may be dwindling but our inheritance remains secure.

Now, smile. We've got nothing to lose.

Tonight Luke and I went to eat with some friends from church. On our way home we passed car after car with Louisiana tags and it was all I could do not to burst into tears. Can you imagine cramming all you can fit into your vehicle knowing what you left behind will likely be lost? Somehow, seeing all those evacuees made the seriousness of what they are facing seem so much more real. I want to do something and yet I feel so helpless.

So, in my weakness I thought I'd pray and ask you to do the same. I pray these families are finding refuge, both physically and spiritually. I pray this storm dissipates but if it doesn't, that those who are affected will not lose heart. I pray we will be God's hands to those who will need aid - again.

I pray.

Will you?

UPDATE:

Rachel from A Future Pastor's Wife has checked in. She and her family have fled the campus of New Orleans Seminary for safety. Again, this becomes so much more real when you can touch real lives who are affected. I'm sure Rachel would appreciate your visits and prayers.

P.S. Go see my friend Fran to see how her church is ministering to over 125 evacuees. Awesome stuff!



"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." ~ Psalm 9:9-10

I know it is a really crazy time for me to be talking about a possible next book/bible study project, but this morning in my prayer time God continued to impress upon me a potential topic that I feel is huge: The Secret Lives of Women.

Do you have a secret? Lots of women do. I do. Each of us holds things deep in the recesses of our hearts that colors the way we move throughout the world. In my prayers on this subject, I wonder:

1. Do we try to keep our secret from God? (As if He doesn't know) Or perhaps we are just in denial with Him about the way it truly affects our relationship with Him and others.

2. Do we always have to tell it? Is there a time we can confess it to God, stop it, release it, process it through Scripture - whatever - and then walk away?

3. What are we afraid of? Who are we trying to protect by holding on so tightly?

4. To what lengths are we willing to go to keep it? Will we become a habitual liar to keep people from knowing we lied once?

5. What does it feel like when we do some truth-telling? To lay still and let God open us up and do a little secret-otomy. We know we can trust God to still accept us, but can we trust what people will do to us with the information? Can we handle it?

6. What kinds of things do we lie about? S*x, Money, Abuse, Addiction..??

7. Does our secret even have to be something big? If who we claim to be doesn't add up to who we are in reality, does that make us a pretender? I love the meaning of the word conscience - it means, "to see throughout, transparency". Is there consistency between our hearts and our hands?


Those are just a few random thoughts on my brain this morning. I had to purge or they would be forever lost. I'd love your feedback on the subject. Does any of this speak or am I just weird? :) And in the spirit of the post, please feel free to remain anonymous if there is something personal you would like to share.