A Safe and Quiet Space

When I was a kid I was fascinated by all things creepy and crawly. My friends and I could spend entire days down at the river just a half mile from my house. We would seine for minnows and catch crawdads. We would scour the river bank for lizards, grass snakes, gophers and baby rabbits. We collected leaves and bugs and rocks. Still today, just taking a walk out in nature brings back wonderful childhood memories.

I remember so many times finding caterpillars and carrying them home. One time in particular, I found a caterpillar that was ready to spin it’s cocoon and undergo that magical, hidden stage of transformation. But its natural habitat had just been mown down by the city maintenance folk. It was sluggish from the unseasonably cool weather and was about to cross four lanes of brisk traffic. So I took the caterpillar home and put it in a suitable container (quart mason jar) to do its thing safely. A couple weeks later, it emerged from it’s cocoon a beautiful monarch butterfly which I released and watched fly away.

Countless caterpillars become butterflies every year without my assistance. Moreover, I did not need to explain to the caterpillar what it was supposed to do or become. Those things come naturally to caterpillars. For this particular pre-butterfly, though, a little assistance at the critical moment in its journey and a safe space to change and emerge probably made the difference between completing its metamorphosis (and living to reproduce the next generation) or becoming a disgusting splat on Hwy 30.

Every day God allows us to cross paths with other pilgrims on their journey. Some are at critical moments in their journey. As we minister to them in their times of crisis - caring for physical and emotional needs - there will also be opportunities to minister to their spiritual needs. We must be loving and supportive and patient in these times. They will grow beside us. They will become whatever is meant for them to be, and that form will become clear to us in time. For now, many will simply need a safe and quiet space to be, to change, to become and to emerge.

God does not ask of us that we be the agents of change in another person’s life. The change will come from within and will happen precisely on cue by the hand of God. Our calling is to provide a safe, nurturing environment where God can work.

The past few weeks, we’ve been reading stories of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The people returned from exile in Babylon discouraged, wounded, and broken. They followed godly men like Ezra, Nehemiah and Zerubbabel, but it was God who stirred their hearts to build. In a powerful message of reassurance, God reminds Zerubbabel that the city will be rebuilt and the people will be restored…

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” (Zech 4:6)

Oh God, let your Spirit move in us.

Now That's Refreshing!

All you could say was Wow! Watching the new champion of women’s tennis, Kim Clijsters, holding the trophy in one hand and her curly haired 18 month old daughter in the other. What a great story.

After taking nearly 2 years off from her career, becoming a mother, and caring for her father who was dying from lung cancer, she has returned to professional tennis stronger and faster than when she left. She says she now has a mental edge on all her opponents. Having a family has given her a sense of peace and purpose that tennis could never give. Even granting network interviews on Monday morning with only 2 hours of sleep was no problem. “Moms everywhere know what that’s like,” she laughs.

Sunday night, she’s the new champion. Monday morning she’s cutting vegetables, packing luggage, fixing lunch and planning her daughter Jada's nap time. “Playing tennis is what I do. Jada’s mom and Brian’s wife is who I am. And I’m very happy with the new me.”

How happy are you? Let me phrase that question another way: how much do you enjoy living your life? Please understand that I am not talking about changing your life. (At least not in this article). I am also not talking about those moments when we feel the feeling of happiness when we are spending time with good friends, or enjoying an evening out with your husband or wife. Those moments are indeed enjoyable and we can very easily increase the number of those moments in our lives by setting aside time and creating an atmosphere where they can happen.

I’m talking about taking greater enjoyment in the life that you currently have right now - the ability to truly appreciate and be truly aware of all the good things that exist in your life.

In order to train yourself to enjoy your life, you need to get into the habit of gratitude. When was the last time you counted your blessings? I mean literally sat down and made a list of all the things you’re grateful for? Five times in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon reminds us that even the ability to “eat, drink and find satisfaction in what you do” is a gift from God.

A second great habit to develop is to try to catch other people doing things right. Lifting yourself up by putting others down is never a rewarding endeavor. A spirit of criticism and debate won’t add even an ounce of joy to your life. On the other hand, a spirit of encouragement and praise will somehow magically find a way to fill your cup as well. Look for excuses to applaud the good you see in others.

“he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

(Proverbs 11:25)

Thousand Words Thursday

Have you ever been this tired?




He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

(Isaiah 40:29-31)

Have a blessed week.....and hope in the Lord.

The Woman Nobody Wanted

There’s been a lot of “patriotism” in the air this past week. Remembering 9/11 dominated all the Friday headlines. It is valuable and necessary for us as a nation to be vigilant in protecting ourselves from an enemy who wants to harm us. It is hurtful and unproductive for us to single out a group of people as targets for our anger.

There are plenty of “enemies” out there with the potential to do equal or greater harm than 9/11. There is an enemy who has your marriage in his crosshairs at this very moment. He is plotting the downfall of your family. He would like nothing better than to see your reputation crumble. He’s laying a trap for your future and scheming to undermine your peace and joy for today.

In 2 Corinthians 2:11, Paul wrote that he was not “unaware of Satan’s schemes”. But I’m afraid we often are. People all around us are sending out distress signals, and so often we miss them. It is easier to label them as weak, immoral, shameful and pitiful. When truly, they have fallen victim to Satan’s schemes. And God calls on us to search and rescue.

If ever there was a woman with a wounded soul, it was the woman at the well in John 4. She didn’t hide it. She couldn’t hide it. It was obvious. Were her shoulders slumped from the weight of the water jars or the weariness of her life? If her eyes looked tired, it may have been from ducking the condemning glances of her neighbors. Surely her heart bore some scars and callouses from her 5 failed marriages.

Jesus deliberately placed himself face to face with this person whom nobody else wanted. He read the signs that told the story of her troubled life. The enemy’s bullet had certainly found its mark. Maybe Jesus had already heard the gossip about her. Maybe he just saw the sadness in her eyes. But rather than shame her and condemn her, Jesus sang a new song of hope into her life.

Jesus was looking for what was in this woman’s heart. He looked at her through love’s eyes. And love always sees the best. Love always looks for the best. Rather than seeing a damaged woman from an inferior race, Jesus saw a woman wounded by the enemy - living in darkness…. but hungry for God. And Jesus gave her the greatest gift.

Everyone else had missed it. But not the Messiah. The gentleness of his touch and the kindness of his words brought instant healing. And he touched her heart with a message of hope that reached into eternity

This week a friend reminded me of the lyrics to an Alan Jackson song. (I know - who would have thought to look there for wisdom!)

I know Jesus and I talk to God
and I remember this from when I was young:
Faith, Hope and Love are some good things He gave us…
and the Greatest is Love.

God Can Use You

Have you ever thought about writing an autobiography? I was thinking about this recently when I heard about a 15 year old celebrity who is writing her autobiography. I couldn't help wondering, how much life have you lived at 15? But then again, if your life doesn't have as much drama as a teenage celebrity, be thankful.

Then I wondered, what section in the Library would my book belong to? Science? Hardly. Philosophy and Psychology? Maybe. Would I belong up in the Adult section, or down with the Children's books? When it comes to my walk with God, I feel like a Dick and Jane book. "See Jay run? See Jay trip? See Jay fall? Jay can fall hard!"

Our church family is taking a journey through the Bible this year. And with almost every turn of the page I am reminded that my life story pales in comparison with the stories of men and women we immortalize in Scripture. Not just their towering faith, but their colossal failures. The Bible is full of stories that are far more dramatic than mine.

Noah got drunk. Jay - nope.
Rahab was a prostitute. Jay - 0.
David had an affair. Jay - zip.
Elijah had bouts of depression. Jay - never.
Moses was a murderer. Jay - nadda.
Peter denied Christ. Jay - ouch.
James and John fell asleep while praying. Jay - now you're getting a little personal.
John the Baptist ate bugs. Jay - oh, now that's just disgusting!

But God used them all. Liars. Killers. Cowards. Thieves. Sickly. Uneducated. Too old. Too young. God delights in doing extraordinary things through ordinary people. How woefully unqualified so many of these people were! So what's your excuse? Why couldn't He use you? Oh, He wants to....He can....and He will if you just make yourself available.

Seven Laws of the Harvest

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)

Have you heard about the laws of the harvest? They are seven terrific life lessons, worth a bit of consideration:

1) We reap much that we did not sow.

2) We reap the same in kind as we sow.

3) We reap in a different season than when we sow.

4) We reap more than we sow.

5) We reap in proportion as we sow.

6) We reap the full harvest of the good only if we persevere;
the evil comes to harvest on its own.

7) We can't do anything about last year’s harvest,
but we can do something about this year’s.

In Rhapsody it played among the stars.

On Zion's glorious summit stood
a numerous host redeemed by blood;
They hymned their King in strains divine,
I heard the song and strove to join.

I love, love, LOVE Hastings Book Store. Not only do they offer new books hot off the press, but they buy and resell used classics at a huge discount. Last week I spent $2.75 on a terrific book written 35 years ago by Calvin Miller. “The Singer” tells the story of Jesus in a beautiful poetic form. If you haven't read it, you really should.

When he awoke, the song was there.
Its melody beckoned and begged him to sing it.
It hung upon the wind and
settled in the meadows where he walked.
He knew its lovely words and
could have sung it all, but
feared to sing a song whose
harmony was far too perfect for

human ear to understand.

Miller's question: What does God ask of us? His answer: That we join with Him in singing his song.

The Bible tells the stories of notable men & women who joined in the song.

. . .Noah - who lived in a wicked world. Every thought in men’s hearts was evil all day long. But Noah heard another song - the song of God, and he joined in.

. . .Abraham - content, happy, wealthy in Ur of the Chaldees. But he heard the song of God and by faith he left his home and traveled to a strange land.

. . .Moses - growing up in the king’s palace in Egypt. All that the world had to offer was at his fingertips. He heard the world’s song, but he also heard the song of God and Heb 11 says He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

. . .Joshua, Gideon, David, Daniel, Josiah, Amos. The world song was noisy and enticing. But they heard another song.

What does God ask of us? Only that we listen for his heart and hear and experience his love - and that our hearts would vibrate with the same. Not just in worship. In worship we tune our hearts to the heart of God, but out in the streets. . .that's where we sing His song.