We have sold our farm and applied to serve with Trans World Radio as missionaries in the Netherlands. As we walk with God on this journey, as we wait to hear where He wants us to go, this is my prayer:
Lord, send me where Thou wilt, only go with me; lay on me what Thou wilt, only sustain me. Cut any cord but the one that binds me to Thy cause, to Thy heart. ~ Titus Coan
Monday, November 7, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
God reaches for us
It's easy for me to get caught up in wrong-thinking: that God is sitting "upstairs" in an easy chair, reclined, arms crossed, waiting until I do something -- pray, obey, serve -- then He will respond or make Himself known to me. But quite the opposite is true. Far from being passive, it is God who actively pursues me.
"There is no need to plead that the love of God shall fill our heart as though he were unwilling to fill us. He is willing as light is willing to flood a room that is opened to its brightness; willing as water is willing to flow into an emptied channel. Love is pressing round us on all sides like air. Cease to resist, and instantly love takes possession." Amy Carmichael
Know the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:19
"There is no need to plead that the love of God shall fill our heart as though he were unwilling to fill us. He is willing as light is willing to flood a room that is opened to its brightness; willing as water is willing to flow into an emptied channel. Love is pressing round us on all sides like air. Cease to resist, and instantly love takes possession." Amy Carmichael
Know the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:19
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Getting to Know You
Most mornings, from 6-8am, I sit in a ratty (but comfy) old recliner next to a rickety, unfinished bookshelf that holds commentaries, devotionals, hymnbooks, and Bibles, and I meditate and study because I want to know God. I have the luxury of spending two hours in quiet time since my kids are grown and I don’t have to run off to work outside the home. This morning, in one of those devotionals (Utmost for His Highest), I read about another person who sat in a special place and meditated on God.
John 1:45-48 says, “Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.’
‘Nazareth!’ exclaimed Nathanael. ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’
‘Come and see for yourself,’ Philip replied.
As they approached, Jesus said, ‘Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.’
‘How do you know about me?’ Nathanael asked.
Jesus replied, ‘I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you’” (NLT).
When Nathanael asked Jesus, “How do you know about me?” he wasn’t asking, “How did you see what I was doing?” Everyone could see that. What amazed Nathanael was that Jesus saw what was in his heart and that Jesus knew him.
I didn't start setting aside time to get to know Jesus until I was thirty-five years old. But this morning it struck me in a new way that sitting and getting to know God is not just a one-way deal. It's how God gets to know us too. Of course, this doesn’t happen only when we're sitting quietly, but what does our willingness to set aside the first part of our day (and the amount of time is not important) show Jesus about what is in our hearts?
John 1:45-48 says, “Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.’
‘Nazareth!’ exclaimed Nathanael. ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’
‘Come and see for yourself,’ Philip replied.
As they approached, Jesus said, ‘Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.’
‘How do you know about me?’ Nathanael asked.
Jesus replied, ‘I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you’” (NLT).
When Nathanael asked Jesus, “How do you know about me?” he wasn’t asking, “How did you see what I was doing?” Everyone could see that. What amazed Nathanael was that Jesus saw what was in his heart and that Jesus knew him.
I didn't start setting aside time to get to know Jesus until I was thirty-five years old. But this morning it struck me in a new way that sitting and getting to know God is not just a one-way deal. It's how God gets to know us too. Of course, this doesn’t happen only when we're sitting quietly, but what does our willingness to set aside the first part of our day (and the amount of time is not important) show Jesus about what is in our hearts?
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Do Less, Better
Although I call myself a writer and a speaker, I really consider myself simply a learner. I love to read and study, and I love to go to conferences and hear other speakers. If it were up to me, I'd just sit around and absorb all this good information for myself. But this would be selfish, right? Jesus says, "Love your neighbor."
And so I'm compelled to pass on to others what I learn -- and this happens through writing and speaking. And that's what this "blog" is all about. I don't promote it (as you can tell by my whopping 13 followers) but simply use it to pass on things that I've learned.
Today I'd like to mention two books that mentored me and changed my life: "Ordering Your Private World" by Gordon MacDonald and "Margin" by Dr. Richard Swenson.
These books teach about time management and making priorities. MacDonald's book encourages us to run our lives instead of letting life run us. Swenson's book reminds us that we need to plan "down" time - not cram as much as we can into our day but leave some breathing room. The result when combined: a peaceful and productive life. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, I encourage you to check out these books.
And so I'm compelled to pass on to others what I learn -- and this happens through writing and speaking. And that's what this "blog" is all about. I don't promote it (as you can tell by my whopping 13 followers) but simply use it to pass on things that I've learned.
Today I'd like to mention two books that mentored me and changed my life: "Ordering Your Private World" by Gordon MacDonald and "Margin" by Dr. Richard Swenson.
These books teach about time management and making priorities. MacDonald's book encourages us to run our lives instead of letting life run us. Swenson's book reminds us that we need to plan "down" time - not cram as much as we can into our day but leave some breathing room. The result when combined: a peaceful and productive life. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, I encourage you to check out these books.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Sometimes I just need a friend to come and pat me on the back and say, "You can do it! I believe in you! Keep going!" But sometimes real people are not around. Or maybe they are, and I just can't see them.
Hebrews 12:1 says, "We are surrounded by ...a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith." The NLT Bible comments: "Their faithfulness is a constant encouragement to us. Others have run the race and won, and their witness stirs us to run and win also."
For me, one of those faithful witnesses is Thomas Chisholm. You're probably familiar with his hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness, but in 1897 he wrote another one that never fails to encourage me when I sing or pray it. It goes like this:
♫ O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, This is my constant longing and prayer. Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
O to be like Thee! Full of compassion, Loving, forgiving, tender and kind. Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting. Seeking the wandering sinner to find. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
O to be like Thee! Lowly in spirit, Holy and harmless, patient and brave; Meekly enduring cruel reproaches, Willing to suffer others to save. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
O to be like Thee! While I am pleading, Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love. Make me a temple deemed to receive You. Fit me for life and heaven above. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. ♫
I'm so glad that Thomas Chisholm wrote down the songs God gave him so I could be strengthened and encouraged more than a hundred years later.
Hebrews 12:1 says, "We are surrounded by ...a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith." The NLT Bible comments: "Their faithfulness is a constant encouragement to us. Others have run the race and won, and their witness stirs us to run and win also."
For me, one of those faithful witnesses is Thomas Chisholm. You're probably familiar with his hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness, but in 1897 he wrote another one that never fails to encourage me when I sing or pray it. It goes like this:
♫ O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, This is my constant longing and prayer. Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
O to be like Thee! Full of compassion, Loving, forgiving, tender and kind. Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting. Seeking the wandering sinner to find. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
O to be like Thee! Lowly in spirit, Holy and harmless, patient and brave; Meekly enduring cruel reproaches, Willing to suffer others to save. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
O to be like Thee! While I am pleading, Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love. Make me a temple deemed to receive You. Fit me for life and heaven above. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. ♫
I'm so glad that Thomas Chisholm wrote down the songs God gave him so I could be strengthened and encouraged more than a hundred years later.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Praying at all times
The Spirit of prayer makes us so intimate with God that we scarcely pass through an experience before we speak to Him about it. ~ O. Hallesby
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Summer I Learned How to Love (More)
(The following was previously published in LIVE, Purpose, and Good New Northwest.)
“Mama, you should come and serve breakfast with me at the mission in the morning. We start at 9:30.” Nineteen-year-old Elizabeth cornered me as I was getting ready for bed. Inside, I groaned. After wrapping up a busy season of ministry, I’d planned to spend the next morning sipping coffee and catching up on some reading. But how could I say no to her request? So the next morning, I drove downtown, plunked four quarters into the parking meter, and walked into a whole new world.
Elizabeth introduced me to her friends right away: Skeeter, a lanky young man with an infectious grin. And Gary, whose street name is No One. “I’ll never call you ‘No One,’” I vowed. “You’re Gary.” But Gary didn’t grin. His teeth were missing, knocked out in a fight by the butt of a rifle. And Jesse. Jesse’s street name is Ogre. At 6’7” or so, with long hair and a beard, the name seemed to fit him.
That morning, as I raced from table to table balancing plates of sausage gravy and biscuits, an unspeakable joy rose up inside of me. I couldn’t stop smiling! It was true: “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25, NIV). I decided to volunteer two days a week serving coffee.
One morning, I bought four dozen roses to give away to the clients. Two blocks from the mission, I saw Jesse, walking down the street, ranting profanities into his imaginary cell phone. I pulled over and parked my car. “Jesse,” I hollered, “could you help me carry this box?” I didn’t really need help.
Jesse looked up. “Sure,” he said, moving from wherever he was in his mind to being quite present with me. I smiled to myself, imagining passers-by seeing a 5’1” woman in a rose-pink jacket walking down the street with an “ogre” carrying roses.
For nine months I served coffee to the “least of these” — sex offenders, drug addicts, mentally ill, and troubled street kids. Then a change in volunteer policy ended my time at the coffee pot.
Eighteen months ago, Skeeter died when he fell through the roof at a construction site. He’d moved home to Texas to live with his mother; the Sunday before his death, he went to church and recommitted his life to Jesus. Skeeter came to our house once and skipped around the farm property, taking pictures of the lilac bushes, sheep, and even the family photos on our wall. I imagine him skipping around heaven doing the same.
Gary is in jail, serving time for assault. And 32-year-old Jesse still wanders the streets as he has, reportedly, since he was sixteen. We see him sometimes and sit with him on a bench. We give him money even though he never asks for it and probably uses it for cigarettes.
That summer God opened a part of my heart that had never been open before. I’m glad I said yes to Elizabeth when I wanted to say no.
“Mama, you should come and serve breakfast with me at the mission in the morning. We start at 9:30.” Nineteen-year-old Elizabeth cornered me as I was getting ready for bed. Inside, I groaned. After wrapping up a busy season of ministry, I’d planned to spend the next morning sipping coffee and catching up on some reading. But how could I say no to her request? So the next morning, I drove downtown, plunked four quarters into the parking meter, and walked into a whole new world.
Elizabeth introduced me to her friends right away: Skeeter, a lanky young man with an infectious grin. And Gary, whose street name is No One. “I’ll never call you ‘No One,’” I vowed. “You’re Gary.” But Gary didn’t grin. His teeth were missing, knocked out in a fight by the butt of a rifle. And Jesse. Jesse’s street name is Ogre. At 6’7” or so, with long hair and a beard, the name seemed to fit him.
That morning, as I raced from table to table balancing plates of sausage gravy and biscuits, an unspeakable joy rose up inside of me. I couldn’t stop smiling! It was true: “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25, NIV). I decided to volunteer two days a week serving coffee.
One morning, I bought four dozen roses to give away to the clients. Two blocks from the mission, I saw Jesse, walking down the street, ranting profanities into his imaginary cell phone. I pulled over and parked my car. “Jesse,” I hollered, “could you help me carry this box?” I didn’t really need help.
Jesse looked up. “Sure,” he said, moving from wherever he was in his mind to being quite present with me. I smiled to myself, imagining passers-by seeing a 5’1” woman in a rose-pink jacket walking down the street with an “ogre” carrying roses.
For nine months I served coffee to the “least of these” — sex offenders, drug addicts, mentally ill, and troubled street kids. Then a change in volunteer policy ended my time at the coffee pot.
Eighteen months ago, Skeeter died when he fell through the roof at a construction site. He’d moved home to Texas to live with his mother; the Sunday before his death, he went to church and recommitted his life to Jesus. Skeeter came to our house once and skipped around the farm property, taking pictures of the lilac bushes, sheep, and even the family photos on our wall. I imagine him skipping around heaven doing the same.
Gary is in jail, serving time for assault. And 32-year-old Jesse still wanders the streets as he has, reportedly, since he was sixteen. We see him sometimes and sit with him on a bench. We give him money even though he never asks for it and probably uses it for cigarettes.
That summer God opened a part of my heart that had never been open before. I’m glad I said yes to Elizabeth when I wanted to say no.
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