Geaux2Girl

'The Good Book' Takes a Birdseye View of the Bible

2017-05-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Ever since experiencing Walk Thru the Bible many years ago, I've appreciated study aids that enable Bible readers to see the big picture of God's creation and his work within it from the beginning. Pastor Deron Spoo's The Good Book has the same type of goal, but his approach is unique: this work highlights, as the subtitle says, "forty chapters that reveal the Bible's biggest ideas."

At first I thought it would be an overview, a broad historical approach that might give readers a chronological sense of the Bible's timeline and significant events. And it does work through the books of the Bible in order. But Spoo isn't giving a history lesson. He's presenting major themes that impact readers as they get to know the God who revealed himself through his word. "Biggest ideas"—not every significant event or person. Sure, we'll encounter some of those as we go along, but they aren't the focus.

Organized in eight sections of five lessons each, the book spends much more time in the New Testament than it does in what Spoo calls the Older Testament (to avoid the idea of obsolescence, he explains, which I thought was a little forced). And while I think he skipped many important passages in the Old(er) Testament, I can understand his focus on the Gospels and the teachings of Jesus.

Each chapter begins with a passage from scripture, followed by an essay connecting the theme of the text to personal application. Using stories and explanation, they read much like an engaging—and short!—sermon might. Each chapter ends with reflection questions.

This resource can be used in groups or individually. It could be a great tool to use with families! It's not supposed to take the place of Bible reading but rather to help give context and color to what sometimes is too familiar or utterly foreign, depending on your upbringing. Think of it as an introductory study book for the new believer or someone still seeking to understand what the Bible is all about. Teens and adults who were raised in church and can feel complacent in their biblical literacy will gain a fresh perspective of the richness found in God's word.

The Good Book is definitely a step apart from the usual Bible studies. When you are ready to approach God's word from a new, birdseye, perspective, pick this one up.

*Full disclosure: I received a free copy for the purpose of this review. Positive comments not required (just deserved) :)

Two weeks' worth of Weekly Winnings:

2017-04-24T10:50:00.000-05:00

I know, start a new weekly feature and then skip two weeks. I didn't mean to do it! Only Good Friday did I plan to skip, but this last Friday, April 21, I found myself stymied by Google. I was locked out of my Blogger account! Miraculously, when I asked my office technical director, it worked. I'm back in. (Still don't understand it, but I don't care anymore)

A few highlights from the last two weeks:

Women and Ministry:

For several years, my family has supported a young lady in Kenya, much as you might hear about through Compassion or World Vision. But we sponsor her through East-West Ministries' Adopt-a-Legacy, a much smaller program for a specific area in Kenya. Our girl, Faith, is in her first year of university studies, so it is also our last year to support her financially. How I love getting emails from Faith! We are able to share our family with her and hear about her studies, her struggles, her joys.

Christianity Today celebrates the impact of single women in the ministry of Bible translation over the last century: http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2017/april/how-single-women-became-unstoppable-force-in-bible-translat.html

In another pro-woman piece, CT features this thoughtful editorial on how smart girls benefit not just the workplace but the church.

On Twitter, #thingsonlychristianwomenhear—started as a question by Sarah Bessey—went viral, with women commenting about grievous experiences and/or words they encountered in the church. Amid the discouraging theme, a new counter-hashtag emerged, #thingschristianwomenshouldhear, resulting in encouraging, life-giving thoughts about women in the church.

Around the World:

April the Giraffe finally had her baby! The online live feed is down now, but here's the clip of the birth (trigger alert: Gross!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YymFYr26XXw

Because a writer always cares about excellence in writing. Pulitzer Prize winners were announced on April 6: http://www.pulitzer.org/

Chaos in the Air:

After the United Airlines fiasco when an overbooked flight resulted in a man being forcibly removed from the plane, the internet had a field day with memes. A collection of the funniest here.

Unfortunately, American Airlines recently endured a similar scenario. Tough times for airline attendants (and passengers)!

Music highlights:

I've been streaming the new MercyMe album, Lifer, since its release. Its theme: the victorious life in Christ we have after salvation. Just in time for Easter! One excerpt from the song "Best News Ever":

What if I were the one to tell you that the fight’s already been won?

Well I think your day’s about to get better.

What if I were the one to tell you that the work’s already been done?

It’s not good news, it’s the best news ever!

Funny Stuff:

Why dads have such a reputation... One dad photoshops his kids in dangerous situations just to terrify grandma: http://www.sadanduseless.com/2017/04/bad-father/

Weekly Winnings April 7, 2017

2017-04-07T08:40:00.000-05:00

We are creeping up on Holy Week, a time to reflect on the immense love that the Father has for us, his children, as seen in the sacrificial death of his Son, Jesus, on our behalf. A quick look at the news reveals the immense need the world has for such love and redemption. I've seen snippets of both sides: pain and rejoicing, death and life. Here's the best of what's come across my screen this week.

International Horror

Images and video from Syria horrified the world earlier this week, leaving international leaders generally in agreement that Assad must answer the allegations of chemical warfare against the rebels in his country. Victims included children, provoking two primary reactions: reprisal and relief.

"The Firm"'s Impressive Plans:

Further feeding my lifelong fascination with the British royals, this long-form article (8000 words—that's half of a novella) about the extraordinary plans for will happen after the almost-91-year-old Queen Elizabeth II eventually dies: 'London Bridge is down': the secret plan for the days after the Queen’s death.

National conversations:

Much has been made over Vice President Mike Pence's self-imposed rule of not eating solitary meals with women other than his wife. In Evangelical circles, this is also known as the Billy Graham Rule. With one side defending him and the other side deriding him, Karen Swallow Prior penned this balanced and nuanced response.

The long-time, and much-injured, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, Tony Romo, announced his retirement from football this week. He will step into the CBS booth to call NFL games starting in the fall. The Cowboys organization fondly acknowledged his record-setting career with this tribute.

In his first start as a minor-leaguer for the NY Mets, Heisman winner and former NFL player Tim Tebow launched a two-run homer. He makes news without even trying.

Links you should know about:

Axios — The best-informed political team inside Washington pushes out a daily newsletter before most people are awake, and their Twitter account is scary fast with news from the political front. Forget CNN or ABCNews ... Axios will have it first, and with better sources.

Thanks to outsourcing on Facebook, writer Dena Dyer gathered up several perspectives on how to fight envy. She was kind enough to use one of my comments in her article for Aleteia.

Feelgood of the Week:

April the what? Weary watchers of a certain mama-to-be mammal should turn their attention to the Iowa skies. The eagle has landed! Well, the eaglets have hatched. The Decorah Eagles, supported by the Raptor Resource Project, have been on 24-hour live cam since mom and dad produced three eggs in February. All three hatched last weekend, and viewers can watch the little darlings grow up until they fledge in June.

FUNNY Stuff

James Cordon does Beauty and the Beast in traffic ... and in drag. With cast members from the new movie, he delights and confuses drivers at a stop light by performing musical numbers from the show. Hysterical.

And don't miss this clever Twitter parody account—the president is such an easy target.

Winners of the Week

2017-03-31T08:57:00.001-05:00

"I gotta write that down," I told myself. Since I was driving to work at that moment, the best I could do was speak it into my phone and save it for later. But it started my mental wheels turning: I read and observe so many interesting stories, events, and people during any given week. Why not find a way to record the best of them so I don't forget all the amazing, funny, and poignant things I come across? And perhaps my friends would find some of them interesting as well.

Or maybe they'll think "why does she share these kinds of things?"—something all of you have likely wondered at some point. But that's ok, I can take it. Feel free to skip over the odd-funny or only-Kelley-would-be-interested-in-that item. Check out the links that pique your curiosity or make you smile. And enjoy!

FREE Online resource:

Pexels.com
In my work as a website editor for the Denison Forum, we use a LOT of pictures every day. Our creative team introduced me to a site with free images that go way beyond the boring stock photos we often find. The enticing caramel macchiato (why not, right? It's often in my thoughts) in the top photo came from Pexels. No cost, no limitations on use. And it's got some really great quality images.

Friends being awesome:

And they are amazing thinkers, writers, theologians. Recently, Dr. Sandra Glahn has been busy! First, she led a panel of contributing authors in discussing Vindicating the Vixens, an upcoming book in which a diverse team of sixteen male and female theologians partnered to take a second look at vilified and marginalized women in the Bible. The church has often viewed women’s stories through sexist eyes, resulting in a range of distortions. Mary Magdelene: harlot or apostle? Tamar: prostitute or righteous believer? I can't wait to read the whole thing.

Dr. Glahn also appeared on The Table, a regular videocast led by Dr. Darrell Bock. This panel, in which they are joined by other women professors—including my co-author, Dr. Sue Edwards— tackles the role of women in ministry (not a hot topic or anything) and how women and men can work together as partners in ministry.

Beauty Alert:

Scroll through this divine collection of the 2017 Sony World Photography Award. You'll come away more in awe of the Creator.

Word Nerd Alert:

Editors like myself adhere to one of several style manuals: AP, APA, Chicago (CMOS) being the major ones. This week, CMOS announced the forthcoming 17th edition (September) would include a few notable updates:

E-mail will become email (no hyphen).
Internet will become internet (lowercased).
The use of ibid. for repeated citations will no longer be preferred.
The use of singular they in place of a generic he or she is not recommended for formal prose...

And this is important, why? Because the AP announced that they are "opening the door" to the use of "they" as a singular pronoun. Say what??

Funny of the week:

This bumper sticker, observed on a different minivan on my way to work. It reminded me of a speaker who, at a marriage conference, told his I'll-never-drive-a-minivan story in which he became the "Goobervan Dad." Been there, done that!

Sweet Baton Rouge, My Baton Rouge

2016-08-23T12:18:00.006-05:00

The now-ironic closing words from Garth Brooks's "Callin' Baton Rouge" will continue to be endearing but may elicit more than a few eye rolls as they are sung this fall at LSU football games:

Operator won't you put me on through
I gotta' send my love down to Baton Rouge
Hurry up won't you put her on the line
I gotta' talk to the girl just one more time

Callin' Baton Rouge
Sweet Baton Rouge, my Baton Rouge

Why ironic, with eye-rolling? The backstory will help:

In case you haven't heard about the recent 1000-year flood that afflicted southeastern Louisiana, read about it here and here. Over 60,000 homes flooded in a three-day time period. This map will show you just the East Baton Rouge area, though neighboring Livingston Parish suffered even more comprehensively. Neighborhoods that have never seen water were inundated, some homes taking in 5 inches and some 5 feet. And though I no longer live in my hometown, most of my family does.

My 96-year-old great aunt lost her home and must stay with her daughter. Several cousins were flooded, a family furniture business lost a showroom, and my mother's two-year-old house took on two feet of water. She, like thousands of others, is now homeless until contractors can gut, clean, and rebuild—a process that will happen without the benefit of flood insurance to mitigate the cost, since she and so many thousands of others did not have such insurance—not living in a flood zone.

See Photos of the #BRFlood

Amid the destruction and heartache of this ongoing disaster, grace and hope shine through—silver linings revealing God's goodness:

As the torrential rains fell on Friday, a friend from Dallas called Mom to ask about the level of the lake behind her home. She hadn't really thought about it until he called, so the next morning she went outside during a lull in the rain to take pictures of it. A neighbor in a nearby yard saw her and called out, encouraging her to evacuate soon. "But the lake is fine. Why the urgency?" Mom wondered. Apparently the road leading to their neighborhood was beginning to flood over, so even if the lake remained low, the streets might not, and they would be trapped in their homes.

So Mom packed up a few essentials and her dog, then drove to my brother's house just a couple of miles away. She says she got out just in time, as the water indeed was over the road and—she later learned—authorities had closed off traffic to that area.

If our friend in Dallas had not thought to call and inquire about her lake, she likely would not have been outside taking pictures of it. And who can predict when neighbors are outside at the same time? Coincidence? Hardly.

Mom, my brother and his family, and several others were forced to evacuate again as waters threatened his neighborhood the following morning. They eventually found refuge with a friend of a friend in a town west of the Mississippi River, about 40 minutes away. Five adults and three babies invaded—staying for three days, waiting on the flooding to stop and to hear about the impact on their homes. Mom says that neighbors came to that house with more food and supplies than they could ever consume.
Both of my brothers' homes escaped flooding, though the waters rose to within inches of their doorstep. Mom has a place to stay while her house is repaired—a luxury so many lack.
Stories began to spread, telling of the hundreds of locals going out to rescue stranded people by launching their private fishing boats, kayaks, pirogues, and such. The "Cajun Navy" made headlines (when the media finally got around to talking about the BR flood). Regular Joes (or Boudreaux, as Cajuns joke) just helping each other out in what became a dramatic scenario.
As a plan emerged to clean out and repair Mom's house, I called on friends here in Dallas to help me bring a Suburban full of packing supplies: boxes, tape, bubble wrap, etc. Within six hours of asking, my truck was loaded—some of it coming from people who didn't even know me but who responded to my friend's plea on Facebook. Such generosity! Each item I brought was used or shared with others in need. Nothing went to waste.
I was able to drive down with my oldest son (great for manual labor) overnight Wednesday in order to get there in time for the moving truck Thursday afternoon. A team of friends and family had already been hard at work clearing out ruined furniture and carpet. Mom's sisters, grandkids, children, in-laws, friends, friends of her children... what a picture of love! By Thursday afternoon her house was empty, ready for the demolition team. This week it's being sprayed to kill the mold. Step-by-step, she's moving forward.

During the worst of the storm and rising water, the AT&T substation flooded, causing service outages across the region. This complicated and disrupted communications between residents and their families or would-be rescuers. I couldn't reach Mom at all on the Saturday she evacuated. And though the company has extended discounts and rebates to customers in that area, they are currently everyone's favorite punching bag. So when LSU plays in a few weeks, and Garth's song tells the home crowd he's "callin' Baton Rouge," chances are that Tiger fans will suggest he use Verizon or Sprint. Badump-bing.

But, seriously, friends, I cannot thank enough people for their instinctive reaction to give, pray, and serve when news of the flooding hit. To Pop—for calling about the lake; to Erin, Mark, Heather, Andrew and Esteliz, Sandi, and Erin's friends for the supplies; to my hubby for holding down the fort during my trip; to Nate for serving without complaint; to Sharon, Amy and Aiden, Eileen and Mitch, Maureen, Fran, Becky, Ana, and the others I can't remember for helping pack up and clean salvageable items; to Derek, Cory, and Kevin, for jumping in to do the heavy lifting and helping take care of Mom in the interim.

Our story is just one of thousands. The need is still great—this recovery will take months for some, years for others. The scale of destruction is massive. Consider giving to worthy relief organizations or directly to someone you know who has been affected. Be sure to vet the organizations to avoid being scammed. Consider volunteering to help with clean-up and demo work—a huge need! This article contains several helpful links regarding all sorts of aid.

And don't forget the goodness of God. We are grateful to Him for his protection and provision during this time. Be a part of his work!

Lamentations 3:22–23
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

This Day for Giving Thanks

2015-11-26T10:26:00.002-06:00

On this Thanksgiving Day of 2015, each person has something—hopefully many things—for which to give thanks to God. We usually come to this day with a mixed bag of circumstances, some hard and some happy. For those with difficulties crowding out the joys right now, scripture provides a challenge: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

This admonition isn't limited to the fourth Thursday in November, of course. "All circumstances" encompasses every day. I've enjoyed a friend's challenge to participate in a #40daysofthankfulnesschallenge recently. Ann Voskamp spearheaded a thankfulness movement a few years ago with her book, One Thousand Gifts, in which she tells how she was encouraged to write three things per day for which she was thankful... and how that habit revolutionized her life.

Scripture has much to say about being thankful. Just a few verses here to encourage you:

1 Chronicles 16:7-9

1 Chronicles 16:33-35

Psalm 30:3-5

Psalm 100

Psalm 118

A couple of links to enlighten your understanding of the American day:

http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving

http://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-other/thanksgiving2.htm

And finally, the elegant words of President George Washington, in his proclamation that established the first American Thanksgiving Day:

"By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789."

Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789.

Catastrophe is Always Personal

2015-10-12T22:08:00.002-05:00

Last week I shared some thoughts on the Bible.org Engage blog about the recent flooding in South Carolina. How can something so far away be so personal?

The rains from Hurricane Joaquin wreaked catastrophic damage on South Carolina and its residents earlier this week. 771 trillion cubic inches of water have fallen within its borders. That translates to 12 trillion liters, or 21 trillion 20-ounce bottles such as the ones people drink from every day.

That’s an epic amount of water to fall in about three days over just 32,000 square miles. The description “of biblical proportions” has been used by media to help viewers and readers get a sense of the scope of this disaster. But even as the floodwaters recede, the heartbreak continues and the danger increases. Homes destroyed, people killed, and dams on the brink of collapse, potentially leading to more homes and lives ruined.

Read the whole article.

Obama Greets the Pope with Scripture: How Did He Do?

2015-09-27T08:36:00.002-05:00

The Pope visited America this week. When he welcomed the pontiff at the White House, President Obama said something that caught my ear.

"You remind us that in the eyes of God our measure as individuals, and our measure as a society, is not determined by wealth or power or station or celebrity, but by how well we hew to Scripture’s call to lift up the poor and the marginalized, to stand up for justice and against inequality, and to ensure that every human being is able to live in dignity—because we are all made in the image of God."

Obama got it almost right. If he had left out the phrase "our measure as individuals," it would have been a beautiful, biblical challenge to us all. What do I mean?

"Our measure as a society is [determined] by how well we hew to Scripture's call..." Yes, the people of God are called to serve the poor, right injustice, and promote the dignity of all. The prophets rail against Israel when they neglected this basic law of God. Indeed that nation's judgment came in part because of their refusal to obey God in the way they treated the marginalized (Isaiah 58:6-8; Micah 6:8; Matthew 25:40). This is most definitely a behavior by which a people are measured. As a group, all Christians are called to this primary mission. We must continue to work at embodying the kingdom of God right here, right now.

BUT ... mission is different from "our measure as individuals." Far too often, we lose the distinction between the two. What we believe about this concept affects our perspective on the dignity of life, at both the beginning and the end. If life does not have inherent value, but only such value as that person's ability to work or do or add to another's betterment, then the unborn, infirm, elderly, mentally ill, and disabled all lose their value as citizens of earth. It comes down to DO=BE. What I do determines my measure as a person.

But Jesus and the cross say differently. He sacrificed his life on behalf of each human, offering forgiveness, salvation, restoration, and relationship to all who would accept his free gift. Ephesians 1:4-5: "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will..."

Notice the timing: "before the creation of the world." No way for us to do anything, to earn his favor, to deserve his love. As if love can truly be earned... "But because of his great love for us,God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Grace. Unmerited favor. When we base our identity on the grace of Jesus, knowing that the God who created us deemed us worthy of his own sacrifice, our behavior will follow out of a love, a gratitude, a full sense of our value. We are valuable to God because we exist. He proved that on the cross. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast" (Eph 2:8-9).

Now what? With that foundation, we can go forth to do the work He has called us to do—to right wrongs, to pursue peace, to love the unlovely. "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

My Awesome Friends Look Like Jesus

2015-07-19T20:34:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered if you have anything special to offer? Do you feel ordinary and uninspired, an everyday Jane with no way of making a difference? Let me tell you a little story...

This past spring, John and I were blessed by Jesus-like friends and colleagues when we were called away to a funeral out of state. That difficult but necessary trip would not have been possible without several people stepping in to offer their one way to help. I doubt any of them would remember their actions as anything special, but together they made it possible for John and myself to leave work, children, and town within 24 hours.

What I really like to emphasize when I tell people this story is the simplicity and uniqueness of each gift. No one could make the situation disappear or erase our pain, but ...

Friends from our church class could offer to teach in our place that weekend. That was pretty much all they could do—and they did it.
The same story with John's employers. They gave their blessing for him to leave town indefinitely.
My in-laws said "yes" when we asked for help with the kids, despite the new granddaughter scheduled to be induced the next day and the hour-long distance between our homes. They had things going on, but they did what they could do to help.
And my pilot's-wife friend set up airline arrangements that saved us thousands of dollars and hours of time. Such a simple yet unbelievably helpful way that she could uniquely serve us.

Extending tangible help to someone in need reflects the heart of Jesus. However small that help may seem, if it is within your power to offer it, do it! Jesus affirms this sort of love when he said, "Truly I tell you, anyone who gives a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward" (Mark 9:41). A cup of water isn't a big deal, but it can be life-changing if the person is dying of thirst!

The Urban Alternative, the ministry of Tony Evans, asked if I would share this story with their readers... and viewers. So, yeah, I'm on film. Not my favorite thing, but I agreed to share with a larger audience the blessing I received from people willing to act like Jesus when presented with the opportunity. I hope it encourages you and helps you remember that you, too, can be a "Horizontal Jesus" to others.

PS. Being a "Jane" isn't so ordinary! It's the name of my favorite author, among others :)

When Your Friends Hurt (Part Two)

2015-03-30T14:03:00.006-05:00

The Backdrop

Please see Part One for the full story.

Within 30 minutes of hanging up with our friends' pastor, who bore the unenviable yet sacred job of conveying terrible news to several people, we had booked a one-way ticket for my husband. He also called his parents to notify them that we likely would need their help soon. We discussed what, how, and when to tell our children that their friend was gone. We went to bed but lay sleepless or restless all night.

The next morning he left for the airport before the kids awakened. I bluffed my way through the breakfast routine and dropped them off as usual, then returned home to face my next tasks: how to get to South Carolina myself. With four kids and a weekend of activities, plus school the next week, I could not just jet off at will.

But then...

The church showed up. Not just those in my local place of worship, but family and friends and colleagues who recognized our need and stepped in to help. Each one was able to help in a specific way, AND THEY DID. Not one person shrugged off.

Thank You

1. My in-laws (MIL and FIL for these purposes): We called Thursday night, knowing that the following morning my sister-in-law was scheduled to deliver her firstborn. Granny is always on call when a baby arrives. This is fact in most families, yes? But she and FIL rearranged their weekend plans to cover for our children, taking turns when necessary, cooking for a small army, overseeing homework, carpooling to football practice, attending church and Bible drill, carpooling to and from school. My FIL in particular got a first-hand look at my daily routine, as MIL eventually joined my SIL to help with the baby. For four solid days he kept up with four loud, energetic kids. We are so grateful for their care...they allowed us to focus on our friends and not worry about our kids back home.

Flying home over Dallas, TX

2. I texted my friend Erin just to share the news. She checked in with me Friday morning, and only then did it occur to me that maybe she could help. Specifically with an airline ticket, since her husband flies for a regional airline. We've done it before for more pleasant outings, but it had not even crossed my mind the previous night. So thanks to her, and her hubby, I flew out Saturday morning (direct!), then home again several days later. They also were able to get my hubby home as well. This saved us hundreds of dollars, no small gift!

3. Sometime on Friday I realized that we were supposed to teach our BFG (Sunday school) class that weekend. One quick note to Bruce Q, who with his wife, Lynn, helps direct our class, and we were covered there. Praise God he was in town, available, and willing.

4. My hubby is a junior high principal in a small town north of Dallas, TX. He called, but had to leave a message for, his superintendent shortly after we received the news. His assistant principal easily stepped in for Friday, but his "supe" eased his mind by graciously encouraging him to go, stay as needed, miss the Monday board meeting, and let his AP cover. Knowing the pressure at work was off allowed him to focus on being all there, unburdened by worries at home.

5. Emotional and prayer support: Seriously, I don't even know if I can name everyone who inquired with sensitivity, texted to say they were praying, cried with us, called to express their sadness for us--because they knew we were grieving as friends as well as grieving for friends. So thank you to all who reached out personally, and you who prayed but didn't say anything. We felt the love.

6. In South Carolina itself, we saw the local church spring into action with efficiency, grace, and affection. Two, maybe three, local churches worked together to coordinate meals, the memorial service, activities for the siblings, pastoral leadership for the parents. It was truly incredible to watch how NewSpring Church, in particular, handled the details of a large, youth-themed funeral service. Jeremy in Greenwood, we appreciate the way you loved on our people. You will make a great campus pastor!

No Gift Too Small

The Bible speaks of spiritual gifts and services within the church. In 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7 we read, "Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

A bit later, verse 27, "Now you [plural, as in y'all] are the body of Christ and individually members of it."

So, collectively, believers comprise the body of Christ, which we more commonly call the church. Individually, each of us has a specific role to play, empowered and enabled by the Lord himself. It can look "spiritual," as in teaching, helping, administrating, and all that. And it can look practical, too, as in babysitting, cooking, sitting with, listening, praying, carpooling, mowing, arranging flights, creating videos, playing "bouncer" to visitors ...

No gift is too small. Each one contributes to the need. Each one is a blessing. Each one shows love. If each one of us will respond with our particular gift or ability, the church will show the world what true love really is.

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things... So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor 13: 7,13)

When Your Friends Hurt (Part One)

2015-03-27T12:25:00.004-05:00

This week the story in Luke 5, in which the friends of the paralyzed man got creative when he needed to see Jesus, speaks to me. No, it shouts at me. "This is your life! Today you are one of the friends. One day you will be the cripple."

The Paralytic's Friends

The scene shows friends carrying a paralyzed man on his stretcher to the house where Jesus is teaching. Realizing the doorway was blocked and the room too crowded to push through, they refusing to take no for an answer. They climbed up to the flat roof and cut a hole in it so they could lower their friend into Jesus' presence. Owner and crowd be damned, they were going to get that man within reach of the Healer (Luke 5:18-20).

I like those friends. I want to be like that. I don't really want to be the paralyzed guy, but sometimes crap happens, and we are crippled by what life throws at us. Simple math, however, tells us that we will more often be supporting someone else in their trials.

"Our" couple

To paraphrase Shrek, relationships are like onions -- they have layers. Strangers, acquaintances, friends, family, friends-like-family. Each kind meets a need in one's life and can be a blessing.

When my hubby and I first met, his best friend was married to a girl I worked with. A year later we married, and they had already morphed into "our" couple--unique friends that every new couple needs. Not his, not hers, but "ours." And then they moved away. Like, back to the East Coast where their family lived.

The nerve.

What I thought was terrible (and it was!) caused us to be intentional. We all had other important friends in our lives, but we didn't want this one to fade away. Since we couldn't see each other often, we began vacationing together annually.

As the children came along--four for them, four for us--they became special to one another as well. We send birthday and Christmas boxes to each other. For 17 years, we have driven or flown a thousand miles to share summer vacations, special events, and difficult seasons with one another. We once left our kids with various grandparents and went on a cruise to celebrate my and my hubby's 10th anniversary (see photo). Just 10 days ago we confirmed our upcoming visit to see them in June. They qualify as "friends-like-family" standard after all these years.

So last week when their pastor called to tell us that their oldest son had died that night, we moved heaven and earth to get to them. The only question was "How fast can we get there?"

Carrying the Mat

When my stepfather died years ago, many friends hurt on my behalf. Sometimes you just can't drop everything and travel like that, so you reach out at other times and in other ways. A few friends were able to attend the service, and I remember that feeling of gratitude that someone was there for me. In a tangible way they helped carry me.

This week it was our turn. We were privileged to be allowed in, to be invited to come close. I think we maybe held up one corner of "the mat" together, by just showing up.

Did we fix anything? Ha. As if that were even possible. All we could really do was be there. Such an inadequate feeling. But it's comforting to know that Jesus thought it fitting when his friend Lazarus died. He wept with Mary and Martha.

We listened and cried and prayed. We are still doing that. We loved that boy, too. My husband did laundry one day (did it even occur to me? Again I say Ha!). We kept them company, provided a diversion. I think we were just safe people for them.

Eventually we had to return home to our family, our regular responsibilities. But they are well loved, with others continuing to hold them up. Limited by distance, we text them (or their local friends to coordinate goodies, share concerns, etc), call (or leave voice mail), and pray (constantly). They know their Healer loves them and is even now working to comfort and heal.

The Village

We were not able to fly cross-country within hours of the news without considerable help. We needed our own support system.

In part two, I'll share more about those who enabled us to go.

Two Final Thoughts

First, if ever or whenever someone dear to you comes into suffering of any sort, err on the side of reaching out as opposed to doing nothing. You will know the dynamics of your relationship and what's appropriate. But don't let fear cause you to step back when they desperately need friends to step in.

Second, and on a lighter note, I want to ask you about your friendships. If you are married, do you have an "our" couple -- friends that you did not inherit from your spouse? How have you managed long-distance friendships? Share your creative solutions to the challenge to maintaining long-term friendships.

And a request: please pray for our friends. Even if you read this blog post randomly a year or more from now, they'll still need your prayers.

How To Catch a Prince

2015-02-23T12:07:00.000-06:00

Book reviewers face many dangers, most of them related to their sleep cycles and pocketbooks. While usually authors or publishers provide reviewers with free copies in exchange for honest reviews, the problem arises when the reviewer loves the book so much that she proceeds to go online and purchase the rest of that author's works.

I wouldn't know anything about that.

...

Okay, that's a joke.

After reviewing Rachel Hauck's modern fairytale, Once Upon a Prince, I donated to her retirement/grocery/coffee fund through purchases of every one of her previous books. I then bought (at retail price!) the second installment of her Royal Wedding Series, Princess Ever After.

Since then, I've kept my eye out for the third and final book of the series. Followed her on Twitter and Facebook, then signed up to join her launch team. All so I could introduce my friends to Rachel and her loveable royal characters. If you enjoy contemporary, inspirational fiction—with a heavy side of royalty and humor—make plans to pick up your copy of How to Catch a Prince.

Available to the general public tomorrow, February 24, 2015. I posted this review on Goodreads:

"Rachel Hauck wraps up her Royal Wedding series with a witty yet poignant, modern yet historical, sweet yet sassy love story between Prince Stephen and heiress Corina del Rey. When the movie about King Stephen I, lauded ancestor to the current Brighton royal family, debuts, Corina's editor sends her to scoop an interview with the star—and anything else she can uncover. But Corina's hiding a secret, one that a visit to Brighton will threaten. Prince Stephen, nursing an injured ankle and a wounded soul, must confront his past before he can truly move on with his future. Together, they emit sparks, both witty and romantic. The author adds some mystical elements which actually work (i.e., they aren't corny), while the heavy themes of war, loss, and forgiveness give this romance an unusual depth and reality. It's always good to see King Nathaniel and his American queen, Susanna, of course, and other secondary characters fill out the story quite nicely. Sometimes trilogies lose their momentum, but Brighton's story wraps up with a satisfying flourish!"

And yes, I stayed up way too late reading my pdf review copy, and I plan to lighten my wallet a bit with a paperback copy. Perhaps you should too?

*Affiliate links included.

Everything New Again

2015-02-21T10:55:00.002-06:00

After three years working full time with FaithVillage.com, and six months helping a nonprofit book house get started, this mama/writer/editor finds herself back home as a freelancer. I remember the days of writing blogs and books, editing magazines and books, reading and reviewing novels, and chasing toddlers. I happily anticipate resuming three out of those four habits.

No more toddlers here. (sniff ... fist pump!)

We've gone from this (2010)...

to this (late 2014)

It's amazing what change four years has wrought. Next fall, our oldest will start high school, and our youngest begins Kindergarten.

On the same day.

I might need therapy that morning. Lattes and chocolate donations will be accepted.

But in the meantime, I plan to build my freelance business, writing new projects, editing others' manuscripts, coaching new authors on how to proceed with the publication process, and more. To that end, I've created a new Facebook page and a simple website. If you haven't already, please go check them out and 'like' the FB page. You won't be overloaded with content, I promise.

I will add more features to the website over time, including an RSS button, likely a newsletter sign up, occasional giveaways, and photos.

If you or someone you know needs an editor, co-writer, or publishing coach, I would be grateful for your referral.

And now back to mama-land, cheering on my girl in her basketball game. Happy weekend, friends!

2014 Christy Awards Presented

2014-06-24T07:43:00.002-05:00

Last night in Atlanta, the fifteenth annual Christy Awards ceremony honored and promoted books that reflect excellence in Christian fiction. I keep up with these because I've been a Christy judge and have a particular affection for Christian fiction.

In a fun "my worlds are colliding" event, the keynote address was given by my Publisher's Weekly editor Marcia Z. Nelson, who assigns me (and others) Christian fiction for review. Author Davis Bunn emceed the event and was himself inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame in honor of his having won four Christys over the years.

And the 2014 Christy Award winners are:

•Book of the Year: Burning Sky by Lori Benton (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

•Contemporary: Stones for Bread by Christa Parrish (Thomas Nelson, a division of Harper Collins Christian Publishing)

•Contemporary Romance/Suspense: Dangerous Passage by Lisa Harris (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

•Contemporary Series: Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren (Tyndale House Publishers)

•First Novel: Burning Sky by Lori Benton (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

•Historical: Burning Sky by Lori Benton (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

•Historical Romance: Harvest of Gold by Tessa Afshar (River North, an imprint of Moody Publishing)

•Suspense: Outlaw by Ted Dekker (Center Street, a division of Hachette Book Group)

•Visionary: Dragonwitch by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

•Christy Award Hall of Fame Inductee: Davis Bunn (4 Christys)

Memorial Day Observed

2014-05-27T19:55:00.003-05:00

Monday, my husband and I took the children and my mother (in town for a visit) out to the Dallas—Ft. Worth National Cemetery to attend the annual Memorial Day ceremony. It became obvious very quickly that we were first-timers ... the car line stretched about a half-mile outside the gates, then another half-mile down the main road to a makeshift parking lot. (Note to self: next year, wake up early, bring chairs and snacks...)

We joined hundreds of others gathered to hear Texas Attorney General (and candidate for governor) Greg Abbott give the keynote speech, listen to the impressive bagpiper play Amazing Grace, watch the Knights of Columbus lay a large wreath, and be jolted by the 21-gun salute brought to us by a Marine division on three Howitzer guns.

Surrounding us were hundreds of perfectly lined grave markers bearing the name, rank, dates, awards and faith symbols of the military veterans who had died. Some died at a nice old age, but on many we read "KIA." The saddest, to me, were those with a blank spot where the faith symbol was usually placed.

Did you know?

Burial in a national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces and Veterans who have met minimum active duty service requirements and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Eligible spouses, widows or widowers may also be eligible for burial, even if they predecease the Veteran. Their names are engraved on the back side of the marker. When the veteran dies, the stone is turned around so that the veteran's information faces frontward.
Reservists who die while on active duty or while performing training duty, or were eligible for retired pay, may also be eligible for burial.
A veteran's placement within the cemetery is based on date of death (not service or rank). So sections can be measured by the years on the death date, but the veterans may have served in any of the conflicts.
On each stone is engraved the deceased's name, rank, birth and death dates, faith symbol, one chosen award if applicable, conflict arena (Korea, Iraq, Vietnam, WWII, etc), possibly their division, and a brief epitaph.
Memorial Day pays tribute to those who lost their lives in combat, whereas Veteran's Day honors all veterans, living or dead.
Memorial Day started a couple of years after the Civil War as "Decoration Day" when officials and family members would decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers.
The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.

My husband and I reflected that, amazingly, we have not been personally touched by the death of an active-duty serviceman. We know and love many veterans—active, reserve, former, and retired—but none killed in action.

But many at the ceremony were there for very personal reasons. As the ceremony concluded and we all trudged back up the hill to our cars, then waited in the slow-but-friendly line that snaked out of the many makeshift parking lots, we noticed small clusters of people gathered here and there among the gravesites. Each stone had received a small American flag, but some sported patriotic red, white, and blue flower arrangements. Families and friends hugged, cried, tended to the mementos placed by their loved one's name, told stories.

We spent the majority of our day off driving to/from and observing the respectful remembrance of our ultimate servants. Time well spent.

Words That Changed My World—a Guest Post

2014-05-21T08:48:00.000-05:00

So, are you shocked to see another post so soon? Me, too. But this is just a tease. My writing friend Bronwyn Lea, who humors me when I ask to hear her lovely South African accent, invited me to guest post for her series, Words That Changed My World. I had been mulling over two options for several weeks, until recent events made clear which one to write about. Here's a sneak peek— be sure to click through for the full post.

Last week

Last week my family was touched by three significant events, all involving death of some kind. First, our elderly dog passed away in his sleep. (Do not discount the copious tears that I, more than any other in the family, shed. I had no idea I would be so heartbroken. See here for that story.)

A few days later, in his role as a chaplain for the Texas State Guard, my husband performed the funeral for the son of one of his guardsmen. The 13-year-old had accidentally overdosed himself.

The next evening, my Facebook feed blew up with the news that Christy, one of my childhood friends, had passed away in her sleep the night before. Our age. Unexplained.

To read the rest, visit Bronwyn's Corner.

An "Ode to Frisco"

2014-05-13T13:27:00.000-05:00

Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really. ~Agnes Sligh Turnbull

Earlier this week, our 15-year-old shepherd/doberman mix "puppy," Frisco, did not wake up. He had regularly been whining during the nights for weeks now, his poor kidneys demanding frequent relief. So when he did not cry out for 2 nights in a row I wasn't sure if I should rejoice or be concerned. The morning after the 2nd night of complete quiet, I opened his door hesitantly, turned on his light, and could immediately tell he was gone.

This week was his 15th birthday. We adopted him shortly after his first birthday, when I was 5 months pregnant with my first child. So that makes him, like, my first kid.

We have as many Frisco stories as we do children and friend stories. And we have as many "Isn't he cute?" stories as we do "THAT $^*?&?!! DOG!" stories. You know what I mean...

Isn't He Cute?

He was a big guy, as you can see from the photos. But he often thought he was still truly a puppy, trying to jump up on our bed or in our laps. He learned to settle for shoving his snout under our arms and demanding a hug or scratch behind the ears. He was a leaner ... you know, when enjoying a good rub his whole body would start leaning toward me til sometimes he'd either lose his balance or I would be supporting his weight. We called them Frisco hugs.

He loved being with his people. So much so that he would not eat without us. Early on, he would take a mouthful of his food, trot out to the living room or kitchen where we were, drop the kibbles on the floor, then proceed to crunch. Two more mouthfuls he transported like that before he would stay in his room to consume the rest. It became predictable.

If we were outside, he needed to be there too. During the years our TV was upstairs, we would often hear him creeping (read: pounding his 85 lb frame) up the stairs. We waited to see his head peer around the chair. If we didn't acknowledge him, or shoo him away, he would quietly curl up at our feet as if thinking, "They'll never notice." And if there was a storm, he was glued to my side no matter where in the house I was.

Frisco had a ferocious growl and an intimidating bark. When we lived in a home with a chain link fence surrounding our back yard, he wore a path along the alley fence line as he protected his people from dangerous neighbors, children and occasional strangers cutting through the neighborhood. We knew that we could leave our toddlers playing in the backyard safely because Frisco would protect "his people." No sane person got near our fence, much less attempted to enter the yard.

At the same time, Frisco allowed the children to do almost anything they wanted to him. Toddlers aren't gentle creatures: they pull tails, poke eyes, sit on bellies, pretend to be cowboys with a horse, hug you til you choke, use you as a pillow. We often marveled at Frisco's unending patience with the little people we brought home to him. If they got a little too aggressive, he would simply sit up and walk away a short distance to settle down again. Sometimes he just endured, looking up at us with a helpless expression as if to say, "Really? Can you help?"

And if you dared sit down in the middle of the floor to play a board game, or tie your shoe, or just watch TV—it didn't matter—he assumed you were there to play with him. He lived to wrestle with us, though if he ever actually captured an arm or hand in his mouth he would stop, let it go and lick it. The gentle giant.

That Blankety-Blank Dog!

Of course, he could drive us insane. Stay home and eat his own food? Whatev. One time I caught him climbing (not jumping—climbing) that chain link fence. He was tall enough to put his front paws on the top bar and strong enough to pull himself up. But he didn't count on getting his back foot caught in a link on his way down the other side. I was inside, with a 8-month-old, when I heard horrible yelping outside. Afraid he was dying, I ran out to see his predicament. I freed his foot, but that meant he was also free to run off and cavort around the neighborhood. I had to corral the baby, then chase the dog home.

Another time, he truly ran off, earning jail time in the pound for 3 days. We told him it was his only "get out of jail" card (because it wasn't free!). I also remember a day, when I was 7 or 8 months pregnant, chasing him around the living room because he did not want to go to his room (I was trying to leave for work). Jumping couches to tackle him in my condition did not make for a happy mama.

Frisco's height gave him the perfect leverage to find and steal food from the table and counters. An abandoned lunch was fair game. In recent years, he lost all sense of decorum and pretty much shadowed the kids around the kitchen, hoping they would just turn their backs for a second. He was known to have snatched food right out of the toddler's hand. Hey, it's right there on my level, so he must be offering it to me, right? I'm strangely proud of the fact that he stole his last sandwich the day before he died. True to self, til the end.

Frisco and I shared a weakness for pizza in particular. He begged, shook hands, sat, "talked" or lay down on command for a scrap of crust. Or he would just steal half a pie off the counter. Whatever he could get away with.

The Aftermath

The worst part of the first day was not discovering him in his room, nor carrying him out to the truck, nor watching my husband break the news to the kids, nor taking his body to the vet. Yes, I cried through most of those events, but something else was harder to take: returning home to an empty house.

It's not like he was a bundle of energy these past few months. But he was there. He still came to see me, still needed to be let out, still scratched or sighed. He was a companion til the end, and I miss that, especially now that I work from home most days.

I found myself ruminating over several themes the last few days:

Grief is exhausting. I know, it's just a dog. Right? No. I cried longer and more often the first day than I can remember in years. I am in fact impressed at my typing ability because the screen is blurry even now. My eyes were puffy for a couple of days. I understood in a new way why my mother kept so busy after the loss of my stepfather—activity distracts you from the pain, gives you something else to focus on. That's not such a bad thing sometimes. A good night's sleep helps too.

Mercy: The loss is more bearable because we saw him decline over the last few months. The kids aren't traumatized—they can actually feel sad for themselves but glad for him. We all started sharing memories of his quirks and funny experiences, evoking smiles and laughs at times. But then someone would get teary-eyed. (One even created a Minecraft cemetery...a creative processing technique!). So it comes in waves and know it will get better, maybe enough to get a new dog within the year. But Frisco is remembered well.

Friends: In times of loss, friends who understand and give us space to grieve are a gift from God, evidence of his grace. The ones I initially contacted all responded with compassion, allowing me to weep over a pet who has been part of our family longer than our children have. No matter what or who you lose, don't underestimate the power of compassion and empathy. Allow the grieving one to talk or not talk, acknowledge the loss, and be there.

Answered prayers: I'd been asking the Lord for months to spare me the decision of when or if to take him to the vet to be euthanized, and to spare him unnecessary pain. I found him in his room—where he felt safest—early that morning, while my husband was home to help transfer him to our SUV (we made the swift decision not to make the kids have to see his body) and to break the news to the kids (he knew I would have choked and sobbed my way through that). So no hard decision to make, and an uncomplicated goodbye. Pretty much what I had begged for. Thank you, Lord.

Perspective: While we love and will miss our pizza-thieving, playful pal, we realize that his loss is but a hint of what it is like to lose a child or mother or other loved one. Just this past weekend, a colleague's teenaged son died unexpectedly and tragically. My husband will be performing that memorial service later in the week. What will he say? There are not enough words in the English language that can bring that boy back and restore that family. We grieve with them, and I think experiencing our pet loss has made me more sensitive to the emptiness they are feeling. It pales in comparison, I know. But between the two events, I hug my kids a little tighter now.

Have you lost a beloved pet? What did you learn after that process?

IF God is Real, Then What?

2014-02-11T23:16:00.000-06:00

Maybe you've heard about the IF:Gathering, a women's conference hosted in Austin, TX, and simulcast worldwide to over 40,000 women last weekend. Its theme: If God is real, then what?

Meant To Be

I didn’t think I’d get to go to IF:Austin. Regular tickets sold out in 42 minutes back in November, so I asked if there were any press passes. They said they would get back to me.

But as February approached with no word, I began checking out the IF:Local groups in my area and wondering how I would participate when it would require taking a vacation day. (Sometimes full-time work is a real pain. I know, I should be grateful—and I am—but, just being honest!) Then I got the email: Could I come to Austin as a member of the press?

Two weeks. 4 kids. A husband on Guard duty that weekend. A boss to convince. No roommate to share expenses with.

Yes

I hopped on Facebook to ask the world if I had any friends in Austin (save money, see a friend?). My husband saw that post as he left work and called to inquire about my plans to leave town. I explained, and we discussed the challenge of arranging childcare for 2 days. 30 minutes later he arrived home—with assurances from his parents that the kids were covered. Woah. I could kiss him (and I did).

The following day, a friend I hadn’t seen in ages contacted me to see if I was going to IF and did I want to travel together. My boss, despite having a different agenda, gave me the day off.

God could not have spoken any clearer.

Why the urgent need to go? I couldn’t exactly say.

It wasn’t the speaker lineup, because no one knew the lineup.

It wasn’t to hang out with my besties, because they couldn’t make it.

It wasn’t to crank out articles for FV, because I was going on my own time.

But God carved a path before me.

Thankfully no one pressed me to explain exactly what IF was all about. I wasn’t completely sure, myself.

What is it?

I was not alone in my difficulty describing the essence of IF. Various speakers alluded to it jokingly, but the closing speaker, Tara Jenkins, addressed it directly. “So who had trouble explaining IF to your husband or friends?” The room collectively raised their hands.

Much like we wondered exactly “What is IF?” before the weekend started, the Israelites wandering in the desert wondered, “What is it?” when God sent manna to them. The flaky wafers fed them just enough each day, evidence that God was still with them, aware of their needs and ready to act for their benefit.

IF was spiritual manna to us that weekend. As Tara said, “Manna is blessing we can’t explain exactly, but is exactly what you need for the day you are in. That is what IF has been to us.”

Some of that manna can be found in these quotables that I am still noodling over:

Every parent knows, measuring sticks eventually become weapons. ~ Ann Voskamp

Girls can impale each other, but the sisterhood of women empowers one another. ~ Ann Voskamp

Why live in the wilderness, delivered, instead of in the promised land, free, so we can free yet another generation? ~ Christine Caine

God doesn’t just want to use you, he wants to be with you b/c he loves you. ~ Sarah Bessey

We’ve heard it said that "hurt people hurt people." Well, free people free people! ~ Bianca Olthoff

Run yo' race! ~ Bianca Olthoff

Your yes to God is deciding the future of many more people than just yourself. So lean in to God's call. ~ Shelley Giglio

Calling is when your talent and your burden combine. ~ Rebekah Lyons

Jesus is either a crazy person or He is the front door to a new life. ~ Jen Hatmaker

You play your one note, and I’ll play mine, and together we’ll create a song that is freedom for the captives. ~ Jen Hatmaker

That's some powerful stuff! To say nothing of the women who led out in this faith walk that is IF. Calling us to repentance, to unity, to acknowledging our calling, to moving forward as the hands and feet of Jesus—each of us in our own giftedness and calling—to bring the Kingdom ever closer.

Which of those exhortations is harder to do??

Which of those exhortations could be more rewarding, more fulfilling?

I'm still working through it. You might actually see more blogs from me soon!

When Something Wicked Blessed Me

2013-10-20T10:37:00.004-05:00

Beth Moore spoke the day before.

I drove back to the hotel late last night, wearing my new shirt from the MOPS Convention marketplace — it says "Blessed" in a pretty cursive font — thinking how very appropriate to have a visual reminder of how I felt. It's worth writing about even if just so I don't forget.

The day started off well enough—decent sleep, good breakfast, arriving on time to get a good seat at Jen Hatmaker's session at the MOPS Convention where I've been all weekend. But my headache set in before the music started and was raging by the time I slipped out to get to my booth ahead of her.

Jen Hatmaker speaks.

Yes, Jen Hatmaker was coming to the FaithVillage booth for a book signing. (Blessing!) The line had already begun forming before I arrived. Soon, the line stretched through the Marketplace floor, weaving down aisles and between other vendors. The moms were so patient and happy to see Jen, who signed books and took pictures with her contagious smile never wavering. We took book orders, with a MOPS volunteer (one of several who were rock stars helping us out!) taking cash and I handling the credit payments on Jen's iphone. She had one of those Square card readers...so cool.

Jen's smile never wavered.

Soon I was feeling lightheaded and queasy, at moments wondering if I needed to leave the booth and go find a dark corner (pretty sure there wasn't one to be found). At times squeezing the bridge of my nose (a sinus problem?) or maybe the sides of my head (so it would not explode), I must have given my discomfort away to the chattering moms waiting in line. One of them asked (sincerely and rhetorically, because she was just being kind) "Oh, your head hurts?" I asked if she had any tylenol, and she and about 3 others whipped out their painkillers right there. A blessing. I gratefully went for the migraine stuff.

My MOPS group came too.

About an hour or so later I wasn't wanting to faint anymore, but I did want to feel human again. I sent my teammate, David, for lunch. One of the volunteers gave me her crackers. And yet another mom in line saw me suffering —I don't have much of a poker face—and offered me Aleve without me even asking. She kind of pushed it on me, though I gratefully accepted. And another online mom friend who couldn't get down to our booth sent someone with water (she had no idea I'd need it so badly, but what a divine appointment!).

Moms...they just take care of people, huh? A blessing.

Jen had to run off to a meeting but we continued to sell her books, and she returned awhile later for a surprise second round. What a trouper! Though unannounced, she sat there another hour as moms who had been turned away the first time learned she was back. All with a smile and genuine sparkle in her eye for each mom who came to see her. A blessing to them and to those of us who watched.

Caryn and me.

As the Marketplace hours wound to a close, I scurried through the booths looking for gifts for my kids. I've already mentioned to David that my big plans for our evening off was to stay in my hotel room and watch LSU play Ole Miss ... and sleep. What else would help this headache go away? I see Caryn, an author and FV contributor whom I met years ago at a Synergy Women's Conference. We've seen each other in person maybe 3 times over 6 years, but chat online regularly. We took a photo together, and then she says, "Hey, I got these tickets to go to Wicked the Musical tonight. But I'm by myself. Would you want to come with me?"

One second. Ok, maybe two. That's how long it took me to ditch LSU and say, "For real??? Uh, yeah!" I did momentarily think about how exhausted I might be and would my head be able to take it, but I just went by faith that it would be worth it.

Tracey is a hoot!

Back to the hotel I laid down for a bit, hoping for a short, restorative nap. Caryn's phone call woke me out of a dead sleep. I had Passed. Out. As I left my room I realized — my headache was completely gone. Vanished. Disappeared.

Thank you, Jesus. Such grace. Whatever it was that finally did it — the meds, the rest, the sleep, the quiet, whatever—I was so grateful for an unclouded mind. We met downtown at Starbucks, where I also got a quick visit in with my previously mentioned online friend who sent me water... Tracey Solomon, MOPS board member and enthusiast, a joy to be with, and a blessing in and of herself.

The show was amazing. I only knew that it was a takeoff of the Wizard of Oz but nothing else. The music, the message about truth and reality, friendship, sacrifice, ambition, love ... all sung by some amazingly talented singers and performers. Wow! Just Wow.

Wicked

The final song between the two "witches" is called Changed:

..."who can say if I've been changed for the better —I do believe I've been changed for the better — because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

That's how I feel about today and the women who blessed me. I wish I knew their names, those two moms who handed me pain-killers at the booth. To Tracy and the volunteers who helped manage the line, to Jen who displayed grace and generosity, to Caryn and Tracey for helping finish off my night, to the writers of Wicked for telling a story of friendship that reminds me of Erin and Sandi and Jeni and Susie and Amy and ... and ...

I am indeed blessed.

(PS. Changed seems like a great theme song for MOPS International. Just saying.)
(PPS. It seems that missing the LSU game was itself a blessing—I heard they played horribly and lost.)

J is for Justice

2013-09-03T21:17:00.000-05:00

You could safely describe my family as bibliophiles. Even the 3yo loves books, and his older brothers and sister annually smash the summer reading goals set by our local library...within a couple of weeks. So it was no surprise to find us all at Half Price Books on Labor Day, taking advantage of their 20% sale.

Only N brought money, so J and M had to settle for just looking. We remembered that J owed N a copy of A Wrinkle in Time, which he had borrowed sometime last year and brought to school only for it to disappear from his backpack. Luckily N found 3 copies and chose one in great condition to replace the lost book. Price: $3.50

At checkout, I turned to J and said, "I'll pay for the book and you can pay me back from your $10 allowance you'll be getting later this week." Commence the whining...

"Noooooo, I'll pay him back lateeeerrrr."

Ignoring him, I finished paying, then took them outside to wait for Daddy and the little one. The I'm-not-done-with-you-yet-Texas heat soon drove us inside again. N went to find the others, so I showed J the receipt.

"Look— $2.78 with the discount. What a deal. You can pay me, say, $3 bucks out of your ten."

J immediately grabbed onto the original price I quoted and said, "No, I'll pay $2.78 like you said."

"No, $3 is easier...no change involved, just dollars. Let's call the difference 'sales tax.' Plus it's still a deal from the original $3.50 price!" I couldn't help but smile even as his frustration level grew, but I quickly masked my amusement as his brow furrowed and started getting upset.

"Mom, it wasn't my fault. I didn't take the book out of my bag. It was there all day because we weren't allowed to get stuff out of our bags during school. Then after school it was just gone when I went to open my bag. It's not fair!"

J is going to be a lawyer someday. Or a politician. Or go to jail. I don't see much difference in the personalities of those three groups ... just the direction and purpose they're given. So we'll keep steering him toward honor and service and see how he changes the world. But in the meantime, he wasn't convincing me.

"J," I leaned in and put my finger on his chin, speaking softly but clearly (as we were still standing near the door of the busy store), "you borrowed the book. I believe you about what happened to it, but you still borrowed it. When we take someone's property and something happens to it —whether accidental or intentional — we are still responsible for it. You took the book and did not bring it home. It's not fair to N that his book didn't come home. So you owe N a new copy. He's not mad. I'm not mad. But you have to make it right."

To his credit, J simply hung his head for a moment —obviously disappointed— then nodded. I ruffled his hair and hugged him before N walked up. Parental moment over.

J is 9 years old. He's a smart kid ... people-smart. He gets relationships, understands the connections between actions and consequences. He may not always realize them beforehand, but when they are explained rationally to him, he gets it. And he has the biggest heart of anyone in our house, always concerned about the needy, the downtrodden, the poor. Maybe it's part of being the middle kid, but he's got a big thing about fairness. What I love is that he doesn't solely focus it on himself. He's just as likely to say "it's not fair!" about a bad call at a football game as he is about kids who don't have shoes because they can't afford them as he is about not getting an equal portion of ice cream as his brother.

I see a heart bent towards justice. And I pray his dad and I can continue to point him toward the God of justice, who spoke through his prophet Micah "... And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (6:8).

The Divine Romantic | An Advent Devotional

2012-12-21T10:13:00.002-06:00

I recently read a novel in which the girl — after being given every opportunity to “win” the guy she liked — decided not to. Confused, I turned the page, only to find a sneak peek at the author’s next book. Nothing else! The story had ended without the resolution that the author had led readers to expect. I was appalled. What a waste of time.

A good story features exciting conflict that proceeds to a satisfactory resolution. Plots are wrapped up, questions are answered, relationships are reconciled. In a romance, especially, the main characters typically find ways to overcome their obstacles. However they choose to make peace with one another, the reader closes the book satisfied with their journey to resolution.

God has been writing a story of His relationship with humankind. He chose the Jewish people as his instrument — they would show his majesty and character to the Gentile world, “the nations.” That didn’t work out so well (plot, see?), since the Old Testament tells us the Israelites were more inwardly focused, proud of their status as “God’s people” and less than eager to include outsiders. But God persisted with his storyboard, as it were, and sent Jesus....

Read the rest in FaithVillage

Are you Wonderstruck?

2012-12-05T13:52:00.002-06:00

Source: margaretfeinberg.com via Margaret on Pinterest

The Beginner's Bible

2012-10-31T14:05:00.002-05:00

My two-year-old has his own group of age-appropriate apps on my iPad (quickly becoming the "family" iPad). In his group we have placed some of his favorite games, like Angry Birds and ABCs, and several Bible-based children's apps. The newest addition is The Beginner's Bible, which I've been asked to review by Zondervan.

First, let me share how Gabe uses it. Lately when I give him the iPad, he will go directly to the Beginner's Bible. This surprises me, because he used to have a different favorite. Maybe he's just open to new and different experiences. But he will open it up and click on the "Read" button, which will offer him six colorful stories from Genesis to choose from. He'll press one of them and listen as it reads aloud to him.

In each picture next to the text, a reader can make something happen. It's sort of a hidden feature meant to surprise the kids. Touch an animal and he'll move; move the circle and watch the sun rise and set. Some of the animations are super-simple, but they seem to delight Gabe nonetheless.

He keeps trying to swipe the page to make it turn. There is a small button which, when pressed, will turn the page; otherwise, it doesn't turn until the narrator is finished. This frustrates Gabe a little, so he'll skip the story and move to "Play." The same six colorful boxes appear, but this time they are puzzles or coloring pages. He loves puzzles and will stick with those for a long time. The colorful pictures really appeal to him.

Those two features pretty much sum up the Beginner's Bible app. For toddlers like Gabe, I think it works. Vibrant colors, simple user interface, basic Bible stories ... all these make the free version easy and fun to use. I do not foresee him continuing to use it past 3 or 4 years old, especially since I do not plan to purchase any more stories.

Purchase? Yes, more "Story Packs" can be bought in groups of six: 6 stories, 3 coloring pages, 2 puzzles, & 1 "bonus activity." So far I see only one new pack available, but I presume they continue to develop more to keep kids learning about Old and New Testament characters and events.

Zondervan has produced an attractive app suitable for small children whose parents allow them access to the tablet. It's simplicity and dearth of features make it both easy to use and easy to put down. Perhaps if they added more activities, the Beginner Bible app would have more staying power.

The High Calling

2012-10-30T14:14:00.002-05:00

Later next week I'm going to attend, in my role as Christian Living editor for FaithVillage, the Work as Worship Conference. It's actually a conference for professionals, folks who spend most of their time and energy working in a secular role. Yet as people of faith, who follow Christ, they may wonder how to merge their professional and spiritual lives.

The Work as Worship speakers--Nathan Sheets of Nature Nate's Honey, Bonnie Wurzbacher from Coca Cola, Steve Green of Hobby Lobby, Dave Ramsey from...well, you know... and several others--believe that our Christian faith should be integrated with our work. So do the writers at The High Calling.

Subtitled "Everyday conversations about work, life and God," the High Calling produces videos, articles and podcasts that encourage the living out of one's faith in the workplace. There is no segregation between faith and work, they believe. Recently, they've also produced a free weekly newsletter.

In it, subscribers can find a selection of articles, videos and podcasts. None of them takes longer than 3 or 4 minutes to read (or view or hear). The relative brevity of the content makes them easy to process. Viewers can gain a nugget on which to think as they go about their day. Typically I enjoy a more lengthy article, but for busy professionals these shorter pieces are well-suited. A manager or worker could open his or her email to the newsletter, click on a link and finish that piece within a couple of minutes. Perfect for starting your day or catching up at lunchtime.

The content is well-written, mixing spiritual concepts with very practical business ideas. So not each piece will talk directly about scripture. You may hear one professional discuss management skills, or the benefit of generosity in the workplace. Other pieces may tell stories that surprise and encourage. It seems that each one aims to connect one aspect of faith with an aspect of business life. For example, integrity at work is a reflection of your inner faith; creativity should not be wasted--it's a gift of God; giving is not relegated to tithing.

If you work in a secular environment but believe you are called to apply your faith in that environment, The High Calling newsletter may be an encouraging, useful addition to your weekly reading.

Crying in the Car

2012-10-26T11:15:00.001-05:00

I cried on my way to work this morning. Mostly at the end as I sat in the parking garage. Because there's a little boy, only 3 years old, having surgery today to remove his eye.

Cancer
A few months ago Reid was diagnosed with a rare cancer that the chemo has since not killed off sufficiently. And because of the cancer's unique nature and placement, his only hope for continued health and life is to lose his eye.

Reid's mom, Amy, is a girl I grew up with in the neighborhood, a childhood friend whom I haven't seen in forever but have reconnected with in the last couple of years thanks to social media. I could see from her posts and blog that she loves Jesus and has a vibrant faith. She is happily married with two little boys, having shared a lot of my own life challenges and joys.

Rabbit trail: Can I just say that it thrills my heart to hear the stories of old friends who have come to know Jesus? I was the weird one back then, coming to faith at 11 when most others weren't interested in spiritual things. I have no idea when Amy professed her faith in Christ. But she and several other friends from those years have re-appeared in my life (again, thanks to social media) and, in the process, revealed their love for Jesus Christ. That alone makes me thank God for Facebook and Twitter.

But sharing our lives online now also includes the hard stuff. Amy shared Reid's cancer story through her blog, and I've been praying on and off ever since. The news of his imminent surgery was tough to hear. All I had to do was look at Gabe, my almost-3-year-old, to know the mother's pain that Amy is experiencing.

A Mother's Prayer

Empathy is a powerful force.

Gabe

This morning I sat on the floor as usual, getting Gabe dressed for the day. When I stood him up, ready to go, he tackled me with giggles and kisses. We sat there snuggling for an extra couple of minutes--the best and longest two minutes of my day thus far. He doesn't usually do that, so I pretty much just breathed him in, reveling in the softness of his chubby cheeks and the strength in his little arms around my neck. I lifted up a mental "thank you, God," glad to be fully aware of the moment, and the reality that he's my last one and these snuggles are numbered as he grows up. And then he was done, and off to the kitchen.

On my way to work I saw a reminder on my phone of Reid's surgery. And I thought of Gabe, so healthy and whole. And I thought of another friend, Jenny, who is having her baby today. Jenny was born with cerebral palsy and given little chance to thrive. But she defied the doctors and has attacked life head-on, walking, learning, graduating, marrying, having children...a literal walking miracle. And so is this little boy she's about to deliver. God can do great things, can he not?

With these treasures in mind, I started praying for Reid's healing, that God would keep him safe through the surgery, recovery, and free from complications afterwards. I know God doesn't always heal, but I also know that he wants us to ask what's in our hearts. And yes, Reid's healing is top concern today. But I also prayed for his future--that God would use this life-altering event to develop his character and personality in such a way that he would bring people to faith in Christ. God can use all kinds of evil (see the story of Joseph, in Genesis) to bring about good.

Blessings

And wouldn't you know it, as I parked the car at work, the song "Blessings" by Laura Story started. Yeah, that's where the tears come in. Because I'd been praying pretty much just like that song was going. She basically asks, what if God works through pain instead removing it? How will we respond to him if he doesn't take the hard stuff away? What if he knows we'll only value what's most important if we experience suffering?

I had to laugh (through the tears) at the timing of the song. Thanks, God. Way to pound that one home.

So I keep praying for a successful surgery, for a boy who will grow up not to bemoan his cancer but instead tell others how God saved his life through this amazing procedure (and hey, do you want to see my fake eye?), and for his mom who will, many days from now, thank God for walking her through this horrible time knowing she was undergirded by God Himself and the empathy and prayers of many who love them.

And I keep asking that He will always remind me to live in the moment: to notice the sweetness of hugs and kisses from a toddler and the shared confidences of a tween, the constant hugs and chattering from my 6 and 8 year olds, the (never-ending?) teasing affection of my husband. Because those moments don't last forever. I want to breathe them in fully while I have them.

Hope

Jesus tells us to ask our Father in Heaven for what we need. It's ok to pray for healing. Luke 11:11-13What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Trials are inevitable, and God can use them in our lives. James 1:2-4Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
He is a God of hope. We can trust him. Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.