Saturday, May 13, 2017

Be The Miracle

"When you don't get a miracle, 
you can be a miracle to someone else."
- Nick Vujicic



Nick prayed for arms and legs.  It's a simple request to God, and Nick knows a miracle such as this would not be too difficult for the Creator who spoke the world into existence   He even described to us last weekend in Nampa, Idaho how amazing it would be if God would grant him the miracle of arms and legs while he was speaking on stage to us. Wouldn't that be incredible?  Wouldn't that type of miracle explode all over the news & social media? We would see with our very own eyes the power of God, and people would then believe. It seems like a no-brainer to us.  

But God doesn't always work the way we think He should. And at times it's hard to understand why because our wishes and requests seem so right to us.  If God is a good God then why wouldn't He grant us these good pleas for a miracle?

Why wouldn't He want to give Nick a whole body? These are the situations that can bring about doubt, discouragement, confusion, and even bitterness.  But I did not see that in Nick even when he has every right in our eyes to ask "Why me?" and to believe life is unfair.

In 2010, I watched thousands of people in Arequipa, Peru gather to hear Nick speak about his faith and life with God.  Because of his story and his words, people's lives were transformed. They found hope. They found the strength to keep going. They found healing from spiritual and emotional bondage. They found Truth, purpose, and a Loving Father they never knew.  

Nick's life could have been wasted with self-pity and bitterness and anger when life did not turn out as expected. But instead the "handicap" he was born with has become the very thing God has used to draw people unto Himself and change the lives of others in miraculous ways.  

Nick hasn't received his miracle, but he has experienced first hand the miracle workings of God through him. He has become the miracle to someone else; in fact, to countless amounts of people. 

"Each time he said, "My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9-11 (NLT)

When life throws us a curve ball, we have a choice. Do we focus on what's seemingly unfair or find God's strength in our weakness?  Do we hang on to doubt or can we grasp ahold of a steady, trustworthy, and loving Father, who can work through all things? Or as my mother-in-law would ask, "Are we going to let this make us bitter or better."

Nick said it succinctly, "I don't need to know God's plan for my life, I just need to know He has one."  Rest assured, God has one for you, and it's probably bigger than the miracle you are asking for.  In fact, the miracle is right in front of you, looking back at you in the mirror each morning...that miracle is you!

When you don't get the miracle you want, be the miracle others are praying for.

Thanks, Nick, for sharing your life with us and being a miracle to so many others!


Monday, May 8, 2017

From Song to Prayer

Some of the best writers are those who compose songs.

How often do we sing in church and miss the depth and rich meaning of the words to the song coming out of our mouth because it's become so familiar to us?  Rote. Mindlessly singing. Habitual repetition. Yet when the mind sees the words and connects those words with the heart and soul, it becomes Spirit-filled and the door opens wide to pure worship.

This past Sunday I saw the words of the song, "King of My Heart" for the very first time.  No, I've sang this song before; in fact, many times, but this time the words came out of my mouth and transformed into a heartfelt prayer instead of a familiar church song.

The writer of this song, Sarah McMillan, shared on Facebook, "I wrote King of My Heart to remind myself that there was no joy or sorrow that could dilute the pure goodness of who God was.  Everything I thought I lost, could actually be found in the Force of His goodness."

This morning as you start your day...may God's goodness overwhelm you.  Whether you quietly read these lyrics to yourself or belt them out at the top of your lungs or listen reflectively to the link below...open up your heart and soul to this message of who God is or can be in our lives. Perhaps this song will become a prayer and heartfelt cry to the one good, good God:


Let the King of my heart

Be the mountain where I run
The fountain I drink from
Oh-oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the shadow where I hide
The ransom for my life
Oh-oh, He is my song


You are good, good, oh-ohh

You are good, good, oh-ohh
You are good, good, oh-ohh
You are good, good, oh-ohh


Let the King of my heart

Be the wind inside my sails
The anchor in the waves
Oh-oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the fire inside my veins
The echo of my days
Ohh! He is my song


You are good, good, oh-ohh

You are good, good, oh-ohh
You are good, good, oh-ohh
You are good, good, oh-ohh


When the night is holding onto me

God is holding on
When the night is holding onto me
God is holding on.

Listen to the song:  





Thursday, May 4, 2017

How About That Analogy


"Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Matthew 11:29-30. (Message)


I was in charge of having something to say.  

We were gathering women together who have poured their lives into ministry and supported husbands in church leadership. Their roles are unique, and even after I found myself in the same position, I still cannot explain the complexity of the role they live out each day. But because I've been in their shoes, I now understand.

With great empathy. 

I wanted these women to know they were not alone.  That they had a place to be themselves, a safe place to share, laugh, and have fun. My desire was for them to leave inspired.

What do I say?  I wrestled with ideas and words that just wouldn't be penned (pun intended). These women were giving up their Saturday to come, and some were driving quite the distance.  I felt the pressure...and then in frustration, I dropped to my knees and began to plead God with the only words I could form:

"I've got nothin', God."  
"You're gonna have to give me something."

I didn't even have words to pray.  So I sat in silence.

I heard the door to my bedroom open and footsteps walk across the room.  I felt the presence of my youngest kneel down beside me and place her arm around my shoulders. She didn't say a word...and then God gently spoke:

"How about that analogy?" 

I smiled and took in the moment of my 11 year old doing what came naturally to her. 

"Unless you become like little children..." (Matthew 18:3)

Her actions spoke volumes to me. Her presence did more for my spirit than words ever could. I didn't need an eloquent speech or a creative activity to lead the group.  Our gathering itself created the space in our schedule to come along side, be present, and put our arms around one another - the unforced rhythm of grace.  No words necessary.  

God doesn't lay "heavy" on us; we lay it on ourselves. I force things; He enters gently and naturally. I often complicate things in this life while Jesus simplifies the things of this world.

How about that analogy? Is there someone in your life, who simply needs a friend's presence today? No need to perform or say the right words, just live freely by keeping them company as Jesus does for us in our times of need.

He says, "Watch how I do it." 
And sometimes his modeling is displayed through our very own children. 



Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Loving Well

"The more we love others, the less we will love our sin." - Billy Graham

A friend of mine was impacted by a scenario she read in a book.  

The scenario was...if you died and went to heaven and were presented with this question,



"How well did you love?" 

How would you answer that question?

The scenario struck a cord with me as well.  Defensively, I could rattle off numerous ways I've loved my husband, made loving sacrifices for my children, reached out to friends and neighbors with compassion. But on the other hand my thoughts reveal countless moments when anger and frustration got ahold of me, times when I allowed judgement to override kindness, when my pride was the source of offense, and my actions were self-seeking. 


I've loved, but have I loved well?  The adverb certainly transforms the meaning of the sentence. Yes, I fall short...really short, but I don't feel shame nor beat up about it.  In fact, I feel encouraged in this challenge because I know God is a loving and merciful God, who is parenting me to be the best "me" I can be.  Just like I discipline and instruct my girls, I do it because I love them and want them to be vital contributors in the world.  Make a difference.  Have influence.  Change the world. Isn't that exactly what God wants for us?


I also find freedom in this scenario of heaven.  That in the midst of a crazy-busy schedule my ultimate strategy and focus is simply to love well today.  One task.  No matter the circumstance.  No one else to seek approval from. No other expectations to live up to. Don't have to prove myself. It sets me free from what I pile on myself to accomplish in a day, and I'm able to set others free from my expectations and approval as well.  



1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect loves drives out fear."


If we examine the times we fall short, I believe most of our actions and attitudes of sin stem from our own fears and insecurities.  So as we practice loving WELL, we also drive out the fear that keeps us in a love relationship with sin. 



Break up with sin today by loving well!



Monday, May 1, 2017

The Streak

Phones.  They are not what they used to be. In fact, when I was a young girl cell phones were a figment of our imagination, and my home phone was connected to the wall with a long cord that stretched all the way from the kitchen to the living room.  My brother and I were so excited when our parents bought a new phone and a chalkboard was attached.  So cool! I could draw on the chalkboard while talking to my friends.  How genius was that back in the 70's?!!


Now I am a mom in the 21st century with two teenagers and a tween who have grown up in a very different culture than I did.  The cell phone has gone from a special want to a perceived "need".  What started as a means to talk to people while mobile, we now hold small computers in our hands.

Cell phones have become one of the greatest challenges for me when it comes to parenting, and I'm continually seeking wisdom and discernment on how to parent in the midst of the ever-changing culture of technology.

Streaks. A streak is how many days in a row you and another person have snap chatted.  This is a regular routine in our house, keeping those streaks alive.  When I asked more details about these streaks, my daughters were sure to tell me how important it is to keep a streak going with their friends.  I then asked, "What would happen if you missed one day and ended the streak?"  They replied, "You just don't end a streak, Mom!"  Again it was important to them, and they were committed to keeping the streak alive.  

I didn't understand, but I wanted to.  I wanted to see what was so enticing about a streak, but I didn't have nor want a snapchat account. 

 (I also wondered how I could get them to be that committed to a streak with their chores.)

So I decided to make my own "snap chat" to see what all the hype was about and why it was so important to my daughters and their friends.  So last December, I took a 20 second video of myself, telling my best friend in Georgia that I would be texting a short video of myself to her every day for the month of December.  And she agreed to do the same! This would be the beginning of MY version of a snap chat streak. Perhaps then I would understand and not be so critical about it.  

That's exactly what happened.  I quickly understood.  To connect with my friend each day, seeing her face and hearing her encouraging words, gave me a little bit of joy each day.  I began to look for new ways to share my life with her and found myself looking forward to receiving her video in return.  We felt like we were journeying life together again even though we were 2500 miles apart. My girls were even excited to see what my friend, Frances, had sent me each day.

 I got it. It's their way of connecting with friends. I remember my mom not understanding why I would talk for hours on the phone with my friend whom I had just spent the whole day with at school.  What did we have to talk about? I don't know.  It's just what we did to connect. 

At the end of the month, I decided to continue this streak thing, seeing that it could be a good thing for me.  I'm not talking about one continuous streak...but I thought I'd experiment with a new streak each month.  Whatever God lays on my heart. 

So for the month of January my streak involved sending my girls a text each day.  I had been asking God, "How can I continue to nurture my girls spiritually without coming across as lecturing/preaching in their teenage years?" This was it!  I began sharing encouraging words with them, then sharing what God was teaching me, and before I knew it we were reading the book of Ephesians together and texting our thoughts and questions to one another and even inviting friends to join in.  I saw new things in my girls I had not seen before.

Other streaks involved words of respect and endearment to my hubby, implementing exercise disciplines, and creating time with God.

Each month's streak has helped me be intentional about areas in my life I want to grow in. Taking the values I hold and the things I "injoy" and be deliberate about applying them in my life.  

So it is now May.  A new month.  A new streak is before me.  I love to write, but I have recently been struggling to do it.  There are many reasons for that, but one is time.  Life is full....full of moments I am treasuring yet there often is not much space in my day to write. So I'm going to challenge myself in one of the most busy months of the year...and that is to write.  It may only be a few thoughts about a phrase that spoke to me or a quote I've kept over the years or a scripture verse that has new meaning or even a question to throw out.

Forgive me if you have subscribed to my blog and weren't expecting me to write 4 or 5 days of the week.  If I get a little annoying, feel free to unsubscribe, but again this will only be for the month of May, I think. I'm putting myself out there because I often think I have nothing to say that others would care to hear.  But this is where I have to lay that fear into God's hands and push myself out of my comfort and see what God is doing in me that I'm unaware of and what He wants to teach me out of this.

I'm praying that whatever God puts on my heart and mind throughout the month of May that you, the reader, will view it as a short devotional or word of encouragement you can take with you throughout the day, allowing God to minister, strengthen, challenge, and speak to you in your journey.

While phones and technology are often times a source of contention in our home, I'm learning to find ways to gain insight from it and use it in a way that adds value to my life and to my daughters who are watching.