Sanctuary–

1 : a place (as a church or a temple) for worship

2 : a place of refuge and protection

Meditating on the beauty He’s created and the power of His words…

Over the next few weeks while we’re in Japan, I thought it would be nice to share some photos from here.

Exodus 33:14-16 (NASB)

¹⁴ And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” ¹⁵ Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. ¹⁶ For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”

What’s your sanctuary this week? What thought, verse, etc. are you meditating on?

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Continuing on in Proverbs 2 with the benefits of choosing wisdom and understanding…

¹⁶ To deliver you from the strange woman,
From the adulteress who flatters with her words;
¹⁷ That leaves the companion of her youth
And forgets the covenant of her God;
¹⁸ For her house sinks down to death
And her tracks lead to the dead;
¹⁹ None who go to her return again,
Nor do they reach the paths of life.
²⁰ So you will walk in the way of good men
And keep to the paths of the righteous.
²¹ For the upright will live in the land
And the blameless will remain in it;
²² But the wicked will be cut off from the land
And the treacherous will be uprooted from it. –Proverbs 2:16-22

I wrote last time about my kids and praying for those they choose to associate with. It’s takes divine wisdom and understanding to have people close who will propel them into (not deter them from) God’s purposes and destiny for them.

This goes along with it and takes things to the next level, but it’s not just about physical relationships. We have to prepare our kids for issues like pornography and the immorality of our culture. One thing I’ve figured out: there’s no such thing as ‘the talk’ –we have to take every opportunity to reinforce the values and principles of His word and life over and over.

When these types of things come knocking, I want God’s divine wisdom to be right there beside them and show them the path to light and truth. Many think that purity is impossible in this day and age, but parents who think that have already lost.

They may not make every decision correctly, but we do have a hand in preparing them and prayer can never be underestimated. Giving in to a wicked and adulterous generation will leave them “cut off from the land” and “uprooted from it.” They’re dispossessed and longing for a home that never comes.

If you have kids that have been through this, how did you handle it? If you have kids on the way, what do you think you’ll do? I would love to hear your thoughts.

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Last week was a mess with outages, but a few friends have sent me their favorite post from the week to combine with mine to make a community Hit List. Hope you enjoy!

And for even more great posts and favorites, be sure to visit Kevin Martineau’s blog as well.

• God Orchestrated It All by Scott Couchenhour (Serving Strong).
• Miracles by Bill Grandi (Cycleguy’s Spin).
• And also Bill shared a testimony of ours (and more): Think .
• Rethinking an Old Resolution by Helen Migon (shared by Helen).
• Vivid Love by Alyssa Santos (shared by Floyd).

And your random pic for this week…
If this doesn’t get him the girl, I don’t know what will.

Do you have a favorite post or link you want to share? Want to discuss one of my picks?

Other posts you might like:

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I have known Jeff since we were around 6 years old, but we really became friends at the first year the church did a kids’ camp at Robber’s cave (in Oklahoma). I was heading into 5^th grade and he was headed into 6^th.  Somehow we sat at a table together for one of the first meals there and started talking. We had a lot of common experiences and things we liked. We would walk hours by ourselves over those three days and just talk with no break in the conversation. I never had anyone who so fully ‘got’ me. His full acceptance of me allowed me to open up and be myself. I didn’t have to hide and I didn’t have to pretend. We had so much fun cracking each other up and telling stories.

Over the years our friendship grew to the point where we could look at each other and know what the other was thinking. Amazingly enough, even after I moved to Alaska and he left Shawnee whenever we got together, we pretty much picked up right where we left off, like no time had passed.

He was such a passionate person and whatever he was obsessed with at that time, it was only a matter of time before you cared deeply about it too. Every time I would think, “there’s no way I’m getting into that,” but inevitably I’d get sucked in and enjoy every minute of it. From Dick Tracy to comic books and Star Trek: the Next Generation to mystery novels about cats, the way he would get so animated and enlivened by it made me think I had to be a part of it too. And it never ended with just liking something, inevitably it would move to us creating our own version.

One thing I loved about him, Jeff was unapologetically Jeff. He could be himself, entertaining, and hilarious no matter who he was around and that amazed me. I would lock up in front of most other people, but he didn’t seem to care what anyone thought. Man, I envied that.

Later he told me that he felt so different and out of place that he started to believe no one in the church accepted him which is why he spent many years searching. He didn’t fit the mold of what he saw so he figured there was no room for him.

Through a lot of circumstances, he found out that wasn’t true, that God accepted him and his friends and family loved him as much always. It was amazing to watch the restoration of these things. There was such a transformation and you could see it all over him.

The last time I got to visit with Jeff was in March. He was pretty much bed-ridden with the pain of the shingles and we just talked and I marveled as he spoke again about what God had done in his heart and life.

He told me how some things that happened had convinced him to believe that God didn’t care or wouldn’t respond to his cries so he ran. He told me that much later as God was touching his dad, Jimmy’s heart, he would call Jeff and apologize for things that had happened and how he may have been hurt by it.

He said he shrugged off at first like “okay dad, sure I forgive you.” But he said he held on to the anger and kept thinking “too little, too late. You can’t make this better.”

Jimmy kept calling about different times and situations. Jeff said he remembered some and others not at all, but through these conversations, it softened him.

I remember him saying with tears in his eyes, “I realized one day that my dad had really changed, and I knew that if God could change him, He could change me too.”

That began his process of returning to God, and knowing Jeff and seeing what God did in his life, it was real and genuine. He talked about God and His miracles with that passion I saw directed at all that other stuff. There was an intensity to his words that had nothing to do with the amount of strength in his body at the time.

I’m going to miss my friend, my brother, but I am so thankful to God for the impact and legacy he left here. I know I’ll be affected by this for the rest of my life and everywhere I go what Jeff’s deposited, the gifts he gave me, will go with me.

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The path He leads us in is the best for us, but it can feel overwhelming and crazy. You feel up then down. You feel joy then sorrow. And that happens whether you serve in Uganda like Katie Davis or in your own community. Here’s what she said,

We can convince ourselves that walking God’s way will be peace, love, and rainbows all the time, but it’s not. You learn as you go. You struggle and get frustrated by a thousand different things, but we can’t allow for waffling on the bigger topic. The choice is clear. Do we follow our desires into comfort and ‘security’? Or do we follow Jesus and find the fulfillment He promised us?

I like that Katie openly admits that she wanted to drive to the mall and buy shoes, hang out with friends, eat a bunch of junk food, etc. There’s nothing wrong with those things! Her next statement is an important one: she just wanted other things more. She wanted to shine a light, be spiritually and emotionally fulfilled, meet needs where she could, etc.

I’m in a learning curve right now as we’re pushing through our adoption in Japan. Trying to pick up Japanese to communicate with our son, getting through the administrative side, navigating a different culture—it’s a lot and very emotionally draining at times. When I lay down at night though, I hear his laugh echoing in my mind and see his smiling face and I can’t help but thank God for the privilege of walking in His destiny.

How about you? Where is your learning curve right now as you follow Jesus? What was/is the steepest curve you’ve faced in your walk with Him?

This is part of our book club discussion on Week 1 of Kisses from Katie (disclosure) by Katie J. Davis and Beth Clark. We are taking a sentence, paragraph, or passage that inspires, encourages, or challenges and writing about it. If you have a response on your blog, add it in the link widget below and be sure to check out the other entries. Also head over to my friend and co-facilitator, Sarah Salter’s blog for another great take. Whether you’ve read the selection or not, please share your thoughts! We always appreciate a vibrant conversation.

Check out these conversations!

• Down to the Purpose – January 25, 2012
• Be Safe and Be Sorry – January 18, 2012
• Winner Announced & Special Message – January 11, 2012

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Whether it’s a good no-bake cookie recipe or the latest football scores, people are searching. It’s incredible the amount of information that is out there and that a free service has attempted to index and categorize and associate contents to your inquiries. It’s a wonderful thing, but not all searching is created equal.

God’s word has been the foundation of Christian faith for centuries and centuries. There is a reason so many in this world look to scripture for meaning and purpose and answers. It’s a living and active word, sharper than any two-edged sword.

In our search, perhaps the parallels between these two can help us on our way.

1. Seek an authority. I know some bemoan the fact that there seems to be no mystery anymore. Instead of pondering things for days, many kids (and adults) jump online to Google the answer for an immediate response. The reality though is that Google is sought out because they do a good job: they have become an authority. We need to learn where we can turn with life’s questions and those pesky things that won’t go away. Every one of us has the opportunity to open God’s word for free and receive of His wisdom, grace, and love. We’ve all looked to inferior places and things for answers, but none will fully satisfy.
2. Know the limitations. I don’t expect my hammer to pick itself up and put a nail in the wall to hang a picture, and Google (no matter how much it tries) cannot read my mind. It is a tool, a system of algorithms designed to help you find what you’re looking for. The Bible is the same—an authority, absolutely, but it is not God. It reveals God’s heart and character. I know this may seem like a blasphemous statement at first, but God’s word doesn’t have all the answers. If I want to know when the Franco-Prussian War started and why, God’s word is not the place I find that out. If I want encouragement after the loss of a loved one, the Bible comforts and leads me to the Healer of all wounds. Google is a gateway to find what you’re looking for. It launches you from their site to answers. The Bible does the same. It isn’t the end. It’s the beginning and invitation to new depths in Him.
3. Ask the right questions. You may think I’m crazy, but there is a bit of skill involved in finding answers on Google. Over time you figure out how to word things (and not word things) so that you get the most accurate results. The world is full of answers, but they rarely live up to the hype. What we need are better questions so that we can find what we’re looking for. It’s interesting to see how Jesus interacted with people. He would often clarify, redirect, and bring things into focus for people because they had looked at it from the human perspective instead of the divine vantage point. Many times, we aren’t finding what we’re searching for because we’ve approached life with biased questions or fallacies that keep us from seeing the truth.
4. Seek until you find. Sometimes even after you’ve picked up the nuance of helpful wording for searches, you hit dead ends. If at first you don’t succeed, search, search again. I’ve done this many times and the reason is simple: I need the information I’m looking for. In life, we are many times to quick to judge our failures in seeking, but there’s no reason to give up. God’s word does in fact hold keys to living transformed lives and introducing us to our magnificent Father. I still need the answers I’m looking for so why not ask another question? Why not switch things up? My methods in searching Google aren’t sacred and neither are my methods for seeking God out. If you haven’t found Him yet, keep seeking. He’s drawing you closer.

Do you agree or disagree with my assessment? What did I miss?

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I questioned the Maker, Provider, Sustainer
“Why would you plant me in the wilderness
The dryness irritates, my thirst drains of life
Surely there was a wiser place to place me”

The Maker, Provider, Sustainer answered
“You were made to reach deep and draw life
As I planted you, I called streams and rivers
Down from the heights before you ever needed”

In my fears, I doubted my position and His infinite goodness
In His mercy, He chose the deserts to erupt in ripened abundance
In my trust, I loudly praise His perfection and powerful patience
In His time, the beauty erases cold memories with peaceful streams

Welcome to the 29th edition of the Warrior Poet Circle. Time to pull up a seat, gather around the fire, and pour out our verses.

My inspiration for this poem loosely comes from Isaiah 41:17-20. I marvel at the power of God that leads us to the wilderness to trust and gain a deeper place in Him while provision makes its way to us. Incredible!

If you have a poem to add, please add it to the widget and be sure to visit the others who are a part too. Thank you!

For next time (Monday, February 13), let’s use Count the Cost as our prompt.

Check out these conversations!

• Warrior Poet Circle (Vol. 28): Unspeakable Joy – January 16, 2012
• Warrior Poet Circle (Vol. 27): Breaking Through – January 2, 2012
• Warrior Poet Circle (Vol. 26): Expecting – December 19, 2011

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Sanctuary–

1 : a place (as a church or a temple) for worship

2 : a place of refuge and protection

Meditating on the beauty He’s created and the power of His words…

Over the next few weeks while we’re in Japan, I thought it would be nice to share some photos from here.

Psalm 67:3-6 (NASB)

3 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will judge the peoples with uprightness
And guide the nations on the earth.
Selah.

5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
6 The earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, blesses us.
7 God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

Reminder: The Warrior Poet Circle returns tomorrow and this time we’re writing from the prompt, Streams. Come and share your heart and maybe express it in a little different way. If you have a poem to contribute, come and share it with everyone. If not, read what others have written and I know you’ll enjoy it. The link widget will be here Monday morning. See you then!

What’s your sanctuary this week? What thought, verse, etc. are you meditating on?

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As with anything else in life, it’s good to pause and reflect every once in a while and blogging is no different. Writing this monthly look back helps me to see what God’s been showing me recently and also gives me an opportunity to say thank to everyone who has been a part here.

For those who are more casual observers of this blog, maybe you’ll see something you missed and it’ll encourage, inspire, or challenge. I would be honored if you joined in the conversation.

For those who regularly contribute by commenting on these posts, you bless beyond what I can say. I seek to encourage, but you more than double that encouragement with your thoughtful and consistent addition to the conversation and community.

And to both groups, I say: Thank you.

Most Viewed Posts for January

1. Every Step a Victory
2. You Got This
3. Final Push to Japan
4. 4 Ways to Overcome Communication Barriers
5. Expressing Hope

Month’s Most Commented on

Every Step a Victory

One Great Comment

“This walk of faith is anything but reasonable. The dreams in my heart, the things I feel God wants me to do are sheer crazy. I’ve actually heard that from people. But it’s ok — I’m fine with being unreasonable if it brings His glory into people’s lives.”

–Jason Vana from Be Unreasonable

Thanks again for being a part of my life in this way. If you have a blog, tell us in the comments what’s the favorite or most popular post you’ve written this month. 

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Pleasant surprises don’t seem to be as common as they used to be. Then again I think many of us get so absorbed in our own lives that we often miss a pleasant surprise, even when it might be staring us right in the kisser.

Pleasant surprises could also be referred to as blessings. This blog site of Jason’s has been one of those pleasant surprises or blessings for me. I suspect it’s played that role in most of the souls behind the eyes reading right now as well.

Getting to be a part of someone else’s life is a gift all unto itself. To be a part of that life that God is using to change the life of one of his young children is beyond blessed, it is humbling.

Once in a blue moon someone comes along in our life and actually make us better people. God uses these people in a small way to accomplish massive change. These people somehow manage to bring out the best in us.

For me Jason has been one of those people. The light that God shines on Jason and his wife seems to reflect onto others, making us brighter as well. God loves a humble heart… Those types of hearts pour beauty out into this ugly world, making it a little more bearable. The ones with humble hearts give us a glimmer of this world the way God intended it.

I’m certain I write for all of us when I say, “Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your heart and God’s design for your new son.” To be a part of God’s will and supernatural work in the lives of others is to be gratified in a way that only God can manifest in us.

Jason, thank you for your obedience to God and His calling in your life. It’s had a bigger impact on the lives of others than you can ever imagine, at least on this side of eternity. We’re continuing to pray for you and your entire family.

We’re also praying for a quick and safe journey home where you’ll tuck your son in, kiss him on the forehead and whisper, “Welcome home son” – “You are a blessing from God” – “I love you”…

What a pleasant surprise…

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