Live...from Nineveh

Are You "Holy Available?"

2012-02-17T06:50:00.000-06:00

"We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony." Revelation 12:11

What kind of life do you want to live? Seems like a silly question, because most of us don't feel like we have a choice. I'm not asking do you want to be an astronaut when you grow up, or what you want your material situation to be like, but seriously, what kind of life do you want to live?

The choice is yours.

Do you want to be a spectator or a player? Do you prefer to complain about your circumstances, or challenge them? Are you doing the best you can not to make waves, but stay status quo? Are you just trying to get to the end of your life without too much disruption?

Is that really enough? Not for me.

By the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony, I will overcome.

I choose today not to live by my own strength, but to tap into the power of the Living, Ascended Christ that is available...by His blood and the word of my testimony, doors will open and hearts will change.

We have been set in a world that is desperately in need of hope. Everywhere we look, there is an opportunity to point people to the One who saves, empowers, and conquers, if only we will share what we know. Where are you today? Chances are there is someone who needs hope. Will you share the word of your testimony and the blood of the Lamb, introduce them to the King? Tell them what Jesus has done for you.

I took Holy Available by Gary Thomas off my bookshelf last night. In his intro chapter, he writes,

"Your body will be a living, breathing center of purposeful passion, pointing toward the risen and reigning Christ, who works so powerfully within us. You will become 'holy available' to Him."

That is what I'm talking about. Holy Available to a purpose so much greater than me alone. How about you? What kind of life do you want to live?

Recognizing Glory

2012-02-10T23:08:00.000-06:00

"Lord let Your glory fall today." Matt Redman
"Show me Your glory." Third Day
"And the glory of the Lord shone around them." Luke by way of Lynus from Charlie Brown.

We sing songs and praises to God, crying out to see His glory, but do we really know what we are asking for? Glory is derived from the Latin for fame or renown, and means the manifestation of God in the Christian tradition. We ask God to reveal His glory to us, but never imagine what that might look like.

I have a friend who prayed not to be lukewarm in her faith. She wanted to be on fire for God, and prayed that He would shower her with His glory. A few months later, her son was diagnosed with leukemia. She had to depend on God like never before, and the result was that she was on fire for God, as she had prayed. God revealed His glory to her in a way that got her attention, but not necessarily in the way she had planned on.

Another friend has been praying for her husband to be the leader in their house. Recently a decision came up involving a cross-country move for a new job, and she had a choice to make. Badger him into not taking the job because she is happy here, or pray for him as the head of their household, for God to give Him wisdom as he made the decision. She chose to pray for Him, and he has decided to take the job. While she got what she prayed for, a husband ready to seek God for wisdom, this was definitely not the way she thought it would look.

I pray to see God's glory in my life, to be used by Him as He sees fit. If you have been following the saga of getting my son into the same school as his brother, you know that God has been answering my prayer to be used by Him, but this isn't what I asked for. I wanted a tidy warm feeling, a flooding of my spirit by His, a peaceful acknowledgement that He knows me. He knows me alright, and has orchestrated events that blow me away. People I shouldn't have met in a place I'm not supposed to be touching lives I never meant to intersect with...amazing and glory filled. And I get to be a part of it.

I can't help but wonder if we realize what we are asking for when we invite God's glory into our lives, and if we always recognize it when He shows up. Don't stop praying for it, because it is through His glory poured into our lives that we grow in Him. He will challenge you, stretch your limitations, and push you to the edge.

And it is in that place that you will see His glory.

When Life Hurts

2012-02-03T06:41:00.000-06:00

"OK, honey. I'm leaving. I'll be back in a bit."

The words hung in the air as he continued to look at his paper. Thinking he may not have heard, she repeated her words.

"Fine. I heard you the first time," came the biting reply.

Tears stinging her eyes, she wonders why he has to be like that. Would it be so hard to just say good-bye like a normal person?

In another home, a similar drama plays out, but this one cuts deeper. She reaches for him, needing affection that only a husband should provide, and he pulls away, claiming to have too much on his mind. She wonders what is wrong with her, trying to be understanding even though rejection cuts deep. Over their ten year marriage, this scene has played itself out too many times to count.

Hurt feelings. We all get them. How we react is up to us. I went through a little phase recently where I was constantly having my feelings hurt. Hormonal tailspin or justified reaction really doesn't matter. Here are a few questions I've learned to ask myself:

Is pride at the root of my hurt? Do I feel like I deserve better? This is a hard question to ask, because sometimes the other person is clearly in the wrong, but that doesn't give us the right to stew. Dwelling on the injustice leads to bitterness and gives the devil a foothold in our thoughts. Don't make it easy for him.
What does God want me to learn from this situation? In the case of feeling rejected by someone, even when they are sinning against you, God is allowing that. What does He want you to gain, because He only brings you what is best for you. He promises to work all things together for good, remember (Romans 8:28)? His purpose for us is to glorify Him, and His plan for us is that we grow to become more Christlike. Are you letting your situation lead you in that direction?
How can I offer grace to someone? I am not perfect (insert surprised look here) and need to remember that as God gives grace to me, I can offer it. That doesn't mean in a co-dependent, make excuses and coddle someone way, but to continue to love them through their snarkiness. Speak the truth in love, and call them out on their behavior if you feel lead, but not in a judmental self-serving way. Our first concern needs to be seeing someone right with God for their good and His glory, not just to make our lives better.
What role have I played? Nothing exists in a vacuum, and each day often carries the weight of all the days that preceded it. Are there on-going dramas that need to be resolved? I know I tend to put this little self-protective martyr bubble around me, and I need to really examine myself and my behavior that lead up to a situation. Often I find that my own thoughtless comments or disrespect have thrown fuel on a fire that I didn't know was burning. Like Jesus says, don't look for the mite in another's eye with a plank sticking out of our own.

Hurt feelings stink. No one likes to feel slighted, ignored, or outright rejected. Through those experiences, though, I have grown closer to God. He alone is my refuge. He will give me the strength I need to endure any situation gracefully. He is sufficient to meet all my needs. No matter what the day brings, these truths never change; I can depend on God to be my firm foundation.

I am praying that you feel the arms of God wrapping around you, providing peace and comfort, and that you hear the whisper that He has for you when life hurts.

Need Some Grace?

2012-01-26T21:44:00.000-06:00

Snuggling on the couch tonight, the boys and I watched an episode of Little House on the Prairie, which was a first for all of us. I grew up in a sitcom watching family...Little House was not on the radar screen. Anyway, in this episode, Laura stole a music box from Nelly, the town brat. Nelly found out and bribed Laura. Finally, Laura had enough and confessed to her father. At the end of the show, a boy was still using the knowledge against her, not realizing that she had already come clean. He smirked and said, "You know why you'll do what I say..." Laura smiled and said, "Not anymore."

If only it were that easy.

Sometimes we confess and the weight is lifted. Sometimes we come clean about something and even though we know it is done, we still let it drag us down. We continue to carry the burden of our mistakes, allowing them to dictate who we are and how we should act. We feel guilty, like that adds to our confession or something.

Can I just take a minute and encourage you, if you are still living under the weight of your sins, to stop giving an ear to that voice. The enemy will continue to taunt you as long as you let him. Tell him to get off your back in the name of Jesus, and he has to go. He will find someone easier to pick on.

My church has been doing a phenomenal series on grace. Need to leave some baggage behind? Click here and check out last week's message. It may just change your life.

A Quarter Century of Parenting

2012-01-22T06:55:00.002-06:00

You may have heard the saying that to become an expert in something, you must keep at it for 10,000 hours. I did the math and that comes out to a little over 416 days. I need to make a bold statement here: That saying does not apply to everything.

My oldest child turned 25 yesterday, and that amounts to 219,000 hours of parenting exactly. (Since each child has individual needs, I think we should get simultaneous credit for hours spent on other kids as well...) I still would never call myself an expert. I'm sure my kids would agree.

Here is some of what I've learned, though, in a quarter century of being a mom:

While there may be predictable events, such as walking, talking, and learning to ride a bike, no child is predictable. Get some guidance from the baby books, but keep in mind that your child hasn't read them.
You can do a lot of things wrong with your child as they are growing up, and they can still turn into decent people. To say there are things I wish I'd done differently is an understatement, but my daughter has grown into a compassionate, funny, intelligent, beautiful adult. She is the kind of person I would choose as a friend, even if she wasn't related to me.
You can do a lot of things right, and they will still do things differently than we had hoped they would. I remember the first time Jessi sat up straight and pulled away from me. She was about 3 months old, and up until then had kind of shaped her body against mine. But on this day, she pulled herself forward and there was a space between us. I felt something akin to panic stir within me as I realized I wasn't just holding a baby, but a real person who would make choices and pull away from me no matter how hard I tried to hold her still.
Time really does go quickly. I can remember well-meaning old women (45-ish) telling me to treasure these moments of childhood because they grow up so fast. I wanted to tell them to mind their own business and get on with my pity party of frustration. They were right. While hours and days might feel like they last forever, years fly by. I remember my own 25th birthday like it was yesterday, and can't believe my daughter is celebrating hers.
You will learn more about yourself parenting than about your kids. Sometimes we learn just how selfish we really are as our needs/wants are often put on hold during the child raising years. Sometimes we learn that we have an amazing capacity to love, a love that has the power to break our hearts at times.
I saw a t-shirt once that said "Parents of teenagers know why some animals eat their young." Yup. That's all I'm saying. Yup.

Being a parent, know matter how you get there, is a privilege. It's been my privilege to watch my daughter grow into someone I am proud to call my friend, and laugh with as she navigates these waters herself with her daughter, Sophie. The last lesson learned: that curse your mom puts on you... you know the one...works. Jessi knows it too now.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

The Journey Continues...

2012-01-18T22:04:00.000-06:00

Finally got my computer back; it's been on a two week vacation at the Best Buy Computer Spa, and of course while I didn't have it I thought of a million bloggable things. Now it sits, refreshed and ready to go in my lap, and I can't think of a darn thing to say.

It is ironic that my last post was on hope. Tonight is the night before a conference that could change everything. Or nothing. For a little background, you can read the beginning of our journey here and the middle of it here.

I keep saying that I know God has a purpose in all of this. Of course He does. He's God. He doesn't do things just to see how it will all play out. He already knows. I won't even pretend to know His whole purpose; I may not know that until I see Him face to face, but I know that He will redeem all situations and make them whole and beautiful, glorifying Him.

At first I thought I was just supposed to keep looking for the silver lining wherever He planted me, an annoying glass-half-full person, which I do actually believe to some extent. I can't glorify Him if I'm whining and complaining. But, and here's what clicked for me the other day, it is also not glorifying to Him to see injustice and do nothing.

There is a such thing as righteous anger and He has filled me with it. Self-righteous anger is all about getting what I want. Righteous anger is about righting a wrong. Sometimes those things get the opportunity to work together, and tomorrow that just might happen.

I always say that we shouldn't pray for an easy road, but to travel the road with God as our travelling companion. These last few months have been a serious road trip, with sights and experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. But I am hoping that I just saw a sign for the next oasis just up the road apiece.

My Fierce Hope

2012-01-02T21:55:00.002-06:00

A few years ago I heard of the concept of choosing a word for the New Year instead of a list of resolutions. In 2010 I chose the word endurance, partly because I was training for a triathlon, and partly because I know that I tend to start things with a bang and finish with a whimper. Truth be told, I don't remember the word I chose for 2011, and don't feel the need to look it up.

My word for 2012 is born from a place of deep longing, of waiting for promises to be fulfilled, of frustration. The word is hope.

Now, hope tends to be a wishy-washy word, heard with pleading, wheedling, and whining. Or pessimism...I hope but I don't believe.

Oh Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

Hope was never intended to be a negative word. It is defined as waiting in joyful expectation. At least that is my summary of the definitions I have read. Fierce hope prowls, walking the parameters of its enclosure waiting...anticipating what is to come. Fierce hope is restless, knowing that the promise is around the corner, never doubting, just...waiting.

Hope and faith link arms, supporting one another on the journey, remembering that hope that is seen is not hope.

When I get tired, when I feel discouraged, my fierce Hope will growl, deep in my soul, reminding me love never fails. "Oh Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with Him is great love..."

When I am not sure of my next steps, my fierce Hope will encourage me that the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love.

When I just need to rest on this journey, my fierce Hope draws me closer, reminding me that He is my hiding place and my shield; I hope in His Word.

My fierce Hope has a face; it is the face of my Lord. My Savior and my God, He alone is my Hope. Active, living, able. And I will live in joyful expectation with Him.

Hope. My word for life in 2012.

"May the God of HOPE fill you with
joy and peace as you trust in Him,
so that you may overflow with HOPE
by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13

The Most Useful Gifts

2011-12-29T22:37:00.000-06:00

Most of us have unwrapped our Christmas presents...how many of you got "useful gifts," the kind you might need but don't always appreciate? The joy of receiving useful gifts seems to differ according to gender; men stereotypically love to receive power tools but women groan over new pots and pans.

Sometimes we receive a gift and fail to appreciate the magnitude of it; this is what happened with the gifts I've received from my Heavenly Father. I (modestly and humbly) know that I have the gift of writing. The spiritual gift list would say encouragement and exhortation, with some faith, teaching, and word of knowledge thrown in, which all comes together in the written word for me. The fact that the Lord allows me to speak to other hearts and share His word is a gift, one that I didn't ask for but appreciate and treasure nonetheless. But here is what I am discovering...

It is through using our gifts that we can more fully worship the Lord. I have taken a bit of a break from writing. Lack of focus, time, and honestly, desire, have taken their toll. Sitting down to write was falling in the same category exercise and eating right...something I should probably do but don't really feel like. But, in this time of not writing, I have also felt my connection to God growing weaker. Not that He went anywhere, but the awareness of Him was less consistent. I was feeling lukewarm, and we know how the Lord feels about lukewarm.

Thinking I was on to something here, I looked up verses pertaining to gifts and worship. In Romans 12:1, we are told to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, which is our spiritual act of worship. Just a few verses down Paul teaches about the different gifts given and that we are all to use our gifts as members of one body. There is a connection between using the gifts given to us and our worship. When I fail to use the gifts God has given me as part of His body, I am limiting my ability to worship Him in all fullness, holy and acceptable.

I am looking forward to getting back on track, to moving from lukewarm back to on fire. Read along if you like...and know that as I write, I am engaged in worshiping the Lord through the gift He has given me.

What about you? Do you see the connection between the gifts the Lord has blessed you with and your worship of Him? What an amazing God, that He would give us gifts that would allow us to connect with Him as we use them.

Amazing.

Preparing for a Birthday

2011-12-23T14:33:00.000-06:00

All the gifts are bought and mostly wrapped.

I've baked a few different kinds of cookies and countless batches of caramel corn.

Christmas Eve and Day menus are planned and groceries stocked.

As I stood at the sink washing my third load of dishes for the morning, I thought, "Finally, I am almost ready for Christmas."

And the still, small voice whispered, "Really? This is how you prepare for My coming?"

The words to Joy To the World came into my head: Let every heart prepare Him room.

I considered how the whole time I was baking cookies I was rehashing the "discussion" my husband and I had last night. While I raced between the bedroom and the bathroom, alternately wrapping gifts and bathing children, I was hardly exuding Christmas joy, snapping at one child that the best way he could help would be to let me just.get.it.done. I did my grocery shopping guiltily grateful for a missed appointment that opened up a window of time.

I wonder what Jesus thinks of the way I am preparing to celebrate His birth. I'm thinking He would be better with store bought cookies, frozen pizza, and presents wrapped without perfect corners than what I offered. Definitely not my first fruits, at least not to anyone but myself.

I suspect I am not the only one caught in the last minute frenzy. If you took time to read this blog in the midst of the hustle, take time to pray with me for a fresh start. Right now, even if your kids are playing full contact Wii like mine are.

Father, please help us to remember what matters this Christmas. Lord, be real to me right now, remind me that it is YOU that I am celebrating, and that everything else is secondary. Prepare my heart to receive You this season, and everyday to follow. In Your Precious Name, Amen.

Invitations to Glory

2011-12-16T22:09:00.000-06:00

If you hopped over from the Scriptural Nugget, thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy this story of another type of invitation...

I sat on the mat against the wall, staring at the game of Bubble Explosion on my phone, subconsciously ticking the time away with each bubble's popping. Having interrupted my home improvement frenzy to bring my kids for a hula-hooping afternoon at the Y, I'd be lying if I said I wanted to be there. I wanted to be home watching drywall patch dry.

"Why aren't you hula-hooping?" asked the director.

I offered a sad smile and said I really didn't feel like being there. The thought came, though, that I was acting like a spoiled teenager who wasn't getting her way. I put my phone away, took off my shoes, and headed to the floor mat to grab a hula-hoop. Much to my surprise, I could still do it.

My boys and I enjoyed an afternoon of hula-hooping, followed by an impromptu stop at Grandma's for some Christmas cookies. I would have missed an afternoon filled with joy if I hadn't answered the invitation to get off the mat.

Driving home, we caught a glimpse of the full moon hanging low between the houses, like it was trapped in the subdivision. We crept slowly through twisting side streets trying to see the moon full-on, in all its splendor. Our hunt took us to a dead end where the moon greeted us, yellow and full, over a field. The boys were awestruck, the car silent for a precious few seconds. We followed the invitation of the moon to behold glory.

Often in our lives we wait for the perfect opportunity, the right timing, the carefully planned event, to see the glory that is our's to see just by being fully in the moment. As you embrace this day, look for the invitations to glory. They are there...

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)"

The Bible: A Love Story

2011-12-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

I taught this lesson in Mom Time a few weeks ago, but it is not mom-specific. Add richness and depth to your Christmas by understanding that the Bible is truly God's love story to you, and Jesus is the promise of that love.

The Bible: A Love Story

I don't know what the Bible represented to you growing up. In my house, it was a huge book for pressing flowers and keeping yellowed scraps of obituaries. We didn't actually read it. As a matter of fact, I didn't know we were supposed to. I thought only nuns and priests read the Bible. About six years ago I read a book that referred to the Bible as a love story, and that took me by surprise.

History book, yes.

Basic instructions before leaving Earth (BIBLE), yes.

Love story, not so much.

Understanding that was the catalyst for the transformation God performed in my life.

There are five key truths that, when you really "get" them, will open the door to a richer relationship with Jesus. It is my desire to add a new level of awareness to your Christmas season through this knowledge.

He knows your name: Have you ever been called by the wrong name? Felt anonymous in the world? Wonder if your existence makes a difference at all? I wandered through my own life feeling like that for close to 25 years, not sure of my place in life. Isaiah 43:1 says "I have called you by name. You are mine." Mine. I belong to God. He calls me His. The God of the Universe knows who I am and He knows who you are too. Let that sink in for a minute.

He will never leave you or forsake you.(Hebrews 13:5) In this world of inconsistency, divorce, and job loss, we learn to view relationships as temporary. "Until irritation do we part...." God does not operate that way. His promise to us is to never leave us or forsake us. He will never turn His back on us when we disappoint Him. He will never choose a better opportunity over us. Never is a very long time, unfathomably actually. We can't understand that with our conditional, human thinking minds, but God is not limited by our standards. He will never, ever leave you. He promises.

He came for you. With the life of Jesus, who is God in the flesh, over 365 prophecies from the Old Testament were fulfilled. One of my favorites is the connection between Isaiah 61: 1-3 and Luke 4:16-21. (Click to read the verses.) He came to set us free from all the weighs us down and steals our joy and contentment, to make a way for us to have a right relationship with God. You can read more of my personal journey if you want here.http://www.debbiegiese.com/p/rest-of-story.html

He cares for you. "Cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)" Do you realize that God is intimately involved in every detail of your life, that He is not some distant entity asleep at the wheel, and wants you to come to Him with your concerns, fears, and celebrations? When you have had a long day of worrying about everyone else's needs, don't forget that God is actively concerned with yours. Share it all with Him; He can take it.

He has a plan for you. You were not created without reason or by accident, no matter what circumstances you come from. I was born to young parents, and often felt like an "accident." What I know realize is that God planned for me, and that every day I wake up breathing is a day He still has planned for me. Amazingly, He has a plan for each one of us to fulfill. I think that is the coolest ever. Check out these verses for confirmation: Jeremiah 29:11-13 and Ephesians 2:10.

My prayer for each of you is to know how much you matter to God, and to view Christmas as the birth of the promise and evidence of God's love. Celebrate the wonder and majesty of this season with the eyes of your heart opened to the truth that the Bible is the Living Word of God, and that Jesus is that Word made flesh. May you contain to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Amen.

Meandering My Way

2011-12-06T22:05:00.000-06:00

I'm meandering my way through the book 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp, which is really the only way to read this book. She was the keynote speaker this summer and listening to her was like listening to spoken music. No real way to do her style justice...let it suffice to say that she is not a quick read, but one you have to process through. At least for me.

I came across a line in the book that said if you were thirsty you wouldn't read a book about getting a drink. You would go get a drink. That is where I'm living these days. I am meandering my way through life, taking a drink of Living Water instead of reading about it.

I'm not writing near as much as I used to, but I am living each day fully in the adventure that following a wild and crazy God brings. Instead of writing about the big dreams I have, I'm taking steps towards them as God leads. For example, somehow I am the new team writer for an organization called the Oneness School Initiative. Basically it means using my nitpickiness for the Kingdom, editing and proofing documents on their website. This came about because one person knew another person and mentioned me, and now that person is helping me with my dream event...by saying yes to one thing it set me on the path I am really wanting to be on. Cool, huh?

I always seem to have about ten irons in the fire, but none of them are calling my name loudly. I asked a friend a few weeks ago if it was a bad thing to not feel urgent about everything, but just to take each day as it comes. I am so used to chasing after things, but I think the Lord has led me to a desert of sorts. I am learning to walk, to listen, to just be. Her answer was reassuring...just keep honoring God with each thing I do, and He will continue to lead.

It is my prayer for each of you that you recognize what the leading of God looks like in your life, and that you follow hard after Him. Even if that means a little meandering.

Thanks-giving

2011-11-30T21:47:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving.

Do we really notice the word, or do we just think of a big meal and a bit of history? We acknowledge the word as the act of giving thanks. Being thankful for what we have. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude, like we talked about here. But let's look at the word in another sense: Thanks-giving.

It struck me this morning that we are not truly grateful for our blessings as long as our hands, hearts, eyes, and wallets are closed. Thanksgiving to me means giving in recognition of all that I have been given. I am not showing true appreciation for the gifts in my life as long as I am not sharing them, paying it forward.

In 1000 Gifts, AnnVoskamp dissects the word eucharisteo, which is Greek for thanksgiving. But to go deeper, the word eucharisteo holds the words charis and chara, grace and joy. Her focus is on finding joy through the giving of thanks, being thankful for all of her blessings.

I am wondering, though, if another way to look at that is to find joy through thankful giving. I know that when I live freely, not counting the cost to me to serve another, I find joy. My heart finds peace. I'm less concerned with my own issues when I reach out to another. I find that as I express my thankfulness to God for what I have by giving of my time, talents, or funds, I am the one that is truly blessed and even more thankful than I was to start with.

I think I might be on to something here. What do you think?

An Attitude of Gratitude

2011-11-29T08:28:00.000-06:00

This past week has been filled with doctor appointments, kleenex, midnight coughing, turkey, stuffing, and holiday preparations. Life to the full, as He promised. Here is a blog I posted over at our Mom Time blog on gratitude, appropriate in this season of Thanksgiving. I pray you will be blessed by Luanne's teaching as I was.

http://frccmomtime.blogspot.com/2011/11/attitude-of-gratitude.html

Creating a Little Breathing Space

2011-11-20T07:41:00.000-06:00

Here is the talk I gave Friday night at the Girls Night Out Breathe event at Fox River Christian Church:
Do you ever find yourself eating something yummy while you are doing something else, only to look down and realize you've eaten the last bite and "forgot" to taste it? Or do you ever pile so much on your plate and can't enjoy any of it, the goal instead to eat everything you had to have? Or is that just me...?

Life can be like that, and the holidays are like life on steroids. We either race through November and December, trying to accomplish everything perfectly, or, we just wake up January 2^nd, which incidentally, is only 43 days away, and wonder what happened. Where did the holiday season go already? I finally got everything done and now I’m ready to celebrate and I missed it. Again.

We need to learn to slow down, to breathe, to savor this season, instead of just trying to "get through" them. I took the word SAVOR and made a little acronym out of it to help us remember to savor not just this season, but each day as it comes.

S: SIMPLIFY Did you know that 6,020,000 websites pop up on google when I searched "simplify life?" After reading through a few, most of them have to do with decluttering your life and your stuff.

I read through a few of them, lots to do with decluttering, both our stuff and our lives. Now, I’m not talking about Martha Stewart’s kind of simple, where I iron my sheets, roll them around paper tubes, and tie them with ribbons so they fit better in the linen closet. I’m talking more about the “don’t be afraid to use Chinet at the holidays instead of dishes that need to be washed before you can even eat off them” kind of simple. You know where you tend to go overboard. Trim it back and give yourself some breathing space.

A: Accept your season of life. Maybe you have grand visions of a giant Christmas tree, with twinkly lights and decorations handed down through generations. Except that you have a toddler. I can’t even tell you how many Christmas’s I had a half decorated tree, but the memories are still sweet. Maybe you are an empty nester and you are wondering if you should even put up a tree. I say do what makes you happy. My mom loves to decorate for Christmas, but the tree itself seemed like too much work for just her to enjoy, so she hangs her favorite ornaments and twinkly lights on evergreen swags, and gave the rest of her ornaments to me for my family.

Accept that financially or relationally you are where you are. If this has been a tough year in either respect, do what Paul tells us to do in the book of Philippians. Focus on whatever is good, true, noble, beautiful, or praiseworthy. It won’t change the circumstance necessarily, but when you focus on these things, the following verse promises that the God of peace will be with you. (Phil. 4: 8-9).

Accept others in their seasons as well. You know the saying you can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family…this time of year gets pretty intense. Give a little grace towards those you didn’t pick to be part of your crowd, but they’re in it anyway. Do your best to get along with everyone, (Romans 12:18) and that will bring everyone a little breathing room.

V: For the next letter, V, I want you to think about your EXPECTATIONs. Yeah, I know, it doesn’t start with V. Now, cross it out in your brain and replace it with the word “VISION.” We are replacing our expectations with visions. Expectations and visions start out in the same place but leave us in different places. Both begin with anticipation. But, if your expectations aren’t met, disappointment, anger, or frustration can be the result. If you begin by casting a vision, every step in the right direction is part of the journey of making that vision a reality. Do you see the difference?

I have a vision that my family will grow in their compassion towards others, especially around the holidays, and that at some point in the future, we would spend Thanksgiving or Christmas serving someplace together. That is my vision. Each year, I feed it little by little. Last year we rang the bell for the Salvation Army in front of Sears at Brookfield Square. And let me tell you, nothing says festive like two boys rolling on the floor in front of the red kettle fighting about who was going to ring the bell. And there I stand, big fake smile on my face, hoping I don’t see anyone I know.

This year we added to that vision by filling a box for Operation Christmas Child. I am planting the seeds for the vision I want to see. If I expected that we would all stand singing Christmas carols in front of the red kettle looking angelic, or that my boys wouldn’t whine about wanting to keep some of the toys we were picking out, I would be disappointed in the outcome.

Cast your vision for how you hope this holiday season plays out. Remember the Andy Stanley quote: Direction, not desire, determines your destination.

Are the things that keep you busy supporting your vision, or just taking up time? Those might be some of the things you trim as you are simplifying, as you are creating a little breathing space.

O: Opportunities, to serve, to live, to laugh. Don’t fill your plate so full that you don’t have time to take advantages of opportunities that come up. I always say that I am fine with spontaneity as long as I can plan for it.

You can serve in an organized way that requires a committee to plan for it, or you can just look for the opportunities that come up in everyday life to bless someone. Playing “Follow the Leader” through a crowded parking lot, I was excited to see the second spot from the front open up and quickly put my blinker on. I checked my rearview mirror to make sure the rest of the parade knew I was stopping, and noticed that the car behind me was driven by an elderly couple. I turned off my blinker and kept going, and watched them pull in, knowing they would appreciate a close parking spot more than I would. I was able to serve someone in my regular day just by being aware of the needs of others.

Last year I invited a few friends over one afternoon to watch “The Nativity”, an afternoon I could have spent trolling the mall in search of the perfect gift. Instead, I made some soup and we gathered to be reminded what this season is really about.

So, leave yourself the opportunity to grab coffee with a friend, or take the neighbor’s kids for a while so she can get some work done. Leave yourself some breathing room in your own schedule so you can reach out to someone else.

R: The last thing we need to do is REMEMBER.

Remember that relationships are more important than activities. If we are snippy with sales people and impatient with our families because we are busy creating the perfect holiday, we are missing the point. If cooking rights for Thanksgiving outweigh the gratitude of having family and friends to celebrate with, it is time to re-evaluate our motives.

Remember to leave room for the unexpected. Cookies will burn. The perfect gift will not be stocked in the size you need. Your kids will tell you the morning of the class party that you are supposed to bring cupcakes. (You might wake up the day before a big engagement with strep throat like I did on Thursday…)

Remember what we are celebrating, the season of Jesus’ birth, the season of Emmanuel, which means God With Us. We are celebrating that God is with us, and realize what a gift that is. Sometimes it is when we try the hardest to have that Holy Spirit spark in our holidays that we miss it. Relax, see where the Lord leads you and the who the people are He has put in your life, and you will see Him. Here is a link to the blog that I wrote in 2009 about missing Him for the entire season.

And lastly, remember to breathe. All together, let’s take one deep breath, think about the vision we have for this season, and focus on SAVORing what we have, instead of just trying to hold our breath and make it through.

Jesus in Dirty Jeans

2011-11-16T11:09:00.003-06:00

Wide-eyed wonder played on the four-year-old's face as he looked up in disbelief. Walking toward him was an old man, white beard touching his chest and round spectacles on the bridge of his nose. The boy looked from the man to his mom, looking for confirmation that this was Santa in his regular clothes. I chuckled to myself as I watched this exchange from my vantage point on the elliptical machine at the Y; the same thought had crossed my mind.

"Did you ever see Me in him?", came the whisper softly.

"Uh, no," I thought to myself, confused. Then the Holy Spirit brought a picture to my mind of this same guy a few months ago. He was pedaling slowly next to me on the recumbent bike. His white undershirt was stained and had sweat circles under the armpits, dirty jeans on instead of work-out pants. His beard was matted, and the smell of him made me want to change bikes. I wondered how he could afford the Y to begin with.

Not one of my finer moments.

"Did you ever see Me?" came the question again.

Jesus tells us what He looks like in Matthew 25:
He is the hungry and the thirsty.
He is the sick and the lonely.
He is the naked.
He is the prisoner.

He is the child on the playground with no mittens or hat. He is the single mom at Wal-mart hoping there really is a Santa to bring her kids presents this year. He is the old woman looking out the window of the nursing home, wondering if anyone will visit. He is the guy down at Frame Park huddled under the bridge. He is the smelly old man on the exercise equipment next to me.

"Oh Lord, forgive me. Forgive me. I didn't know..."

I let my thoughts trail off because I did know. I do know. Sometimes it's just easier to pretend we don't. Again the Spirit brought a verse to me..."You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Revelation 3:17)"

"Forgive me," I whispered, slowing down on my machine as my eyes welled up. It is a painful process, learning to see the world through Jesus' eyes, but it is a beautiful pain. I cannot look away anymore.

Heading into this time of year, I am praying not only to see Jesus in others, but thinking that as I learn to do that, they might catch His reflection in me.

The Master Plan

2011-11-12T22:03:00.001-06:00

Lately I have been learning how to live.

When I went to She Speaks this summer, I had two goals in mind. One, get a book deal, or at least be headed in that direction, and two, hit the ground running as a speaker. I thought I would come home and send out my carefully prepared bio sheets to every church and organization, get an organizer to keep my speaking engagements straight, and finish the chapters on the book I started.

As I sat in each session, listening carefully for that one thing God wanted me to take away, I began to feel sad. Like I was trying to fit into clothes that weren't mine. I thought maybe it was nerves, or the enemy trying to shake my confidence. Instead, it was actually the one thing I was supposed to be hearing. God was not telling me my dreams were dead, but that we were going to rest and just be for a bit. You might laugh, because I know I did, but the message was "Go home and play with your kids."

Now I won't lie, half of me was like, "Really? I came all this way and did all this work so You could tell me to go home and play with my kids?"

The other half, truth be told, was relieved. This is my favorite season of motherhood, and I don't know why I insist on living with one foot out the door all the time. I needed to travel across the country so God could remind me of what I already knew.

In this season of resting and waiting, He is at work. My eyes and my heart are being opened in new ways. Taking time to read, watch movies, and just hang out with friends with no other agenda than enjoying each other's company are not luxuries, they are the details that make life richer. By sending me home without a clear plan, God gave me a gift.

"God wants me to get where He wants me to go more than I want to get where He wants me to go" is a saying I read in a book by Mark Batterson. God knows His plan for me. My role is to listen and obey.

How about you? Are you taking time to just enjoy life, or are you constantly working towards something? Maybe it's time to take a deep breath, and do nothing at all for a little while. The world won't end or forget you, and you may just find yourself again.

Trust In Relationships

2011-11-11T08:28:00.000-06:00

A friend apologized after Mom Time for texting during my lesson. Actually, I hadn't noticed, but I would not have been upset with her because I trust her. If I had noticed, my first thought would have been "I hope everything is ok." We have built a relationship on mutual respect; to be upset before knowing the details would not have been fair to her or our friendship.

Someone has been irritated with me on and off lately...I know, right?! Each time has been due to a misunderstanding or misperception, but here is the deeper question: What does this person really think of me? Do they believe I am a person who would do the things they think I did?

Instead of being angry back or launching into defense mode, I consider where they are coming from. What irritates us or hurts our feelings often speaks to what is going on in our hearts. When this person was irritated at me last time, it was because she felt hurt and left out, which speaks to a deeper insecurity and loneliness that I know this person carries because we have talked about it.

Dr. Henry Cloud spoke on relationships at Women of Faith, and he said that when people don't behave as we want them to, it really isn't their problem, it is our problem. We are in charge of our reactions and feelings. If dogs barking and kids fighting really bug you, the problem is not with the dog and the kids. Our responsibility, no matter what, is to live in a manner that glorifies God. Lashing out in anger does not produce the righteousness of God.

What do we do on a practical level? We pause, considering the other person's perspective, while not owning it, practicing humility and gentleness. The Bible reminds us to live in peace with everyone as far as it depends on us (Romans 12:18), and the first step of that is giving someone the benefit of the doubt.

Dress Rehearsal

2011-11-07T13:46:00.000-06:00

“Grab your hat, buddy. We’re leaving in a minute,” I hollered into the playland at our local McD’s.

“I can’t reach it,” came the muffled reply.

Looking through the window, I could see my eight year old son stretched out on the floor trying to slide his arm under the mesh-enclosed steel barrier, his hat about 6” out of his reach.

“How did your hat get in there?”

“He told me to throw it over the fence,” said my son, pointing at his friend.

Seeing the teaching moment, I decided not to ask anyone to unlock the fence so we could retrieve his hat. Instead, we left our name and number with the cashier, planning to follow up later in the week after the cleaning crew was able to get the hat for us.

This experience opened the door for a great discussion on peer pressure with both of my kids. He knew it was a dumb idea to throw the hat over the fence, but he wanted to impress his buddy.

“Now is the time to stand up for what you know is right,” I told him. “This time it was a hat. Next time it might be someone offering you a smoke or a drink. Or wanting you to steal something with them. Or worse. And the consequences won’t be as harmless.”

While the stakes were pretty low this time, I hope he got a glimpse of the bigger picture.

This life is both the dress rehearsal for future experiences, and the real deal, all at the same time. We can’t undo a decision, and the choices we make today affect the choices we will make tomorrow.

Are the things you are saying “yes” to today opening the doors that you want to walk through in your future?

Change of Pace

2011-11-04T14:31:00.000-05:00

Did you ever have it happen that you were losing weight just by the natural process of your life instead of going to the gym and counting every calorie?

OK, me neither. But, stay with me for the sake of the analogy.

I have been one to hunt down God's purpose and plan for my life, trying to fit each day around what I think His will is for me. Lately though, I have taken a giant step back. Instead of over-analyzing and "seeking" myself into a frenzy, I am listening. Instead of "following" God where I assume He is leading, which is akin to staying one step ahead of Him, I have waited and watched for the doors He will open. This is new for me.

I find myself enjoying a front row seat to His work in my life as He leads me in new directions and sears new passions onto my heart. Things that didn't use to phase me now break my heart to the point of tears. I don't know where this is all going, but I don't have to. There is freedom right now, freedom to not worry if all the pieces don't fit into a tidy picture or preconceived notion. My God is bigger than what I could dream up anyway, and to base my life on my own limited scope is, well, limiting.

So, for those of you who "follow" this blog, I have not fallen in a hole. I am just living each day in the direction He points to. It's not that I don't have lots to say; I've made a priority of putting God first, husband and family second, and everything else behind that. Sometimes following God is sitting down to write a blog that He pours into my head, other times it is sitting with the kids watching bedtime tv.

He was been faithful to give me one pure and holy passion, to know and follow hard after Him.

Will you join me?

The Other Ditch

2011-10-24T07:19:00.002-05:00

Last night I wrote a post called How Good Is Good Enough that only represents one ditch, one point of view. On the other side of the road is the equally dangerous ditch of "I'm not good enough." Sometimes we recognize our sinfulness in contrast to the holiness of God and think we are never going to be good enough to get into Heaven. Again, I don't believe you can read the Bible and come away with that message.

Don't hear me wrong...I'm not saying we will someday be good enough to get in on our own. What I am saying is that none of this is about us, but about God. When we tell ourselves that we aren't good enough for Jesus, as I did for a long time, we are making it about us, which is a subtle form of pride. To tell God, who sent His son for me, that it wasn't enough, is a slap in the face. I wrote about this a few months ago after a conversation with a friend, if this is a ditch you find yourself in.

Here is the truth: God loves you. He sent His son to die in your place, so that He could have a relationship with you. And in the words of the Apostle Paul, I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I sometimes find myself so overwhelmed by the weight of this truth, the very weight of glory, that I can't get a breath. To live in the powerful presence of Jesus Christ, to taste a small sampling of what eterntiy holds...there are no words. I cannot get over Him.

How Good Is Good Enough?

2011-10-23T21:47:00.006-05:00

Standing in church Sunday morning, singing a song that begs God to pour out His grace and mercy into my life, I was so thankful for the freedom found in Christ. I am done worrying about being good enough, or not good enough, to freely approach the throne. The Book of Hebrews tells us that is through confidence in Christ that we can come to God...He made the way for me, and I get to live in the freedom that brings. I felt sad for those still struggling, still in darkness, still trying to earn God's favor.

Andy Stanley has a small book by the name, How Good Is Good Enough, which examines the question of how we get to Heaven. According to a survey on Christian Answers, 60% of people surveyed feel they are going to Heaven because they are good enough.

I have to believe that most of those who say they are headed to Heaven because they are good enough have not actually read the Bible. That may be a bold and divisive statement, but I have yet to come across anything that makes me think that my final destination has anything to do with my goodness. I can store up treasures in Heaven, but that presupposes that I will be there to enjoy them in the first place.

Why do I need mercy if I am good enough?

Why do I need to repent if I am good enough?

Why does God offer grace and forgiveness if I am good enough?

Why did God send a Savior if I am good enough?

If I am good enough, why do I even need God? I've got it covered.

Friends, if you think God is going to let you into His Heaven on the basis of you being good enough, please don't be offended, but keep reading. Someday I want to look around and see everyone I care about worshiping God with me. It is only by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, that we do not go to hell for our sins. Ephesians 2:8 says "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-not the result of works so that no one may boast."

A gift by definition is something that is given, not earned. We do not earn our way to Heaven by doing more good than bad. One little "bad" keeps us out. We were sunk before we even knew it.

The reality is this: without Christ, I would be lost. If you find yourself tired of wondering if you are good enough to go to Heaven, I hope you find rest in the truth that there is no such thing. That is why we need Jesus.

Torn Nets

2011-10-15T07:50:00.000-05:00

"As He went a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending their nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father in the boat with the hired men, and followed Him" Mark 1:19-20

Three little words in that passage caught me: mending their nets. I pondered what the heart condition of someone mending their nets would be, and if that had anything to do with the immediacy of their response. Mending nets implies that there is a hole, perhaps a hole that cost them their catch. Maybe they are ready for a change, and Jesus, knowing all, waited until He knew they were ready to follow Him.

Meeting a friend for coffee the other day, I spied this package laying along the edge of the parking lot:

I started to step over, but was struck by the passage from Mark, and considered that this was a picture of someone mending their nets, someone desperate enough to leave the box in the gutter. In the same way I almost stepped over the box, how often do I step around those who are mending their nets? People waiting to hear Jesus calling to them are all around us.

A person in the process of starting over, whether it was their choice or not, has a hole in their net. Divorce can shake you to the core, forcing you to evaluate who you are, what you want, and even if anyone will ever want you again. A perfect time to hear the call of Christ, who will never leave or forsake you.

Job loss is at near epidemic proportions, bringing with it a culture of fear and desperation. What better time to hear that the Bible says 366 times Do Not Fear?

When we hear someone saying "I don't know how I will get through_______________", we who know the truth need to point them to Jesus. Jesus, who alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We don't need to have all the answers of how to solve their problem, which is something I struggle with. Maybe God has allowed the very event they are mourning to be their time of "net mending."

Maybe it is your voice He is wanting to use to say to them, "Come, follow Me."

I am praying that God open all of our eyes to the torn, dirty nets that surround us. May we have the courage to invite them to meet Jesus.

Women of Faith Reflections

2011-10-12T22:18:00.002-05:00

Our Women of Faith event was two weeks ago...

I waited to blog about it because I wanted to see what would make the most-lasting impression. With so many great messages, it can be a little like drinking from a firehose. In the heat of the moment, EVERYTHING was my favorite. Now that life has settled back down to a low boil, here are my biggest take-aways:

Dr. Henry Cloud's "Monkey" talk. In the days before PETA took over the world (his words,not mine, lol) a monkey was put in a cage with electrodes attached to his head. They were then seriously stressed out-buzzers, flashing lights, shaking cages, that sort of thing-and there stress indicators went through the roof. Then the cage was opened, and a buddy was put in with them. Although none of the stimuli changed, their stress levels came down because they were no longer alone. The moral of the story: grab your monkey as you go through this journey called life. We were not meant to travel alone.
Another Dr. Cloud: there is no shame in taking medication for depression. As Christians, we often feel like failures if we are clinically depressed, like we aren't praying hard enough or properly tapped into the joy of Christ. Medically, depression can result from our brain chemicals being out of whack or neurons not firing the way they are supposed to. Just like you would feel ok treating diabetes with insulin, you must respect the way God created you and care for that creation with what you need. There is no shame in helping your body be healthy.
The last take-away is not my own, but it is a great story. I received two tickets for blogging but gave them to a friend because I already had one with my church group. She took her mom who has been somewhat antagonistic towards the whole "Jesus" thing...By the end of Saturday, her mom bought a Bible and asked my friend to help her learn how to read it. Because of the stories and testimonies shared, she is willing to look afresh at Jesus Christ. I got the holy goosebumps when my friend emailed me. Praise God...He will never stop pursuing us.

Thank you, Women of Faith, for all you do to strengthen and encourage our relationships with the Lord and with each other. See you in Milwaukee next year!

Feeling Jabez-y

2011-10-08T22:25:00.001-05:00

A few years ago, I picked up a little book at the Dollar Store called The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson. I came home, read it in a few days, and went back to buy 20 more, just in case someone else wanted to read it. (I still have a few...)

We sometimes get the feeling that to ask for more blessings is unchristian, greedy even. We are supposed to be satisfied with whatever God provides and thank Him profusely for it... the good, the bad, and the ugly. To define the word blessing, here is what Wilkinson has to say:

To bless in the biblical sense means to ask for or to impart supernatural favor. When we ask for God's blessing, we're not asking for more of what we could get for ourselves.

I have picked up my Jabez book again, because I am dreaming of big things, God-sized things, and need to get my mind back to a place of recognizing that I do not serve a meager God, a God hoping He has enough to go around. I serve a God of limitless possibility, a God who can feed 5,000 with a few loaves of bread and a couple fish and still have leftovers, and to be frank, I want in. I want to be part of what God is doing, wherever He is doing it. I want in.

We are in a time that cries out for hope. Social programs and throwing dollars at problems only go so far. People need the transforming power of Jesus Christ in their lives, the power that opens the eyes of the blind and heals nations. We need that Hope for our city and I am believing God for it.

I took my boys to play on the school playground tonight where "Little Isaac" is attending, and walked the borders of the blacktop praying for light to come into that darkness, for the playground to be a place of safety and joy, for the teachers doing the best they can in an overwhelming situation, and for the new principal to create an environment of unity there. I prayed the "Jabez prayer", that God would bless us indeed there, that He would expand my influence there for Him, that His Hand would be upon me, working through me to make a difference for Him. I have been doing my best to trust Him all along on this journey, sitting in the dugout, waiting. Tonight I feel like I stepped onto the playing field.

When I got home, I opened my Jabez book to continue reading, and here is what I read:

Like any loving dad at the playground, God is watching and waiting for you to ask for the supernatural power He offers.

Oh. My. Word. And if that weren't enough, it was followed by one of my favorite go-to scriptures: "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are turned towards Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)"

Greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done, in this city. Expect it, and stay tuned.

What are you believing God for? Is it big enough to need His help, His blessing? If it's something you can do yourself, alongside God, instead of Him working through you, it's time to dream bigger. Greater things are yet to come...