Members of our church youth group, armed with brooms, mops, and buckets, descended on the new minister’s house intent on a little last-minute cleaning and a whole lot of shenanigans. Philip Black and his family were on their way to their new house and we needed to get busy.

We weren’t sure what to expect from this new guy, but as soon as that gigantic smile of his burst through the door we were all swept away by his clever wit and genuine love for people. Philip remained our preacher throughout my teen years and became good friends with my dad. 

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the state, another man led a small tribe with the same type of genuine spirit. With not nearly as many words, Berlun Jackson’s work ethic, honesty, and friendliness drew others to him and spilled over into members of his tribe. 

While I sat listening and learning from Philip, my husband Ron sat at the feet of his dad, absorbing all of his good qualities. Ron and I met in Auburn in September of 1978. Knowing I played racquetball, he said he’d always wanted to learn how to play. (What a pick-up line!) Of course, I offered to teach him a thing or two, and I haven’t stopped doing that for over 40 years! 🙂 After his first kiss, I was all in, and I think he must have been too. We got engaged in October and married in June just eight months later. Every month since then, I’ve appreciated the time his father spent teaching Ron to be a man.

Ron also learned from his dad how to scare the living daylights out of me. I remember riding with the senior Jackson in his truck one day. Neither of us talked much, so it had gotten really quiet. I’m sure my mind was off in Never-Never Land somewhere when all of a sudden he screamed and slapped the truck seat as hard as he could. I screamed louder and tried to push my thumping heart out of my throat and back down into my chest. He laughed and laughed. It took hours for my heart to get back into rhythm. 

Let’s just say, Ron learned everything exceptionally well from his dad!

This past Sunday, both Philip, the man who married us, and Berlun, the man who helped sustain us, were eulogized. Philip in Montgomery, Berlun in Guntersville. In his later years, Philip moved to Guntersville to live near his brother. It was heartwarming to see the obituary for these two precious men appear side-by-side in the local newspaper.

Both men fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith, and left a legacy of love.

Each man played a significant role in the book written by God long ago that continues to be played out in the chapters of our love story. 

Since this is Valentines week, let me go on record as saying God has a love story for you as well. He hand-picked you to be part of His tribe. Jesus has already armed Himself with a Sword, a robe, and a crown to prepare the way toward a new home for you. He can’t wait to see your gigantic smile burst through heaven’s door because of your great love for Him! 

Yes, there will be days He will need to get your attention. He may slap the seat you’re sitting on to get your heart in the right place, but He only does it because He loves you and wants to see you smile again. Appreciate Him taking the time.

Sit at His feet.

Pay attention. 

Learn. 

Fight the good fight. 

Keep the faith. 

Finish the race. 

Leave a legacy of love. 

And then, after we see Jesus … we’ll go side-by-side to find Philip and Berlun. I think you’ll love them too.

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.”

John 14:2-3

Whenever my friend and I travel together she’s in charge of playing the music from my phone. As she scrolls through my playlists, she likes to give me a hard time not only about how many there are, but also how varied. Indeed, I do love music, and my tastes teeter totter from Beethoven to Foreigner, Toby Mac to Selah, James Taylor to Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Crowder to Hillsong. Whenever my downloaded songs play randomly they resemble Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get!

Yesterday morning I chose one of my favorite Christian playlists to keep me company on the road. Two songs that I happily sing along with, when I’m sure no one’s listening, rang out back-to-back. However, I’ve never noticed the connection between them until yesterday.

The first one reminded me of who God is. He’s a “way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, Light in the darkness.” God never failed to make a way for me when I lost my way. I’ve often witnessed Him doing the impossible. He has never left me, forsaken me, condemned me, or been unloving, unfaithful, or untrue. Things always seem to look better in the light of His day, the light of His love, and in the light of His Word. He mends lives and turns them around. He powerfully works for me even when I don’t see it. That is why I worship Him!

Then, on the heels of that song came one that testifies to what each of us can become after we fully realize exactly who God is. Each of us can hold our head up and boldly declare, “I am a mountain mover, water walker, more than just an overcomer because I’ve been set free. I am a gospel preacher, heart on fire, freedom-singing testifier because I’ve been redeemed. I AM A BELIEVER!”

I’ve been in “the hands of the Healer and the arms of the Savior” more times than I can count. In fact, that’s where I long to stay. I am fully aware of my need for new mercies every morning. I know “the grace of Jesus makes me who I am.” But here is the part I don’t want you to miss; this is not your home. You don’t walk alone – no matter what comes your way. You can have peace through the trouble. You can have joy through the struggle, and place your hope in a brighter day!

Since you’re reading this, you most likely believe that Jesus is who He says He is and that He can do all He says He can do. But do you really believe He will do it for you? I sure hope so, because He is more than able and way more than willing to prove His love! Just keep your eyes and heart open.

If you are struggling or stressed today, spend some time worshipping. If you’re having a great day, spend some time worshipping. Nothing speaks louder to those who don’t know Jesus than someone who’s been with Him through worship.

Here’s a little something to get you going:

Happy Tuesday, Freedom-singing testifier!

Have you noticed the people of the world are lost? Because they live in the dark, they act and react like lost people. So, why do their actions surprise us? 

Consider some of the societal problems we have now – abortion, a divisive government, racism, homelessness, pornography, poverty, abuse, homosexuality, sex trafficking, drug/alcohol addiction, depression, and suicide. If merely reading that list overwhelms you, put ONE face on the ONE problem that most deeply pricks your heart. Could that ONE face benefit from your prayers? Your loving kindness? Your resources? Your time? Your friendship? Could you help just ONE struggling person? 

Most times, when I feel overwhelmed by a variety of situations, I do nothing. That’s not good. Seeing too much hurt all at once causes me to feel useless. I guess that’s why I’ve limited my news intake. I tend to spoon everyone’s hurt into my heart and let it sit there until it sours my attitude. Overwhelming hurt has the potential to choke our spirits, but most of us ably chew up smaller bite-size pieces when we need to. I’ve decided to stop using the overwhelmed feeling as an excuse and start doing something to make a difference!

It’s taken some time, but I’m finally learning it takes hefty doses of courage to be vulnerable enough to meaningfully connect with others. It also takes time to build a trusting relationship, and it takes accepting the love of God to give us the desire to even want to be an encouragement to others.

My grandmother spoke wisely when she said, “We always find the time to do the things we really want to do.” 

Oh God, change the desires of our hearts into what You desire for us! Help us want to step into the lives of the hurting long enough to shine a light on the path that leads straight to You. Forgive us for thinking our time can be better spent on projects rather than people. Help us see what You see. Overwhelm us with Your strength.

Take a moment to imagine the change you might experience if every Christian in your life covered you in a heap of loving kindness  – no matter what you’ve done. 

What if they regularly reminded you of the drenching grace Jesus longs to pour over all of us – no matter what any of us have done? 

Just think how you might go deeper with God if you were motivated by Christian friends who mustered the courage to share the tender details of their friendship with the Holy Spirit – no matter what they’ve done. “Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you. Do also the same for them. Matthew 7:12, CSB

Love has covered a multitude of YOUR sins; it can do the same for others. 

“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 

1 Peter 4:8, CSB

Grace has taught YOU to live a godly life; it can do the same for others. 

“For the grace of God has appeared to bring salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” 

Titus 2:11-12, NIV

Friendship with the Holy Spirit comforted YOU, taught YOU, and helped lead YOU out of darkness; it can do the same for others. 

“[Jesus said] I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.” 

John 14:16-17, CSB

None of us are made to do everything, but we all have someONE who needs what we have. Let the Message’s paraphrase of Paul’s words to the Romans cause you to look around your life for that ONE face who needs some Sonshine.

“Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next.”  

Romans 15:1-4, The Message

I’m convinced we contain the power to create a huge dent in most of our world’s problems. We can make a huge difference by replacing all the criticism with one simple question:

I am so looking forward to what God will do next! What about you?

My friend Kim and I walked into the familiar room of about 25 ladies eagerly seeking freedom from drugs and alcohol. They had assembled for our once-a-month Bible study, one that always jolts our hearts with joy. Newcomers eyed us timidly. Old-timers smiled and greeted us warmly. 

Whenever we stand in front of a group, it’s their eyes that let us know when we’ve struck a nerve.

As we talked about reasons to praise God, several eyes throughout the room frequently filled with emotion, threatening to spill over. The Holy Spirit moved heart by heart throughout the room. I prayed silently, but mightily, for Him to take over like only He can.

He never disappoints.

Since I became convicted last year about making sure that we never leave those women without laying out the gospel and emphasizing their need for Jesus, I did my best to do that. We offered them the opportunity to come to us for prayer when we concluded. It could be any kind of prayer – one of surrender or one for a very specific need. 

Needless to say, we had the honor of praying for several women that night for many reasons. I’m always humbled by the things these women have endured.

One young lady had been writing all during our time together as a way of processing what she was hearing. She brought what she’d written and read it to me. I asked her if I could take a picture of it so that I could share it with you today. Her smile nearly swallowed her face as she replied, “Oh, yes! Please!” Here is a portion of what she and the Spirit penned together:

“No matter what I’ve been through or where I’ve been, look at how God worked from then to now. Look at my life now! God works in good ways. If He brought me out of those situations, He can bring me out of this one. God got me right where He wants me. I could have been dead or in prison, but that wasn’t a part of God’s plans. I always cried when times got hard and things got rough, but asking and praying for help was the best thing I could have ever done. Be specific about what you ask God for. This was my way out. This is the help God knew I needed because I can’t do it on my own. My story and my problems can help somebody else, just like somebody else’s problems and stories are helping me now.”

Wow! Her words filled my eyes with emotion. She gets it. She knows that her circumstances have made her stronger and she knows now exactly where her help comes from. She understands her purpose in life is to help others by sharing all God’s done for her.

I’m sharing this with you to remind you how powerful your stories can be. Nothing frustrates me more than someone who loves God, but doesn’t want to share any specifics about what He’s done for them. I hope you know we are ALL hot messes. We ALL need God to cool us off and straighten things out. I need to learn from your mess and you need to learn from mine. Only then, can we celebrate all He does for us. Only then, can we douse our hot pride with some cool humility.

After praying with our new writing friend, a woman with streams of tears running down her cheeks walked up to me. I had watched her eyes throughout the night. They were troubled and teary. A solemn expression slid down her face about as far as it could slide without falling into her lap. When she walked up to me we exchanged a warm hug as she whispered in my ear, “I’m ready!” I loved hearing her say, she was finally ready to let God have control of her life. 

No doubt the Spirit had been working on her for a while, but He blessed me by allowing me to witness her most significant moment of surrender. What an encourager He is!

As we left, Kim and I talked with our new sister once more. We watched her eyes. She wore a new expression of peace that was unmistakably Spirit-sent! Her eyes sparkled with pure joy. If God can do that so quickly on her outside, just imagine what He did on her inside!

I’m praying that the Spirit in this new year will teach each of us to feel more deeply, share more freely, and watch the eyes of others more closely. Please join me in believing that our 2020 eyes will be filled with an indescribable, inexpressible, and glorious joy! 

Next week I’ll be sharing my new word for the year. I hope you’ll have yours ready to share. 2020 will be a monumental year – no matter what!

Happy New Year!

This time next week we will be smack dab in the middle of the giving and receiving of gifts. Some of those gifts will paint wide grins on happy faces, while others will … well … you know. 

Like most of you, as a kid I couldn’t wait to tear into my presents. Ribbons and wrapping sailed through the air followed by tissue paper, bows, and box lids. I couldn’t wait to see what was inside. The anticipation was almost as good as the actual unwrapping. 

Now that I’m all grown up (so to speak) the focus of my anticipation has been redirected. I can hardly wait to see the paper fly soon after my grandchildren receive their gifts. I know I will be overwhelmed by pure joy once again.

All of this anticipation has caused me to wonder whether or not God had a hard time containing His excitement before giving His gift to the world. After all, that page in your Bible separating the Old and New Testaments represents four hundred years! That’s a long time to wait for an unwrapping.

God certainly knew we needed His gift. Surely, He understood there were some who knew enough to want it. Yet, even though His gift met a need and fulfilled a desire, God gave us Jesus out of pure love.

If my grandchildren took my gifts and threw them in the trash without even opening them, I’d be devastated by their disregard. On the other hand, if after opening them they believed my gifts were neither needed nor wanted, I’d be sad. But worst of all, if after opening them and realizing their value, they handed them back to me feeling they hadn’t earned them, we’d have to have a talk.

I’m fairly certain that many of you reading this have opened God’s gift and received Jesus. You want Him more than anything. You understand exactly how much you need Him. I knew those things too, even as a teenager. But it wasn’t until a few years ago that I finally understood just how much God loves me and wants the very best for me. I don’t have to earn His love. It’s already mine. Is that hard for you to believe too?  

My grandchildren do not have nearly enough money to repay me for the gifts I’ve purchased for them. Neither are any of us able to repay God for the gift of Jesus. All I want from my five young ones at Christmastime are giant smiles, humongous hugs, and spontaneous thank-you’s. I’m eager to witness a display of joy and affection that prove they know without a doubt that my love for them is real, genuine, and free of charge. When they grasp that kind of unconditional love, they will be able to more clearly recognize and accept God’s love for them. Only then can they begin to appreciate Jesus’ grace and celebrate their intimate friendship with the Holy Spirit. It’s God’s love, the grace of Jesus, and the fellowship with the Holy Spirit that create a bond that will always help them stay on a path that is good for them.

Even when my grand kiddos are less than grand with me, they know I love them too much to let them slide very far. The same is true with God. He loves us too much to overlook our mistakes. He will do whatever it takes to keep us on a path that is good for us – one that keeps us near Him. Once we experience His presence, we never want to leave. We want everyone we love to experience Him too.

With that in mind, sometime this week, let’s all stop for a just a pair of minutes and give the gift that may seem a bit over-the-top nowadays. Let’s give our time to someone in need of a few giant smiles, humongous hugs, and spontaneous thank-you’s. Then, be ready to do what may be even more difficult – let somebody love you!

I’m pretty sure the Great Gift-Giver would enjoy watching that kind of gift exchange.

“God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.” 

Titus 2:11-14, The Message

Last week, the seeds planted by my mother and two grandmothers that had lain dormant for the past two years thankfully sprouted and took root again inside me. The joy over my most favorite holiday returned, transforming my Thanksgiving preparations into pure delight. Like many of you, I asked all my peeps for their food requests, made my grocery list, shopped till I dropped, decided what could be made ahead and what would be last-minute dishes. Then I donned my apron, and enjoyed days of chopping, slicing, simmering, and stirring. I remembered some of my grandmothers’ tricks as I went along, adding a dash of this and a sprinkle of that. It felt good to be connected to them like that again. I’m praying my grandchildren will store away those kinds of memories to conjure up later on.

Sometime during this Thanksgiving Day process, my quiet time took me to 2 Peter 1, and naturally my wheels started churning up thoughts, words, and lessons – some for you, but more for me. I began to notice that Peter’s words made a great recipe for “MORE”. Doesn’t God’s love seem like a plateful of Thanksgiving goodness, always leaving us wanting just a little bit more? The more love we have, the more we’ll be able to share love with others.

Peter began his second letter by handing us God’s menu. On it, we see that the Master Chef included every possible delicacy free of charge. “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3, CSB, emphasis mine)

It’s as if Jesus beckons us to God’s buffet and then waits to see how we will respond. Will we heap our plates high, having complete confidence in the quality of His meal, or will we lack faith in who He made us to be and only dip out a few measly crumbs? God planned for our meal to begin with substantial faith and end with a deliciously, decadent amount of love. 

So, how do we expand our simple faith into this kind of belt-loosening love? It’s a process that’s not merely survived, but one in which we THRIVE! Peter spells it out perfectly. We set our plate of FAITH on the table. Then, because we crave more, God helps us to methodically spoon out helping after helping of the following dishes:

GOODNESS. As the Holy Spirit stirs inside us, our desire to make good moral decisions gets folded into our already-existing faith.  His power at work in us allows others to taste and see God’s goodness expressed through us.

KNOWLEDGE. The more we get to know God, the more understanding and wisdom we will digest. The wiser we become, the more effective we’ll be in sharing God’s goodness. Experiencing God’s love, the grace of Jesus, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit will quickly turn our sour religion into sweet relationship.

SELF-CONTROL. A deeper friendship with God and an acceptance of His grace motivates us to say ‘no’ to our own selfish desires. We trust the Spirit to help us see the consequences of putting our own desires first. This helps us avoid the things that are bad for us.

ENDURANCE. Just when we’re beginning to thrive in God’s process, Satan dispenses discouragement to shove us out of line. When we’ve had more than we can take, God helps us purge all that’s been making us sick, so that we can receive His hefty dollop of “everything good”. The joy of the Lord becomes our strength that helps us endure!

GODLINESS. Realizing where our help comes from allows us to become more like Jesus. Godliness forms when we realize life is not all about us. We were made to praise God and give Him the very best reviews. As our faith gets richer, it becomes the spice of life that releases the fragrance of Christ.

BROTHERLY AFFECTION. Realizing that the world doesn’t revolve around us, allows us to see others through God’s eyes. Brotherly affection can take many forms. It might come through a phone call, a text, flowers, an unexpected meal, a short note, a long letter, errands run, babysitting, listening, or just giving your time. In a nutshell, brotherly affection is anything that makes someone else’s day better, all because the giver wants to, not because they think they should. (We can usually tell the difference, right?)

LOVE. When we pile our faith high with goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, and brotherly affection, all the world sees is love – God’s love!

Thanksgiving isn’t the only day we give thanks.  It’s a special day of remembrance that grows sweeter every year. In the same way, Peter’s process of enriching our faith isn’t a one-time thing. It’s like enjoying your favorite meal again and again. Every morsel creates a more glorious and inexpressible joy because we’re drawn that much closer to Love.

May the seeds we plant today sprout and take root in those coming behind us. May our children’s children be filled to overflowing by the gracious goodness of Jesus.

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 

1 Peter 2:8-9, CSB

Being accused of something you didn’t do, think, or say stinks. 

Math was never my best subject in school, especially algebra. I think the reason I developed such a bad attitude toward the mix of letters and numbers was because of my seventh-grade algebra teacher. She wreaked of cigarette smoke, wore a constant scowl, and was the grouchiest woman I’d ever met. She was the kind of teacher I hoped I would never become. We became petrified and bug-eyed whenever she looked our way. So, let’s just say she enhanced our prayer lives.

One morning before handing back our graded test papers, she ominously called another girl and me up to her desk – in front of everyone. I didn’t even know she knew my name. It was always my plan to keep quiet and remain invisible. I knew I’d not done well on the test, but did she have to make a scene? She peered over her glasses and immediately accused us of cheating. That was totally unexpected! Then, as fast as a Fourth of July bottle rocket, righteous indignation replaced my fear and trembling. Suddenly, I wasn’t so timid because I knew she was wrong! I had not cheated. She smugly asked for me to show her how I got my answer. When I did, she angrily snapped, “That’s NOT how you do that!” My pent-up frustration unleashed a disrespectful response, “And that’s the problem! I don’t know how to do any of this! But I do know one thing! I did NOT cheat!”

Not the humblest of reactions, but I gained some empathy from her after that.  She stopped by my desk more often to see if I understood what I was doing. I still don’t know a lick about algebra, but I learned a huge lesson that day. In this world there will be people who just don’t understand what you’ve been through, what you’re going through, or how much all of that changes you.

Maybe you can relate. Perhaps you’ve successfully recovered from an addiction of some kind, overcome some emotional upheaval, or had a spiritual awakening. But despite all of that, your friends still respond to you based on who you once were rather than who you are now. It’s frustrating, I know. So, let me offer you a solution that’s helping me. It’s not an easy one, but it’s a good one: Keep shining, and be patient.

Beth Moore recently said, “People who knew the old us are the most reluctant to accept the new us.” That grabbed my attention, so I kept listening. She went on to say that our life has to testify to the change we’ve experienced. Man, I hated hearing that! I wanted something instant, not another process. But, the more I moved me out of the way, the more I knew she was right. We can’t expect our friends and loved ones to accept the new us until we help them stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. Yes, we must prove ourselves. And yes, those words taste like vinegar coming out of my mouth, but they’re true.

I began looking through Scripture to see if I could find someone who went through the same thing. That’s when I remembered John, also called Mark. He is Barnabas’ cousin and a co-worker with Barnabas and Paul. (He also went on to write the gospel of Mark.) During their first missionary journey Mark traveled with them until they got to Pamphylia. There he decided to abandon the mission. We are not told what brought about Mark’s decision, but I can guess, can’t you? Discouragement, self-doubt, difficult circumstances, and maybe even fear. Whatever the reason was, it stopped him in his tracks, and Paul was not happy about it. 

In Acts 15, we learn that Paul wanted Barnabas to go back with him to visit the churches they had planted to see how things were going. Barnabas wanted to also take Mark, but Paul didn’t want a quitter tagging along. He emphatically disagreed with Barnabas, causing a “sharp disagreement”.

Reading all of that makes me wonder what was going on inside of Mark’s mind. Maybe at that point he understood why Paul reacted like he did, or maybe he was still confused. Nevertheless, Barnabas took Mark with him in one direction, while Paul chose Silas to go another. This doubled their effort, as well as the outcome. What began as a problem, turned into something very good! More people saved!

I’m supposing that John Mark matured while spending time with Barnabas. His eyes opened to the things he needed to change, things he’d gotten all wrong, and more than a few things he needed to incorporate into his own life. His transformation took time. Then, once HE knew he’d been changed, old friends like Paul slowly began to see a difference.

We know that Paul did see a difference in Mark because they got back on the same team. Paul ends his letter to Philemon with these words, “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, and so do MARK, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, MY COWORKERS.” (v.23-24) However, I’m most encouraged by what Paul wrote to Timothy from prison: “Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11) Mark proved himself, but it had taken some time.

Oh, how those of us who’ve experienced significant change want others to notice and appreciate it immediately! We know that we know we are different, but others need time to see the change manifested in our behavior and the words we speak. 

It took some mighty Holy Spirit power for Mark to admit he was wrong and commit to changing. The power within Barnabas allowed him to live up to his name “Son of Encouragement”, so that he could slowly, gently, and effectively lead Mark back into his calling. And finally, Paul counted on the Spirit to help him accept and receive Mark back into the group.

How is the Holy Spirit working in you? Are you the one who needs changing? Be like Mark. Do you need to encourage someone struggling to become all God created them to be? Be like Barnabas. Has someone who once disappointed you proven themselves? Be like Paul. 

Maybe it’s time we all shine, and be patient!

“Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” 

Galatians 6:9-10, CSB

I hate cleaning out the refrigerator.

Period!

Next to ironing, it’s my least favorite thing to do. If you could put both of those chores in a sack, throw them off a high cliff, and let them sink into the depths of the sea I might actually enjoy housework. Maybe. 🙂

Since I despise fridge duties, I’ve observed the strategies of others in hopes of finding a way that works for me. Here’s what I discovered:

• Some people are clean freaks. They make sure to NEVER have any nearly-empty containers, germ incubators, or mold growers lurking inside their refrigerators. All items are arranged either by alphabet or size with labels facing the front. The fridge’s shelves and walls are spotless, but there’s not much in there. It’s much too clean and orderly to clutter things up with food!

• Some folks are hoarders. They wait until there is not a single inch of space left in any drawer, compartment, or shelf to put another thing. Then, and ONLY then, will they throw out ONE funky-looking thing to make room for something new.

• Then, finally, there are the clutter cleaners. They set aside a day and take EVERYTHING out of the refrigerator and place it on the counter where decisions can be made. Does it stay or does it go? Once everything is sorted out, they give the fridge a once-over and put back the things worth saving.

When it comes to our emotional well-being, we might use similar strategies to clean up our thoughts and actions. In fact, the Bible has examples of all these approaches.

• The legalistic Pharisees were the clean freaks. They wanted spotless lives – ones that shined from observing all the minute facets of the Old Law. Not only did they want their lives to appear spotless, but they also expected others to follow all their rules. When Jesus came to fulfill the Law, they had a hard time adding any of His goodness and grace into their already-ordered lives. 

I’ve been that kind of religious rule follower and can testify to the bondage that keeps a legalist on a very short chain. There is complete freedom in cleaning out the boundaries we set or let others set for us. Let’s replace them with God’s boundaries of loving ourselves and others in ways that honor Him. His ways are good for us and give us joy!

• King David may have served well as king, but not as a father. He was a hoarder of emotions who begat more hoarders. David created a mountain of family chaos by overlooking many of his sons’ faults. Though David was a mighty warrior, he either lacked the gumption or ignored his responsibility in dealing with family conflict. Just a few strong reprimands could have saved the very lives of many of David’s children as well as those under his leadership. One of his most horrendous oversights affected his daughter Tamar. Amnon, Tamar’s step-brother, raped her and then tossed her aside. Though David became furious at the news, he did nothing. Meanwhile, the rage inside Tamar’s brother Absalom grew hotter and hotter until he finally had Amnon killed. Emotions that are stuffed, hoarded, and never dealt with have a way of erupting like a science fair volcano. No one with a heart for God enjoys conflict, but when emotions and hurtful actions are allowed to simmer, are ignored, or are minimized sad things happen.

• The apostle Paul was a clutter cleaner. The Galatian’s refrigerator lives had been filled with a distorted, germ-filled gospel and moldy chains of legalism. Paul went so far as to call them foolish Galatians! The letter he sent encouraged them to empty out the contents of their hearts, place them on the table, and sort through the good and the bad. With all the bad thrown out, they had plenty of room to refill their lives with all the good things they had first heard about Jesus. 

My prayer is that we all tap into some supernatural courage. Let’s have those difficult conversations we’ve been avoiding. It’s never easy, but it’s always good to clear the air. Maybe it’s time to lay everything out on the table, sort through all of the emotion, discard what stinks, and find the good in one another again. 

Life is short. Does your heart need cleaning?

Why are so many of the ladies in drug rehab I’m blessed to know so successful? Their counseling and instruction is based on the Word of God. In many ways, the women there are much like a church family. They eat, study, pray, cry, laugh, fuss, confess, worship, and commune together. They develop deep friendships with some and get on the last nerves of others. But the one thing that impresses me most about these women is that each of them knows they have a weakness. They not only admit it, but they are also willing to do something about it. Their honesty draws me to them.

Sometimes, the women who show up for help must first be introduced to Jesus. Other times, they are already saved but need to hear more reasons for falling deeply in love with God. Once they buy in to the Spirit’s refining process, they exchange their sad eyes for bright ones; their sullen attitudes for pleasant ones; and their frowns for big, beautiful smiles.

I believe the same is true for the world we live in. Some need us to tell them who Jesus is, while others need to be reminded of His power. All need to hear about our past and present struggles and how God has been and is fighting for us. More than anything, they need us to be honest. Honesty draws people to us so that we can point them to Jesus. They need to hear that while their sins and ours are still warm, Jesus whispers, “I still love you, but this is not good for you.” God’s Spirit convicts, but it never condemns. It tells us when we’ve messed up, but then teaches us how to make things right.

There are many things I love about my church family, but two of them delight and amaze me most. First, it is not uncommon to see two or three people huddled together in the lobby, aisle, or restroom praying for each other. Struggles are readily admitted and prayed over immediately. Unashamedly. With no hesitation.

Second, our small groups encourage honesty and provide help. Whether it’s a Freedom group, book study, or one centered around a common activity, everyone’s issues and difficult days are met with practical acts of service and prayer. Honest. Open. Helpful.

Rest assured, Satan will rise up in the hearts of those who fear giving up their own wills. They will make fun of and criticize the things they don’t understand. When the church gets honest with God, themselves, and each other, Satan’s arrows of hypocrisy, judgement, shame, depression, and pretentiousness fall to the ground. That’s exactly when the bewildered world stares wide-eyed and slack-jawed at the forgiveness, unity, and love of those willing to lay aside their own agendas for the good of another – even for those who criticize and make fun. While their mouths are hung open, let’s pop something good-tasting into them. Let them taste and see the goodness of the Lord!

“Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out. Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.”  

James 5:13-16, The Message

A common thought around my house last week was, “What in the world is going on?” My family rarely gets sick, but my passing out Monday, then hurling, and finally acquiring the mother of all headaches on the heels of surgery turned the week into quite a ride – a ride to the doctor’s office on Thursday and the ER on Friday night.

It may sound strange, but I’ve never felt so blessed. My man went above and beyond the call of duty. Who knew he was such a good cook! Then, my sweet family and friends blessed me with visits, hugs, phone calls, and texts. They made sure I knew I was loved and cared for!

But I have to admit, it was my time in prayer that comforted me most. Maybe you are in need of some comfort too. Maybe your work week has already slid downhill and you need a pick-me-up. Perhaps, there is a relationship that’s taken all you have to give and then some. Maybe you’re physically or emotionally sick. Are you longing to hear just one good thing that might possibly get you through the muck? Maybe I have what you need.

When I wasn’t in Lala Land, I got to spend lots of time talking to Jesus. As I began talking with Him in my mind, random reassurances of His love emerged rapidly. They came in no particular order, but together they all confirmed the love God has for me. I thought you might like to be reminded that you are loved, cared for, and held securely by the One who has the power to change your outlook. If that’s something you need today, picture Jesus sitting with you as you read the following prayer to Him. Take your time. Read slowly, and feel the love He has for you.

I thank you, Lord, that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, that your hand is always on me, and that you know me so well. I know that you are for me and not against me, and that you knew all the days ordained for me before one of them came to be. You faithfully go before me and behind me. You work everything for my good. You turn my mourning into dancing and you give me a song in the night. You are my Shepherd who leads me beside still waters. You make me lie down in green pastures. You anoint my head with oil. My blessings overflow because of you. Your mercies are new every single morning. You make my path straight and my burdens easy. I will fear no evil because you are with me. I know that the power you’ve placed inside of me is greater than the power in this world. When I resist the evil one, he flees from me. I find rest in you and you alone. No one knows me like you do. You know the plans you have for me even when I don’t – and they are always for my good. Even while I was still a sinner you sent your Son to die for me, so that we could be together forever. You are my Rock and my Redeemer. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can separate me from your love – not life nor death, not angels nor rulers, nothing present and nothing to come, no powers, not life nor death, and not any created thing will EVER diminish your love for me. Because I have witnessed your hand in my life over and over, I will not be afraid. Though the storms surround me and the waters rise, your hand will keep me safe. Your love has shown me that I am a chosen part of your royal family, I am holy, and best of all, I am your special possession. I will sing your praises today, tomorrow, and throughout eternity. You have never forsaken me, not for one minute, but you have disciplined me when I needed it. I know that only true love does that. Yes, you’ve pulled me out of many pits, and you’ve given me solid ground to stand on. You’ve shown me how suffering can be used to write new songs of thanksgiving and praise. Help those songs, Lord, bring glory to your name. Let others find what I have found in you. You are my Mighty God, my Wonderful Counselor, my Everlasting Father, and my Prince of Peace. I am continuously filled with a glorious and inexpressible joy.  Thank you for setting me free. And as always, Lord, it’s not to us, but to your name that we give all glory and praise forever and ever.  Amen.

May God help you turn this week into your best week ever!

On February 3rd of 2013, Dodge effectively used Paul Harvey’s tribute to the American farmer in their memorable Super Bowl commercial for the Ram truck. The poetic rhetoric captured not only the value of the farmer, but also Harvey’s inimitable style. I became mesmerized by this style and thought I’d give it a try. Valentine’s Day was just around the corner, so I decided to show some love and honor to my husband.

Before I share what I wrote, I thought you should know that if you’re reading this on Tuesday, my man has gotten up with me before the chickens to get me to a little surgery on time. (Nothing major mind you.) He will calm my nerves before they call me back, wait patiently while I sleep through the procedure, make sure I get home safely, and tuck me in for a little more sleep. He’ll bring me food, give me my medicine on time, smile, and kiss my head. Not because he has to, but because he wants to. It’s this kind of love that teaches me to express my love for God through service to others – not because I have to, but because I want to.

Whether you have a husband in your life or not, join me in paying tribute to all the men in your life. Fathers, husbands, sons, grandsons, brothers, cousins and nephews. God knows they need a few kind words of thanks.

So, God Created a Husband

God, knowing His complete plan for bringing mankind into an intimate relationship with Himself, smiled as he looked into the future and said, “I need a leader.”

So, God created a husband.

This amazing new world would need someone hard-working, strong, and not easily discouraged. There would be a need for one who was willing to work in the cold to keep his family warm, sweat when he’d rather take it easy, be courageous in the face of danger, and exhibit toughness when the road gets rocky.

So, God created a husband.

There would be ditches to dig, cars to fix, roads to pave, houses to build, and mortgages to pay. Someone would be needed to plan for the future while getting things done; dream dreams while making them come true one day at a time; strengthen relationships by simply letting his feelings show.

So, God created a husband.

Yes, there would be a need for a leader – a man who meets in executive session with his heavenly Leader every day; someone who admits his weaknesses, but doesn’t hide behind them; a man who can turn a wrench, then turn to gently kiss his baby girl; a man who places fence posts just so, but is more concerned with setting his son on the right path. There would definitely be a need for a father.

So, God created a husband.

God also knew there would come a need in the heart of a woman for someone on earth to see her as the woman she hoped to be, rather than who she is; someone who might not understand every tear, nod, wink or smile, but is willing to share them all. She would need someone to help her better understand God’s love by loving her without restraint. Her heart would want to skip a beat at the most unexpected times and long for a touch that said more than any words. God knew the heart of a woman …

So, God created a husband.

As the man stood tall and newly created, God understood that he would want to be loved and respected by a family who took pride in him. He would need reminders of how much he is admired and appreciated. But mostly, he would need daily acts of love, encouragement, and time to become all the things God intended him to be.

So, God created a wife!

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” Romans 12:9-12

Saturday, my son became a father to the precious little baby girl our family eagerly anticipated. I watched his heart melt as he cradled her in his arms. He held her close and sang to her sweetly, gently stroking her velvety cheek with his finger. He kept her warm and protected. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. He is known for flashing his giant smile, but this new gentle smile displays all the daddy-love in his heart. He will forever put his life on the line for her, giving her the best of his love, time, attention, and affection. 

As she grows, he will be more than willing to forgive her when she does wrong. Disciplining her will break his heart, but he will do it because he wants good things for her. She will be covered with every blessing at his disposal – not because she’s earned them, but because he loves her. All he will ask in return is that she love him with the same love he has for her.

So it is with our Abba Father. God eagerly longs to have an intimate relationship with us. He eagerly anticipates our climbing into His lap so we can share our hearts with Him. In His lap we are kept warm and protected by His embrace. When we feel we can’t take another step physically or emotionally, we can lay back in His arms and listen as He sings over us. He won’t stop smiling at us because of His great love for us. We are His joy and the apple of His eye. 

Jesus proved the love He has for us by paying for all of our mistakes. He put His love on the line. His blood covers our sin and makes us clean enough to want to crawl into the lap of the living God for forgiveness, mercy, and endless love.

This past Sunday, my mother would have celebrated her 80^thbirthday. She would have loved to love on our new little girl, but she will eventually have all of eternity to love on all of us again. Needless to say, my emotions have been tender, but mostly I’ve been so very thankful for all the hard times that brought me to this past weekend. 

Sunday morning at church we sang a song that I used to play when I’d drive my mom to her doctor visits. It’s one of my favorites. Every time I played it she would tell me how much she liked it. (I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.) Singing Love on the Line by Hillsong seemed like the perfect way to celebrate my mother’s birthday and the birth of my new granddaughter. 

These lyrics mean the most to me:

With all I am
In Your grace I stand
The greatest of all romance
Love of God
My Savior

To the One who has rescued my soul
To the One who has welcomed me home
To the One who is Savior of all
I sing forever

Love on the Line by Hillsong Worship

As you continue to grow in Christ, He will be more than willing to forgive you when you do wrong. Disciplining you will break His heart, but He will do it because He wants good things for you. You will be covered with every blessing at His disposal – not because you’ve earned them, but because He loves you. All He will ask in return is that you love Him with the same love He has for you.

Did you know it takes a whopping 1,761 degrees to melt silver? Once melted, impurities boil to the surface and get skimmed away by the silversmith who then turns up the heat to draw out more impurities. This process is repeated over and over until the silversmith can see his reflection in the silver. Only then can the silver be used for special purposes.

It’s not even August yet, but I know some of you have found yourself sweltering in fires hotter than 1,761 degrees. Some of you have lost loved ones, lost relationships, lost your health, or lost what little confidence you had. If that describes you right now, blame Satan. He’s trying with all his might to set your life on fire in order to consume your purpose and testimony. But take heart! Every part of your life that causes you to feel the heat of defeat only stokes the fire of the Holy Spirit living inside you. Greater is the fire burning within you than the fire burning around you. Or, as the apostle John said, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

Every sweat-provoking degree thrown at you by the evil flame-thrower has the potential to either consume you or ignite your fight. If you feel you’re about to be consumed by the flames, don’t give up. Fight back by changing the way you think when things heat up. While God didn’t set the wildfire, He will use it to draw out the impurities in your life. Satan will keep turning up the heat until every last doubt, insecurity, and sin rises to capture your attention. He doesn’t want your past mistakes and circumstances to be skimmed off. He wants them to pile up and sit so heavily on your heart that you’re forced to look at them and feel defeated day after day.

Fortunately, Jesus stands in every fire with us. His Holy Spirit fire burns hot from the inside out. If we trust Him, He will not only scoop up major heaps of dross floating on the surface, but He will also flick away even the smallest speck of scum. (I don’t know about you, but I like that image!)

I’m slowly learning to see every struggle as an opportunity to get rid of my junk. When I look at it that way, the fire doesn’t seem nearly so hot. In fact, when I to go to Jesus for relief, Satan’s flames are quenched by the washing of the water of the Word. (Ephesians 5:26)

I’m encouraged by what Paul said to the Corinthians, “He [the Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

If we think we don’t have anything that needs to be skimmed off of our lives, we may not really believe we need Jesus. Oh, we might have needed Him to save our souls once upon a time, but now we’re tempted to think our transformation is complete. Only those willing to acknowledge their impurities and choose to hold onto Him during the refining process will be used for special purposes. He’s patiently looking for His reflection in our lives.

If life hasn’t heated up where you live right now, get ready! Stuff’s about to float to the top, and after it’s scooped up and thrown out you’ll look more like Jesus as you fulfill your purpose.

Happy Tuesday!

Lord, You give us the good things we need while allowing the not-so-good. Thank you for turning the things Satan means for our harm into things that transform our minds. Give us Your eyes to see what You see. Give us Your heart to love like you. Give us your hands and feet to go where we’re needed and do what You would do. But, Lord, most of all, purify our hearts and give us your mind so that we reflect You. And as always, Lord, it’s not to us, but to your name that we give all praise and glory. Thank You for loving us.

In Jesus name, Amen!

My 12-year-old grandson Camden’s greatest vocational desire these days is to become a sports journalist. He’s developed his own sports blog, so I asked him if he’d like to guest blog for me sometime. He took me up on my offer, and in true ESPN style featured a sports figure in his message about following God’s plan.

To merely say I’m proud of him would be like calling Tiger Woods an average golfer. Camden excels in writing because his teacher/mom teaches him well. He loves God because his parents have shown him how to love. More importantly, he already understands that heartbreak is inevitable for all of us, but by following God’s plan, things have a way of working out for our good – eventually. This is a message that has inspired me to remember to let God handle all my struggles. I think it might inspire you too.

Even though Camden chose to write about an Alabama quarterback, he wanted me to make sure you know he is an Auburn fan. (That made me smile.) His choice of athlete makes me even prouder because he understands that even though folks may be from another tribe, we can all be united by the love of Jesus. Please don’t forget to show him some love in the comments. Thanks for traveling with us today. (If you’re curious about his blog, you can view it at www.camdenscove.blogspot.com.)

Let God Lead
by Camden Ellis

       This is the story of an incredible athlete who followed God’s plan even through the heartache. This is the story of Jalen Hurts. Despite all the pain, he let God take control. Jalen is an incredible example of someone who trusted God, and even though he went through great pain, everything turned out better than it was before. 

       Jalen Hurts, a 4-star quarterback prospect from Channelview, Texas, committed to Alabama and signed with the Tide as a freshman. Hurts’ future looked clear cut. He would be the starting quarterback for Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide until he left for the NFL. “As a competitor, I wanted badly to be a part of the dynasty that Coach Saban was building. I wanted to make my mark. I wanted to leave a LEGACY.” That’s what Hurts said in a letter 3 years after he committed to Alabama. Sure enough, he was named the starting quarterback for Alabama in 2016. Hurts didn’t lose a game in the regular season. And it didn’t cease when he beat Florida in the SEC Championship and Washington in the College Football Playoff. Hurts battled for a title vs Clemson in January of 2017, but lost by a last second touchdown.

Hurts used that as motivation for the 2017 season. Again, Hurts went on an 11-game win streak. But then Auburn upset the Tide in the Iron Bowl. Jalen Hurts, along with everyone on the Alabama team, believed their season was done. But when the Tigers lost to Georgia in the SEC Championship heads started to turn. When the top 4 was released a week later, Alabama was announced the 4^thspot in the rankings, meaning they’d secured a spot in the Playoffs. Alabama took down Clemson and again obtained a spot in the National Championship to face Georgia. Could this be Hurts’ time to shine? 

Jalen Hurts had a series of rough drives in the first half. As he trudged into the locker room down 13-0 at halftime, he knew he had to be better, but he didn’t know that he wouldn’t have a chance to. When Alabama took the field on offense, Hurts was still on the sideline. True freshman Tua Tagovailoa was the one to call the plays. Tagovailoa led the Tide back, forced overtime, and won the game with a touchdown pass. Hurts was all smiles despite the career-changing replacement. Now the world had seen Tua’s talent. Later in the offseason, rumors emerged about Hurts transferring. But God had a plan for Jalen, and Jalen had a choice of whether to allow God to take control or complain and transfer immediately. 

       Later in 2018, Tua was named the starting quarterback as expected. But Jalen Hurts stayed in Tuscaloosa. Coach Saban and Tua were putting up so many points by halftime of each game, Hurts got to play the rest of the game for about half of the season. Alabama went undefeated in the regular season and defeated Georgia in the SEC Championship. Tua was injured late in that game. Hurts got his shot and rushed for the eventual game-winning touchdown, keeping Alabama’s season alive. Tua recovered and beat Oklahoma before losing the National Championship to Clemson. Early in 2019, Hurts announced that he was transferring as expected. Eventually, he decided to transfer to Oklahoma where he would play as a starting quarterback. Indeed, God had a plan for Jalen, and Jalen let it follow through. 

       Jalen Hurts followed God’s plan though the pain. Jalen went through very tough things when he was replaced as the starting quarterback. His pride was hurt and his professional sports career was in danger. But despite that, he supported Tua and the rest of his teammates, didn’t complain about the situation, and most importantly, trusted God’s plan. And now, Jalen Hurts is the starting quarterback at Oklahoma.

Even though Jalen went through tough heartache, he trusted God’s plan for him and now, he’s in a great situation as he’s in excellent position to win the Heisman Trophy and compete for the National Championship as well as being projected as a first-round draft choice in 2020. If you follow God’s way instead of your way, it’s true you may go through very tough heartache. But ultimately, it will turn out better than before. God’s way is the best way. God knows everything there is to know, and he loves every person in the world. You see, God’s way is always the best way. His plan is the best plan. If you follow His way, it will turn out a thousand times better. Jalen Hurts is one of many people who followed God’s way despite unimaginable heartache.

Hurts said this in a letter to the world describing exactly what he went through and how it turned out great:

“It’s been almost four years, now, since the day I got the phone call that changed my life. A coach by the name of Nick Saban was on the line, wanting to ask about the chances of a Texas boy like me packing up for Tuscaloosa, and coming to play football at the University of Alabama.

I took my recruiting visit — and then never took another. It was just love at first sight between me and this program.

And it’s crazy to think about the journeys we’ve both been on since then.

As a competitor, I wanted badly to be a part of the dynasty that Coach Saban was building. I wanted to make my mark. I wanted to leave a LEGACY.

Was what happened in the 2018 National Championship Game bittersweet? Of course it was — it was a humbling experience. It was tough, man.

But I am even tougher for it. I AM BUILT FOR THIS.

I understand that God put those obstacles and challenges in my life for a reason. He wanted me to feel the pain I felt for a reason. He wanted me to understand the importance of never losing faith — and of always staying true to myself. He had NOT brought me this far just to leave me there.

“This isn’t something you’re stuck in,” I’d tell myself. “This is something you’re going through.” And one thing I can promise you is that I’m better off for having gone through it. Everything I dealt with: I’m stronger for it. I’m wiser. I’m a better man.”

“Follow the whole instruction the Lord our God has commanded you, so that you may live, prosper, and have a long life in the land you will possess.”
Deuteronomy 5:33

Most times, sisters are born to the same parents. Sometimes, they are blended into the same family. But on special occasions, God puts two girls together as friends who grow into becoming sisters for a lifetime. Kim King is that kind of sister to me. The transformation God has done in her life has blessed my family and me in countless ways. I am honored to give you a glimpse into her heart today by having her guest blog. Show her some love by reading her story, and get ready to be blessed.

It was early afternoon and the most perfect day smack dab in the middle of April.  Spring’s green grass had made its debut along with yellow wild flowers, budding flowery trees, and pink knock-out roses by the dozens. The wind was just brisk enough to boost my walk down the driveway to more than just a casual pace and cause ripples in the trio of ponds on the farm’s vast acreage.  The only sounds were those of the birds chirping sweet pleasantries, the cows’ mooing hallelujahs, and the horses chomping on the grass that fed their bellies.  Looking out over the mountain from atop God’s country, I could look down into the valley for miles and see the beautiful lake. Against the bluest of blue sky, the sun was shining down brightly while in the other direction the moon stood out oh so beautifully!

What brought me here was the thought that had been running through my mind for many months, “If I could only get away for a moment in time, just time away from all the noise, the busyness, the schedules, the mundane routine … the stuff.” I was thinking just me, by myself!  This thought had rattled my brain so many times over the past several months, but I continued to keep it to myself.  I thought it was very selfish to only think of me.

Eventually, the words starting verbally creeping out to my husband.  I mentioned it way more than once.  Then, I mentioned it to a dear friend.  I knew I had a week of vacation on the horizon and all I could think about was getting away … for just simply a day.  Before I knew it, my friend asked, “You want peace and quiet?  Why don’t you go stay at the farm?  Nobody will bother you there.  And you can stay as long as you like.”  I was all over that opportunity in a heartbeat!

I had been to the farm several times, but never by myself and not for an overnight stay.  I was eager to get away, and just let me say, this is not your ordinary Old McDonald farm with a barn.  The barn has living quarters for humans that a farm animal has never stepped foot in! It has a full kitchen and home entertainment center.  It even has a shower, which was a relief to my less-than-over-night camping style. Hey, there was even a heated pool with a pool house!  I was staying in complete comfort at the Hilton Barn Lodge.  Upon my arrival, I entered through the gate.  As I slowly drove the half-mile drive up toward the barn, I observed the multitude of cows to my left and gazed at the beautiful horses in the pasture to my right.  At the end of the paved drive, I parked my car behind the barn.  I grabbed my bags, went inside and up the stairs to my room to settle in for my overnight stay.  

After scoping out my rustic, cozy room and putting my things in place, I quickly made myself at home.  First things first, I made a fresh cup of hot coffee, snatched a book, and scurried straight for the wooden swing overlooking the grand countryside.  After a couple of chapters in my book and the last sip of caffeine, it was time to take the first of what would be many treks up and down the windy driveway path between the green pastures of cows and horses. 

As I began to traipse down the first leg, I immediately started talking to God.  I asked the Spirit to point out to me why I was there, at this particular place, and in this designated time.  As I walked down the first hill, I looked out over the mountains.  Then I glanced at the cows that mooed as I passed them by, and then over to the horses as they leisurely ate the grass.  They paid me no attention.  My head was moving back and forth as if I were watching a ping-pong match.  I was all in to this peaceful setting.  

As I got to the foot of the first hill, I “happened” to look down and noticed a turtle stuck in the fence.  I slowly went on past, but just a few steps later I came to a screeching halt. I turned around to see if I could help him out, maybe give him a little nudge.  I looked around for a stick of some sort. I was sure I wasn’t going to put my foot up to give him a nudge (I’m just sayin’).  I wasn’t able to find one close by.  At this point, I wasn’t sure if he was alive or not.  I went on my merry little way thinking I might find a stick on up the way.  And low and behold I did.  On my way back, I tried giving Mr. Turtle a nudge, but he didn’t budge.  It was at this point, the confirmation set in. He wasn’t alive.  So, I left him and continued on my walk. 

For the next few minutes, all I could think about was the turtle and how if he’d had someone to give him just a slight nudge, he could have been set free.  In that moment, I began to realize the Spirit was nudging me to see how I’d been stuck in a rut.  

For some time now, I had been letting the things of this world dictate my actions (or lack thereof) and my attitude.  Things of this life had a hold on me and were consuming me.  I was not taking time to breathe, but doing what I “had to do” and there was no time left to enjoy the simple things of life.  That afternoon I was able to stop and smell the roses (literally).  I took notice of the leaves as the wind rustled through them and rippled the ponds as I passed.  Rarely had I taken time to notice the moon in the middle of the afternoon.  I pulled a dandelion or two and blew on them which brought back sweet childhood memories of days gone by.  I even pulled a few of the yellow wild flowers that were growing along the fence and made a flowery bouquet.  I walked and I walked and I walked.  I leisurely swung in the swing and just took time to bask in the beauty of God’s creation.  At dusk, I pulled up the two rocking chairs that were made available underneath the overhang of the barn.  One for God and one for me. Coincidence there were two?  I think not.  We rocked, watched the gorgeous sunset, and talked.  Did He speak to me audibly? No. He spoke to me through His beautiful sunset.  I had a couple of things that had been weighing heavy on my heart for several months, and through this time away, His peaceful sunset, and the stillness of the moment, He assured me He has everything under control.  

Afterward, I went upstairs with no interest at all in catching up on social media or emails.  I entered my comfy cubby hole and took advantage of the quietness by just glaring into God’s Word.  I had a peaceful night’s rest, woke up early, and merely sat still in His presence for a couple of hours reading over His promises.  After enjoying a good ol’ cup of coffee, I was ready for a morning walk. This time, my mentality had changed. It was all about the thankfulness of the overabundance of blessings He has poured over me.  In this new day, the stuck-in-a-rut mentality had given way to peace for the days to come.

During this walk, I could only thank God for how richly He’d blessed my life.  How could I mope and complain about anything?   It took “getting away” in a peaceful setting and being completely alone with God for me to finally open up enough to realize my stuck-in-a-rut mindset. Only then could I surrender control of my future to Him.

As I walked in the freshness of this early morning, I was reminded that His mercies are new every day, Numbers 6:24-26 immediately came to mind …

“May the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.”

I thought about how God had blessed me and protected me through my friends. He allowed them to share in the blessings He had given them to bless me.  They protected me through the security measures they had put in place there on the farm. And it reminded me of how He blesses me and protects me every day. God smiled on me and was gracious to me through their kindness and generosity. He continuously smiles on me and is gracious to me in every area of my life.  God showed me His favor and truly gave me a peace about the upcoming changes that are on the horizon for my life.

What about you? Do you feel like you are so stuck in the middle of life’s distractions that you don’t take time to pay attention to the nudging of the Spirit in certain situations? Maybe it’s time to be still in God and climb out of your rut.

Before leaving for Ireland I’d been focused on Solomon’s admonition in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” It was that “guard your heart” part that struck a nerve. Whenever I feel pressure in my spirit, I know I’m supposed to let it linger until I see what God’s trying to show me. The deeper the truth He’s trying to reveal, the longer the process. Oh, how I’ve learned the hard way to embrace this grueling process I once hated! I still don’t like this kind of lingering, but I do love the end product.

Unfortunately for all of us, life occasionally hurls some pretty large stones at our hearts. Some bruise. Some cut. But every now and then, life bows up and hoists a boulder gigantic enough to break our hearts and crush our spirits into dust. Whether you’ve been on the receiving end of that blow or feel like the one who had to deliver it, you’re left with a heart barely able to squirt.

That’s where Ireland’s many castles entered into my learning process. We visited three of the most famous ones: Kilkenny, Blarney, and Bunratty. Though each displayed unique characteristics, there were still many similarities that taught me a great deal about guarding my heart. 

Castle moats, though not there now, once upon a time encircled the castles to keep the enemy at a distance. It’s hard to tunnel under a castle surrounded by water! Having a moat surround a hilltop castle with its raised drawbridge gave castle-dwellers a bird’s eye view of their enemies’ formations.

Castle walls were built high enough to keep enemies out, and some we saw had walls six feet thick. When it comes to our hearts’ protective walls, Satan will use whatever catapult, flaming arrow, or battering ram he chooses to help him break through. His goal is to steal, kill, and destroy our faith.

Castles originally had long narrow windows with slanted sides so that archers could have a wider range to aim their arrows without leaving themselves exposed to the enemy. Easy to shoot, but hard to get shot! Satan’s aim is calculated, but never true. He doesn’t have what it takes to keep hitting the marks on our hearts when we narrow our window of opportunity.

As Christians, we strive to keep our walls high against Satan’s attacks by paying attention to the music, movies, substances, and bad company we choose. However, we should be just as intentional about letting down our drawbridges with one another. In the days of kings, queens, ladies, and lords, drawbridges were lowered during peaceful days for great times of feasting, dancing, and entertainment. 

Perhaps, by now, you’ve joined me in being a bit confused about the “guard your heart” part of Solomon’s words. Because of your pain, you’ve been guarding your heart by resisting the faithful love of those who would like nothing better than to gain access into your heart and help you turn that hurt and fear into dust. Becoming more transparent scares the living daylights out of you. Hopefully, by now you see that guarding your heart means protecting your heart from Satan’s arsenal. Please don’t let him convince you to build a high wall of hurt or fear and miss God’s blessings.

Perhaps, like me, you may still have some emotions on the mend. There may be some relationships you have to let go for a season and pray God brings them back again when you can be a much better friend. In the meantime, I’m thankful God has worked overtime to bless me with some folks who allow me to readily drop my drawbridge. They meet me where I am and show me that I matter.

I’m sure the desire of my heart is no different from yours. I want to make a difference for the kingdom. Neither of us can do that effectively until our hearts are courageous enough to drop our defenses and allow helpful friends in to join us at our banquet tables. 

Thankfully, Jesus leads the parade into my heart daily. He surrounds me with Living Water so that no weapon formed against me will stand. (Isaiah 54:7) Best of all, I know that I know that I know:

The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.(Psalm 62:2)

He will be your mighty fortress too.

Now, go pour some water into your moat, and take a friend swimming!

I’ve been praying that our fresh look at Paul and Timothy’s friendship would strengthen our desire to become better friends. Like Paul, who understood the brevity of his life on earth, we also understand that our days are numbered, and if we want to make a difference here, we have to get a move on! We need friends to help us with that.

Paul knew Timothy needed encouragement, instruction, and most of all, a friend whose motivation would help him spread the gospel message to anyone who would listen. Who in your world needs you to believe in them that powerfully? Are you willing to do the hard work of friendship? 

I’ve been blessed recently with the friendship of a young woman who gave up her time to create this review of What Friends Want: Part 1 & Part 2:

Today, let’s finish studying how Paul befriended Timothy by identifying the last four of our ten traits that all friends surely want:

7. ENCOURAGEMENT TO FULFILL THEIR PURPOSE

“I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching … Exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1-2; 5)

Whether we like it or not, people who take the time to look closely into our hearts can see things in us that escape our notice. Sometimes, it’s our strengths that are easily spotted standing tall against our life’s backdrop. Other times, our weaknesses shoot flares into the night sky for all to see. For most of us, it’s easier to see our shortcomings than to appreciate our gifts. Perhaps, one of the best things you can do for a friend is to help them discover their purpose. We all need friends who will remind us of our calling, push us to take that next big step, and encourage us when the going gets rough. 

8. TRANSPARENCY

“At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:16-18)

Paul had already been transparent with Timothy in his first letter when he described himself as a former blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man who was the worst of all sinners. Here in the second letter, we get a glimpse of the loneliness and rejection Paul felt when his friends deserted him. Only someone like Paul could effectively minister to a young man going through similar struggles. 

Left to our own descriptions, our lives are woven with colorful and beautifully placed threads designed with great artistic flair. On one side, a beautiful face forms and gets displayed for all the world to see. The bright, twinkling eyes of our tapestry shine just above brilliant smiles with sparkling teeth. I don’t know about you, but in my 60+ years I’ve seen enough phony baloney to last me a lifetime. What I want in a friend is to see the messy, knotty threads on the backside. Only then can messy relationships get real! Our purpose in friendship is to look at the knotted threads, find the similarities, and together untangle them one by one. The friendship journey unties as many knots as possible and then revels in having them flap freely in the breeze. Friendship isn’t about creating a beautiful facade; it’s about giving us the freedom to become who God intended us to be.  

9. TIME

“Make every effort to come to me soon … When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments … Make every effort to come before winter.” (2 Timothy 9; 13; 21)

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this study of friendship it’s this: We give best what we need most, and giving takes time. It really doesn’t matter what your love language is. They all take time. It takes time to be together to exchange a warm embrace or a touch of the hand. Gifts bought take time not only in the purchasing, but also in finding out the wants and needs of another. Serving takes time. Speaking, texting, or emailing words of affirmation takes time. 

Paul wanted some of Timothy’s time – one of the most valuable and precious things Timothy possessed. Look at the boldface words again in the Scripture above. I’m certain Paul realized the demands placed on young Timothy, but Paul knew his time was short. He wanted to see Timothy one last time.

In this season of my life, my schedule is busy, but not hectic like it used to be. I have to keep in mind that not everyone can say that. While I enjoy big chunks of time spent with friends, I’ve come to realize that I love some of my friends best by only requiring a spoonful of their time. If a text is all they have time for, I don’t mind one of mine lingering in their phones until they have an opportunity to see it. But, believe me! It’s taken some time to reach that point. Now I see that everyone’s time is precious and every drop given should be appreciated.

10. PRAYERS AND BLESSING

“The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.” (2 Timothy 4:22)

Paul knew the very best friend Timothy could ever have was Jesus. He knew Jesus would be able to AFFIRM him with GENTLE WORDS. Even if everyone else denied friendship with Timothy, Jesus would remain LOYAL because Jesus is a friend who stays – no matter what! Having the Lord with his spirit would impart WISDOM. Timothy could have no better EXAMPLE offered to him than that of Jesus. He would REMIND Timothy of His love, ENCOURAGE HIM TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE, and gives him confidence to become completely TRANSPARENT. TIME spent with Jesus would engulf Timothy with peace when he felt lonely and rejected. And because Paul knew these things first hand, he PRAYED for Timothy to develop a friendship with Jesus.

The sweeter our friendship with Jesus develops, the more satisfying our friendships become.

I’m praying now that you and your friends feel the presence of the Lord so strongly that you find grace to untangle your tapestry’s threads just longing to dance in the wind.

In my life’s photo album, the word inexpressible lies pasted just above many snapshots containing emotions too strong to be described in words. A few are too hurtful to attach words, but most are inexpressibly joyful. Here are some examples you might relate to:

• Only someone who has finally gotten the job she’s spent a lifetime working toward truly understands the inexpressible feeling of sitting in her new chair in her new position for the very first time.
• Unless you are a husband and wife who’s been married for decades, it is impossible to fathom all the emotion behind years of intense moments of intimacy.
• Only another mother can fully comprehend the feeling of having her own little bundle of squirming, screaming preciousness handed to her for the very first time.
• Surely, all of us can appreciate the difficulty in describing scenes of natural beauty that take our breaths away. Magnificent glaciers. Artistic sunrises. Thundering oceans. Snow-capped mountains. Valleys of blooming wildflowers. Honey bees. Butterflies. Hummingbirds. Lions. Tigers. Bears. Oh my!

Yes, God is in the awe-inspiring business! He delights in delighting us and leaving us speechless. Take a moment to ponder those inexpressible moments and see if you can identify the common ingredient.

• It takes many years to secure that new benchmark position on which a heart’s been set.
• They don’t call childbirth labor for nothing – it culminates a 9-month process. 
• Intense physical (and spiritual) intimacy in marriage comes when you’ve taken the time to learn the desires of your spouse’s … well, heart. 🙂
• And many times, it takes a lengthy expedition to experience God’s most inspiring natural wonders. 

When we place all of our inexpressible moments into a pot and boil them down, we’re left with the fundamental ingredient of time. It takes time for inexpressible things to happen.

Just ask Peter.

When Jesus called him, he was no more than a mere unschooled, ordinary fisherman who became intrigued by the words, miracles, wisdom, and love of Jesus. However, as opposition against Jesus grew, Peter denied even knowing Jesus and thus failed to demonstrate His love for God. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, he failed to love others and cut off a soldier’s ear with his sword. But, when Peter finally looked into the eyes of the risen Savior, he found the forgiveness, mercy, grace, and compassion of a true and loyal friend.

Eventually, Peter became fully convicted of his own inability to be good enough to follow Jesus’ commands of loving God and others. He needed the the Holy Spirit to teach him how to love. His journey took time, but it led him straight into the lap of inexpressible joy. 

Hear what Peter had to say to his fellow believers: 

“Though you have not seen him [Jesus], you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 

(1 Peter 1:8-9)

I never denied knowing Jesus verbally, but sadly my past actions proved that I only knew Him to be the most important person in the Bible. I didn’t know Him as my most important friend who actually enjoys spending time with me! It took time to form a mental picture of Him – one that I rely on to help me experience His friendship. Thankfully, God blessed me with enough time to create an intimate relationship with Jesus that can only be truly understood by those who have experienced it. Every day with Him is an adventure. Now, I can’t wait to see the new ways He chooses to leave me speechless!

It’s often said that if you want what someone else has, you need to be willing to do what they did to get it. Are you willing do what Peter did?

Are you willing to let God love you no matter what you’ve done?

Are you willing to be broken enough to let your pain out?

Are you willing to learn how to love?

Are you willing to read the love letter God sent you and cherish every word, believe every promise, accept every good thing He says about you, and believe He loves you with all His heart?

If you are willing, He is able to do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine! Let Him fill you with inexpressible joy! Oh, what a feeling!

If you’ve walked in to most any kind of store the last few weeks, you’ve no doubt been met with displays of heart-shaped candy boxes, red and white bunches of flowers, and little silhouettes of naked cherubs poised to fling an arrow. Let’s face it, lives get hectic, and it’s good to be reminded that we should take the time to find ways of expressing our love to everyone we hold dear.

Last year, I set out on a quest for two specific things: 1) to learn how to properly love people, and 2) to find the path to true joy. God has always blessed me, but most recently His blessings have exceeded far beyond anything I deserve or could have ever imagined. It took stillness and quiet to hear Jesus speak words of love to my weary and restless spirit. It took a willingness to allow God to open my eyes to the many ways He demonstrates His love day after day after day.

Thankfully, God began to reveal thousands of small, previously overlooked Valentines of love He constantly delivers through my husband, children, grandchildren, and friends. He’s taught them all how to love me incredibly well. Those acts of loving kindness have in turn created a profound thankfulness which saturated my heart with an inexpressible joy. By loving me, they’ve taught me how to love.

Jason Mraz sings a song simply called “Love Someone” which perfectly states what I’ve recently discovered on the path God’s laid out for me.

“Love is a funny thing. Whenever I give it, it comes back to me. And it’s wonderful to be giving with my whole heart as my heart receives.”

I wasn’t sure about sharing that song with you, but once I saw the video I knew that it would transcend not only husband/wife relationships, but friendships as well. When we take care of others we become blessed beyond all measure. 

God has loved us incredibly well, so why not transmit that love to someone today? Buy a card, send a text, make a phone call. Better yet, sit across the table from someone you love. It doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day to love someone incredibly well. Jesus does it every day!

Oh, and by the way, thank you for loving me! I love you even more!

Last week we visited the story of the lost son who eventually returned home to the welcoming arms of his father. The son’s heart had traveled far off to pursue selfish pleasures long before his feet ever took the first steps. Because of the son’s unwillingness to show honor and respect, his father did not chase him. However, once he returned and sin was confessed, grace opened the floodgates of mercy and great blessings. True Love doesn’t chase the sinful; it beckons them home.

Today, I’d like you to step with me into another story. One that I have wrestled with for months in hopes of shedding some light on the motives of those who, either knowingly or unknowingly, isolate themselves from Love. It’s also my hope to inspire those of you who keep the doors of your hearts bolted and locked to courageously fling them open so Love can come in to soothe your hurt.

John 11 stands tall in proclaiming the resurrection power of Jesus through the body of His friend Lazarus. We first meet Lazarus’ two sisters Mary and Martha in Luke 10. There, Martha represents the mindset of those following the Law and its compulsion for good works. Mary, on the other hand, represents the importance of a spiritual relationship with Jesus. In no uncertain terms, Jesus declares which of these is most important. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

After reading John 11 in at least 20 different versions and praying for the Holy Spirit to show me why He kept sending me back to this chapter, I finally saw it. It may merely be a woman thing. I don’t know. But, I’d like you to hear me out.

Of the three siblings in this story, Lazarus always holds the top billing in the storyline. After all, a man raised from the dead continues to raise the eyebrows of even the harshest critic. But I’d like to contend that Lazarus’ sister Mary should linger in the spotlight for a moment or two longer. 

In Luke 10, Mary sat in the glowing presence of the Light of the World, hanging on every word. John makes it a point to tell us that Jesus loved Lazarus, Martha, and Mary and considered them friends. But then, after Mary and Martha sent word to this dear friend saying, “Lord, the one you love is sick,” Jesus didn’t come right away. He stayed put until Lazarus had been dead four days so that the glory of God would be displayed in an undeniable way. Mary and Martha, however, were not privy to this important tidbit of explanation, and Mary soon found herself in a dark place.

The friendship between Mary and Jesus had no doubt formed through deep conversation, shared meals, and many words of affirmation for one another. Mary trusted Jesus with her heart. But there in the darkness of overwhelming grief, her trust was tested. We get a glimpse of Mary’s hurt heart when the sisters finally received word that Jesus had indeed come. Martha went out to meet Him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Hurt hearts sit.

Perhaps, it wouldn’t be too farfetched to believe that Mary might have begun to doubt the love of Jesus. Just maybe, she allowed these kinds of negative thoughts to creep into her thinking: “If He really loved me He would have come right away. Doesn’t He care?” or “After all the love I’ve shown Him, you’d think He could at least show up”, or “Why did He say He loved me if He didn’t mean it?” or just maybe Mary climbed up on her high horse and thought, “If He had been the one hurting, I would have shown up!” Hurt hearts criticize.

Oh, how these have been my thoughts at least a thousand times toward almost as many people. I really hate admitting that, but I want those of you going through a tough time to rise above the negative thoughts. You are worth the time! People really do love you, but sometimes they just don’t realize how important they are! Tell them. Ask for their help. Yes, there may be those who disappoint you, but look around your life at all the ones who show up for you. Thank them, and love them incredibly well. Above all, please know that God loves you no matter what you’ve done or haven’t done!

If you know someone going through a rough time, go to them! Help them experience the love of Jesus by telling them what they mean to Him and to you. Look into their hurt. Spend time with them. Listen. Hold them when they cry. Laugh with them when they can laugh. Just be there! By doing this, you represent the love of Jesus very well. True Love doesn’t ignore the hurting; it heals them.

As for Mary, the sweet results of her mended heart soon filled the air at Lazarus’ resurrection party. In the presence of Jesus she not only found her worth, but also a joy that was gloriously inexpressible, and gratitude that was completely uncontainable. 

And so did I!

At Christmas, our pastor told a story that stuck with me like a bug on a sticky pad. I can’t shake it off my heart so I’m thinking I’m supposed to tell you the story.

A husband and wife began fighting so much that the wife, who battled depression and anxiety, fell into deep depression. Her negative emotions overwhelmed her so much that she finally packed a bag and left her husband and three children. 

The husband sent text after text, made phone call after phone call, but she never responded. He filed a missing person’s report, but nothing. Weeks went by, so the husband hired a private investigator to look for his wife. Soon, she was found in a less-than-desirable motel on the shady side of town. Immediately, the husband and children jumped into their van, high-tailed it to the motel, and knocked on the door of her room. When she opened the door and saw her family, she gathered her belongings without saying a word, packed her bag, and got into the van. All the way home no one said a word. After they got to the house, the kids went to their room, and the confused husband spoke first, “I’ve sent you hundreds of texts and made hundreds of phone calls that you never answered. Then, when we showed up at your door, you just packed your bag, and came with us. Why did you come so easily?”

At this point in the story, I leaned in to hear her response because I knew exactly how she felt. I know that feeling of deep depression. Maybe some of you do too. Some of you may wonder if your life really matters because Satan has increased his lies from mere whispers to shouts, reminding you of all the mistakes you’ve made. His you-will-never-be-good-enough-to-make-a-difference song is on repeat in your head. You believe those you love would be much better off without all your inner turmoil ruining their days. Satan has you twisted in so many knots that you believe the most loving thing you could do would be to go away. You wonder how God could ever love someone like you.

If you feel this way, lean in, and listen closely to what I learned this past year. God does indeed love you! You are His child, the apple of His eye, and He will never leave you. He sent His Son Jesus to pay the bill for all your sins. He sent His Holy Spirit to establish a loving, intimate relationship with you – one that Satan continually attempts to destroy. Jesus wants to become your best friend who talks with you for hours over meals, laughs at your jokes, dances to your music, cries when you hurt, and shows up every single time you invite Him into the scenes of your life’s movie.

Yes, you’ve made mistakes. Who hasn’t? Both you and I have purposely done things that do not honor God. Let’s confess them, and get on with life. People have hurt you. Forgive them. And just know this: there will be people who will never forgive you, but God always will when you ask, and He’s the one that counts. If people don’t love you, that’s their loss, but remain open to love. When others make light of you, maybe it’s because they don’t understand you. Kill their ridicule with kindness. If you feel rejected, there are godly people who will walk closely beside you. Go where they are!

All this was easy to type, but so very hard to learn. As my Daddy always says, “If it was easy everybody would be doing it.” It took an entire year to get to the bottom of my life’s memories I had managed to keep boxed and stored. However, God knew it would be for my benefit to rapid-fire an abundance of challenges toward me in order to completely empty me. He knew that only then could I survive and know beyond all doubt that the joy I now feel is ALL because of Him and ABSOULUTELY NOT because of anything I had done.

We can’t truly love anyone else until we grasp how much God loves us. God is love! He proved His love to me over and over by leading me step by step through a grueling, but glorious process of transformation. He will do the same for you. Now, I have just one question I’m feeling led to ask:

The Spirit kept reminding me of two stories in the gospels that I’d like for us to step into over the next two weeks. These two stories helped me understand how to take what I’d learned through an inward examination of myself and apply it to outwardly loving the people he’s placed in my path. It helped me be able to decide whether I should stay put whenever someone I love wants to run away or whether I should go after them. I hope you’ll join me and share your thoughts as we go.

So! I guess you’d like to know how the pastor’s story ended. Right? The wife’s honest response made my eyes first sting, then puddle, and finally spill over their brims because her response would have been mine too. The woman left home feeling depressed and useless. After her husband pursued her and brought her back home, he asked, “Why did you come home so easily?”

Her response?

“BECAUSE YOU CAME!”

Sweet friend, Jesus came for you too!

God has done, is doing, and will continue to do wonderful things even when some of those things might not seem so wonderful. During 2019, may each of us quickly recognize the mighty hand of God, trust in His perfect timing, and thank Him even more for the way He diligently works things out for our good.

Before we race into intentional joy next Tuesday, please take a few minutes to review how far down Perfection Road we’ve traveled in 2018. (Click the link on the picture if you’d like to read the post.)

Get ready for a very Happy New Year, friends!

Sunday holds the top spot on my list of favorite days. After a week’s worth of busy, Sunday smooths my ruffled feathers and fills me with hope for the next week. I hope it does that for you as well.

This past Sunday exceeded my greatest expectations. It wasn’t merely the worship that did the trick, though it did summon a few drops of emotion from my eyes. It wasn’t necessarily the inspiring message I heard, nor was it the oh-so-sweet sweet fellowship I’ve come to thrive on. No, it was the hearts of the children I’m blessed to serve that completely overwhelmed me.

My part of Sunday’s children’s service was to offer a short closing message and prayer, followed by some small group time with my amazing  4^th  and  5^th  grade boys. These particular assignments make Sunday extra special for me.

After watching a video lesson about being grateful with what we have during the Christmas season, I decided to reenact a scene from a movie that most of our kids are very familiar with. In A Charlie Brown Christmas, a frustrated Charlie cried out, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Linus responded, “Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about,” as he stepped centerstage into the spotlight to beautifully quote Luke 2:8-14.  How wonderful it is to take the time to remember just how miraculous the birth of Jesus was!

As we moved into our prayer time together, we talked about the  prophet Isaiah’s description of Jesus, the Messiah who would come to earth as a baby to grow and live among us. I reminded them that Isaiah lived hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, but still knew that He would be a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.

The children seemed to understand that at some point we all need some wise advice, someone who will protect and take care of us, someone who will always be with us and never leave us, and someone who can give us peace in our crazy lives. Many prayed to have Jesus become their own Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Small group time began by handing out prayer cards to my circle of boys along with these instructions, “Tell God which one of these four descriptions of Jesus you need most in your life right now, and why you need it.”

I wasn’t prepared for the depth of emotion that poured onto these cards.

One boy asked for a Wonderful Counselor because he needed a friend.

Another wanted a Mighty God because he was being bullied at school. What I read at the bottom of the card from this boy who wore the biggest smile in the room broke my heart. He wrote: Why do people bully me?

Another seemed desperate for an Everlasting Father because he never got to see his dad.

And another one wrote that he needed a Prince of Peace because it wasn’t very peaceful in his house right now.

It’s true, we feel our need for a Savior when we are children, and we never outgrow that need. Are there children in your life struggling quietly with stressful emotions? Take time to ask questions, and then listen.

I’m pretty sure some of you grownups reading this right now could also use a friend, a protector, some security, or a whole lot of peace; maybe all four. Don’t be afraid to let it show, and then intentionally lean on Jesus.

However, there may be a few of us who could be a little more like Jesus by supporting someone else through difficult days. Look around. Who needs you? By learning how to become more Christlike, we find exactly what we need.  

And that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8-14, KJV, emphasis definitely mine)