Archives for January 2015

I tend to let the gas tank get pretty low. Most of the time this works fine. But, one day it didn’t.

I am on the highway trying to get home. I don’t want to stop. But, as the needle edges below E…

… I know I’m going to have to get off at the next exit.

Wouldn’t you know … the gas station is up the four-lane road, through an intersection, and on the OTHER side.

I come off the ramp and continue downhill. So far, so good. But then the road begins to incline.  And the car begins to chug-chug. I’m leaning into the steering wheel hoping to add just enough oomph to get over the hill.  Over the crest and toward the stop light.  On fumes, I approach the intersection. I just might make it!

I slide into the left hand turn lane. But, the light goes from yellow to red.  I look left. And I look right. The coast is clear. So, judge me all you want, but I go right through that very red light.

But, that’s as far as I got. I tried to push pass empty, but it didn’t work.  

And I’m wondering if this is where you are today? Trying to push past empty?  What I need, and what you need is to pause, even if you don’t have the time, breathe deep, and spend some time with Jesus.   

“The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:33

I’m still being buried by 6th grade math.

But this time it’s unit multipliers.  Good grief!  Oh my goodness! And what was Mr. Unit Multiplier thinking?

So, I sit with Katya trying to get a grasp on her math lesson of the day.  And I’m beyond patient, people. Beyond. As I explain that …

12 inches over 1 foot = 1

AND

36 inches over 3 feet = 1

AND

3 feet over 1 yard = 1

Because of this, you can multiply a unit multiplier by ANYTHING and STILL come up with the very same number.  It’s like magic!

Pause for a moment and be impressed with my math skills, folks. Okay, now that we’ve done that, let’s get back to the real issue.

My patience. And the fact that I KNOW that unit multipliers get a lot harder.  A LOT harder.  Converting from inches to centimeters, and pounds to kilograms, and miles to kilometers.  Oh. My. Goodness.

Overwhelmed with the enormity of it all, my patience dwindles. I take a deep breath, pray, smile, congratulate her on the good work she’s done, and call it a day.

I don’t always get it right, but tonight I did.  I could have pushed and pulled and dragged her up Unit Multiplier Mount Everest. But not without and oxygen tank … and harsh words. And my friends, I’ve learned that harsh words get us nowhere.  When patience dwindles, give a soft answer and call it a day.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1.

What are you willing to do for the sake of beauty?

I’m not talking about sunsets, and artwork.  I’m talking about your physical beauty.

This is an individual question. No judgment from me over eye cream or a procedure or two. This is for you and me, individually, to consider.

What are you willing to do for the sake of beauty?

God made us to appreciate beauty. But, once our pursuit of beauty is driven by pride, we are just a short step away from some seriously crazy thinking.

If we are honest, this is a struggle for every single one of us. Wrestling that each of us has to do. It is so easy to pursue temporary beauty instead of pursuing real beauty, lasting beauty.

Today, would you take some time to consider what you are willing to do for the sake of beauty?   

Your heart became proud on account of your beauty. You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. Ezekiel 28:17

We had “Naming Rules” for our babies.  Lots of people do.  Our rule was that each child would have a different first initial. It was mostly practical. Easy to label cups, lunches, etc.

When it came to naming our third child, I didn’t get too far in the baby-naming book.

Adelyn a-del-yn, ad(e)-lyn as a girl’s name is of Old German origin, and the meaning of Adelyn is “noble kind”.

 Noble kind … I loved it.  Bill loved. it.  And nineteen years ago today, Adelyn was born.

 

Proverbs 31 speaks of this noble one, this woman of valor. Eshet chayil.  Meant to be a blessing, a song of praise, sung by Hebrew families to the mothers every Sabbath.

When Adelyn was born, she was tiny, but we saw in her seeds of eshet chayil … nobility, courage, strength … eshet chayil.

Eshet chayil starts so small in our little ones. But if we look carefully we can nurture these seeds of valor and see them grow into something beautiful.

The toddler who fearlessly went toe-to-toe with mom or dad again, and again, and again.

The little girl who flew pell-mell to the ocean and ended up with 17 stitches.

And soon after stood courageously before friends and family proclaiming her love for Jesus and her desire to follow him all the days of her life

Eshet chayil is no longer just a seed, but growing strong, bearing fruit in this warrior.

(Thank you, Fuller, for the photo!)

And I wonder … What would it be like if we recovered eshet chayil? If we nurtured seeds of valor in our little girls? If we called out the beauty of noble character, and virtue, and valor?  

Today, would you join me in blessing another woman? A friend, your mother, a daughter? Bless her with words of valor. Bless her with eshet chayil.

 “A woman of valor, who can find? For her price is far above precious stones.” Proverbs 31:10-31

Bill and I  had been married for 10 months when we got this.

It was 1993 in  the wee hours of the internet.  Al Gore had barely made his splash. Facebook wasn’t even a thing.

Let the shock continue. There was …

No Maternity Photo Shoot.

No Gender Reveal Party.

No Pinterest.  Did you get that? NO Pinterest.

Growing a baby inside of you is HARD ENOUGH. And now you are supposed to document Every. Single. Moment. You are supposed to be glowing, and radiant, and oh-so-cool.

I have a few things I want to say to you.

You are AMAZING.  You are growing a baby inside your body!

You are TREASURED. Before you are a mom, you are a daughter. God loves you and he’s with you in this.

You are READY. Nobody is really ready, but that’s the secret.  In nine months, you GET ready. And by the time this baby arrives, you will BE ready.

You don’t need to be cool. But you are going to be tempted every day to TRY and be cool.  Don’t give in.

With all your un-coolness … God made you for this. Don’t spend hours on the Internet trying to figure out how to be the cool mom. Instead sink yourself into God’s word. See what he says about you. Choose to think his thoughts about who you are and give up trying to be the cool mom. 

Be transformed by the renewal of the mind. Romans 12:2

And just for fun …

 

 

 

 

 

 

In one fell drop-off of pillows, posters, and pictures they are out of the nest. Launched. And you’re driving away staring out the window because anything else will produce heaving sobs.

In those moments we wonder …

Will they find friends?

Will they find good friends?

Will they find good friends who will become their community, encourage them, and love them all the way through these awkward coming of age years?

 At least these are the things I wonder. I’m really not concerned about grades, and classes, and majors, and their tiny dorm rooms.

Our oldest three have launched well.  They are engaged in communities of faith.  They have great friends that encourage them and challenge them. And they are making choices that are consistent with their values and beliefs.

And it’s grace, friends, all grace.

Next Saturday, J.D. Greear and his wife, Veronica will be speaking on preparing for launch. I cannot WAIT to learn from them!

And then, after the main session, I’m going to join them for a panel discussion. And you can ask me ANYTHING. Seriously.

I would LOVE to see you there!  Sign up right HERE.

Are you ready for launch? 

 

I have a friend whose kitchen counter is utterly devoid of any appliances. Her space is sparkling, uncluttered, and simply lovely.

But on my kitchen counter I have a microwave, a toaster, an electric tea kettle, a stand-up mixer, a blender, and the most beloved appliance of all … a Keurig 2.0 K350 Brewing System.

Each of these wonderful appliances is designed to do uniquely marvelous things. If I try to make toast in the blender, it’s just not going to work.

The same is true for you. You are made to do uniquely marvelous things.  And by the Holy Spirit you have been given gifts to enable you to do your thing. If you try to do my thing , or I try to do yours, it’s like trying to make toast in the blender. It’s just not going to work.

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.  Romans 12:6

Do you have a great work that has your name on it?

An assignment that you know is a match for your gifts, your skills?

Something that only you can do?

When we have work to do that we know has been assigned by God, we need to say “No” to distractions and keep at the work.

Whether you realize it or not, you do have work to do. Today. And there are disturbances all around that threaten to keep you from that work.

Today, identify the work you have to do and say “No” to distractions.

I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Nehemiah 6:3

So, Bill and I left after church on Sunday and headed to the NC mountains. We are GETTING AWAY. And we need it.

Folks, it’s been a long pull and we are on the verge of some pretty exciting things. Really exciting stuff.

But, as is true for SO MANY, we need to connect. 

We know in our heads that our relationship with each other is our #1 priority. But, can I be real with you? It is HARD to set aside work, ministry, KIDS, and invest in marriage.

Enter Elise. 

Elise is our AMAZING youth director. And she is giving up DAYS of her life to be with our kids so that Bill and I can have time with each other.

Who is the Elise in your life?

The someone who will spend time with your kids so that you can invest in your marriage? She’s there. You may just have to look for her.

Who is the Elise in your life?

If you don’t have an Elise in your life, please message me on FB.  I believe SO STRONGLY that this is important and I would LOVE to pray for you to find your Elise.  

“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:9

This is the question that messes with so many of us. Isn’t it? 

On the eve of September 11, 2001, I asked, “Why would you allow this?” 

As I stood alongside a friend burying her son in 2005, I asked, “What good could come out of this?”

And then, in October, 2009 I opened my email in Odessa, Ukraine.  My daughter, Adelyn, reported that Piper, our #6, was in the ER with third degree burns. And I asked, “God, are you really good?

I did the only thing I know to do. I opened up the book of John. And I said, “Jesus, I need to see you.”

And in the book of John, I see this Jesus. I see him as the bread of life, the light of the world, the good shepherd. I see him as the way and the truth. I see him as the vine, the one through whom all life flows. I see him as the resurrection, the life.  My life.

Regardless of what is happening around me … I trust this Jesus. And I believe that he is good. 

If you are like me, wondering about the goodness of God, perhaps today is a day for you to crack open the book of John and simply take a look at Jesus. 

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10