Expectancy

Have you ever felt like something is about to happen that is really awesome?  

I've been having that feeling lately, and I've been praying about what God has for me. 

If you'd like to share your story of something awesome that God brought you, we'd love to hear it!


Expect a Miracle - Live in the Expectant Hope of Jesus - Love Boldly!

Together we Pray

There certainly is a time for Men and Woman to pray together (esp. marriages, families, small groups), but there's no substitute for Women regularly praying with and for other women and men praying with and for other men.

When women get together they talk their own language, in their own way.  Communication abounds.  Subjects shift back and forth and new ideas erupt all the time.  The same thing happens with prayer.  Women pray, just like they think. 

The Holy Spirit gets that, and utilizes their strength.

The same is true of men.  Men with other men speak their own language.  Fewer words, usually choosing a subject and staying with it until it's exhausted.  Then they move on to the next subject.  Men pray in the same way...just like they think.

The Holy Spirit gets that, and utilizes their strength.

Both are needed and important. 

It's also one of the biggest blessings God gives!

Thanks, God for making us different and giving us others that are like "us".

Timeline of God's Love

Fifty years ago I thought Jesus was the most awesome friend I've ever had and I knew he loved me because I was special to him.

Forty years ago I thought Jesus was cool and hoped he loved me even when I was bad.

Thirty years ago I thought that God loved me only when I was truly penitent and prayed really hard for forgiveness. 

Twenty years ago I thought that God loved me and helped me to be truly penitent and pray hard for forgiveness.

Ten years ago I thought that God loved me but I didn't understand why there was suffering.

Today, because I've made mistakes, I learned that Jesus loves ME.  My mistakes are part of me.  I am human.  I've learned to live with my failures. 

Today, because I suffered, I learned that God suffered WITH me because he loves me. 

Today, God pursues me, pursues you...just wants you to receive His love. 

Stop long enough to receive His love.  Be yourself with God.  Let God suffer with you.

Know that He loves you.

Bad to Good

Isn't it strange that as time passes the worst of times often become the best of times?

When my kids were growing up, we had some doozie vacations!  It was almost as if anything that could go wrong, did.  We endured everything from a child being extremely ill, to being washed away in a tent, to a car catching on fire, to waking up completely frozen on the 4th of July! 

At the time I thought, "God can't we just have a normal vacation without any mishaps?"

As the years wore on though, the joke became, "what's going to happen this time?"

Know what else happened?

Those stories are the ones we tell over and over again and we laugh uncontrollably!

Turns out, the stuff I thought was a curse turned into the biggest blessing of all.  Those were the times that made us unique - family - connected.  We experienced those things together and we survived. 

Now, those are the very stories my kids tell to their kids.  Ironic, huh?
It's just like God to turn something bad into something very good!

Hard Times

I've had my share of hard times, I suppose like about everyone else.  I've miscarried a child (not the same as losing a child, but difficult none the less).  I've not had much money but have always known where my next meal is coming from.  I've raised 4 teenagers.  Enough said there.

I've lost everything (my home, my friends, people who had been family, and my church) and I had to start over and re-built again.  I've had dreams crushed - smushed dead - and I after I felt so lost I didn't know what to do except cry for months.  Eventually I was able to stop crying and I told God "it's all yours". 

I've been gossiped about - persecuted - left out - and have been told I'm not forgiven when I tried to reconcile with someone. 

I've been so confused about what God wants me to do that I didn't know what to think.  I've wondered if I'll ever know.  I've prayed and prayed for years for different things and when the answer came it wasn't at all what I expected. 

I've been miserable in jobs and have had to leave (move away) from jobs I loved.  

Why am I telling you all this?  Well, it's because I can't stand it when people talk about how fabulous and fun the Christian life is.  They make it sound like fairy tale land.  I want you to know walking this narrow road is no fairy tale.  It's real life. 

I also want you to know that I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I want you to know that in the middle of all of my crushed dreams and losses, God has been right there with me...holding me.  God suffers with me.

I used to think when the author of  James talked about being joyful when trials come that I was supposed to suck it up and say, "Praise the Lord anyway." That never felt right to me.  It felt fake.

What I've learned (the hard way) is that God's not fake.  Jesus is real.  He understands suffering.  But, he also knows the resurrection.  What I've learned is that when I am in the middle of a trial it is God who raises me up.  It's God who holds onto me.  It's God who is faithful and because I've suffered, I know God in a deeper way.  I wouldn't trade that for anything. Ever.  I would go through every trial again (if need be) to be closer to God. 

He is my sustainer.  My shepherd.  My way.  Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Self-Control. 

I am not those things - HE is. 

Hard times are no picnic, but they are worth it because it's where Jesus holds you ever so close. 

Heaven's Joy

Once when I was studying spiritual disciplines I did some research on the discipline of "joy".  I found a list of movie that explored the discipline of joy and I rented one of the movies on the list.

The movie, "Spit Fire Grill" was about a young girl who had just been released from prison and she showed up at the Spit Fire Grill because she needed a job.  This girl was rough, outspoken, crass, and she boldly loved everyone she met.  It didn't take long for her to change things at the Spit Fire Grill. 

I don't want to give away the whole story, but in the end she helped to make the dream of the Spit Fire Grill come true. 

After the movie was over I was confused and wondered why this movie was classified as 'joyful'. 

It took a while but I finally realized that joy often emerges AS we suffer.  When we break through our suffering (and stop focusing on ourselves) we find the joy of really loving and serving others. 

Before that can happen, we have to let go of our own agendas.  When we do that a miracle happens and we let God take over. 

It's the greatest "space" we can occupy.  That's where heaven steps into our everyday lives!

Story of Forgiving

I think the best story of forgiveness I've heard or read was from Corrie Ten Boom's book, Tramp for the Lord.

Corrie was in a concentration camp during World War II and one of the guards was brutal to her sister, who died in the concentration camp.

Years after in a meeting where Corrie was telling her story to an audience in Germany, at the end of the meeting the guard who had brutalized her sister came forward and extended his hand to Corrie.  She knew she could not forgive him, but she also knew that God had the power to give her what she needed to forgive.  She turned to God and in her heart yielded to Him and she agreed to forgive. In that moment she didn't want to forgive the guard but she agreed to forgive.

The truth is, forgiveness is not a feeling...it's a choice.

Calling Us Back

The day I realized I have been looking at forgiveness backwards was a red letter day for me.

I was trying to write about forgiveness, and in the process I had to think about how God forgives me.  As I thought about it, I realized that it isn't about me being moral and realizing I sinned (that's what I've always believed). 

Instead sin happens when I turn from God, take my eyes off of what is holy and I turn away.  God is always pursuing me and wants me to turn to him.  When I look away, all I need to do is to turn back and run into Papa's arms again. 

Now, because I'm human God knows I'm going to turn away again and again, and He's always there urging me to turn back. 

With His love, he pursues me and desires that I would come back. 

Calling us...wooing us back.

Fire Alarms

God knows that I am adventurous and visual, and that means that while I’m usually up for a challenge, I sometimes need object lessons with instructions.

Especially when it comes to listening.

Case in point: 

#1  Monday morning 4:19a fire alarm blaring.  I jumped up and at first I thought it was my smoke detector, but then I realized it was too loud.  Okay, so it’s the building alarm.  I threw on some clothes and thought, “If there really is a fire what should I grab?” 

I chose my laptop and my iphone.  Once outside I realized, “I forgot my ipad!”

After I’d been outside for a while I thought about all of the things I really should have grabbed…kids’ pictures and other family items.  “Obviously I should have made better choices…”

Several of my neighbors were already outside, but nobody knew what was going on.  Then we heard a fire trucks – then another.  The firemen checked everything and decided it was a okay now.  I got back inside and had just a few minutes to sit before I needed to get up.

Well, that was quite an adventure.  I got to talk to my neighbors, so that was cool.

#2  Tuesday morning 4:37a fire alarm blaring.  I opened my eyes, “Really?”  This time I peeked out and decided to wait to see if it was for real. 

I sat for a while (while the fire alarm was still blaring) and thought, “Is there something I am missing, God?”  I don’t think absolutely everything has a message, but this one seemed like it did. 

I thought about all the blessings this event contained.  The firemen who came to turn OFF the alarm, no real fire, the sprinklers didn’t go off (keeping my books safe), my warm house, my neighbors, and most of all the knowing that God was always there – everywhere – in me – through me – around me. 

One of my favorite authors is Brennen Manning,  from Furious Longing for God, Manning says:

“Let me learn to listen, Lord,
not just with my ears,
but with my heart.

I long for that.  I want to listen with my heart to God and to others. 

I’m listening God…

Your Miracle

When is the last time you experienced the surprise of the gift of laughter and realized how healing it is?

Last week I was with a group of friends and we experienced the gift of laughter that came suddenly and unexpectedly.  What is so surprising about laughter is that it feels SO good.

True laughter that emerges in unexpected and unplanned ways can change attitudes which in turn can change actions which in turn can change the way we interact with each other.  While those magical moments can't be planned, we can seek them out and watch for God to step into our lives in miraculous ways. 

In John 14-16 Jesus repeatedly said we need to ask, and that God would answer when we ask in the name of Jesus.  Literally that means, in the Spirit with the character and nature of Jesus in mind.  Jesus was not saying God would answer if we asked Him to strike our neighbor's dog with lightening because he barks too much.  However, when we ask with the character and nature of Jesus in mind, God will answer. 

If you want the gift of laughter, real laughter that comes from sharing and caring, you can ask God to give you the miracle of laughter and He will answer. 

Abundantly.

Additionally, God will laugh WITH you and will share in the gift. 

I would LOVE to hear how God responds to your request...others would love to hear!

Feel free to post your story of laughter - you can post anonymously - or you can sign your name.  Either way, true laughter is a miracle and we'd love to hear about YOUR miracle!

Just a hint...

Remember what it was like when you were a kid and it seemed like you didn't ever get to do anything cool?

I really remember feeling that way because I was the "little sister" and I felt like I didn't get to do anything cool.  The problem was by the time I could do it, my big brother was doing stuff that was even cooler. 

I also remember thinking the coolest thing in the world would be to be grown up. 

WOW.

Now, we look back and remember how cool it was to be a kid and not have so many responsibilities.  LOL

I think what I didn't know as a kid was that those early years with Jesus were special.  As a child I seized everything about Jesus with wild abandon. 

I thought Jesus was so cool!



I had a brief "encounter" with my youngest grandson last year just before he turned four years old.  He talked about God and Jesus and when he did his eyes sparkled and he smiled really big. 

Today, we carry with us what today brings, and what yesterday has given us.

Oh, and just a hint about tomorrow...

If you haven't experienced the joy of Jesus lately, look into the eyes of a child. 

Letting Go

How do you rest in God?  

Easy, but sometimes, not so easy. 


God is clearly with us at all times.  He is in us and around us.  The difficulty lies in ourselves.  In order to receive God's rest we need to step away from our intrinsic responsibilities, our cultural ideaologies, and our expectations for ourselves.  In order to embrace God's rest we need to set aside all that we know and are comfortable with and step into the spiritual realm that we cannot see or touch. 


It's a little bit like stepping off of a cliff all the while knowing you don't know how to fly. 

We have to let go.

All Covered

I remember being told as a child, “how many times have we gone over this?”  I wasn’t the kind of child who intentionally did things I wasn’t supposed to do.  If I misbehaved, it was because I forgot I wasn’t supposed to do it. I used to feel really bad when I would forget.

 Now when I turn away from God, whether I get busy and forget or I just turn, I know it's covered.

What Christ did for us covers all of it: 

Intentional and Unintentional

Covert and Overt

Planned or Accidental

The reason doesn’t matter, because even before I do it, it’s covered.  All covered.

All things are Possible

I met a woman several years ago who spoke of her “hope” of heaven someday and her desire to meet Christ.  When I asked her if she knows Christ, she said she wasn’t sure she knows Him, but she would like to see him someday.

As we talked I told her she can know Christ now and she does not need to wait.  She seemed puzzled and she wondered how I could know that.  I explained that I know Jesus.  He is my friend and shepherd and has been with me for a number of years.  Puzzled, she asked how I can be so sure.  

I told her Christ is IN me and He will always be with me.  I told her she, too can know Christ by turning to Him.  I promised if she would only turn TO Jesus He would be there because he loves her and will not stop pursuing her.

When she left me, she said she would think about it.

I do not know what happened to the woman after that day.  I don’t know if she turned to Jesus that day.  I don’t know if a seed was planted that day, and at a later time it was harvested.

I only know that I prayed for her that day, that she would hear the Spirit calling her name.  I prayed she would desire to know Jesus and that she would experience eternal redemption. 

I don’t believe our meeting was an accident.  I don’t believe I created the prayer.  I do believe that Christ is in all things and all things are possible with God.

Life without Jesus....

 After Jesus spoke His last words, all was silent. 

This was not a silence you had heard before. 

It's the kind of deafening silence you hear before something is about to happen. 

Suddenly the earth begins to vibrate.

With a rumble and shake, an earthquake erupts and a storm sweeps overhead.

Flashes of lightening erupt from the sky and you are certain God is present and active.

Fear grips your heart and you run for shelter but you don't where to run to; nothing feels safe.

You remember the time when the fear of a storm overtook you...only then Jesus was there to calm the storm. 

Eventually the earthquake subsides and with a few others you gather at the home of a friend. 

You try to sort through what has happened, but it's too much for you to take in.

All you know if that you can't imagine life without Jesus.

Jesus Knows

I remember the first time I was persecuted (shunned, treated differently, set apart) because of my faith.  It was an awful experience; one that I didn’t expect and wasn’t prepared to deal with. 

I was a freshman in college and I thought I was pretty cool stuff.  I had one roommate and 5 sweetmates and I was excited about meeting new people and making new friends.  I’ve never been shy, so I wasn’t worried about making new friends. I went to a large high school and was active in student politics. I was always looking for a "cause" to fight for, so I thought this was my newest great adventure.

The problem started when we shared our faith journey one night.  They talked about church and "having to go" because their parents made them go.  I didn't talk about church.  I talked about Jesus and His love.  I'll never forget them looking at me like I was some kind of freak.  

After that conversation everything changed.  It started with whispers and eventually became outright mocking.  Sometimes I would cry myself to sleep because they made fun of me.  I didn't know people could be so mean.  I'll never forget how they made me feel.  

One day (years later) I realized Jesus understood how I'd been treated because he was shunned, mocked, spit on, and set apart.  For Jesus, that was just the start.  

"On the night in which he was betrayed..."

One of Jesus' own disciples betrayed him.  Sold Him. Turned on Him. 

Jesus know what it feels like...

Calming the Storm

I went to the dentist this afternoon and was headed to Bible Study at church tonight, but I had a  little extra time so I stopped by my house for a few minutes.  I sat down and thought, "I'll close my eyes for just a minute" and the next thing I knew it was an hour and a half later.  I couldn't believe I fell asleep. Really fell asleep. Bible Study was well underway, and I knew by the time I got there it would be almost over, so I took the hint and rested. 

A lot of people tell me they sit down to pray and they end up falling asleep.  My advice to them is that God created rest for a reason.  If our body needs rest, we need to rest. 

In Luke 4:39 Jesus woke up and told the wind to "be still". 

Today I think I needed to let Jesus still my mind and heart.  How about you?

Change

The woman Mary who poured perfume on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair (Luke7) is identified in John 11 as the sister of Lazarus who Jesus raised from the dead.  What's interesting is her story - the narrative of her faith life.

Jesus told his disciples (Luke 7) that Mary had been forgiven for many things and because of that she was very grateful.  She had a past she wasn't proud of but it didn't stop there. When she met Jesus everything changed. Jesus' love transformed her and she would never be the same again.

After she was transformed she wanted to be with Jesus, to sit at his feet.  Her story focused on being in relationship with Jesus and spending time with Him. 

As you consider your story, consider how Jesus has changed your life, today.  What about knowing Jesus changed your life today?

Deep Feelings

I think the first time I realized that when we say we are created in God’s image that means more than just physical appearance.  It also means God is relational, and so are we. 

We have feelings.

God has feelings…really strong feelings.

God's feelings are stronger, deeper, wider, and more passionate than we can begin to imagine.  It was His love that made creation happen. 

that's because God IS love.  God passionately loves you.  God cares about you.  God suffers with you.

Think of it this way, the passion Jesus suffered at the cross was because of His love for you.  Even without know you, before you were formed, Jesus loved you.

Have you ever asked God what he feels about YOU? 

Have you told God what you feel for HIM?