330passion

Are Your Comfortable with Church?

2012-01-18T10:09:00.000-06:00

I am not usually one who is big on seeking out new experiences. In fact - I kind of HATE it. I am a wall flower by nature and a self proclaimed extroverted-introvert. There for, my "comfort zone" is usually very small and I am in control of what happens there.

Church is a comfort zone for me. I have been "in church" all my life and have worked at a church for almost half my life. I am VERY comfortable here. I know what it looks like, I know what is supposed to happen and there is control. But God has been changing that zone of late. The once controllable world I call church has become less so.

Last Sunday was one of the rare occasions I find myself out of my local church. In a city that is unknown to me a friend was used by God to take away just a little more of my comfortability with church. He asked me to visit Church Under the Bridge with him.

I had never heard of such a thing but he explained that it began as a ministry to the homeless (not in my comfort zone) and 30 years later, there is a full blow church that literally meets under the overpass bridge of a major freeway every Sunday (really not in my comfort zone!)

My first instinct was to use my sleeping daughter as a reason for not going. But after a good breakfast, we decided to leave the comfortable and experience something new. And boy did we. I will try my best to paint the picture for you.

Church was a place where everyone served, setting up folding chairs, plastic tables, a portable stage and port-a-potties. Church was a place where they served a hot meal to anyone who came. Church was a place where the dividing lines of race and social status no longer existed - being under a bridge has a way of leveling things. Church was a place of worship in song so pure with no agenda, sung by a homeless man with mental challenges and a woman who sung in a language different than mine and yet every word spoke to my heart. Church was a place of being washed by the Word of God spoken with the passion of a woman who really KNOWS God. Church was a place of honest discussion about the things that we let divide us as we pondered MLK's dream. Church was a place of communion remembering the ultimate sacrifice made to rid the world of the division between God and man.

Church was reaching out and hugging a homeless man who just wanted to know he is loved (I think he may have been the church's self proclaimed greeter.) Church was shaking hands with Richard, who was so very proud of his "church" that he picked up all the small bits of trash as they blew in the wind under the bridge, which was somewhat of a futile effort. Rain, snow, or summer Texas heat - these people meet here to be the Church.

The word 'challenged' doesn't seem to quite encompass what I feel about this experience. But it is causing me to deconstruct what I have always known to be "church" and to question if it is OK for me to be comfortable there.

My daughter and I were debriefing our experience on the way home and as usual, she was an inspiration to me at the ripe old age of 13. She explained that on their summer mission trips to Mexico there are a lot of homeless people, and that she thought maybe God showed her this to somehow minister to them when she goes again this coming summer break. She said that her Student Ministries pastor (who is very wise) has told them to "get comfortable with being uncomfortable."

I think I might need to work on that a little bit. How about you?

Breath Taking

2012-01-04T15:31:00.000-06:00

There are not many things in this world that are truly breath taking, and the ones that are - many times we are to busy to notice. This morning I had my breath taken away.

My normal schedule is to wake up and make lunch for the boy and then take him to school (usually still in my pajamas) a bit bleary eyed. This morning, both my young ones had to be to school early, so off went at the crack of dawn. I am not sure if it was because I was more alert this morning, already having showered for the day, or what exactly, but when we drove out of our neighborhood this morning I literally gasped when I saw the sunrise.

It was truly magnificent. This picture was taken a full 15 minutes after I originally saw it and it had changed significantly, but it is still awe-inspiring. I had my daughter turn around to look at it out the back window of the car and reminded her that we were given the gift of that sunrise this morning.

The moment so touched me that I have thought most of the day about the creativity of my God and how each morning He paints the sky like a fresh canvas, never looking exactly like any other one and then repeats the same thing each evening. I wondered what the sunrise in Pakistan this morning looked like and in Saudi Arabia as I read my Facebook news feed and chatted with friends abroad. All unique and yet beautiful and breathing taking for those who were blessed enough to take notice.

These thoughts took my mind to the very first sunrise and sunset with only God there to enjoy His masterpieces. How breathtaking that must have been.

It saddens me to think how many of these gifts I have missed because I am to sleepy or to busy to notice. So this year of 2012 is devoted to not missing the breathtaking moments as often as I am blessed to catch them. To hearing the still small voice of the Great Creator beckoning me to stop and see what He made for me to discover each day.

Happy New Year and here's to a year of catching awe-inspiring, breathtaking moments and being thankful for each and every one.

Remembering

2011-11-26T17:19:00.000-06:00

It's odd what triggers you to miss someone. A picture, a smell, a favorite food, a holiday, a special occasion.

Pipe tobacco reminds me of my Grandpa
Handkerchiefs remind me of my Grandma
Butter rum lifesavers remind me of my Papaw
Pretty much any breakfast food reminds me of my Memaw (except cereal - she put way to much thought in to breakfast . No cereal to be found)
Great accents remind me of my Aunt Margit

But today - Carousels remind me of my sister. She has been with Jesus for over 3 years now. Her life was full or turmoil and her relationships much the same, but today I remember that collecting carousels made her smile. I had forgotten that.

So today I savor the good memories and might even go look through some old family pictures. Seems like that kind of day to me. That, and go make some more memories with the ones I love. I hope you'll do the same, because life is short and soon all we have left is the remembering.

Just Call Me Moses (again...)

2011-09-14T05:22:00.000-05:00

Usually when I am up at 4:00 in the morning it is God trying to tell me something. This particular morning, I am replaying a conversation in my head - well a few conversations actually, but all along the same line. It is what I am calling "the Moses complex". Most of us have it, have had it, or will have it at some point in our lives. I know I have.

I am leading a Bible study on the book of Exodus. This week we are studying about Moses meeting God at the burning bush and God calling Moses to go to Egypt to rescue the Israelites and take them in to the Promiseland (Exodus 3-4). Cool! Moses gets to see God's manifest presence and call Him by name - "I Am". He is taken from his menial job as a shepherd tending smelly sheep to be the hero of a nation in slavery. Huge calling, to say the least. And then the "Moses complex" kicks in. He begins to ask questions.

Who am I that you would send me?
Who are you God?
You actually think I am qualified? -I don't talk so good.
What if they dont' listen to me?

God is actually pretty patient with Moses, answering all of his questions. Doing what He could to calm his fears and insecurities. God told Moses that he would not be alone. God would be with him. God enabled Moses to do miracles to prove His mighty power to the Egyptians. For Pete's sake, Moses was getting his marching orders from a bush on fire that was not being consumed. One would think he would accept the call and get on it.

But still Moses questioned. It was this last one that got God a little angry. Moses asked "Could you please send someone else?" Somehow, my brain paints a picture of a bit of thunder and lightening entering the picture or at least a flare up of the flames in the bush. That is how it looks when God is mad, right? lol

Anyway, the point is Moses was so stuck in his insecurity with who he was and the limitations that he had, he totally couldn't move past that to see who God is and that He has no limitations. If God calls you to something, He and He alone will enable you to do it. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!!!

In God's infinite wisdom, He sent Moses' brother Aaron with him to get the job done. But I have to wonder if Moses didn't miss some of the blessing he would have gotten had he just moved past his "complex" and accepted the call. Sad...

Enter my "Moses Complex" - (it's not my first one btw)

I am involved in a wonderful ministry called Christ Fellowship Online (shameless plug - you should go check it out!) Anyway, this ministry - more than any I have ever worked in, has the potential to reach people for Christ in such a powerful way. Being Internet based, it is literally only bound by the confines of the world wide web, so in other words - not much can stop it. While extremely exciting, this is also very scary to me. Have you ever watched a bull rider sitting on top of the beast of an animal in the gates while it snorts and jolts just waiting to be released? The power felt beneath the rider and the anxiety (or sheer terror, harnessed of course) of what is to come welling up from within... Yeah - that's a bit how I feel. I see God opening the gate and I am literally bracing myself for the ride.

As I was doing my Bible study for this week I realized that I am Moses. I have so many questions. I look to much at the limitations I have and forget to focus on the God that called me to this Who has no limitations. It's not about what I can do, because on my own, I will create and epic fail every time. But God never fails, and if He has ordained something - it WILL happen. The question is will He have to call someone else because I was to stubborn and self centered to jump in, limitations and all, and trust Him to do the rest?

It seems, in talking with people this week, that the "Moses complex" is a bit of an epidemic. People, God is in the business of using the sin ridden, flaw filled, stubborn, resistant human beings that He created to do His work here on the Earth. He says in His Word that He will not return until the "last one" has heard about Him. So the way I look at it, if we ever want Jesus to come back, we'd better get over ourselves and get busy doing the work we have been called to and equipped for by the same power that turned sticks to snakes, water to blood, clean hands leprous and back again and the same power that conquered death and hell for ever. Now that's some power!

Am I still a little freaked out by the possibilities of what I may be getting myself in to? Yes! But am I willing to miss the blessings God has for me when I join Him in His work? No Way!!!!

So, what is it that is causing your "Moses complex"? Remember, it's not about you, it's about Who called you to it!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Funny Thing about Love...

2011-09-05T16:10:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I work tech for weddings that we have at the church. I love weddings. It brings me great joy to see people pledging their love to each other. It also makes me think of my own husband and how blessed I am that God saw fit to knit us together almost 24 years ago. (I love you babe!)

As the couple stood in front of the Pastor hearing him admonish them with words from the Bible, these three words stuck in my mind - "Love never fails." Three little words from 1 Corinthians 13 that seem so fitting at a wedding. Love never fails...

As wonderful as the vows they wrote so lovingly and purposefully for each other were, my mind wandered to all of the pain and heartache that I see in people regarding love. People hurting each other in all sorts of ways. A high rate of divorce even in Christian homes. That sounds like "love failing" to me.

As I pondered these three little words that held so much power I realized something - there was a lot written about love that precedes those three little words in that chapter. I will share it with you here:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

Such powerful words written here. Patient. Kind. Honoring. Forgives. Not proud. Preferring others. Trusts. Hopes. Preserves.

I felt the Lord say to me that the only way Love can "never fail" is if all the things that precede that statement are upheld. We so often forget the things that go in to really loving each other with the kind of love that won't fail. The kind of love that God intended. I think this applies not only to romantic love but also the love we have for each other as human beings.

I know I am not perfect and will not ever totally get it right in this life time, but I hope and pray that God will bring verses 4-7 to my mind every time the love I display (or should display) verges on failing. I pray that I can be a good example of this kind of love to my family and my friends and those that God puts in my path. I pray that it can be said of me that my love for others "never failed" more often than not. Can I get an Amen!?!

The Eye of the Hurricane

2011-09-03T10:02:00.000-05:00

Have you ever felt like you were in a place in your life that you are moving ever forward and over the horizon there is something looming but you are not quite sure what it is? That is where I have been for the last little bit in my life. I walk a steady pace (which really would be considered running to most) and have this feeling... A feeling that I can't quite put in to words that will exactly capture it. Excitement, trepidation, anxiety, wonder, fear.

I actually saw a picture last week that came out of Hurricane Irene. When I saw this, I was overwhelmed with it's beauty and power, but also the fear that one must feel standing in the face of this powerful storm that just keeps coming and you are powerless to stop. After staring at the photo for quite some time, I realize that this picture encapsulates how I am feeling right now. The same emotions flooding my mind at the worst of moments. The knowledge that there is something big and ominous looming on the horizon that just keeps moving and I am powerless to stop.

I have been pondering this over the last coupe of days. Asking God to give me a clear picture of what this is that will shortly be swirling around me. Alas, I am not hearing a very clear answer. Instead, what I was told by a very wise man is that "I need to learn to stand in the eye of the hurricane." The more I let that comment soak in to my spirit, the more I heard God begin to speak.

You see, the eye of the hurricane is the only calm spot in the storm. The place that there is no noise, only beauty and peace. I feel him calling me to this place of rest and peace in Him, no matter how much is swirling around me. Calling me to the only place where I will still be able to hear His voice. I know that if He is calling me to that place, He is able to drop me right there in the midst of it and as long as I am faithful to move with it - it is in the eye I will remain.

I believe that God allows us all to have times like these in our lives. Depending on how you look at it - you might say it is your life as a whole. The things of this world swirling about you. Some good, some bad and yet both with such force that they threaten to over take you. Will you join me in the eye of the hurricane? Or are you content to stand in the thick of it where it is so loud you can no longer hear His voice of direction for your life.

So today, with new resolve and perspective I choose to stand in the eye of whatever it is that God has next for me in my life. I will walk with Him as we move forward, holding His hand and hearing His voice. Bring it on!

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

My Story is...

2011-06-15T07:52:00.000-05:00

Fill int he blank for your self. Why? Because only you can! Your story is just that - "Yours". It is your own eye witness account of things that have happened in your life.

I don't know about you, but I LOVE a good story. I especially love hearing stories of people that draw me in because if their dynamic power. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like my story just isn't that powerful - compared to some I have heard. So consequently, I tend not to tell it much.

Lately I have been studying the book of Acts in the Bible. It is a story of how the early church was formed after Christ was crucified, rose from the dead and ascended back in to heaven to live until He comes back for us one day. The phrase I keep reading over and over is "many of those who had listened tot the message believed, and the number of the ment came to about ______." Usually that number has multiple 0's behind it. In the case of Acts 2, it was 3000. In Acts 4, 5000. WOW!

God used ordinary people, people who had screwed up, people who were uneducated (comparatively speaking), just regular ole' people to build His church literally thousands at a time. The people who had experienced Christ and the power of His resurrection and the filling of His Holy Spirit simply told their story, and people believed and were saved.

If you haven't read the book of Acts, I would encourage you to so that you can see what life transformation happened after such an experience for those that were new believers. The early church simply just rocked! No one was in need , they just gave so freely to each other and weren't wrapped up in their own stuff, but instead cared more about their fellow believers and adding others to the followers of Christ. Good stuff...

Anyway, as I was reading this morning, I found myself wondering what the difference is between then and now. Well you could probably site way more than I can write here, but I believe one huge difference is that people just are not telling their story to those that need Jesus. Everyone has a different reason for that, and I will let you wrestle with your own reasons as you ponder this through out the day and the Holy Spirit works on your heart like He is working on mine. But for pete sake - tell you story!

Your story was written before the beginning of time and is uniquely yours. No one else can tell it the way that you can, and no one can refute it because it didn't happen to them, it happened to you. God has written it, you have lived it and new chapter will be written today. If you are a believer, it is a story of radical grace and love. It is a story of forgiveness and acceptance. It is a story that should impact other people and the only reason it is not, is because you are not telling it. No story is inconsequential. Not even yours. God doesn't write stories that don't matter!!

There are lots of different parts to your story, each one having something specific that will touch someone who needs to hear it. So today, I challenge you to share your story. Write it down and share it, tell it to someone verbally, make a song out of it - the method doesn't matter. What does matter is you listening to the Holy Spirit and being bold enough to say "Yes" when he calls upon you to share.

I would love to see the comment section here fill up with stories, or Facebook blow up with people publishing their story as a note. I will be working on mine as well.

Wouldn't it be cool if we to could say, "and ______ believed and were saved" because we shared our story of Jesus redemptive love in our lives? The Holy Spirit will give you the words, just like He did for Peter and the other disciples and countless people who have gone before you in this journey with Christ. Not go do it! Be a story teller today and live with the passion and fire of the Holy Spirit burning in your heart so hot that you can't be silent.

Uprooted

2011-04-23T09:56:00.000-05:00

I know - 2 days in a row, what has gotten in to me? I just saw something this morning that begged a post.

I live in Texas. And in texas we have big storms. Many a Bradford Pear in my neighbor hood have split or had severe damage due to the high winds, usually resulting in a tree company (or an ambitious owner) clearing them out. Always a sad day to me when I tree has to die.

This morning however I saw something very interesting. We have a had a bit of rain this week and lots of wind, but not in the last couple days. So, imagine my surprise when I was driving down the street today (well my son was driving, I was riding) and had to swerve around a large tree that had fallen over into the road. What puzzled me ever more is that this tree had come up from the roots. Stump and all. It had not been broken by the wind, like so many others I see, but had just toppled with roots sticking up out of the ground.

This picture brought to mind all the passages in the Bible that talk about the correlation between strong roots and healthy growth. I have listed a few below...

Jeremiah 17:8 NET

They will be like a tree planted near a stream whose roots spread out toward the water. It has nothing to fear when the heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought. It does not stop bearing fruit.

Psalm 1:3 NET

He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.

Job 18:16 NET

Below his roots dry up, and his branches wither above.

Ezekiel 31:7 NET

It was beautiful in its loftiness, in the length of its branches; for its roots went down deep to plentiful waters.

Romans 11:18 NET

do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Yesterday this tall beautiful gave shade and looked to the observers eye like it was strong and healthy. Today it lies fallen, waiting for the city workers to come and chop it up and take it away to be burned or mulched (or what ever they do with trees that do this.) I am not a tree expert, but my guess is that this trees root system just never fully formed deep down in the soil where it coule thrive and grow. They all probably stayed very close to the surface.

So it goes with our faith. We can look on the outside to the observer as if we are strong and full of life, but if we are not growing deep in our faith by reading the Word and cultivating our relationship with God - we to, like the tree, will easily topple at the first sign of wind or rain in our lives. And then what will become of you?

So today ask your self this, how deep do my roots go? Are the roots of my faith in Christ strong enough to help me withstand the storms of life and the barrage of things Satan will throw at me? My prayer for you is that you can easily answer "yes". But if you can't, it's not to late. Begin today. God loves you and is just waiting like a patient gardner to help you grow roots deep into Him.

Innocence Lost

2011-04-22T22:37:00.000-05:00

In today's world, innocence is often "lost" well before it should be. This can take on many forms. The cat gets let out of the bag about Santa and the Easter Bunny. A child walks in on a movie way above their "rating level". And things far more serious that I will not get in to in this post. All tragic in their own way. You see, I believe that in the world as it was meant to be by God from the beginning, innocence was never meant to be lost. Sin entered the picture and thus began a downward spiral of humanity into the abyss of innocence lost.

I was at a Good Friday service tonight. It has just been in the last couple years that I have chosen to even go to a service on Good Friday. Traditionally I believe that most Christians like to focus on the celebration of Easter and not dwell on the horror that led up to that day. For me it has become a tradition that I will never choose to miss.

Tonight one of the songs that was sung had the lyrics, "where were you when sin stole my innocence?" Great song, but it got me thinking. Always dangerous when that happens. In this phrase that I have heard so many times, I suddenly found a new way to look at it. Christ's perspective...

Sin is responsible for stealing the innocence of every person on this planet in some way shape or form. From the little white lie, to the unmentionable. Well sin stole Christ's innocence too, but in His case, it was my sin and not His own responsible for this tragedy.

Christ was the only truly innocent person every to walk this earth and because of my sin, He lost his innocence. Not innocence in the way of being jaded and warped by the world, but He became guilty for the first time ever. And He did it for me. He took MY sin. Every one that I ever have and ever will commit. He took them all on Himself because He loves me that much. He loves you that much.

He willingly became guilty of all the sins of humanity. He was separated for the first and only time from God. He was in hell. All for us!

I really can't even fathom that depth of love. When I begin to try to grasp it... well there are just no words. He loved me despite my sin then and He loves me despite my sin now.

I hope as you prepare your heart for Easter, you will take some time and really think about the sacrifice that was made for the love of you.

Romans 5:8 NET
But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

"God-enomics"

2011-04-15T10:13:00.000-05:00

So today, I'd like to tell you a God story.

Once upon a time there was a family with 4 children. The parents were 2 very hard working people who loved and served Jesus with all that they had and all of the children loved Jesus very much. They were blessed!

One day, the church that they were so very devoted to announced that they felt God leading them to multiply the ministry that they were doing so that others could hear about Jesus. This would take money. Of course this family was going to help, but you all know how expensive 4 children can be, especially when 2 are in college and the teenage boy eats you out of house and home. How much could they "afford" to give?

The pastor of the church challenged everyone to "wrestle with God" and really ask Him to direct their giving to the new adventure they were all on together. So, the mother and the father began to wrestle and asked their children to do the same. To do this well, everyone would have to give something.

The mother and father wrestle separately and the mother came up with one number (that she was comfortable with) and then one night god told her to double that amount. Not having talked to her husband, she was not sure how he would take the news. The husband, however, was doing his own wrestling and when they finally shared their numbers, his was double her doubled number. Quadruple the original number that she was "comfortable" with. With a gulp and a prayer, they committed. If God wanted that much, surely He would provide a way for them to give it.

The family agreed to less meals out, PB&J was their new best friend. They agreed to buying the "store brands" instead of the name brands of food, and to cutting off their over abundance of TV channels. They would make it work and give happily to make sure more people knew the Jesus they loved so much.

The mother pondered how they would ever get out of the debt that they had, when they would be giving to the church the money that would enable them to do so. But God assured her she could trust Him with that as well.

One day, not very long after they committed, the husband called the wife with some news. he told her that even in an economy that was not treating his business well, his bosses had recognized the hard work that we was doing and they wanted to give him a raise. They raise that he received would almost cover the amount that they felt led to give to the movement to multiply.

Well, with tears of joy, she realized that God had a plan all along and had provided a way for them to not only give beyond their means, but to start working on their debt. God-enomics at work again. She praised Him for His goodness and faithfulness in their lives.

So, the moral of this story, trust God with everything that you have. All of it! He can be trusted and has a wonderful plan to be glorified if you will give it all.

And if you are reading this and have been in the wrestling process. Maybe you have come up with a number you are "comfortable" with. God doesn't call those that love him to be "comfortable", He calls them to follow Him with reckless abandon and to trust Him. You might want to wrestle a little more and then be still and listen to how He is calling you to respond.

Not that I'm looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity. Philippians 4:17 (the message)

Ministry is Hard!

2011-03-29T11:23:00.000-05:00

My bible reading right now is taking me through the journey of the Israelites through the desert. Man, Moses and his other leaders had a hard job! They tried their very best to follow the will of the Lord as He was guiding them to the Promise land, and yet the people complained. They saw the evidence of God working in such tangible ways and still they chose to gripe and rebel.

I have felt for a very long time like I am called to be like Aaron and Hur in Exodus 17, when they held up Moses' arms in the desert to help the people fight the battle. Moses was asked by the Lord to keep his hands raised high in the air as Israel fought and every time he dropped his arms they would start to lose the battle. So as he got tired, Aaron and Hur came to his side to hold up his arms and give him strength. I feel like God has called me to that roll in support the senior leadership of several churches I have been in over time, including the one I am in now. I feel very protective over the leadership God has placed over me and will do what ever I can to lift them up and help them. That part is easy for me.

But some days I feel like Moses. Lately, I have been doing it a lot! I want to cry out the same way that Moses did when he told God he was not strong enough to lead the people God place in his care. I want to remind God that ministry is to hard some days, as if He didn't know this already. I want to beg Him to take the target off my back, until I remember He asked me to take up my cross daily and follow Him - His cross was not easy to bear and He didn't call me to a life of "easy."

I guess when I take a step back and look at things a little removed, I am not surprised I have been feeling this way. God is moving in a powerful way and doing amazing things at our church right now. Of course Satan will try to derail and distract - especially people in leadership positions.

A dear friend emailed me last night and asked if I had been experiencing any spiritual attack as I prepare for a fairly significant night coming up soon. I hadn't thought about it until that very moment. Hadn't seen it for what it was. I was content to have my little pity party (not unlike Moses sometimes).

So today, I have decided to change my prayer. Today I will pray for God to open my eyes to see every situation for what it is and to keep my focus on him. I will pray for Him to give me wisdom to lead those He chooses to put in my path. I will pray for wisdom and ask Him to help me have as much grace for others as He has for me. But most of all, I will pray that He use me up for His glory no matter how hard it is and tired I get. And if my arms get tired of the fight, I pray he will bring me people like my dear friend who will lift me up and help me to keep moving forward in the task that God has laid before me.

If you read this today, remember to pray for your leaders in ministry. They have a hard job (far more difficult than most people know). I am praying for mine right now.

Will They Know I am a Christian by My Love?

2011-02-05T12:01:00.000-06:00

I have seen this picture a couple of times over the last few days, but today is stirred renewed emotion in me when I thought about the men holding hands protecting those that they don't know and don't agree with - literally risking life and limb.

If the caption is true, and these men are Christians, they are showing the truest form of John 13:34-35 when Jesus says: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

I have to wonder if, in the same circumstance, I would do the same. And more importantly, am I living that out in my own suburban world every day? What does that even look like in my world?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Sound off...

Who Do You Think You Are?

2011-01-27T08:51:00.000-06:00

Some of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible come from the book of Job. Yes, Job. I know - depressing book, God let's Satan take everything away from Job, including his kids, makes him sick with boils all over his entire body, and leaves him with a nagging wife and 3 friends who tell him just to curse God and die. I can see why most people choose to gloss over this book, it's not very uplifting (at first glance). But if you haven't read it, I encourage you to. But don't quit before the end, that's my favorite part.

Synopsis:

So after all these horrible things have happened to Job and he has a grand pity party(chapters 1-31), a young friend of his decides to speak up and begin to put things in perspective for him a but (chapter 32-37.) Then it happens - after many long chapters of silence, God speaks. It actually says "God speaks to Job out of a storm". For those of you who don't live in Texas, you may not be able to conjure up in your mind what that might look like, but I have lived through one of the worst Texas storms Ever - in a tent (and then the cab of my truck), so I have a pretty good grasp on what Job must have experienced that day. All I can say is WHOA!!!

Basically God says (this is the Jan Paraphrase), "Job, you sure seem to think you know it all. Now stand up and take it like a man while I tell you a few things and give you a little fresh perspective."

God proceeds to describe some of the things He has done like:

telling the waves how far they can come
telling the sun rise and sun set when to happen
creating the storehouses for snow and hail
telling each lightning bolt where to land
creating all the star constellations and telling them when to appear
creating great beasts of the land and sea who are subservient to no one but Him (including a dragon that I am pretty sure Disney ripped off for all his movies.)
and walking on the bottom of the Ocean just because He can (one of my personal favorites. Sorry I just have this picture in my head of God talking a little stroll on the bottom of the Sea and hanging out with creatures we don't even know exists yet because they live so deep)

I mean it goes on for 5 chapters so you get the gist. But I really encourage you to read it yourself.

I think I just need to print out these chapters and tape them to my wall so that every time I find myself wanting to have a little pity party (which I was last night), I can gain a little perspective on my life and Who it is that is in control of it. I certainly don't want to get so far gone that I have to hear God speak to me out of a storm.

All that to say - He is God and I am not and I need to trust that as long as I lean on Him, He has my life in the palm of His hand and can take care of anything that would threaten to harm me. He'll do that for you to if you know Him.

If you don't know Him and want to, send me a message and we'll talk. I'd love to introduce you to Him. He will change your life!

P.S. The story does have a happy ending. But you'll have to read It yourself to find to what happens. I wouldn't want to spoil it for you.

I, the Doorkeeper

2011-01-19T08:35:00.001-06:00

I am just about to finish up a 21 day journey with the Lord. It has been challenging at times, but mostly I have really enjoyed it. The reading plan that is taking me through this journey is incredibly well done. I am seeing things in scripture that I have not seen before or am seeing them in a new light. I find myself anting to know more about what these passages mean and why they were written. With only 3 days left, today was no exception.

Here is what I read today:

Psalm 84

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed!

10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

This Psalm is so rich and full of great nuggets, but the one God spoke right in to my heart is in vs. 10. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

I had heard this verse many times and I always thought the doorkeeper reference was to someone who held a "lesser than "post" of some kind. Something that they were forced to do and maybe were looked down upon. Boy was I wrong. The doorkeeper was actually (in my opinion) one of the best positions in the whole temple. They were tasked with ushering people in to the temple to meet with God. They also sang and ministered to the Lord with music day and night. The only bad part of the job is that they were on a rotation and only got to do it 2 weeks out of the year (thus the reference to "a day in your courts is better than a thousand years elsewhere". He never wants his turn to end.)

As I was reading this passage, I realized that worship leaders really are the equivalent to the doorkeepers in the Old Testament. We usher people in to experience the presence of God (when we do our job right) and we have the privilege of ministering to the Lord in song.

The writer of this Psalm is reminding the readers how much more desirable it is to be in the presence of the Almighty God than to take part in the things of this world that so often seem to give pleasure but that are only fleeting and often times sinful.

So today, as I continue on my journey with God, I embrace the call to be a doorkeeper for His people. I believe that whether you call yourself a "worship leader" or not, you can still join me as a door keeper. You can daily, in your own world, let people experience the Almighty by your actions and you can minister to the Lord in praise and worship whether it is sung from the mountain tops or quietly in your heart. He just longs to be with you.

Be a doorkeeper today. It really is the best job around!

The Taming of the Tongue

2011-01-11T08:36:00.000-06:00

Today in my bible reading I found myself in James 1. The gist of the chapter is about reading the word and doing what it says instead of hearing it and forgetting about what your read once you close the book (or web browser).

James 1 is where you will find the well known verse that talks about being 'quick to listen, slow to speak.' I admit that one is sometimes difficult for me. But it was James 1:26 that really stuck with me today. It says this:

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

OUCH! A harsh but true reminder that with one slip of my tongue, I can do irreparable damage to the reputation of myself, Christianity and my Lord. My religion is worthless when my tongue takes control.

So today, with renewed vigor, I will try once again to remember to be quick to listen and slow to speak. I will try to remember to speak harsh truths in love and not hate (Ephesians 4:15) and will renew my pledge to follow the words of Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.

Will you join me?

Fire & Ice

2010-12-28T21:41:00.000-06:00

As I sit in my kitchen at the end of my day, being warmed by a small but powerful space heater - I think about the start of my day yesterday. I woke up to go in to the office to "demolish" the Christmas set from the stage. As I prepared to go outside, I check the weather and went back to get a thicker jacket. Walking out to my truck, I saw the familiar traces of the beginning of a Texas winter as ice formed beautiful patterns on my truck's exterior doors and windows. There was not enough to have frozen the doors shut, but definitely enough that I had to break out the ice scraper for the first time this year to clear the windows so I could create a clear space to see to drive.

As I pulled out of the driveway, I noticed I was in desperate need of gas so off I went to fill up. I quickly discovered it was to cold to wait for the pump to decide to move fast enough to fill my tank, so I hopped back in the truck to let it finish. I sat there and saw what was left of the ice from my window rather quickly melt down the window and disappear as the sun's warm rays made themselves known.

I was struck with the thought that just as the sunlight melted away that ice that was preventing me from having a clear view of the world around me, God does that in the frozen over places in my life. I my driveway, my windows had been completely shielded from the Sun and it's warmth. They became covered and kept me from functioning, but as soon as the sun hit them, the ice began to melt and I could see again. When I hide things from the Son (or think I do), the become frozen over and can cause me to not be able to function in the way God designed my life to function. When I let the light in to expose those dark and cold spaces, His light melts away the ice and can make me whole again.

This reminds me of one of my favorites song lyrics (not a perfect analogy, but you will get the correlation):

Lord now indeed I find
Thy power and thine alone
Can change the lepers spots
And melt the heart of stone

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord, as I end this year of 2010, reveal the frozen/stony places in my life that keep me from being who you want me to be for your glory, honor and fame. Melt them away and make me new again.

95.3%

2010-12-24T10:07:00.001-06:00

If you follow my blog, you know that over the last months, I have been embarking on a journey that I have never been able to complete successfully in the past. I am reading through the bible in a year. Well, with about a week left in the year - I am happy to report that I am 95.3% complete (right on track according to my reading plan in YouVersion.)

I can tell you that the ONLY reason I have bee able to complete this task (which at times was daunting) was that I had a accountability partner. Someone who was not only on this journey with me, but got an email once a week telling her how I did. Together we are finishing this race and together we will do it again next year. So, here is my challenge - if any of you want to get in on it with us, make a comment of send me a message via Facebook or email and I will put you on a list and send out instructions. It's gonna be great!

Today, my reading took me to 2 Timothy. A letter from Paul to Timothy that was written while Paul was in prison in Asia for preaching the gospel. Timothy was a young man and Paul continually encouraged and taught him in the faith of Jesus Christ. A true "mentor-mentee" relationship. In many ways that mentor legacy still lives on, many centuries after his death, as I learn and grow from reading his words in the bible. Here is what I learned from Paul today.

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21

When I read these verses I thought I knew what they meant, but just to make sure - I looked them up in some commentaries. Here is the gist of them: In the church there are some people who are set apart to so special things, have special impact and special purposes (gold & silver). They are set apart from the crowd of people who call themselves Christians but have little to no impact for Christ in the world around them (wood & clay.) In my mind, I picture all those who look one way at church and totally different at work or at a restaurant or at home or where ever, the rest of the week. This passage says they are common.

I guess I always knew this principle, but it is the last past that really stuck out to me - "Those who cleanse themselves from the latter (being common, being like everyone else in their day to day lives) will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master (Christ) and prepared to do any good work."

I am not sure why this struck me so powerfully today. I think maybe it is because I am becoming more aware of the people around me that are quite possibly in the wood & clay category. It makes me so sad to see and yet it makes me examine myself all the more to make sure there are no places in my life that would put me into that category. I want to totally cleanse myself of those things so that when I am looked at by God, he sees me as gold & silver, set apart for a special purpose, made holy and useful to Him.

I hope that you too want to be gold & silver in the house of the Lord. I know that each and everyone of us has things in our lives that are wood & clay. Things that hold us back from being useful for Him.

My prayer is that as we close out 2010, enter 2011 and take that backward look at our lives, as we so often do this time of year - that God would show us all those things we need to "cleanse ourselves" of to be wholly useful to Him as we go forward in our faith. I pray that He would reveal to us the special purposes He has set us apart to do and that we would jump in with both feet, no matter how daunting the challenge.

Refuse to be normal and common in 2011. If we are joining the likes of Paul and Timothy, being different is not all that bad!

Completely Unqualified

2010-12-11T10:15:00.000-06:00

Today's topic may seem trite and something that every believer knows deep down (or maybe even on the surface). It is something that most of us are quick to spout off in situations where we serve, and yet - I find myself one more time, acutely aware of this well known Christian mantra.

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

A verse that many of us can say is one we actually have memorized. (That and John 3:16...) A verse that comes so easy to the tongue and yet seems so hard to actually remember to live out.

Today, I find myself once again in that place of stepping back and looking at the tasks that God has set before me and being a little more than overwhelmed. Being a wife and mother. Programming services for a fairly large (comparatively speaking) suburban church who is poised on the brink of multiplication, which no doubt will effect the scope of my job. Leading the fledgling Internet Campus we have just birthed to reach people for Christ that traditional church may not reach. Growing and mentoring the people God has placed in my life for that purpose. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Today, I step back and look at what is sure to be only a partial list and realize a fresh that what I so quickly take on as things I can do in my own strength - I actually can't do by myself at all and have it be worth anything. I am unsure why, apart from my humanity, I ever fall back in to this place of self-sufficiency, because it always ends the same way. God gently, or sometimes not so gently, reminding me that I am just not as good as I think I am and I need His help.

Today, I cry out with fresh abandon and conviction the words of Philippians 4:13 and say "God, I know I can do all things ONLY through YOU who gives me strength."

Are there things that you need to surrender today that you have been trying to do in your own power. Join me now in giving them over to the Lord to do in His power.

No Greater Love...

2010-11-12T18:54:00.000-06:00

Today is national "To Write Love on Her Arm" day. To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. You can find out more about this organization here. Anyway, the idea is for people to actually write the word LOVE on their arm somewhere and wear it all day today, till noon tomorrow as a conversation starter about this issue and as a reminder this problem exists. For me , it is also a reminder to pray for people who struggle on a daily basis with these issues.

Today in my bible reading, I was reminded of the truest example of writing "love" on ones arms - Jesus Christ. Still today, he bears the scars on his wrists of the ultimate love, a man who laid down his very life for all of these things we struggle with in our very sin-filled world.
I know that God brings people into my life who have faced or are facing today issues like this. I admit, that sometimes I wonder what I can do to help? I have no personal experience with these issues, I am a busy mother of 4, etc. etc. etc. Then I remember what the Bible says in the book of John:
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends John 15:13

If God sees fit to bring these hurting ones into my life, then I will lay down my time, my wants, my self to show His love to them. It's not to much to ask when Jesus endured so much to write "Love" on his arms for me.
So today, as I look at the word Love written on my wrists, I not only pray for those who struggle to make it through each day, but I remember that Jesus is the only one who can truly heal them of their pain and I pray that they would embrace the true love that only He can give.

Procrastinate No More!

2010-10-27T08:45:00.001-05:00

There is a bumper sticker that I see periodically that really identify with. It says: Procrastinators Unite! - Tomorrow... I chuckle to myself every time I see it because that can be so true in my life. I also must admit that I think I have passed that mutated gene to my offspring. (so sorry kids!) I have learned over the years to overcome that weakness in many areas of my life, but I tend to live by the motto "Why do today, what can be put off till tomorrow." In case you are wondering, it doesn't usually work out very well.

So it begs the question, "Why do I do this?" Fear, laziness, dread, indifference, a combination of all of those and more... So NOT a becoming characteristic! It is something about myself that I really don't like and strive to change when ever I realize I am doing it.

This morning in my bible reading, I was challenged by this passage (the whole chapter really):

Blessed are those slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns! I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, have them take their place at the table, and will comet and wait on them! Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the nights and finds them alert, blessed are those slaves! Luke 12: 37-39

Blessed are those He finds alert when He comes back. The scripture around this particular set of verses add to the challenge for me (you should go read it all!) It is talking about a tree that was planted and nourished in the field but year after year did not produce any fruit. The field owner eventually says to cut it down and not waste any more food and soil nutrients. OUCH!

A person who comes to Christ and receives His grace and salvation but then doesn't go on to live their lives sold out for Christ is like that tree. It was not for lack of time and energy spent helping that tree be healthy, the one given the job to tend the field worked hard to help that tree be healthy and produce fruit, but the tree did not cooperate.

How like that we as believers can be at times and to varying degrees. Some that I can see in my minds eye right now, have said they are a believer - and yet through their actions outside of the actual church building, show no real evidence of that. Some have been asked to do things with their lives to advance the kingdom and yet have chosen, for what ever reason, to not fulfill that calling placed on their lives. I am sure their are people who fall into those categories and a whole bunch in between.

The verses above in Luke 12 talk about being hard at work and ready doing what Christ has asked you to do in your life when He returns, which could be at any time. If He returns and catches you off guard and not doing what He has given you to do in your lifetime, you will answer for it.

I am not trying to cast stones here, I look can see some of myself in there as well and I am not proud of it. I know that as passionate as I am about being an All In follower of Christ, there are areas in my life that I am slacking in. Why do I do this? Why do I hold anything back? Why do I procrastinate when I know God only has His best in mind for my life if I would only obey? Well, the answer to that is something that I am dealing with in my own heart, but I ask you to look at your own life right now, in this moment. Are there areas He is convicting you of?

Maybe He has called you to take the very first step in following Him and get rid of things in your life that would influence you to turn away from Him.
Maybe He has given you a specific task to do, place to serve or person to be a witness to but you are afraid.
Maybe He has given you a family to lead, and you have just not been able to step up and lead strongly because you just don't know how.
Maybe you are a full time, wife and mommy who just doesn't have any time.

The bible is full of stories of ordinary people, just like you and me, who struggled with the same things we struggle with, wanting to put off really serving God until they had everything in their life exactly the way they thought it should be. God is not unaccustomed to helping people overcome the obstacles you think are standing in your way. He will be faithful, like He always is, to help you become the healthy, fruit bearing tree He desires you to be if you will only let Him.

Just say "YES" to Him today. If you are not sure what He has in mind for you, or think He can't use you - you underestimate the power of our God to show Himself to you and use you in a mighty way.

Insert "Pithy" Title Here

2010-10-25T08:45:00.000-05:00

Sorry folks, this morning I just don't seem to have wit flowing from my finger tips. I am just flat burdened! In my Bible reading this morning I read this:

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Luke 10:2

I am reminded once again how desperately people we come in contact with every single day need Jesus! If I believe what I say I do, why I am so hesitant to share the only solution to life's issues that anyone will ever need?

The verse above says "laborers" are few - I guess that would mean it is not going to be easy. Labor is hard.

But it also says that the harvest is plentiful! I saw this picture and think of row after row of wheat just waiting to be picked and used to feed people. What a brilliant picture Christ painted with that analogy - row and row of people waiting to be gathered into the Kingdom and used to feed others.

But I know that harvesting a field like this takes time and energy. If the worker chooses not to work in the field, the wheat will eventually die. The same goes for people, except it is eternity at stake.

I believe that God has given us each a field to work in. He has entrusted it in to our care to care for and nurture so that the harvest can take place in the lives of those in our field. Do you know what your field is? What is it looking like? Healthy and well maintained, ready for harvest or sick and dying because you have not shared with it the nutrients it needs for eternal life.

Let me share with you a little bit about my field. A few years ago, God began to burden me with using my social media to witness to those I came in contact with. For the most part it has been done through the posting of spiritual thoughts and verses and hoping to spark some discussion or at least give people something to think about.

More recently, he has seen fit to plant me smack in the middle of the field (more like a maze some days) to coordinate the launch of Christ Fellowship Online - an internet church. My hope and prayer is that the truth spoken will spread like wild fire to all those who are searching the internet daily for answers and finding only futility.

I am not totally sure what I am doing at times (a tech head I am NOT), and when I step back and look at the size of this particular field I am easily overwhelmed by the work that is going to be involved - but only when I look at it through my own eyes. With Christ, all things are possible!

God has stirred the hearts of others who would come along side in this vast field and help with the labor, for which I am truly grateful, but more are needed. We need volunteers to make the internet church services "go" and we need people who are willing to share what God is doing with Christ Fellowship online with their friends who need Jesus. If you want to find out more about how you can be part of the harvest in this field - shoot me a comment or email at jtouchberry@mcfbc.org.

Ask God where you are supposed to work today and go labor there. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few!

Need a Little Help Here

2010-09-22T09:07:00.000-05:00

I haven't written in a while. I guess maybe because I have not had a lot to say. Usually I write when I read something in my quiet time that stirs my heart, or I feel God impressing something on me to share. Today I had one of those moments.

I had dropped the last of the kids off at school for the day and I was on my way to work. This drive is not long, only about 5 minutes. I am a creature of habit (so I've been told) and I usually go the same route. Today was no different. On my drive I pass though mostly residential neighborhoods but don't usually come across many people - I guess because of the time of the morning, but today God wanted my attention.

On my way to work there is a section of road that has a hill, not a huge one in a car but for the little girl riding her bike to school, it was obvious it was a bit of a struggle. She was, in my estimation, probably about 7 or 8 and she was laden with a rather large back pack full of her school supplies which I am sure added to her struggle. Her father was riding his bicycle along side her to ensure her safety on their short journey. When he sensed her struggling, he came along side her on his bike and put his strong hand on the center of her backpack and just gave an extra bit of "umph" so that she could make it up the hill.

God had started the wheels turning. But if that one picture was not enough, I continued on a few more blocks and came across another little girl even smaller than the first one, also sporting a rather large backpack relative to her size. This one was trying desperately to get into her families SUV with little success. Once again, along came her father making ready her seat, and helped her achieve her goal.

Not one but two examples of the same thing within 2 minutes of each other. OK God, I get it.

What a beautiful reminder that when I struggle appears to be a steep hill in my life or come across what seems to be an impossible task, my Father in heaven is there right long side me to give me that extra push needed or to lift me up when I don't have the strength on my own.

Why do you say, Israel,

“The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me,
My God is not concerned with my vindication”?

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is an eternal God,
the creator of the whole earth.
He does not get tired or weary;
there is no limit to his wisdom.

He gives strength to those who are tired;
to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy.

Even youths get tired and weary;
even strong young men clumsily stumble.

But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength;
they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings,
they run without growing weary,
they walk without getting tired.

Isaiah 40:27-31

So are you like the little girls I saw today, needing a bit of extra help fro your Father to make it through? I know I am! The great thing is that He is faithful to give us the help if we will only ask. He is there right beside us, just waiting...

Dry Bones Come to Life!

2010-09-08T08:43:00.000-05:00

In my daily reading I came across, once again, a passage of scripture in Ezekiel that struck my heart today. Rarely do I copy large sections of scripture for you to read, but this one paints a picture you should not miss. Read on:

A Valley of Dry Bones - Ezekiel 37

1 The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones.2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out.3 Then he asked me, "Son of man, can these bones become living people again?"
"O Sovereign Lord ," I replied, "you alone know the answer to that." 4 Then he said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, `Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord !5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord .'" 7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons.8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, `This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.'" 10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.

Do you ever feel like you are lying in a valley and are nothing more than a heap of dry bones? No life breath left in you? Stripped of all that made you worth anything to anyone?

Well I do!

But this passage of scripture gives me hope!

As I close my eyes and picture this vision that God gave to Ezekiel, the sheer power of the Lord and His words wash over me again. These dry bones heard the words of the Lord and came back to life. His words put flesh back on the bones and caused life giving breath to be in their bodies once again. But it doesn't stop there.

The last line of verse 10 doesn't say that they went about their mundane, everyday lives - it says they became a great army! An ARMY!

When I really dig in to God's word and breath in the life that they afford to me, I feel strong and able to conquer the world. I certainly don't feel that way on my own, especially when I am not hearing His life giving words.

God's word helps you conquer _____________ (you fill in the blank). He WILL take your dry bones and give them life once again, but you have to be in His word to hear them, to absorb them, to breathe them in and to let them permeate your being.

Breathe them in today.

If you need some accountability, start a reading plan on Youversion. It's free and you can list someone to get emails of your reading progress. If you don't have anyone to be accountable to - feel free to put my name in there (jtouchberry@mcfbc.org). Do what ever it takes to fill yourself with His words of life once again!

Taking for Granted

2010-09-02T08:24:00.000-05:00

In my bible reading right now, I am in the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a prophet during the time when the Israelites were taken captive by the Babylonians. Most of the book is God telling Ezekiel to tell the people how angry He was with them for turning away from Him and seeking other gods, etc.

It struck me today that we, as new covenant believers, really take for granted what the blood of Jesus has done for us. So many times we forget what the wrath of God looks like because we choose to "camp out" reading the books of the Bible that make us feel comfortable with their portrayal of God. He is our "friend" and "God is love". Yes and yes - but good grief, spend a little time reading the prophets in the old testament and you will see the holy wrath side of God that makes me shudder to my core. God is the same today as He was then, our sins have just been covered by the blood of Christ so God's wrath is appeased. If not, I know I would have been removed from this earth by God's wrath a long time ago.

So today, I am once again struck by the power of the blood of Christ and it's ability to cleanse a sinner like me and turn me in to someone that can boldly approach the throne of God.

Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see.

Lord, today I thank you for the merciful sacrifice of Jesus on my behalf. Once again, all I can do is give my life back to You. Do with me as you will. I am Yours!

I love you! (now be condemned to hell)

2010-08-25T08:44:00.001-05:00

Thought that title might get your attention. God has really been messing with me the last 36 hours about this topic. Here's the short back story...

I have a good friend, whom I love dearly, who invited me to take a look at a conversation that had been taking place via Facebook feed arguing religion. This friend takes more of a Universalist approach to god and spirituality - kind of "as long as a person is sincerely searching for some form of Deity, a loving god would let them spend eternity together" type thinking.

After several posts back and forth, I felt like I was not getting anywhere, so I wrote, "I think you are in a place where you have your heals dug in and no matter what is said, you will just argue your point. You know what I believe and I think I get what you believe and the two are not the same. At some point, we will know we were either right or wrong. I do hope that you know that just because someone doesn't believe the same as I do, doesn't mean I don't love them. I love you!" End of discussion, right?

Well God woke me up at about 2:30 the next morning and really convicted me that really what I was saying with that statement is "I love you - but I am not willing to keep arguing the truth with you until you are no longer destined for hell." Harsh, right? No - SPOT ON!

I do not want my friend to spend eternity outside the presence of God. How many other people that I love fall in to this category. We agree to disagree and just don't discuss it. How selfish of me! Do I really LOVE these people or just give it lip service, because I am pretty sure that a love that would allow a friend to spend eternity in hell because it is to hard to keep talking about differences in belief is not the kind of love I am called to have as a follower of Jesus Christ.

In my Bible reading I just began the book of Lamentations. The children of Israel had been exiled to Babylon and after so many years hearing the voice of God through the prophets (and taking that for granted), He fell silent. It broke my heart this morning to read the pleas to hear God again. They felt abandoned and lost and alone. They cried out in anguish and got no response.

I can't even imagine that in my worst night mares. Being separated from God - well my mind can't wrap around that. But that is what people are destined for in hell. The absence of God. Totally gone. No evidence of Him at all. Does anyone deserve that?

The Bible calls me to lay down my life for my friends, that's a pretty tall order, but if it means that my friends won't have to spend eternity in a vacuum of Godlessness - that I am willing to fight for! Lord give me the courage and the words...

Who do you need to start (or finish) a conversation with today?

Habakkuk & God - A Conversation

2010-08-20T09:04:00.000-05:00

In my Uversion reading plan of reading the Bible through in a year, I am officially 63.3% complete. YAY! It seems however, that as I read books are being added to the old testament. Even though it is August and I have been at this since January 1, alas - I am still in the old testament. I do enjoy the old testament. In fact if someone had asked me a year ago, I would have said that I preferred it. But as I have dug in to it this year I am finding myself longing to get through it and in to the new testament. I long to get past the stories of the wrath of God (which is all deserved - don't get me wrong) and be refreshed by the stories of the way God provided to escape that wrath, my Jesus!

A bit if a tangent to start, sorry! Anyway - today I read the book of Habakkuk. A short 3 chapters about a prophet of the Lord crying out to Him while the Israelites were in exile in Babylon asking how much longer they would be there.

Three things struck me as I read this morning:

1 - Habakkuk the Prophet was a singer. at the beginning of Chapter 3 it says "This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk" At the end of chapter 3 it has this note "(For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)" I LOVE THAT!!!

2- Habakkuk remembered that even though he and his people were exiled and in misery, God is sovereign and deserved to be praised.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord ! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! 3:17-18

3 - Habakkuk was totally plugged in to God. This book is written as a call and answer, a conversation if you will. Habakkuk asks a question and God literally answers him. Even tells him to write it all down so nothing gets confused as the message is spread to others. I love the picture of Habakkuk sitting by his table with a lamp burning, quill in hand just waiting for the Lord to respond to his cries. Waiting because he knows the response will come.

Daily I need to remember that if I cry out to my father, he is faithful to answer. I just have to be in tune with Him enough to hear it instead of going about my busy day wondering why I haven't heard anything yet. It reminds me of times I am expecting an important phone call and at the end of the day am a little ticked that the person hasn't called, yet when I look at my phone - I realize I was so busy with my "stuff" I didn't hear it ring and I missed it. UGH! I do that. Sorry God!

Oh how I long for a relationship with God that is close enough I can hear his words clearly and write them down. To have a two-way conversation. I know I can have that, in fact, God is waiting for me to just ask Him for it. I just have to be willing to do what it takes. Stop rushing through my day to the next thing. Stop checking off my Bible reading, proud that I am one day closer to my "goal". (now that I am typing that - how disgusting it sounds. Having the "goal" of reading the words of God instead of counting it a privilege that He would even want to speak to me in that way!) Stop filling my life with so much noise that I can't even hear Him when He tries to speak.

Some days I do better than others on that front, but I am ~~wanting~~ needing it more. I'm going for it! How about you?

Just to Busy!

2010-08-18T08:24:00.000-05:00

Just to busy! I say those words all to often. But in actually living them, how much do I miss? As a busy mom of 4 and wife and full time ministry gal - the word busy fits my life. I like my life busy. I find comfort in that busy place. In fact, I would go as far as to say, I don't know what to do with myself when I am not busy. Down time is not usually my friend.

I am not saying that much will change in the near future. To many kids to taxi and functions to attend and things to create to reach people for Jesus. But I read a blog post from the amazing Los Whit that made me wonder how many small gifts from God I miss because I am not looking for them amid the busyness.

While washing the dishes, do I pay attention to the sweet interaction my children are having with each other? While driving yet again from here to there, do I see the amazing cloud formation or the sliver of a moon that God put in the sky to help me remember He is all around me? While planning yet another worship service, do I see the hand of God moving my fingers to type a particular name or moving my heart to a particular song?

Repeat after me - "Today I will pay attention to the little gifts God gives me throughout the day that always lead me back to Him." (and then tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next...)

Notice, Marvel, Thank, Repeat. Notice, Marvel, Thank, Repeat. Notice, Marvel, Thank, Repeat. This is one OCD tendency I would like to nurture in myself.

How about you?

Is Jesus Really All That Great?

2010-08-11T08:08:00.000-05:00

Shocking title I know. That is kind of the point. The shock value of that statement made by someone who claims to love Jesus with all their heart is high. It was hard to even type it. But as I read my Bible in the comfort of my home this morning, as I pour over my music that I will bring as an offering to the God I love so desperately this coming Sunday, this is the question that came to my mind.

Is Jesus really all that great? Because most of the time, we sure don't act like it.

I was at a conference last week and heard the story of a woman (Christine Caine) who has been called to start a ministry to rescue other women from the sex trade. (more about A21 here) She told the horrific story of a girl who had been held captive and taken to another country for the purpose of working in a red light district. This girl was one of the few who even survived the journey. She was eventually rescued from the sex trade and brought to a safe house where she encountered Christine who told her about Jesus.

Wonderful you might say! Well, yes it is wonderful. But the girls response? "If your Jesus is so great, why did it take you so long to get here?"

I heard another story from someone just getting back from a mission trip to the jungles of Africa (literally.) They went to tell people who had probably never of heard of Him, about Jesus. When speaking to one woman about Christ and His plan of salvation, they ask her if she would like to accept Him into her life and her Lord and Savior. Her response? "Yes! I have just been waiting for someone to come and tell me how."

For me, both of those stories bring deep sorrow and conviction because more often than not, I am the one who is taking to long or waiting to tell someone about my Jesus that they so desperately need.

It seems such an obvious thing - share the one who saved your life with anyone around you who will listen. And yet we keep silent out of fear or embarrassment, or a host of other reason we have on a long list of bad ones.

I don't know about you, but I am always eager to hear a great story. We are transfixed by the story on the news of the man who risked his life for a total stranger by pulling them out of a burning house. We stop what we are doing to listen to the story of the hero who foiled the armed robbery with a selfless act of bravery. If you were the one in those stories who was rescued - you would be more than willing to sing the praises of your hero to anyone who would listen out of gratitude. Right?

I had the privilege of being a part of the filming of of some awesome stories last week. Stories that made me laugh and made me cry (always the sign of a good story - right?) Stories of people whose lives have been saved. Stories of people who had no hope and now do. I am so very grateful that they decided to share their stories with me.

Each of us has a story. I look at my story compared to some and tend to minimize the value of it because in my eyes, it is not as dramatic as some. I am coming to find that thinking that thought is toxic to me and those that God has put in my life. Just because I was not rescued from the sex trade or some other tragic situation does not minimize my story of redemption. I am a sinner, saved from a future that I surely deserved, given the gift eternal life with my Jesus forever.

I say that I believe that Jesus is "all that great" but when I hide his redemptive work in my life by not telling my story, I have to ask myself if I really believe that.

Someone needs to hear my story because it will speak to them and maybe, just maybe show them that what they need in their life is Jesus. So I will speak my story boldly and ask God to use it for His glory.

What is your story? It is the most important story that someone will hear for the one who needs YOU to tell it to them.

Tell your story to someone today, they might have been waiting for you!

Idol Worshiper? Who? Me?

2010-07-15T08:05:00.000-05:00

I like nice things. Who doesn't, right? In the society that we live in today, "things" abound. Cars, homes, things that fill the homes, clothes from Buckle (it's my fav.)

So the question today is this... when does having nice things become serving nice things and count as worshiping idols instead of God? This questions plagued me after my bible reading today in Kings. Quick back story:

The Children of Israel just can't seem to consistently get it right. They see the power of the Lord, they have a good king who serves the Lord and tears down all their foreign idols and they get back on the right track, then they get a bad king and they let other idols creep in again and down the path of God's anger they go. It really was a vicious cycle with these people. Kind makes me sick to read it.

2 Kings 17:41 says: So these nations feared the Lord and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children's children--as their fathers did, so they do to this day.

It's that first line that got to me - "so they feared the Lord and ALSO served their carved images."

Do I do that? Serve the Lord and also serve the other "things" I hold important in my life.

I fear my answer is yes if I am honest. It is not purposeful, but I know it happens.

Thinking hard on it makes my stomach turn. I have no desire to serve anything or anyone but the Lord, and yet our world creeps in and "things" take over the number one spot in my mind for a time. I can come up with excuses to make it seem not so bad, but in God's eyes - if something has taken His place in my life even for a moment, He is jealous and grieved.

I am bought with a price. The precious price of God's only son and that makes me worth something to Him. Certainly worth more than any "thing" I have bought with a price. (TV, clothes, house, car, whatever...)

So I pose the question to you again: when does having nice things become serving nice things and count as worshiping idols instead of God?

Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves in the comment section, hopefully after you have done a little self examination.

No Other Gods

©1993 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
Words and Music by Brian Doerksen


Lord, break the power of idols

Come and rule as king
Break the chains that bind us

Come and rule as king

We will have no other gods
We will serve no other master but you
We will have no other gods
For it is written, worship the Lord, your God
and serve him only

Solitude and Fresh Eyes

2010-07-07T11:42:00.000-05:00

Going on a "working vacation" with your husband who works 50 hours during the week and without your kids leaves a bit of alone time. I must admit that after 20 years of having children, I had forgotten what alone time was like. And I was not crazy thinking about having 7 days of it. But now that the time is drawing to an end, I have appreciated being thrust into it kicking and screaming. I believe God has spoken to me during this time and for that I am deeply grateful.

Today, as I am working on the creative stuff for our fall series at church, I came across an email from Bob, who suggested a song for that series. I was familiar with the song but had not heard it in 20 years or so. As I looked it up on Youtube and began to listen - tears welled up in my eyes as the words sunk in deeply to my heart.

I tend to go through my day, week, month year with not near enough thought to the enormity of the God I serve. The Jesus I am so in love with. The Holy Spirit that moves me. I believe that the trinity of God, 3 in 1, become so familiar that I just get way to comfortable and begin to take Him for granted.

While I believe like Abraham that we can be called the friend of God (James 2:23), God is also to be treated with awe and a holy fear. (Psalm 25:14)

While Jesus called the little children to his knee (Matthew 19:13), he also threw the money changers from the temple with a righteous anger. (John 2:13-15)

While the Holy Spirit is in us (1 Cor. 6:19), we are not to grieve Him, which I am sure I do without thinking on a daily basis. (Eph. 4:30)

So today, I listened to this songs with open ears and a tender heart and asked that God would reveal Himself to me in a new and amazing way. I hope He will do the same for you. What a MIGHTY GOD I serve. If you don't know Him, send me a message - i would be more than happy to introduce you!!

The Lion and the Lamb (you can listen here)

Who is He...The mightiest of all
Who is He...Creation trembles at His call
Who is He...The lowly sacrifice, who paid a victims price
His name is Jesus

Jesus...From the Father's own right hand
Jesus...Son of God and son of man
Jesus...Who died and rose again
Jesus...He's the Lion and the Lamb

Who is He...With the power none can tame
Who is He...That every foe would fear his name
Who is he...Who was humbly led away, to suffer that dark day
His name is Jesus

He's the lion and the lamb

He's the Lamb that was slain
He's the Lion that reigns
My Savior and King both the same

Who is He...With the eyes that burn like fire
Who is He...Oh the wonder He inspires
Who is He...Who bore the guilt and shame
For those who've gone astray
His name is Jesus

Feasting in Arizona

2010-07-06T18:27:00.000-05:00

I have a love/hate relationship with food. I love to eat it but hate to see the scale go up after I have consumed what I probably should not have. Vacations especially seem to exacerbate this issue. Not having to cook is a huge plus, but being in a hotel room where there is not refrigerator to store the "dogie bag" with the lefts overs kind of makes me want to clean my plate. (I am a bit scared to get on the scale when I return.)

Today alone I have been overtaken by the goodness of In-N-Out burger, which in my humble opinion is one of the greatest burgers known to man, AND my new found dessert love - a chocolate chocolate chip cake from a bakery called Nothing Bundt Cakes. You should totally look it up!!! Feast your eyes on the yumminess!

So it started my mind thinking about how many times I get wrapped up with the things of this earth that I think can not be topped and forget how much better the things God has waiting for me in heaven are. While I hope and pray there is an In-N-Out as well as a Nothing Bundt Cakes right down the golden street from my mansion in heaven, I know that the food at the wedding feast of the lamb will be so much more than my mind can even grasp. Why do I keep fixating on what can never satisfy me? How we should all long for the day that everything on earth will be eclipsed by His glory and nothing else will matter. Not even a burger and cake!

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. Also he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. Revelation 21:3-5

Music - The Language of the Soul

2010-07-05T12:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of touring the Music Instrument Museum in Scottsdale AZ. Going in I was not sure quite what to expect. You know "museums", they tend to either be done really well or really badly. This one was a pleasant surprise. The building itself is a work of art and the contents are truly amazing. (Sorry I couldn't get a real photo)

Needless to say, for a musician, I was in a little bit of heaven for 2 hours. The experience included personalized headphones so that you could not only see but hear many of the instruments from literally around the world. They have rooms representing all of the continents and then broken down by county. I am not sure how many different instruments are contained in this building, but it is a true treasure.

My son has been talking about creating his own see-through guitar since he was about 8. Well, guess what I found? Sorry to burst his bubble about not being the first one to think of is - but it was really cool! I think one of the things that struck me most is that people truly make music on what ever is available. I saw some of the strangest instruments, things that most of us would not even put in the classification of an instrument and yet, here they were in a museum with a collection of some of the "finest" instruments in the world. Old gas cans, pop bottle tops, gourds, bent pieces of metal, wood, nylon, horse hair, skins, I could go on... One of the coolest things I saw was an electric guitar made in Africa from old gas cans with what we would term a "modern guitar neck." Sorry I don't have a picture (camera battery died), but not only did it look cool - it sounded AMAZING!! Whoda thunk?

I will also include pics of two of the most "unusual" (for lack of a better word) instruments I saw. One made from a human tibia bone - you blew into that one - GROSS! and one made from a bull scrotum and bone. NICE! And I am not sure exactly how you play that one kinda don't want to know. People across the world truly make music with what ever they have available to them. It kind of solidified my thinking that whether you consider yourself musical or not - music is in everyone of us. God put it there.

Music is a powerful thing. When listening to all the music from around the world, I was struck by the passion that was in it all. Without a spoken word, it had the power to convey joy, anger, sadness, hope and so many more emotions. I found myself laughing with the people in Africa as the celebrated, tense with the people of Samoa as they reenacted the Haka war dance and cry as I was moved by one of the most beautiful symphonic pieces I have ever heard. It made me really think about how narrowed my musical taste has become and long to branch out to give my spirit room to soar.

I was also reminded about how the spoken word added to instruments can add power and move people. Many cultures that I had the privilege of catching a glimpse of used the spoken word added to music to pass stories down from generation to generation to instill values and keep the culture alive. Once again it reinforced that as a worshiper, I must KNOW the one I am singing and believe the words I am singing with my whole heart for it to hold the power that it should.

With the power that music has been given by it's ultimate Creator, it is not wonder that it is to music I so often look for comfort, for healing, for joy and for inspiration. May your day be full of music that fuels your soul and allows it to sing to the glory of the one who gave you the song. I know mine will be!

Holy Discontent Wk. 7

2010-07-02T21:27:00.000-05:00

OK - to start off I have to say that I had to skip our meeting this week due to a rehearsal so what I will write is purely from my reading, not the great conversation that I am sure occurred. So here we go...

This week focused on fanning the flame of your HD. One of the first things that jumped off the page to me was this - ...when a person is gripped by a powerful passion (or driven by a holy discontent), he or she literally enters into a completely different state of mind; in fact, they shift mental gears altogether and begin operating on an entirely new level.

To paraphrase much of the chapter, it is basically saying that if you are driven and passionate about your HD, it will demand that you pursue it with all you have got and if you don't it will eat you alive.

I can identify with that! It seems that the more I surrender to what God is stirring in me, the more passionate I get about it. One line I love in the book says "you could wake up one day and find yourself relocated to a place I've started to call life's "lunatic fringe," - I resemble that remark! I feel like some people look at me like I am a lunatic when I start going off about my HD. Can't help it! Sorry!!

Hybles also talks about moving from your "normal state" into the "fundamental state" (the place where you live and breathe your HD). He says that people will start to become attracted to the "thing" that you have, that passion. It becomes contagious and you move to a place of "magnetic living." People will catch the fever and want to come along.

It seems that maybe, that is how God intended it to be. When you are full of a passion HE fuels in your life and you exude it everywhere you go to everyone you come in contact with, people see you as different. People living in the mundane "normal state" long to move into that passionate "fundamental state" and have purpose in their lives. I think God furthers His mission in this way, through us.

So, are you fueled up? Is passion oozing from your pores? If so, leave a comment and tell me all about it!

One more week left in the book. I bet it ends with a bang!

Broken

2010-07-02T13:23:00.000-05:00

Today I am sitting in St. Arbucks far from home having a non-fat, extra-hot, with-whip, 1/2-pump, mocha-white mocha (how's that for an order - you may commit it to memory so that if you ever have need of a favor you will know I can be bought) and finding myself having a bunch of alone time to reflect.

I find myself looking out the window at the people passing me by and wondering how many of them would consider themselves broken? Broken in some way, mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually. How many are searching for literally God only knows what?

I know that I certainly fit in to the broken category in many ways. I guess we all do in our own way. We have sin to thank for that. But today I am finding myself broken in a different way. I find that God is breaking my heart in new ways for people who need Him. People who are broken because of this fallen world and don't know that only Jesus is the fix for that.

I find myself holding back tears every few moments as I am touched by a song or a thought and know that I am not alone in my tears. God sheds them everyday for His creation that He loves so very much. Those that He longs to mend in various ways but will not turn to Him. His creation that turns away from Him to find fulfillment and healing in other things.

So today, I welcome being broken. I embrace the tears and want to see my world as God does. I feel that unless I do, the people God puts in my path and on my heart will continue to be broken in a way that is not desirable.

How long has it been since you took a good long look at the world around you and were broken as you saw it through God's eyes? Take some time and do it. Someones life could depend on it!

And if you are looking for a little light listening to spur you on, check out:

Addison Road - Run

Mercy Me - Won't You be My Love
Hillsong Song - Hosanna
better yet- support the bands and go buy them on itunes :o)

Holy Discontent Wk. ?

2010-06-24T07:43:00.001-05:00

OK - First let me apologize and say I have to be the world's worst at trying to do a book discussion via blog. YIKES! So sorry. I will try to do better in the future. I think this is week 6. So, let me jump in. (If you have no idea what book I am talking about take a look back at previous posts to get caught up - kind of...)

It seems at this point that most of the "physical-group" have identified one or more Holy Discontent(s) in their lives. Have you? If so, leave a comment and tell me about it. This week the chapter validated what a bunch of us already knew - that HD can morph over time. It actually made some feel a lot better about theirs. (Some of us have been worried that we may have MHDD - multiple holy discontent disorder.)

This week Bill encouraged us to follow it where ever it takes us, giving the example of Nehemiah and Bono (not sure which one of those guys would be the most impressed by being in the others company - lol.) But from both of those examples, I think what stood out to me was the phrase "dismantling apathy". Boy, that is one thing that really creates a Popeye type moment in me. If you see something wrong in the world, don't wait for someone else to come along and change it while you sit and complain. Do something about it!!

The other thing he mentioned several times is the fact that in Bono especially (probably because Bill has never met Nehemiah) he felt that his HD oozed out of him. He gives it is "thousand-watt all."

Bottom line in my mind, that is what God desires from us when He gives us a Holy Discontent. He wants us to dismantle the apathy and let our passion ooze from us to the point that it is contagious to those around us and will cause some of them to take up the charge and fight with us.

So, have you noticed some morphing of your HD? I have! I truly believe what he says about God teaching you things to use to follow your HD in situations He puts you in. Worship, Internet Campus, Worship in the Internet Campus, Leadership, etc., etc... (And if you don't know what our Internet Campus is - definitely hit me up! I'll "go Popeye" on you for a bit)

Be faithful to follow it where ever it takes you. This is a journey we are on with God, and while He doesn't promise to show us where we will end up - He does promise to be right there leading us the whole way. We just have to be willing to go. I'm all in! How about you, world changer? Sound off people. It's gettin' lonely in here.

Worship on Steroids!

2010-06-16T03:17:00.000-05:00

And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions,) and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever, the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. 2 Chron. 5:11-14

OK. Stop what you are doing right now and get that picture firmly in your mind. These verses are describing the dedication of the temple of the Lord built by Solomon. The first permanent place that God had to reside among his people (before it was in a portable tent.) There were over 38,000 Levitical priests. I am not sure how many were present for this event, but I can bet it wasn't a small showing.
What an event this must have been.

Singing, playing on instruments with the lyrics that still ring true today "He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever." Repeated by thousands upon thousands of people in worship to the Lord.

What happened next, no one was expecting (I would imagine.)

The glory of the almighty God came down in the form of a cloud or thick smoke and filled the temple. His presence was so thick that the people fell down in worship and the priests could no longer preform their duties.

What a worship gathering that must have been. I imagine it was just a small taste of what worship in eternity will be.

Thinking of that experience makes me long to have that each and every time we gather together to worship our Savior, whose steadfast love endues forever. I imagine if a group of people came together with hearts overflowing with that realization of Christ, God's presence would be so thick in the room that we may be able to do nothing but just "be."

I have experienced it a few times in my life in a group setting and in my private worship. The common denominator in all of those situations is hearts aligned in worship to the one true living God.

Have you ever had an experience like this? Share it in comments if you want to. I would love to hear about your God encounters.

I don't know about you, but once I tasted His presence, thick and palpable in the room, I long to get back to that place as fast and as often as I can. So, my encouragement to you would be to come to your next time with God (whether private or in a group) ready and expecting His to fill that place with His glory.

He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will show up!

Heaven Can Not Contain Him

2010-06-11T09:36:00.000-05:00

It never fails to amaze me what new things I see when I read scripture and what God puts in my heart when I spend time in His word. This year, along with a good friend for accountability, I am endeavoring to read through the Bible chronologically. As of today, I am officially 44.1% done. Yea!

The point of that paragraph was not to brag, but to let you know how many years in the past my resolutions to read through the Bible have failed and I truly believe that the accountability has been the key to staying on track this time. I am just to weak and lazy to do it on my own. So, get an accountability partner and get after it. You don't have to wait til January 1. Pick a partner, pick a plan and get after it. Here is the link! And if you don't have a partner, put me down - I would be honored to monitor your progress for you! (and leave me a comment if you decide to take on this challenge.)

Now - on to what God is doing in my heart today.

The current subject of reading is Solomon building the temple of the Lord. Man! What and undertaking that was. It took him 7 years to complete. Specially cut wood (sorry H - it was cedar), carvings on all the walls and doors of flowers, palm trees and Cherubim, and then all of that overlaid with pure gold. I struggle in my mind to even imagine such a magnificent place. Here is an artist's rendering but I imagine that this does not come close to doing it justice. You can read about the description in 2 Chronicles 2.

The verse that stuck out to me was when Solomon, in all his wisdom, spoke this in 2 Chron. 2:6 -

"But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him?"

Even highest heaven cannot contain Him! And with one small phrase, I am once again put in my place. Small and not able to bow low enough to worship my God.

Why is it that it is so very easy for us (me) to let my mind wander away from the reality of who I worship, who I give my life to?

I find myself taking the reading of His word casually, as something to check off my To-Do list and move on. I find myself forgetting that when I am putting together a church service, I am not just creating a list of songs and a flow for the morning, but I am needing to search the heart of the Almighty God for His plans to commune with His people. As my son would say, FAIL!

Oh God! Forgive me for letting this world get in the way of seeing You for who You are. For forgetting the awe and reverence I should live in every moment of every day. For thinking in any way I can on my own bring people to have a revelation of You.

Not even heaven can contain you!

Lord, thank you for your mercy. Thank you for "right sizing" me yet again. My life, my all is Yours! Use me to point people to you, the omnipotent, awesome, one and only God!!

Holy Discontent Wk #3

2010-06-02T07:05:00.000-05:00

So sorry that I skipped a week of posting on the book. The "Reader's Digest" version of last week is that it gave an overview of the holy discontent of great people in history like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa. There was not much speaking directly to me, so I found it hard to write on, although the group discussion was good and I discovered something about myself. I have MHDD - Multiple Holy Discontent Disorder. I thought I had mine pegged after week one, alas, week 2 brought things into a clearer light. (and before you worry to much about my MHDD - I also discovered that I am not alone in it.) So, if you have not quite found your HD (Holy Discontent), fear not and read on.

This week's reading I found easy to read and thought provoking. The chapter title is Your "One Thing." Before you worry that you have been off track with all the many things you give you time and energy and passion to, relax. Hybels is quick to let readers know that we, as believers, should feel passion and take action on things that call for it (like earthquake relief in Haiti), but all of those things are probably not your "one thing".

Eph. 2:10 says that "we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Basically that means that even before we were born, God had specific things He set us apart to do. (yes, YOU TOO!). As I read this book and think about what that might be for me, the picture becomes more and more clear. I am right where I am supposed to be, spurring others on to a more connected, passionate worship of God. I will say that it took someone else pointing it out to me before I saw that though. I mean, I KNEW that in my heart and my spirit but I think I was so busy trying to look (2 chapters in to the book - can we say over achiever) for something new and unique as my HD that I totally missed what God had already revealed to me in so many ways before.

If you are reading this and thinking you are behind the curve because you are still not sure what your HD is yet - don't be! Not everyone in the discussion group has clarity yet, and I don't think most are supposed to at this point. It is a process after all. To help in the process, Hybels gives this description, "Your "one thing" is the stirring situation that causes so much damage to your soul that it brings you to your own Popeye moment - a place where you feel you simply must do something. ... it is God inviting you into a intentional and personalized partnership to renovate reality. "

In short, your HD is something that: wrecks you, vies for all of your attention, keeps you awake at night capturing your heart and your imagination. It is the one thing inside you that your soul feels MUST BE ADDRESSED. When you find it you will know "you were born for it."

In new and exciting ways, God is re-purposing in my soul what I was born for - to worship Him with everything thing that I am and to help others do the same. So, how about you? Do you know what you were born for? Sound off in the comment section and let's get a little discussion going for those who are not able to make the meet-ups. Ready - Set - GO!

Holy Discontent wk. 1

2010-05-21T17:53:00.000-05:00

It seems that people, other than me, are eager to hear the heart of God for their lives. Go figure! He has brought together what I think will prove to be a great mix of women for the study of Bill Hybel's book Holy Discontent. For the next 7 weeks, we will pour over it, underline, highlight and discuss. I would like to bring some of that here to those who can't be in the group physically. Feel free to buy the book and get in on the discussion via comments or just read what is written here. Either way - I hope that God reveals something to you about your Holy Discontent. Let's get started...

To start, Bill asks this question, "Why do people do what they do?" For most people when you speak of their job, the answer is to get a paycheck. However, there are some who are passionate about what they do, so much so that they do it for very little money - teachers, social workers, pastors, the list could go on. Not that only people who don't make much money can be passionate about their jobs. But people do other things besides working with their time. They volunteer, they give money to causes. One woman in our group, "V", supports 2 women in countries where women have little to no human rights. She stated (paraphrasing) that she does this because it tugs at her heart and is wrong, so she does what she can to help.

So, why do you do what you do? To go one step further - what are you passionate about? What get the "firestorm of frustration" (as Bill calls it) going in your gut? What is your underlying motivation?

In the opening chapter of the book we look at Moses. A Hebrew man raised by the Egyptian Pharaoh's daughter, He did not taste of the slavery his people did. But one day he was taking a walk and came across an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. He grew so angry that he killed the Egyptian. The next day he was out walking and came across 2 Hebrews fighting with each other. His eyes were opened to the plight of his people and the firestorm was ignited. The story is much longer than I will go into here, you can read it in Genesis. but he basically was so heart broken to see his people self destructing that he couldn't stand it any more and decided he had to do something about it. After a life changing discussion with a burning bush (GOD), he found that he would not be on his own in his fight for the Hebrew people, God's heart was breaking for them as well and they would fight together. This was Moses' holy discontent.

Hybel's goes on to say that "still today, what wrecks the heart of someone who loves God is often the very thing that God wants to use to fire them up to do something that, under normal circumstances, they would never attempt to do." So it begins with you determining what it is that you just can't stand. Hybel's also pointed out the very important fact that God is in the business of restoration. If we only look at the world through the lens of what is broken and forget that God desires to restore it, it will only result in anger and frustration.

When we realize that the anger and frustration we feel for the things that break our hearts in this world also break the heart of God, we have usually identified our holy discontent.

One of my favorite lines says this, "The most inspired, motivated, and driven people I know are the ones who live their lives from the energy of their holy discontent. Most important, they suit up and jump in to the game when God says, "If you'll hook up with me, I'll involve you in effecting some much needed change around here!""

Oh, that I would live my life from that place. Actually taking action instead of just complaining. The bible is filled with stories of common, ordinary men and women who have partnered with God to do things they could never do on their own. I want to be one of those!

So take stock. What fuels your firestorm of frustration? What breaks you heart and makes you want to help change the world? If you can't answer that quite yet, stick with us on our journey. I pray that our faithful God will speak clearly to each of us and that we will be courageous enough to jump in the deep end with both feet!

Chapter 2 next Wednesday, May 26. 7-8:30 pm in High Connections at the church. Join us there or online.

The Friendship and The Fear

2010-05-10T09:22:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was a typical Sunday. Full of church and work and worship and fellowship with other artist/worshipers as we sat in the room back stage waiting for our time to once again take the stage to lead the congregation in song. What happens in that room during our "down time" is a mystery to most and each week is very different, depending on the characters that are appear (and I do mean characters!) Lot's of bonding and conversation takes place over 6 hours of on and off the stage.

At one point yesterday, the conversation turned to a song called Friend of God. Now, no offense to the writer, but that is a song that I can hardly stomach singing. The version of it that most people hear is to me - very "bubble gum." I feel that it shows only the "hey let's go fishing together, or to the mall" side of God. One participant in the conversation made a statement something to the effect of "lots of people come to church and need to see that side of God." I assume this is because they only hear about the wrath side of Him from a non-churched person's perspective.

The conversation continued down that line for just a bit and while I agree to a certain extent that everyone who comes to God needs to know that He is desires to be their friend and have them come to Him with any and everything in their lives, most people forget that He is also to be feared as seen by David's mistake referenced in my previous blog post.

I always find it humorous when I have a conversation and shortly there after God brings something to my attention in scripture that adds something to the conversation (a true picture of a friend I suppose.) This morning in my reading I read this:

Psalm 25:12-14 Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

For me, the highlighted verse nails it on the head! How can you have a friendship with someone you do not KNOW and how can you KNOW GOD and not fear Him? They go hand in hand. If I have just met someone, I would not normally consider them my friend, only an acquaintance. To be a true friend, it takes relationship and to build relationship you have to spend time getting to really know that person.

In my lifetime, I have had very few people that I would consider friends in the deepest sense of the word. A friendship takes work, it takes time, it takes giving more than you get sometimes, it takes honesty, it takes love and all that takes effort. But when that occurs - you have something very precious and oh how I long to have that kind of friendship with my maker.

Several years ago a singer/song writer named Matt Redman came on the Christian music scene. Most of you would know his as the writer of The Heart of Worship. I had occasions to hear him speak and not only learn from his leading as a worshiper but as a God follower. His heart is one that is not found very often. I imagine him like King David - a man after God's own heart. He wrote a song called The Friendship and The Fear. The lyrics of the song are rich and so I leave you to ponder them today and ask yourself these - On the friendship scale, have much to you give compared to how much you gain? Do you fear the Lord, I mean really fear Him? If you struggle with how to answer these questions, then join me in the ever present quest to know Him better. If you could answer them to your satisfaction fairly easily, then I would challenge you by saying I don't think you KNOW Him as well as you think you do.

VERSE 1:
Show me the way of the cross once again
Denying myself for the love that I've gained
Everything's You now, everything's changed,
It's time You had my whole life;
You can have it all.

CHORUS:

I resolve to give it all;
Some things must die,
Some things must live.
Not, "What can I gain,"
But, "What can I give?"
If much is required when much is received,
Then You can have my whole life;
Jesus, have it all.

VERSE 2:
I've given like a beggar but lived like the rich
And crafted myself a more comfortable cross,
Yet what I am called to is deeper than this,
It's time You had my whole life;
You can have it all.

6 Steps and a Sacrifice

2010-05-07T08:21:00.002-05:00

What is your morning prep like to get to church on a Sunday? If it is anything like my house was when my kids were small there is one word - chaotic! Even now that my kids are older there is some element of that to get everyone to church on time. Because I work at church, I have to get up way before the sun (which should be breaking some sort of commandment, but according to Proverbs 31 - apparently is not! ) Usually one or more of my children either choose to or have to come with me because of their volunteer schedule. Anyway - you get the idea.... In my house, unless I am very intentional, we usually arrive to worship the God of the universe pretty much in the same manner we would make a trip to Target or get out the door to school/work.

In my Bible reading I have come to the story of King David returning the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem after being captured by the Philistines and being away from the Israelites for some time. He decided it was time to bring it back to where it belonged and so he made a plan to go get it. Enter problem #1 - David didn't follow the rules. The ark was supposed to be carried by certain people in a certain way any time it was transported. Instead, he had prepared what was, I am sure, a very nice cart pulled by oxen. Of course! Why not? It was probably very heavy and this would make the 6 or so mile trip much easier and quicker.

So they story goes that they are moving along, the ox trips, one well meaning guy (Uzzah) reaches up to steady the ark so it doesn't fall to the ground and BAM! He's dead. Why, you might be asking? Well, no one was supposed to touch the ark but the priests appointed to care for it. Not fair, you might be saying. What was he supposed to do, let it fall? Well, that is exactly what King David said. He was not very happy with God.

2 Samuel 6:8-11 And David was angry because the Lord had burst forth against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah, to this day. And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, How can the ark of the Lord come to me? So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

So, here is where I have to laugh! David sees the Obed's house is prospering because of the presence of the Lord, so he decided to try to move it again - but this time doe it the right way. He uses the priests to follow all the proper directions for moving it - including carrying it on poles the whole 6 miles. But take a look at the highlighted verse above. David was afraid of the Lord that day... There was now a holy fear going on that should have been there from the beginning. David remembered who he was dealing with. So here is what he did:

2 Samuel 6:12-14 So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the Lord with all his might.

Did you catch that? Every 6 STEPS David sacrificed not 1 but 2, what I would imagine were, large animals. Every 6 steps for 6 miles they stopped and made an offering to the Lord. This was one long and bloody trip, full of work, but also filled with joy and worship before the Lord.

Truthfully, I probably need to paste this passage of scripture on the dash of my car, or on the bathroom mirror so I can see it when I get up (REALLY EARLY) to worship on Sundays. I have to remember who I am worshiping. I can not and should never treat coming in to the presence of God like it is something nonchalant.

Through the blood sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, I no longer have to sacrifice animals every 6 steps to come before the Lord in worship, but I am called every minute of every day to sacrifice my life to Him. I love that Jesus made a way for me to boldly approach the throne of GRACE. Thank God for grace! I am grateful to be able to call the one who made me - my father and my friend. But I have to hold Him in the proper place, high and lifted up above all things here on this earth - full of awe, reverence and a holy fear.

So this Sunday as you wrestle with the kids to get ready and into the car, as you wake up exhausted from the weekend which was once again "to full" and think twice about even going to church - consider all those obstacles you face and all the work it takes to get there as a joyful sacrifice to the King of Kings. Put on some worship music and dance before Him as an individual and a family as you prepare to join others to do more of the same.

Holy Discontent

2010-05-03T08:03:00.002-05:00

OK People - if you follow me at all , you have heard me mention Bill Hybels book Holy Discontent many times. Well, after much calendar deliberation, the date is set! We will begin the book study on Wednesday, May 19. The idea is to meet at the Starbucks on Hardin and Eldorado each Wednesday from 7-8:30 pm and discuss what we read that week.

So if you want to join us, you can pick up the book at multiple places online (or at a book store near you), but it is being sold at a discounted rate right now if you click here! If you choose to do so, you can also purchase the companion guide called Living and Leading from Your Holy Discontent by the same author. That book is not necessary though.

If you are in a place in your life where you want to be challenged to the next place with God to change the world around you - you should join this study! If you are looking for some time spent focusing on God - you should join us! If you just need a break from you life and some good coffee - you should join us!

If you can't join us in person, but would still like to go through the book study, I would love to get an online group together that meets via video chat. So you can be just about anywhere and still take part (you will have to bring your own coffee though!)

Please message me if you are "in" and get your book. I will put together an email list for the group and contact everyone with reading assignments for the first meeting. I look forward to growing with you all!

A Broken Record

2010-04-30T10:46:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, when I read other people's blogs, I feel like mine sounds like a broken record. I feel like the words I say are the same thing over and over again. Encouraging, challenging, admonishing... but all to the same end. Today in my bible reading I had a bit of an epiphany - God has given me a passion and it is out of that passion - I write.

If you know me, I am through and through - a worship leader! Try as I might, I could not find a succinct definition of what a worship leader is (they were all very long and would probably bore you), but if I tried to put words to it, it would be: a person who leads by example, with their lives, on and off stage to guide or encourage others in to the presence of the Almighty God. My happy place is being in the presence of the Lord. I LONG for others to have that experience as well and my heart weeps for those who have never experienced it or choose not to go to that place, for what ever reason.

So today, as I was reading in the Psalms, I decided that it is OK if the words I type on these pages have a theme to them. They reflect the theme of my life and what God is putting on my heart. Let's face it, I am not a very complicated girl. I'm kind of "what you see is what you get." My prayer is that somehow, God would use these words to not only work in my heart and change me, but He would do the same for you.

WOW - what a set up - this part better be good!

This morning I was reading Psalm 103, I encourage you to read the whole thing, but there were a couple parts that stood out to me. It begins:

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

When I think about my soul, I think about the very deepest part of me. It is not superficial, it not surface, it is not something that is easily brushed aside. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and ALL that is within me, bless His holy name!"

Moving down a few more verses it says this:

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Thank you Jesus, that you remember I am just dust. I am weak and frail and as much as I long to please Him, I fail. But His love for me is so very great, that when I come to Him in repentance from my very soul, He removes those failures as far as the east is from the west. One of my favorite lines from the new CD by my friend, Carlos Whittaker says, "I am the sum of failing and grace." So true. Thank God for His grace!

So, the broken record of a worship leader in me says WORSHIP HIM TODAY, with all that is within you. Bless His name for the grace He has shown you, bless His name for the transforming power of His love, bless His name for the gift of His son, and on and and on and on... If you are not in the place where you can do that, figure out why - and then move toward Him. Just don't go about your day without getting in touch with your very soul and seeing what it worships. It worships something - is it the right thing?

Get in to His presence and stay there!

Son of...

2010-04-29T09:42:00.000-05:00

Being adopted, genealogy has always been important to me. I have 2 - the adopted side and the biological side. Someday I will post that whole story here for you to read, but today I have other things on my mind. In my chronological Bible reading I am in 1 Chronicles at the moment and most of what I have been reading for the last week or so are lists of people. So and so the son of so and so then son of so and so, on and on it goes. You get it. One of the most interesting things about "the lists" is when it breaks off from the normal pattern and tells what this particular family of people were given to do. A lot of them were warriors, it tells whether some were archers or swordsmen. THEN you come to the Levites. They were in charge of the temple (or at that time - the tent of meeting) where the ark of the Lord was kept. In my simple mind - they were put in charge of the church building. Their sole job was to keep things functioning properly, provide assistance to the millions of Israelites who needed to come and give their various offerings and to minister to the Lord. No small task for sure!

For a long time I have been convinced that if you traced back my genealogy you would find that I am a Levite, though I am not completely sure which of my 2 lines you would find it in. 1 Chronicles seems to say quite a bit about the Levites and their duties compared to other people. I guess that is particularly interesting to me given my job at the church. Today in my reading I noted that it listed singers, priests and gatekeepers. If you want to see what their duties entailed you can read it in 1 Chron. 9. I find a lot of similarities between what they were called to do and our modern day worship, hospitality and facilities teams. Sufficed to say - they had a lot on their plates! Just like we do today. The running joke is that Sunday happens every 7 days, so when one is done - you move on to the next one.

Of course, to me (because I am one), the stand out was the singers. It says in verse 33 : Now these, the singers, the heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, were in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night. Contrary to what you may be thinking right now, I am NOT trying to use this as an excuse for all the singers reading this to get out of serving in other areas of ministry. LOL I just find it interesting that it says they were on duty 24/7. The music never stopped. They were constantly singing before the Lord (which is funny to me considering so many do not put that level of importance on music in the church today.) In my mind - that just put a whole different level of importance on what I have been called to do as a modern day Levite. Do I really consider myself "on duty" 24/7? Do I keep in the fore front of my mind the thing God created me for? I am giving Him all that He deserves when I come before Him? Am I doing it with the right heart motivation?

Lots of questions to be pondered as I prepare to lead others into His presence on a weekly basis (whether on the stage or off it!)

Everything thing the Lord has given someone to do is of importance. We all play a part. So, today, what ever YOU have been called to do to serve the Lord, and rest assured He has called you to something - think about how you are going about doing that and see if it might deserve to go to another level. He deserves nothing less than your very best. It is all for His glory!!

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1

Descriptors

2010-04-24T10:08:00.000-05:00

So, by way of update (if you have been following the blog), I am going strong on day 114 of reading chronologically through the Bible. It is actually a very cool way to do it because not only do I get the stories in order as they occurred (as much as possible), but YouVersion has this little box on one side of my page that keeps track of my progress. Today I am officially 31% done with reading the Bible through in a year. Being a big numbers girl, seeing that graph move, knowing that someone is keeping track of my progress gives me the accountability I need to keep going every day.

I have officially moved into the section of the Bible that is the "not so mind gripping" - the LISTS! Yesterday, in 1 Chronicles 1 & 2, I read the lists of people who had these sons, who had these sons, who had these sons and every once in a while a daughter was thrown in the mix (that is a whole separate blog post), etc. When reading through these lists, I noticed something. Occasionally, I would come across a name and there would be a descriptor there like:

The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. Cush fathered Nimrod. He was the first on earth to be a mighty man. A few more verses down it describes The son of Carmi: Achan, the troubler of Israel...

In reading 2 chapters, I came across a few more of these descriptors and it made me wonder "why did these particular people deserve the extra line in scripture?" Now, I am not a seminary grad and so I am sure this is probably not the correct answer to this question, but in my head, what makes sense is that they did something that made them stand out and was noteworthy. Some good, some not so good.

Then in today's reading I saw this in Psalm 87:6a The Lord records as he registers the peoples.

Humm... what is He recording about me? Daunting question! What is God recording about how I am living my life? What descriptors would I find behind my name in His record?

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have stumbled across a bit of a heated debate in one of my comment threads about social injustice. ( I so love stirring the pot!) At one point, commentators said something about it being all about "us and what we know" and "turning into a "who" is more prideful than the other." The funny thing is that I know all of these people and would not consider any of them prideful or self centered (and I certainly know of enough people who ARE to adequately compare!) I guess if anyone speaks from experience or tells others what they know or have done it can come off as prideful or self serving to some. We all get labeled with something by someone, even ourselves.

We use descriptors to tell people who we are in our profiles, people use descriptors to introduce us to someone new, God uses descriptors when He records things about me in His record book. The latter are really the only ones I care about. I just really pray that of all the things God records about my life, the good outweighs the bad, the action overshadows the apathy, the love outshines the hate, the passion overtakes the indifference. I won't always get it right - I just want to be moving in the right direction.

What will he record about you today?

Modern Day Slaves

2010-04-21T10:13:00.004-05:00

Did you know that today, April 21, 2010 there are more slaves in the world than ever before in human history. It is estimated that there are somewhere between 27 & 30 million slaves, but some counts are as high as 200 million. The most distressing fact is that 80% of those are women and children forced into some form of sexual slavery. 80%!!!

Last night I went to a advanced screening of a new documentary film done by a group of students (Artists for Abolition) at Texas A&M Commerce called Worth Fighting For. The event was compelling to say the least. To walk into the room and be confronted with girls behind a chain link fence holding signs with their age and how much it would cost you for an hour of "pleasure", all the while being explained the process by the "sales man" - well it was extremely unnerving! One of the most disturbing parts was that as the girls got younger - the price went up. It made me sick, especially since the girls portrayed were the same ages as my girls. I learned that 6 people are sold into slavery every 2 minutes. In the time it takes me to write this blog post, there will be about 60 more slaves on this planet, some as young as 4.

When the film began, there was not a sound in the room, except the occasional sound of tears being shed for those oppressed. One of the guys that helped create the film said something that will be burned into my memory forever (I HOPE!) He said that when he was confronted with the reality of this injustice in our world he wept. He went to his campus and laid face down with his open bible on the quad cement and cried out to God saying "Lord, I want someone to weep with me." He then felt God answer him by saying "I want someone to weep with me too."

I think we have become so callused to the injustice in our world that we forget that God weeps over it and he longs for someone to weep with him. It brought to mind a line form one of my favorite songs that says "Break my heart for what breaks Yours..." a line that in daily life is pushed to the back of my mind and replaced with my everyday, suburban to-do list. What on earth has happened to me that I have become so comfortable in my life that I forget that God weeps over the enslaved and the broken hearted and the lost?

Well, as I am still trying to process all of this and what it means for my future, I know one thing for sure - I have been changed at my very core and now I have a decision to make: Will I sit and let apathy kill me and others, or will I embrace this new adventure God seems to have put in front of me, let Him take the lead and just follow?

"For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns." - Psalm 12:5

An Ocean of Tears

2010-04-16T08:21:00.002-05:00

I LOVE this picture, which is really funny because I have a fear of water, but looking at this picture I feel a sense of calm and peace. There are many other pictures of the ocean that are anything but calm and peaceful. (Deadliest Catch anyone?) I think it is the rough sea and what is IN the sea that I fear. I don't know what it holds and it makes me afraid.

A few years ago, my husband and I were taken on a trip with his work to Mexico. It was a great trip! First one in our marriage that we didn't go with any kids YAY! They had all of our days planned out for us and one of the excursions they planned was on a large catamaran out into the ocean to go snorkeling. GULP!!! I seriously almost didn't go. I was to afraid. But after taking some dramamine I boarded the boat, knowing that God had my days numbered and if I was supposed to die in this ocean and I didn't go, then He would have me miraculously dropped in the middle of said ocean to fulfill His will for my life. Melodramatic - maybe! But I was scared and it helped me to rationalize it that way.

Anyway - I got on the boat and ended up having a really good day. The ocean was realatively calm and I even kind of fell in love with snorkeling (with the exception of scraping my legs up on a bunch of rocks and bleeding in to the water as I swam the 100 yards back to the boat fearing a shark attack! (No really - that part is true!) As much fear as I had of the unknown ocean, I conquered it and it felt really good. I would probably do it again.

Some ocean experiences don't end like that. I mean Titanic, Posiden Adventure, The Deep, JAWS. Ha! But seriously. I have heard stories of friend who have been on cruises that have hit rough sea and it was NOT fun. Not sure I ever want to go there. I am sure they didn't want to either, nor did they think that would be their experience when they set out on their adventure, but sometimes God has other things in store for us than what we have planned.

I thought of the ocean today as I was reading in Psalm 56. Verse 8 says this:

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

In my head, I tried to imagine a book that God keeps that has written down every time I (you, the whole world) tosses because we can't sleep due to life circumstances or are tossed to and fro by the "waves" we encounter. I also pictured a bottle big enough to hold every tear drop that has ever fallen from the eyes of the human beings He created and loves so much. That bottle must be bigger than any ocean I have ever seen. Some of those tears were cried in the middle of the tempest and some were cried in a calm respite, but He knows every one of them. That thought kind of blew my mind!

In life, there are no guarantees of what is to come. Right now my life feels somewhere in the middle of the two pictures posted here, but that could change in an instant. As I am writing this I think of many in all sorts of places - friends who have recently lost a baby, a daughter who is wading through the stress of college, a woman who for the first time in a long time is at peace in her life, a couple who is homeless and through all that stress is still seeing God's provision for their precious family, a couple awaiting the arrival of their new daughter, a husband and father who feels imprisoned by his job and yet fights through it every day for the ones he cares about, the young mother who is overwhelmed, a precious 6 yr. old and her family fighting her cancer, and one who is grateful for a year cancer free. The list could go on...

No matter what the sea of your life looks like today, or tomorrow, or the next day, or the next take these words of David to heart in Psalm 56:9b -10:

This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

This was written during a horrible time for David as he and his men were being hunted by King Saul. Yet he knew that God saw him, held every tear that he cried, counted every tossing and David trusted. God is in control of your life if you have given it to Him. He sees you. He knows you. He loves you!

And next time you see the ocean (stormy or calm), remember God has it all in the palm of His hand.

World Changers

2010-04-14T09:08:00.004-05:00

Over the last few weeks I have been increasingly challenged about what I am put on this earth for. The easy answer would be music. I love it! It is "in" me. But I think God is pushing me to go deeper than that. I guess one might say that I am dealing with a good old fashioned case of "Holy Discontent" as Bill Hybels calls it. What fuels the fire of my personal vision in life? Why am I here?

Most who know me would agree that I am a very passionate person. Usually when people describe me, they do not use "wimpy" adjectives. While in a way that can be a little off putting, I have chosen of late to embrace the intensity that God has put in my spirit and ask myself this question - "What am I supposed to do with that?" A coffee conversation the other day led to this verse:

If I say, "I will not mention him,

or speak any more in his name,"

there is in my heart as it were a burning fire

shut up in my bones,

and I am weary with holding it in,

and I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9

I think that just about fits where I am. I am feeling a "fire in my bones" and I can't seem to hold it in. I feel it swelling and at some point, will not be able to contain it. The issue I am wrestling with at this point is trying to identify what exactly is causing that fire. What is fueling it? What is it supposed to drive me to?

I know that I want what I do here on earth to REALLY matter for the Kingdom. I know that the fact that there are people hurting and suffering around the world every day that need the saving power of Jesus and yet - don't know him boggles my mind. I read one blogger who has just returned from Russia and Moldova doing a documentary on the sex trafficking over there. (check out Flowerdust HERE) I have a some friends who are getting ready to spend weeks in Uganda helping to relocate orphans to a new, safer home and trying to raise awareness of their need. (you can see what they are doing HERE) And still others picking up and flying to Honduras to help children who have no one else to help them. (more amazing photos of that HERE) The thing about all of these great "causes" (as some would term them) is that they are all connected to people! People who need to see the love of Jesus.

During my quite time today, this verse came to mind:

He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

That definitely strikes a chord with me. Not sure why quite yet, but I intend to find out. The plan? Glad you asked. I intend to jump in to Bill Hybels Book - Holy Discontent and pray for God to show me what is next.

If you are stirred by this and would like to join me going through the book, please let me know. I bet it would stir some great coffee conversations. But in the mean time you can check out a short check list to get you started HERE.

Where is God stirring you? How are you going to change the world for HIS Kingdom purpose? Even today, pray for opportunity to be a world changer. I guarantee if you look at life through that lens, someone's world will be changed every day. Even if it is just yours!

The Pea Shooter vs. The Bazooka

2010-04-12T09:24:00.000-05:00

I Samuel 17: 4 - 11

And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

It's a story most of us have heard. A young boy called from shepherding the sheep defeats the giant with only 5 stones and a sling shot. As I read this story afresh today in my bible reading time, I was struck again with the magnitude of what actually happened. Israel had been at war with the Philistines for a long time. Battle, after battle. Then comes the giant, Goliath. How much of a giant was he really that a whole army could be afraid to fight him? Glad you asked! Best estimate is that he was around 10 FEET TALL!! Now I have a friend that I sing with who makes all of us who stand next to him feel like he is a giant, but he is no where near 10 feet tall. I think the tallest guy I have ever know was 6'11" - and that is really tall. But 10 FEET! Whoa! No wonder all of Saul's men shied away at the prospect of being the one to defeat the champion of the Philistines.

So here's the cliff notes of the rest of the story - The war could be over by just one man defeating this giant of a man, but there were no takers, until David came along. His father sent him to give food to his brothers who were fighting in the army. While he was there, David hears about this giant and says he will be the one to go and fight him. Most everyone thinks he is nuts! Saul (the king) tries to outfit David with armor, which was to big for him to move in, so David went out to met Goliath with only his sling shot, his shepherd's staff and 5 small rocks he picked up in the stream on the way to the battle field. Goliath laughs at this boy who thinks he can defeat him. David shoots a rock into Goliath's head with his sling shot. Goliath goes down. David takes Goliath's sword and cuts off his head. End of story!

This got me thinking, why was David so confident that he would win against this 10 ft. tall seasoned warrior? Well, he had the God of the universe on his side and he knew it. Seemed like not much of a risk when you looked at it stacked that way. But so many times when I look at what life is throwing at me it can seem like I am looking in the face of a bazooka and I only have a pea shooter in my hand. So I asked myself this morning, what giants I am facing in my life and am I trusting the God of the universe, who is on my side to defeat them and I ask you to ponder the same question?

He doesn't ask us to come fully equipped. David certainly didn't. He didn't have experience. He didn't have armor or a sword, and for all those looking on didn't seem to have long to live(given the challenge ahead of him.) But God more than made up for where David was lacking and David knew He would!

God + David's willing heart + 5 small stones and a sling shot = victory against a giant long ago.

God + YOUR willing heart + the little you have to give = victory over what giants in your life today?

God IS faithful. God IS working in you today. God IS waiting and willing to fight your giants today. Will you let Him?

Swimming Up Stream?

2010-04-10T17:55:00.000-05:00

I was having coffee with a friend today and we were talking about growth in the Lord. We talked about how hard it can be to not conform to what many people's view of the Christian life is (going to church on Sunday and being like the world the rest of the week) and also how hard it can be to stay outside the "Christian bubble" we have made for ourselves and really effect change in the rest of the world around us who need Jesus.

Growing up in the church - I'm a PK (preachers kid), my tendency is always to immerse myself in all things Christian. Christian music, christian literature, christian movies, christian friends... It is easy that way, comfortable. And yet, I don't believe Jesus ever meant for the word "Christian" to become a adjective instead of a noun, and I certainly don't believe He ever said it would be easy to be one. Staying in side my little comfort bubble won't do much to bring other people to Him. As of late, I have been feeling an increasing burden to reach those who shy away from those so safely tucked in their Christian comfort zone. if my world is only the "bubble", how can I relate to those who want no part of it?

At some point in the conversation, I thought of the analogy of a Salmon swimming upstream. A salmon swims upstream for one reason and one reason only - to reproduce. I would imagine that they have to be very strong to make this journey. It is hard work and in the end - they give their very lives for the new lives that come from their struggle.

I feel like I am at a place in my Christianity that God is asking me if I am willing to put in the hard work for the new life that will come out of it. Am I willing to go against the flow? Am I willing to do what it takes to grow to a point that I am strong enough to endure the struggle that will come from the journey? I believe I am! I trust He will guide me along the way. It will not be easy, but in the end I pray that God uses my journey to produce lots of new lives that will go through the same process of reproducing themselves for His kingdom.

Controversy on Easter Sunday

2010-04-08T07:50:00.002-05:00

As most of you know, I am the Programming Director for my church - McKinney Fellowship. I love my job! I am tasked with designing services where people can commune with the living God. One of the best parts about working for my church is that we are a church who is not afraid to take risks to reach others for Christ. Having said that, with this job comes great joy but also great responsibility. What if I am not hearing from the Lord enough when I am designing the services week after week? What if I "miss it" or get "it" wrong when I think I am following promptings from Him? It is a bit challenging to say the least, but a challenge I gladly except.

This Easter was no exception. Easter has it's own special challenges every year and the extra pressure of knowing that we will have people come in the door who would never come to church on a "normal" Sunday. It is those people my heart is burdened most for. So, as many churches were already toiling away on their Easter plans many weeks out, I was still struggling with what God would have us do. Long story short, what came out of that toil and struggle was something that no one expected. A drama/music/video combination that left many speechless after it ended but wound up the topic of conversation for many hours after the service ended. If you would like to watch it you can find it here.

As expected, we got some less than stellar comments on the heavy nature with which we tackled these issues on Easter Sunday - which I will admit caused me to second guess if I heard the Lord correctly on this one. After all, Easter is supposed to be a celebration of the risen Savior. Had we possibly gone to far? But I am reminded that it is only a celebration for the ones who know Him, and as the stories of life change slowly begin to emerge, my spirit soars! Like the man does not know Christ and yet was so moved that we would "do that in church" that he not only was talking about it days after, but called his sister who lives some distance away to tell her about it so they can watch it again. The son who rarely attends church and is far from the Lord but came with a friend and talked about it all day with his precious mother. (He will surely never listen to Evanescence again and not remember this day!) And the stories of many who have issues that mirror those in the drama (including cutting and suicidal thoughts) who came forward to get help for their lives they feared were long dead and unsalvageable. I am certain there are many more that I may never have the privilege of hearing.

So today, as I think back on the weekend's events, I no longer fear the ones who would question if we (I) made the right call to do this controversial piece. I rest in the fact that Jesus was not afraid to offend and be radical to save the lost ones no one else could reach. It is His footsteps I choose to follow in and will continue to push the limits to reach the unreachable whose lives are broken and desperate for a touch from the Healer who makes dead things come alive again!

All glory to the Risen One!

Make a Statement

2010-03-29T07:38:00.006-05:00

So over the weekend, my daughter Jenna (an aspiring makeup artist and photographer) decided to turn my almost 12 year old, Kira, into a couture super model. She made her up in amazing face made up and, looking much older than she is, she was off to the photo shoot. After coming home and "working her magic" on some of the photos - I found this one. The caption is very fitting - don't you think? (and no - her hair was not that color, it is computer magic)

Today in my Chronological reading of the bible, I finished the book of Joshua. YAY! One of the verses in chapter 22 stuck out to me and seemed to be very fitting it says, And when they came to the region of the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of imposing size. Joshua 22:10. I know, you're thinking what in the world does that have to do with your baby getting made up like an emo child and getting her picture taken... The verse says " made an alter of imposing size." Based on the other things I have read about the journey of the children of Israel, this must have been some alter - cause they didn't do anything small.

In a nut shell the story goes like this: The children of Israel (12 tribes) were told God would give them the land of Canaan. 2 1/2 tribes decided they liked the land on the desert side of the Jordan river and asked for permission to have that land. God said "Yes, on one condition, all your men have to go to the other side and help fight for Canaan. Then you can return to your side." So that happened. they fought many battles and won and were finally allowed to return to their inheritance. So on their way home, on the Canaan side of the Jordan, they decided to build this "alter of imposing size". The other 9 1/2 tribes got freaked out when they saw it and thought the 2 1/2 tribes were turning to idols worship so they called them out. In actuality, the 2 1/2 tribes had built the alter to serve as a reminder to all their descendants and the descendants of the 9 1/2 tribes that they worship the same God and they should never forget that.

Not back to the picture of Kira. The caption says, "Don't be afraid to stand out." In this case, they went for broke. Funky makeup, flaming red hair, the whole thing! I am sure people took and will take notice when they see this picture. (I am already fielding comments of how I could let my 12 year old look like that, and would it bother me if she decided to dress like that every day.) The point I am trying to make here is that if we are going to take a stand for the Lord, GO BIG! Don't be afraid to look different than those around you. Make enough of a statement bout who you are in Christ that when they see you, they see and alter to the Lord of "imposing size", one that can not be shaken or toppled easily.

I hope that's what people see in my life when they look at me and I hope that for my children as well, makeup and fiery red hair and all! (and in case you're wondering - I LOVE the picture!)

Who Do You Think You Are?

2010-03-15T09:48:00.000-05:00

My favorite people in the bible are not usually those who had a firm grasp on who they were. They are the men and women who fill the pages who believe they are supposed to be one thing when God has a whole different thing in mind. He calls them to go above and beyond what they believe they are capable of and raises up gifts in them that allows them to be used for His mighty purpose. Here are just a few examples:

Noah - mild mannered husband and father - called to save the world by building a ginormous boat before the earth had ever seen rain.
Moses - speech challenged loaner/shepherd - called to bring God's chosen people out of the land of Egypt and lead literally millions into the promise land.
Gideon - unremarkable farmer - called to lead a VERY small army of men to defeat nations and once again free the Israelite people.
David - family sheep herder/youngest of the boys - called to defeat giants, become and mighty warrior, king of Israel and a man after God's own heart.
Ester - niece of a humble Jewish man - called to be a queen in a foreign land and save her people from annihilation.
Peter - lowly fisherman with plenty of "rough" edges - called to be a disciple of Christ, one of the 3 chosen to witness Christ's most personal events and catalyst for the beginning of Christianity as we know it.

The list could go on... The bible is actually full of examples of people who were not, on their own, equipped to do great things but through Christ in them - changed the world.

When I look at my life and the reality of who I am (smudges and all), I fall into the trap of believing that I will never be a world changer. I am not overly intelligent, I didn't go to college to study a specific trade, in fact - when I look in the mirror, I don't see anything remarkable at all. Until I ask God to reveal what HE sees in me...

You see, God sees things that He made us for that we can never have clear view of (there is probably good reason for that in most cases - fear, pride, other assorted distasteful traits.) With Christ in us, His power working through us, His mission on our minds and His vision on our hearts - we can all be world changers in some way.

Has He given you something to do that you feel ill-equipped for? Has he laid a vision on your heart that you just can't accomplish on your own? If the answer is "yes", you are right! You are ill-equipped and can't accomplish it on your own. So lean on Him and He will give you all you need. If you answer is "no", you may not be seeking Him enough for what He wants to accomplish in and through you. So go to it. Get alone with Him and let Him go to work transforming you into who He knows you can be.

How are you going to change the world today? It starts NOW!

Stubborness and Grace

2010-03-02T07:44:00.000-06:00

Today in my reading though the bible chronologically I am in the book of Numbers. It is the story of over 600,000 Israelites trying to make their way to the "promise land" of Canaan that God promised to them after He delivered them from Egypt. You really should read it yourself but here is the Spark Notes version....

People oppressed in Egypt and made to be slaves. They cry out to God to save them. He hears them and delivers them out of that horrible existence they were in. He leads them to the desert on the way to a land of their very own that He promised them. He feeds them and makes sure their clothes don't wear out. He provides wise leaders for them on their journey. He, Himself, is among them like no other time before or since. He shows them the fruit of the land they will inhabit. They get scared, cause they don't trust Him to conquer the people that already inhabit that land (they were really BIG!) 600,000 people get tired of waiting for someplace to call home. They get tired of not having meat and fish to eat. Wahh Wahh. Wahh......

The God of the Universe who has preformed countless miracles and lives among these people has promised them a land that has grapes so big 2 men have to carry them and was flowing with milk and honey. A land they should be eager to possess and yet they didn't trust Him to give them what He promised. Instead they chose to grumble and complain.

So, they made God a little hot under the collar and, amongst other things, were condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, until all the grumbling, ungrateful people were dead and the new generation were able to posses the land. Of all those people, only 2 (Joshua and Caleb) were allowed to live and enter the promiseland.

How much are we like the Israelites? How many times do we grumble and complain when we get wrapped up in the circumstances we can see around us and discount what God may have planned for us in the future. He gives us manna, but we want meat. He shows us the wonderful things He has for our future but we complain that it is just to hard and don't trust His plan to get us there.

After reading how God dealt with them, I am reminded afresh that He is WAY BIGGER than we allow Him to be in our minds and in our lives most of the time. He is God and deserves not only our love but our awe, respect and even fear. I mean, He got so fed up with the complaining that He just sent fire down from heaven and burned people up. Nuff said!

So, today I am thankful for Jesus and His sacrifice for me on the cross and the grace that that provided for me when I am grumbling and complaining about my circumstances. If not for Jesus, I would have probably been burned up with fire a long time ago!

So even as I find myself through deserts of my own making due to poor choices, I give thanks for God's love and provision for me. I ask Him to teach me what I need to learn and trust that He will take me to the place He has laid out for my future and will conquer any giants that stand in the way through His power and might.

How about you?

Numbered Days

2010-02-23T07:23:00.000-06:00

I am a blog stalker. I enjoy following people's lives by reading what they write about their experiences. I guess it's like being able to get in to a whole bunch of reality TV shows without being glued to the TV. So, right now, I am following the blogs of several godly people who are dealing with cancer. One a close friend of mine (and her husband) who has just been declared in remission from lymphoma and two, that I don't know but feel like I do, that have various types of brain cancer, one a sweet 6 year old girl and the other a prominent pastor. Here are links if you would like to follow them as well (Milton & Karen Carroll, Kate McRae, and Matt Chandler)

The thing that is striking to me in all of these situations is how much these people cling to God during this trial in their lives. It seems to being a new closeness that is not there (or not as up front) when life is "normal." They cling to Him. They find that He is truly the only thing in life that is sure.

So this morning as I was reading the blogs, Matt said something that struck me. He talked about how some of the people he knows who have dealt with cancer and been healed sometimes wish they could regain that closeness and dependency on God they felt in the height of their need. He said as people regain their health and their self-sufficiency they tend to lose a little (or maybe a lot) of that.

Psalm 90:12 says "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

In reality, we are no different from any of the people who have touched the lives of so many by sharing their trials. Our days are numbered by the Lord, just the same as theirs are. They just have a diagnosis that brings it to the forefront. So why don't we live like they do, in total reliance and dependence on the Lord, drawing close to Him as our only strength to make it through each day?

I so need to remember each and every day that I am not promised tomorrow. My days are numbered. I need to be fully living my life for Him and not wasting one moment. So today I am asking what plans He has for me and tomorrow I want to do the same. I pray that God will use me up for His plans and purposes today. I want to make today "count"!

So today, ask Him to show you what He needs you to do today. Your days are numbered too. Don't waste a single moment.

Priests, Alters and Blood - Oh My!

2010-02-18T06:18:00.000-06:00

Oh My is kind of an understatement! In my daily bible reading plan I am reading chronologically through the Bible and am in Leviticus right now. Talk about a book that is hard to grasp. It is full of rules and regulations that God gave to the children of Israel while they were in the desert headed to the promise land.

Right now I am in the middle of the book, and it struck me this morning how incredibly hard the job of a priest was during that time. I think for some reason we have this view in our minds (at least I do in mine) of a guy in a robe walking around a church, facilitating services and hearing confessions (among other things.) But back then, it was much more than my small view. I won't go into all 19 chapters worth of rules with you, feel free to read them on your own, but sufficed to say there were lots of them. Things he had to do to keep himself "clean" before the Lord, to atone for his sins, and things he had to do to help the people atone for theirs.

I think what struck me most as I read this morning is the sheer magnitude of the blood that he had to deal with. There were approx. 6 MILLION Israelites and sacrifices that had to be made for each one of them. These sacrifices usually involved some sort of animal being killed, dismembered and various parts of it being handled in various ways (buried, burned, eaten, etc.) But it was the blood of these animals that struck me most. In a lot of the cases the blood of the animals was thrown up against the side of the alter. Shocking enough to picture it being done for one animal - one sacrifice, but imagine millions! Imagine the priest was was responsible for doing all that day in and day out for the people God put under his care. What a difficult, messy job he was given.

In Lev. 17:14 it says "For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life". Symbolism there is amazing. We all know that we can't live without our blood. God had them sacrifice these animals and use there blood as an atonement for their sin so that they could live in the presence of a holy God.

Now, we are no longer required to bring the family ram to the tent of meeting to being slaughtered to cover our sins so that we can be in the presence of the Lord. Jesus made that sacrifice for us once and for all by shedding His blood on the cross to cover our sins before God. The final, ultimate blood offering. And all I can do is thank Him for that sacrifice because His blood not only saved my life, but it saved me from a lot of unpleasantry regarding animal sacrifice. YUCK!

But going back to the priests for a minute, I believe that in some ways the "modern day priests" have just as difficult a job. Now before you get all hung up on the fact that we are all "priests" according to the new covenant - I know that! My point is those that have been called into vocational ministry still have a very difficult job. They still have to deal with peoples YUCK every day and are held to a standard of rules and regulations (whether real or perceived) that is higher than most - living under a microscope, if you will.

So today, stop and pray for the ministers in your local church. Pray that God would hold them up and give them strength to do the job He has given them, no matter how difficult, no matter how much YUCK. Pray that they would fully rely on Him and that His peace and blessing would fill their lives as they go about their work.

Who you callin' a missionary?

2010-02-12T07:14:00.000-06:00

missionary

-noun Also, missioner
1. a person sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities, as educational or hospital work.
2. a person strongly in favor of a program, set of principles, etc. who attempts to persuade to convert others.
3. a person who is sent on a mission.

Does what comes to your mind when you hear the word 'missionary' match the definition given?

For a long time when I thought of the word missionary, i thought of only people who would go to a foreign country to spread the word about Jesus to those they met there. Brave saints of Christendom who devoted their lives to people groups who had never heard about the transforming love of Christ. People who uproot their lives and dive in to new cultures and learn new languages and strange customs to further the kingdom. People that are NOT ME!

I do not feel, like most of you, that I have been called to spend my life in another country for Christ on a permanent basis. However, spending the last 5 days with people who HAVE been called to that changed my perspective just a bit.

I spent time talking and getting to know the ones who are so faithfully serving here in China, a closed, communist country where you can not worship freely or speak the name of Jesus without running the risk of being asked to leave the country by the government.

They do uproot their lives and have been called to immerse themselves in culture that is very different than ours. The spend years learning to speak, read and write the language. They eat things that we spoiled Americans would discard easily as trash. But they form relationships with the people that God places in their paths and pray that God will open a door for them to talk about their faith in hopes that the ones they have given their lives to will spend eternity with Christ.

I heard someone on our trip saying that they "feel like they don't have the right to sit at the same table as these people." He honored their devotion and (it seemed to me) viewed what they are doing as a "higher calling" than his. Now, he may not have been meaning that at all, but I think that many of us think that way.

We live in our posh society in our comfortable houses with things that we have come to take for granted as normal but other would consider an unobtainable luxury (things like heaters and carpet and whole wheat bread.) Sacrifice in "missionary terms" is not in our frame of reference. And yet, I feel that we somehow have missed what God is asking of us.

I am more convinced than ever that we are not that much different than the missionaries I was so blessed to get to know. We have all been called to immerse ourselves in the culture around us. To build relationships in hopes that we will have the chance to share the love of Christ with those that are lost. The main difference that I see is that we have not heard the call, or if we have - we have chosen to ignore it.

If you are a believer, you have been given the best gift ever - the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. If you believe that - how could you keep it to yourself? We don't have to learn a new language or eat strange food, or leave our families or our posh lifestyles. We just have to get past ourselves and our fear (let's call it what it is) and be the missionaries God has called us to be.

Are you up for the challenge? Go and be a missionary in your world today!

Funny Thing about Agendas

2010-02-09T03:10:00.000-06:00

So, picture this very well planned out schedule...

conference 2008
conference day 1 - 3 hours of worship and prayer
conference day 2 - session 1 and video

went really well, so they decided to do it again with a couple changes...

conference 2010
conference day 1 - session 1 and video
conference day 2 - 3 hours of prayer and worship

so, here's how that turned out...

video that was supposed to be shown on day 1 delayed by UPS and could not be shown till day 2, so 3 hours of prayer and worship got moved to day 1 instead. Caused a bit of scurrying on our part and a really late night, but all was well and He was glorified.

conclusion...

our agenda had better start with Him or you better be prepared to shift because He will make sure we get on to His agenda, even if it causes some inconvenience in the process.

To Post or Not To Post

2010-02-06T18:15:00.000-06:00

Interesting thing going on. Yet another first for me. I am having a difficult time posting anything like I would normally write in my blog posts. So, for the time being if you want to follow what is going on here, follow me on face book or twitter. My twitter posts will come up on the side of my blog. I will posts several entries when I get back into the states. Stay tuned...

A Sea of Different Faces

2010-02-05T19:53:00.000-06:00

This post was done in Hong Kong but would not post while I was there)

Have you ever had the feeling that you just stand out from everyone else - you are just different?
You just can't fit in no matter how hard you try? I have had this experience two times in my life, both on trips to lead music. When you go to another country it becomes almost painfully apparent that you are not like others around you. You look different, you talk different, it is difficult to communicate and the culture is something that is hard to understand. People look at you funny and make you wonder what they are really thinking about you. Not a very comfortable feeling.

It makes me wonder if jsus had that same feeling when he came to earth. He was so "not like" the people that surrounded him. He was perfection and he stepped in to a wholly un-perfect world. And while he looked like us and talked like us, the whole experience had to be foreign to him, uncomfortable even. Yet he was obedient to his calling to come. To be in the world and not of the world.

As uncomfortable and hard as it may be, we are called to do the same thing in our world. To be in it and not of it. To "look" different than the ones who surround us. To stand out. To speak a different language. To know the culture but not be so familiar with it that it consumes us. To be like him.

So today, ponder this... How different do you look to those you come in contact with? Do they even see a difference the way you are from the way they are? Do you "blend" to much? My hope for you is that you are uncomfortably different from those around you and that you learn to embrace that and live it well.

Unqualified on Holy Ground

2010-01-30T16:41:00.000-06:00

So, being the curious one that I am, I have always been intrigued by the passage in Exodus 3&4 where God and Moses are having a little chat (via burning bush) and God tells Moses to take off his sandals because he is standing on holy ground. I am not sure I would still be standing after being addressed by a burning bush, but if I was, I would certainly obey!

I haven't done a whole bunch of research on this request, but what I do know is that some scholars believe in ancient times, people used to take off their shoes as a sign of reverence, so as not to bring in the "yuck" from the outside world into a sacred space. Some also think it was a sign of submission since many slaves did not wear shoes. What ever the reason, Moses obeyed - knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was in the presence of the living God. He was looking upon holiness and he did not measure up.

So God and Moses have this conversation. God let's Moses know that He has heard the cried of the Israelites, enslaved by the Egyptians and He is ready to make a move. Just one problem, God was asking Moses to do something he felt totally unqualified for - to go before the Pharaoh of Egypt and ask for the release of his people. (You really should read the whole thing - it is great! Exodus 3 & 4)

I am keenly aware of what Moses must have been feeling during this encounter. Every time I stop long enough to put God in His rightful place in my life and myself in mine, I am aware how much I don't measure up. When I lead worship in more "relaxed" settings, I prefer to do so without shoes to remind myself whose presence I am entering. And, like Moses, I am awed by the fact that the Creator of the Universe has chosen me and set me apart for a special purpose, one that I am most certainly unqualified for on my own. Thankfully, He promises to be with me so I don't have to do it in my own power because I would surely fail!

What makes me sad, is that it seems that most people have no real sense of God's holiness or how honored they should be to be able to have a relationship with Him. They check off church on Sunday mornings like something on a To Do List. They come to worship unprepared to be in the presence of the Lord and not expecting much from their time with Him.

Someday, I will ask Moses about his experience with that bush, but until then I am sure of one thing, he would say that he left that place a changed man. How can anyone be in the presence of the Holy God and not be different from when they entered it?

So as you prepare for checking off church tomorrow, think about this - the Holy God is calling out your name and He wants you to come into His presence so He can talk with you. Will you go in humble reverence? Will you stand in awe of Him? Will you be prepared to hear what He has to say? Will you accept the job He has for you, knowing you will not be alone and that He will guide you and give you the strength to do it?

Come - expecting to be changed!

Name Change & Tattoos

2010-01-23T10:49:00.000-06:00

I have been talking about getting a tattoo for years. My kids think I never will. I am still undecided, I guess just not sure I want to make that "rest of your life" kind of commitment to art. I don't really know what that says about me, maybe that I am non-committal or a number of other words people could attach to me because of my actions. I am not sure really like that idea very much. Being labeled because of my actions - hummm... But in reality, that happens to all of us every day. People look at us and our actions, sometimes without having all the information and they assign us a word. Most of the time we will never know what those words are and that is probably good, because I imagine I wouldn't be proud to be labeled with some of them!

This morning I was reading one of the blogs I have on my favorites list and came across an amazing story of a writer who is writing a book but not on paper. She is finding volunteers who are "accepted" into her project and get assigned a word (they have no control over what word they get) and then have it tattooed on their bodies, photographed and logged into the "living book." They are from that point on, not known by their name but by the word they were assigned. If you would like to read the blog and see the short film - click here. But promise to come back.

Now, I am not sure I am brave enough to let someone choose a word, seemingly at random, and tattoo it on my body only to be known by that forever. I think if I am going to be known by something, I would rather have a say in it. I guess maybe that is why I am having such a hard time committing to a tattoo. I am afraid I will pick the wrong thing and at some point in the future - it will cease to define me, and yet will linger as a reminder of what I thought I am.

In Isaiah 62, it talks about receiving a new name that is given directly by the Lord. Take a look:

2The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

Oh, that I could have a preview to the name that God has for me. I know he has one. I just pray that it is one I can be proud to carry for eternity because He finds my faithful to Him and the call He has on my life. I would proudly wear that one tattooed on my body! (in a small discreet way of course)

So what about you? What names do people label you with by viewing your actions? What name do you label yourself with? What name will He give to you and will be be able to wear it proudly?

And on a side note - tattoo or no tattoo? :o)

Stand Up and Take It LIke a Man!

2010-01-14T08:05:00.000-06:00

I seriously think that Job is my favorite book in the bible. I know, strange choice, but hear me out. Here is this guy who is prosperous on every front of his life. He has money, land and great family. He is looked up to by others in his community. He is an honored man. So much so that Satan begs God to let him mess with Job to see if he is a righteous as everyone thinks he is. Satan's bet is that Job will curse God so he can just die. So, God says "Sure, go ahead. I have faith in my man Job. Do what you will." And off Satan goes to systematically tear apart Job's life one layer at a time. He lost everything (literally!)

Now through all of this, I would say that Job had a very human reaction (understandable in view of what he was facing - I would be right there too.) Actually he had quite the pity party. He didn't curse God. Oh, but he did question him! A LOT! So, here's where it gets good. Around chapter 38, God gets a little sick of the "Oh woe is me" attitude and comes down to have a little chat with Job - from inside a tornado! Hello!! Did you get that part? From inside a tornado!!!!! I think that might have been enough to snap me out of it right there, but God says...

2"Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.

I love that! Brace yourself like a man! We're gonna have a little talk. So, God proceeds to ask Job a series of questions. You really need to read the whole thing, but I will put a few of my favorites here to wet your appetite...

4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
8 "Who kept the sea inside its boundaries
as it burst from the womb,
9 and as I clothed it with clouds
and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10 For I locked it behind barred gates,
limiting its shores.
11 I said, `This far and no farther will you come.
Here your proud waves must stop!'
12 "Have you ever commanded the morning to appear
and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
18 Do you realize the extent of the earth?
Tell me about it if you know!
19 "Where does light come from,
and where does darkness go?
20 Can you take each to its home?
Do you know how to get there?
21 But of course you know all this!
For you were born before it was all created,
and you are so very experienced!

OK - I really must stop. But this kind of amazing question (and definite lack of answering) goes on for 2 chapters. Then, in chapter 40 God says,

2 "Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?"

Job replies with the only thing one could reply with after that... "I got nothin to say!" So, God continues his little question session for ANOTHER 2 chapters and finally (I guess he figured Job had finally gotten the point - thick headed human!) he stops. And Job's reply is where I want my attitude to dwell forever, take a look...

2 "I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
3 You asked, `Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?'
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
4 You said, `Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.'
5 I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

"Before I had heard about you, but now I have seen you with my own eyes!" How much of our time is spent just "hearing" about the things of God and rushing past them in our busy day? Have we really seen Him? I mean gotten a real good, up close, "Jobesque" view of Him?

Every time I read these chapters I am impassioned again to really see God for who He is and then live accordingly. I know I am only scratching the surface on that in my life, but I long to do better. I want to SEE HIM and KNOW HIM so well that the over flow of that would drive others to search out and find the same. It is only then that our lives have true meaning.

So today, my challenge to you is to "Stand up and take it like a man!" Read through these last chapters of Job and let God ask you the same questions. I bet you will join me in echoing Job's response at the end of it. I pray that you will see and know the magnitude of the God that created you for a purpose and loves you more than you will ever know!

Worship - On Earth as It is in Heaven...

2010-01-12T18:47:00.000-06:00

We (McKinney Fellowship) are getting ready to begin a series called The Apocalypse which is a study of the entire book of Revelation. So, I am waist deep in planning services for that series. What a book to foster creative ideas for services!! I am loving it. (If you are a McFBC'r, just a heads up... You won't want to miss any of the 10 weeks! You never know what you're gonna get.)

Today I am working on the service for Revelation 4 & 5, which is the description of the Throne room in heaven and the worship that goes on there. What a scene that is. The colors, the sounds, the creatures, the worship. AMAZING! Here is an excerpt.

Rev. 4:2-8
2At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!

If you have never read the rest of those 2 chapters, I encourage you to do so. I really never tire of reading them over and over. It gives me such hope for what is to come.

As I was reading and looking for music written from the verses in these chapters it occurred to me afresh that this is not a scene that was made up by John or something that will take place in the future. It is happening right now. 24/7/365 All the time these creatures with wings and eyes all over themselves and the elders with their crowns and the thunder and lightening and sea of glass making all of this envelop those in it... it is happening right now, as you are reading this and will continue to repeat itself after you finish. Over and over and over and over into infinity.

The are songs that we sing in church on occasion that are written from the words found here. Agnus Dei, Revelation Song, Holy Holy Holy, and several more. All of these songs always seem to "just work" when we sing them. People engage, they worship. Why is that? What is it about these songs that enable people to worship more fully than with some other songs? Want my theory? (Sorry if you said "no", it's my blog - you're going to get it anyway.) I believe they work because we are joining with heaven in worship of the Holy God that is already going on, has always gone on and will always go on . For just a moment in time, it is on earth as it is in heaven. What a thought that is. I almost can't wrap my mind around it.

I so long for the day I can be in that place forever. Worshipping with every ounce of all I am . So for now, I settle for getting as close to that as I can as often as I can for as long as I can. How about you? When is the last time you entered in to the throne room and spent so time casting your crowns down and worshipping your maker? Join me - won't you? Click here, close you eyes and just worship!

The Power of Social Media

2010-01-08T07:51:00.000-06:00

Yesterday a friend to me I have been a "blogging fool" lately. I guess he was correct. It seems that God is re-igniting within me the desire to speak the things he is laying on my heart. I have wondered (and been asked by many) for the last 4 years or so why I have not written any songs. My answer has been that it seemed to me God had put that part of me to sleep for a while. I am not sure why, but I think it has been awakened but not to write songs - I have tried, they are not very good! I think God has awakened it to write this blog and share what He is saying to me using the social media outlets available.

Last night I missed a very powerful experience via the Internet and my heart breaks that I could not be there (funny to even say "be" there since it was taking place virtually.) My friend and mentor, Carlos Whittaker (http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com) held an on line prayer service. I have taken part in one of them before and it is amazing. We spent 3 hours praying for requests that had been sent in via twitter, facebook and tokbox (so we could see Carlos.) I could have prayed another 3 hours I think.

Well last night, he and some others organized a prayer vigil for a little girl named Kate McRae who is suffering from brain cancer. I have been following this blog for the last 6 months and it has deeply affected me. (www.prayforkate.com) Yesterday, Kate and her family received news that her tumor was not gone after months of treatment. I can not imagine the devastation they must feel. But the CHURCH united from across the world to pray for this little girl and her family in a way that will not soon be forgotten. People were asked to stretch out their hands to their computers to cover this hurting family and lift them up to Jesus - the Great Physician. The picture above is a capture of multiple screen shots.

This morning I in my reading plan, I continued through the book of Job. How this family must be able to identify with this book. The difference is that instead of being shunned by people and chastised by friends for the sin that MUST be present for such a thing to happen (like Job), this family is being lifted up by literally millions of people that they do not know. I am sure that what took place last night warmed the heart of God.

So, this morning, in going through my 21 Days of Prayer guide on You Version (youversion.com), I came across this verse that I will commit to memory:
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

This verse renewed my passion to write about the knowledge of Him. My Jesus. My Savior. The one who heals lives. I want to spread the fragrance of knowing him to everyone who will listen. May it smell sweet and draw others to Him.

I might just hold a online prayer vigil myself. Want to join me? Leave me a comment so I will know who to contact about it!

Job, Prayer and Avatar

2010-01-06T07:32:00.000-06:00

Yes, in my mind these things have a connection. Let me try to connect the dots for you. Read on...

Today in my bible reading I read in Job 11:7-9 these words said by Job's friend Zophar: "Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven--what can you do? Deeper than Sheol--what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea."

I continually resonate with this way of thinking. Who am I to think I can even scratch the surface of understanding God? (Zophar goes on to say that "even a wise man will only understand God when a donkey colt is born as a man." He's one funny guy!) But back to the point, I can't hope to understand the ways and thoughts of God without His revelation of that to me. And I can't hope to gain any kind of revelation without a relationship with Him. I can't build relationship with Him if I don't communicate with Him and that can't be done without prayer.

Now here is where Avatar comes in. Late in the movie the main character, Jake Sully, goes to the god of the people he is among and endeavors to communicate with this god he does not know. (Prayer) He even starts out his conversation by saying "I'm probably just talking to a tree right now, but I have to try, so here goes." He then, with no particular form or fancy words, makes his petition to their god. (SPOILER ALERT) At the end of the movie it becomes very evident that Jake's prayers were answered and his understanding of his new god grows and the battle is won.

How like Jake Sully are we at times. Struggling to communicate with something we can not possibly understand because it is beyond us in our humanness. And yet, we push forward and press in because we know that it is what is needed to gain understanding and build relationship.

So today, I renew my resolve to push forward and press in to the one true God. The one who really hears and answers prayers. The one who goes before me and wins battles. I desire my understanding of who He is to increase everyday, so I read His word and I talk to him "without ceasing" with no particular grace of formality and yet with enough understanding of Him to have a proper fear and reverence.

Lord, make yourself known to me in new and mighty ways today so that I am able to make You known to those around me. Increase my understanding of who You are. Cause me to yearn to be in communication with You all the time. Open my eyes to see the tiniest ways You are at work today and every day and help me to be able to join you in that work. Let me not get so busy with my "to-do" list that I miss the seemingly small yet amazing ways you reveal yourself to us.

So, have you read about Him today? Have you talked with Him today? Take some time and do it now. It really will make the rest of your day work a lot better!!! And feel free to join me for the next 21 days, praying for His mission. Get more info here: http://www.mckinneyfellowship.org/make-a-difference/prayer/21-days-of-prayer/

Thoughts from the book of Job

2010-01-03T19:35:00.000-06:00

So this year I decided to read through the Chronological bible reading plan. Something I have never done before is always good! Today's reading plunged me in to the book of Job. I know the story well, but in reading it afresh, something popped up that I had not seen before. It said that Job's kids got together and had a lot of parties and when they were done with each round of partying, Job would consecrate them before the Lord - "And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus Job did continually."

Interesting to me that Job would bring offerings before the lord for the actions of his children. I guess in the old testament, offering sacrifices on behalf of others was acceptable - even common practice.

Anyone want to comment on that? Anyone who knows more about it than I do?

Maybe it is no different that Jesus being offered up on our behalf. Thank God for His sacrifice for my sin.

Sometimes there are just no words...

2010-01-02T20:07:00.001-06:00

Tonight I am using this blog to process. I just finished watching a movie that I can't quite wrap my had around, "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." If you have not seen it, I will try not to fill this with "spoilers", but I can't promise totally.

In short, the movie is about a family whose father is a Commandant in Hitler's army and is put in charge of one of the concentration camps during the war. The son (Bruno) is a self proclaimed adventurer and when exploring stumbles across the barbed wired, electric fence that keeps the people in the camp. He makes friends with a boy his age and visits him on multiple occasions. The movie depicts the harsh reality of a part of war we all wish to forget about and the sweet innocence of childhood to quickly lost.

I began to think about all the horrible things that went on during that war and how many people just turned their heads to it all or worse yet, thought they were doing the "right thing." It seems almost incomprehensible to think about the atrocities that were committed against the Jewish race during that time. And yet, to God, what happened then is really no worse than any sin I commit on a daily basis. Watching that movie gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and it made me think about how sick my sin must make God.

Viewing my sin through that lens makes me so thankful for God's grace. I can only say that this was a fresh reminder of who I am without Christ and who I am becoming in Him. Thank you Lord!

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24