Archives for September 2012

Last Friday I left Birmingham, AL with my friend, Ingram, to head down to Baldwin County to speak to an amazing bunch of women. That morning, I ironed my cute speaker outfit, hung it on a hanger, and put it in the kitchen by the back door so that I would BE SURE to take it with me.

Jesus called the twelve disciples and gave them credit cards and massive suitcases and told them to head out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.  “Take several super-cute outfits, your running shoes, an oversized suitcase, LOADS of roadtrip candy, several credit cards, and a Starbucks card.  You are going to need all this stuff.”  

“Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.  And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.”  Luke 9:1-3

Holy Spirit power!  Power that comes when Jesus fills us up.  Power that comes when we draw near to him and HE works through us.  Power that comes when we die to ourselves and invite Christ to live through us.  Power that we experience when we are abiding in Jesus and in his word.  This power can’t be harnessed or bought, as Simon tried to do.  Power can only be received. 

Jesus gave them authoritative position.  The demonic world and the natural world was going to have to listen to these twelve very ordinary men.  They may have not felt very authoritative.  They weren’t recognized in their community as the power-brokers.  They didn’t have money, or fame, or ancestry to boast of.  And they surely didn’t have a cute speaker outfit.  They were so very ordinary.  But Jesus gave them position.  Jesus gives you position too, whether you know it or not.  You are a daughter of the King of kings!  You are created in HIS image!  You are royalty, whether or not anyone else recognizes it.  In Jesus, you have position.   

Jesus told them exactly what to do — preach about the kingdom of God, and heal people.  Now, Jesus had been all over the place teaching, preaching, and healing.  The disciples were going to get to do exactly what they had seen Jesus doing.  They were going to shine a picture of Jesus by preaching and by healing. They were going to image forth Christ in the world.  They had purpose.  You have purpose too, and it is identical to that of the disciples – to shine a picture of Jesus into the world.  In your family.  In your workplace. In your school.  You were created to shine a picture of Jesus, just like a star in this broken and bruised world.  You have purpose.  

What is the stuff you think you need?  If you have a heart to serve God, the stuff he offers is much better than a cute outfit, roadtrip candy, or a jam-packed suitcase.  He offers you power, position, and purpose.  Will you take him up on it?  I’d love to hear from you!  And Baldwin County gals, let me know what you thought of Ingram’s super-cute top.    Join the conversation by leaving a comment, or email me at cynthiafin@gmail.com.  

Since Alice doesn’t live here, 

I’m the one who gets the task of household management.  And, I think this is true even in families where the wife is working full-time.  The husbands may help out, and help out a lot.  But deciding how it gets done generally falls to the wife.

I have three basic goals.  Now these goals in NO WAY qualify us for photo shoot from Southern Living, but they do make it possible for us to function.  

Here they are:

Neat Public spaces

No stuff left lying around for more than 24 hours.  On weekends, the public spaces get dusted and vacuumed.  If stuff is left out, I become the “Mommy Snatcher” and corral it all in a laundry basket to be claimed later, sometimes for extra chores. 

Clothes for the week

Without a functioning laundry room, my dining room table is the folding and sorting spot.  The kids bring the clothes to the laundry room.  I don’t mind washing and drying.  I don’t even mind folding, when I have the time.  But I will not put it away.  If the clothes don’t get moved to the bedrooms, I will deliver them, sometimes for extra chores.  

Food in the House

Nothing spells “grumpy family” like not having food for breakfast, stuff to pack for lunch, or a plan for dinner. While I have had seasons of detailed menu planning, most of the time I’m a pantry cook.  I know what we like to eat and I try to keep items in the pantry and freezer that we can pull together for a quick meal.  One of our favorites is Chipotle-style Rice Bowl.   There are nights when planning may mean planning to run through Chick-Fil-A.  

Household management is definitely not my favorite thing to do.  And, I’m really not very good at it.  But, having these three basic goals helps me to know where to focus my attention so that I can get on with the things I do love to do.  

So, how does household management happen in your household? What are your goals?  How often do you meet them?  Do your kids and husband help out?   Any tricks you’d like to pass on?  I’d love to hear from you!   Leave a comment or email me at cynthiafin@gmail.com.

I remember where I was, what I was doing, and the emotions I felt when Bill called with the news of the first plane hitting one of the World Trade Towers.  As we talked, the second plane hit.

At that moment I, and I’m guessing you too, knew that this wasn’t just an accident.

I was so glad that all of my children were with me.  I wanted Bill home.  I really wanted Bill home when the third plane hit the Pentagon.

Only two hours south of D.C., I was mentally preparing to grab what we could and head to NC.  He came home, and we stayed, trying to piece it all together.

That night we gathered with friends from our church to process and pray, to find comfort and confidence in God and with each other.

I have friends who lost faith that day.  “How could a good God, a loving God allow such things to happen?  Either God is not good enough, or he’s not powerful enough.  Either way, he’s not a God I can worship.”

While I understand this reasoning, I didn’t lose faith that day, or in the days after.

I heard stories of men and women motivated by such care, such concern, such courage that they gave up their lives for others that day.  I saw people shining forth pictures of Jesus.

William Rodriguez, the maintenance worker with the master key to the North Tower who led firefighters up the stairwell unlocking doors as he went enabling hundreds of people to be rescued.   

Michael Benfante and John Cerqueira, who carried a woman in a wheelchair down 68 floors.  

And, of course Tom Burnett, Jeremy Glick, Linda Gronlund, Todd Beamer and Sandra Bradshaw who thwarted the hijackers’ plans. 

Some of these people acted heroically because of their faith in Jesus.  Some of them acted heroically because of what I believe is resident in every person, the image of God.

Every person is made in the image of God, to bear his likeness into the world.  The firefighters who went into the burning building did exactly what Jesus did when he came into this burning building of a world.

William Rodriguez unlocked doors setting captives free. just like Jesus. Michael Benfante and John Cerquiera gave a helpess woman mobility, just like Jesus did for the man by the pool.  And just like Jesus gave up his life for the sake of saving lives, so did Tom Burnett, Jeremy Glick, Linda Gronlund, Todd Beamer, and Sandra Bradshaw.

Whether or not they intended to be like Jesus, when I heard their stories, I saw Christlike action.  I didn’t lose faith that day.  Rather my faith increased and my boldness to live out my faith increased.

As I think back on 9/11, my throat still closes as I remember the fear I felt, and the longing I had for Bill to get home, and the thankfulness that all of my children were right there with me.  My eyes still pool at the thought of children who lost their moms and dads, parents who lost their children, friends who lost dear, dear friends.

And I’m still inspired by Vincent Ardolino who watched the burning buildings on TV, turned to his wife and said, “I gotta go do something.” Vincent kissed his wife good-bye and along with hundreds of other charter boat captains evacuated more than 500,000 people off of Manhattan Island that day.

If your faith was rocked by 9/11, I understand.  How can a loving God allow such tragedy, such horror in the world?  That night as I gathered with friends, one man took us all back to a childhood prayer.  “God is great, and God is good.”  I believe this.

John Piper quoting Jonathan Edwards, in Desiring God, helped me to believe this.

How can God be happy and decree calamity? 

Consider that he has the capacity to view the world through two lenses. 

Through the narrow one, he is grieved and angered at sin and pain. 

Through the wide one he sees evil in relation to its eternal purposes. 

Reality is like a mosaic, the parts may be ugly in themselves, but whole is beautiful.  
Chapter 1

Two lenses, through the narrow one he is grieved and angered at sin and pain.  On 9/11, I see him saddened, so saddened as people had to make the horrific choice to jump to their death or face the inferno.  I see him angry at the evil that drove people to intentionally turn planes into weapons.  I see him proud of the heroes and grieved for the loved ones they left behind.

But I also see him confident that there will be a day when all is made right, confident that even 9/11 is part of a beautiful tapestry, a magnificent mosaic that displays his glory and will bring eternal joy both to God and to his people.

This narrow/wide lens doesn’t bring back mothers, and brothers, and fathers, and sisters, and friends.  But it helps me to make sense of it, and better yet, trust that God has already made sense of it.  And what the enemy intended for evil, God intends for good.

Where were you on 9/11?  How did you process the day as it unfolded?  How did reconcile, or did you reconcile your faith in God with the pain of this day, and its aftermath? Feel free to leave a comment, or to email me at cynthiafin@gmail.com, if you’d like.   

It’s just been too long.  But my husband bought me new shoes today, running shoes, and so I’m going to run.

Not too many years ago I ran more than ten miles.  Even raced in a ten-mile race. Only once.  But, I’ve run this really fun four mile race many times.  And between these very friendly races, I’ve trained.

I love training.  With a schedule that tells me my short runs, long runs,  rest days, I love mapping my routes.  I love to read my Bible and then hit the road.  I don’t listen to an iPod.  And I prefer to run alone.  I like to just run with Jesus and talk over what I’ve read.  He speaks to me when I run.  He really does.  He reveals mysteries to my heart. He coaches me on life situations.  He gives me plans, and dreams, and hope.

Why would I ever give that up?  Why would I let anything get in the way of something that is good for my body, and good for my soul?

Well … injuries.  That ten-miler really killed my knee.  I just can’t run as far anymore.   Discouraged because I couldn’t run ten, I stopped running four, and then two, and then one.  

A move.  I exchanged the rolling hills of Virginia for a dirt road stretch past a poultry barn.  Just not the same. 

Busyness.  I let other important things, good things crowd out my run.  I know you know the drill on this one.  The tyranny of the urgent that drives out the important, and all that.  

But, my husband bought me running shoes today.  So … I’m getting  back on the proverbial saddle.  I’m going for a run.  And it’s not going to be pretty.  And it’s not going to be fun.  But, I’m going to do it.

Maybe reading your Bible and praying is a bit like this for you.  Maybe it’s been a long time.  Maybe you’ve tasted the sweet waters of intimacy with Jesus, but one morning you let something crowd it out. And then one day led to another, and another.  What happened?

Maybe you’ve been injured.  Maybe hard things came into your life and you blamed Jesus rather than turning to him and ask him to carry you through it.  Maybe you’ve been hurt by the “church” and decided to walk away from anything having to do with faith.   

Maybe you’ve moved.  Literally, like we did.  You’ve graduated from college, gotten married, had a baby, or two, or three … And you’re out of a rhythm.  Or, if you’re a new mom, you’re SO tired and cultivating a relationship with Jesus just doesn’t seem possible.   Maybe you look back at one season past with longing, the way I remember those rolling Virginia hills, and think you just can’t “run” in this new place.  

And, if none of the others ring true for you, I know this one will.  You’re busy.  Regardless of your season of life, you’re busy.  You know I think of this as the quintessential four-letter word of our time.  Everyone is busy.  Everyone.   

If I could buy your running shoes today, I would.

If you’ve been hurt, injured. I’d buy you running shoes to give you the motivation to stop nursing your wounds, to stop blaming God, and instead, come to Jesus, and ask him for help in understanding the pain you’ve encountered.  If this is your deal, you may want to check out the posts I wrote on the Great Exchange, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.   

If your season’s shifted, you’ve moved,  and you just haven’t found your groove, give yourself time to mourn the loss, but don’t run from Jesus in the midst.  Ask him to help you find your groove.  If this feels too painful, check out this post.  You’ll read, and see, how Adelyn and Katya taught me how God helps us find the groove of trust, following, and flying with him in life’s new seasons.   

If busyness is your deal, get rid of something, maybe even 15 minutes of sleep, and make your relationship with Jesus a priority.  I totally understand when the demands of life pull out you.  I really do.  But you’re hurting yourself, and others in your sphere, when you allow the urgent to crowd out the important.  

If it’s been awhile since you’ve spent time in your Bible and in prayer, since you’ve really cultivated a relationship with Jesus, you may feel like I feel about this run.  It’s not going to be pretty.  It’s not going to be fun.  But, here’s the deal.  Your relationship with Jesus is different that going for a first run after a long absence.  He’s not angry with you.  Rather, he longs for you.  He’s waiting for you.  He has words of comfort, and joy, and peace that he wants to speak to you.  And he has songs he wants to sing over you.

So, girlfriend, put on your running shoes, and get going.

I’ve put together quite a few reading plans, but here’s my favorite for helping you to have a simple, straightforward quiet time.  If you can’t manage 15 minutes a day, make it five.  Just do it.

So, while I take the first, nasty, back in the saddle run tonight, I’ll be thinking about you.  If you’d like for me to be praying specifically for you, or you’d like to share with me what got you off-track, I’d love to hear from you at cynthiafin@gmail.com.  Consider this your pair of running shoes.