My Lifesong

Live Love

2011-10-17T22:47:00.002-05:00

I have had the opportunity of having many spiritual conversations over the past few weeks. I've been surrounded by a more than usual number of people who either don't believe, or are disillusioned with the Church.

It's been an interesting journey. I've prayed to God for opportunities to share my faith journey. I've prayed for opportunities to listen to theirs. I've prayed for openings to share Christ. What I've discovered is that it takes time to build trust in a relationship. But, nevertheless, God has worked through these conversations. He's taught me a LOT about listening over the past few weeks. He's reminded me that I don't know it all. I know what matters--that Jesus Saves. But, I don't have "it" (walking "the Way") all figured out.

This morning, after much wrestling with God throughout the night about a variety of topics, He gave me one verse. It's a verse I've known practically my whole life. But it's one that in its simplicity is a hard thing to live out. In Mark 12:28-31, the teachers, the ones who KNEW the law, came to Jesus and asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is most important?" Jesus answered them, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, 'Love your neighbor as yourself. THERE IS NO COMMANDMENT GREATER THAN THESE."

Simple words to live by, and yet so profound. First, we are to love God. If we line up our lives according to our relationship with Him, all else will fall into place. Secondly, we are to love others as we love ourselves. THIS IS HARD! I can't tell you how many times I want to curse people for simple things like the way they drive or because we don't share a similar viewpoint on things. It's so easy to fall into the trap of making man our enemy. We only have one enemy, and we need to be reminded of that. Satan lurks around every corner waiting to trip us up or keep us from winning another soul to Christ.

I love these words of scripture in Mark because they help us prioritize. First, God. Then, man. I have to admit, as a worship leader, that's a difficult thing. We hear so much from people about styles of music or things they like or don't like. It's an easy thing to fall into the pitfall of pleasing man over God. And yet, there's nothing satisfying in pleasing man when it's not God honoring. Just look at the leadership of David and Saul. Saul spent his kingship trying to please man, and failed miserably. David was "a man after God's own heart." As a worship leader, I hope that is someday said of me. "I am a woman after God's own heart." So, this scripture teaches us about priorities.

Finally, the focal word for me is "love". The world has polluted this word. People equate "love" with "lust", "sex", "greed". They've cheapened it. But God, as usual, has such a much higher goal. We are to LOVE the Lord our God! That means living in a daily relationship with Him. I live next door to my neighbor, but I don't talk to her everyday. I care about her, but I'm not growing daily in my relationship with her. God desires us EVERY DAY...EVERY MOMENT. He calls us to be "living sacrifices", to "pray without ceasing," to be carriers of His message of love and grace. Part of being in that oh so special relationship with Him is loving others...yes...even the difficult ones. Even the ones who cut you off in traffic or steal your parking spot. Even the child who calls your kid a name, or the person who criticizes you without any thought or idea of the "big picture". We are called to LOVE. We are called to lives bearing witness to the love of Christ. We are called to LIVE LOVE!

A simple scripture. A challenging message. Please pray for me as I attempt to live this out. I'm praying for you as you do the same! It's not easy. It's messy. But, it's the highest calling:
Love God, love others.

Power Sources

2011-10-04T23:20:00.003-05:00

Daryl B. is a “jack of all trades.” He does sound, video, editing, producing. He helps people with their computers, coaches his girls’ team, fixes cars and is a wonderful husband and father to his wife and girls. I remember several years ago calling Daryl and asking him to come fix my computer. My keyboard that entered music into my PC wasn’t working. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t get my Finale program on my computer to recognize it. I’ll never forget Daryl walking into my office that day. The first thing he checked turned out to be the culprit.

IT WASN’T PLUGGED IN!

Somehow, the plug had slipped out of the wall. I just assumed it was still connected and never even thought of checking something so simple.

I tell this story because I think it often times parallels our Christian journeys. There are times when we get frustrated and work and work to find solutions, when the simple answer is, “we’re not plugged in” to the right source. We’ve lost our intimate connection with the Father. I think this is particularly challenging in American churches. Especially Baptist churches! We are so geared towards service that sometimes we get used to operating out of our own strength, which fizzles out. We have to constantly renew our spirits and our work by daily, unbroken time with God. “Pray without ceasing.” “…offer your bodies as living sacrifices…” “…be transformed…”

Secondly, we need accountability. As much as I had tried to figure out the problem with my computer, I was focused on the wrong thing. I was messing with the software when it was the hardware that was the problem. I needed Daryl’s eye to come in and see the problem and show it to me. We need people in our lives who can do that for us spiritually. We need people we can trust and confide in. We need people who can see with a clearer vision that we are capable of at the time, and who can help us correct our course.

Lately, I’ve gone through such a time spiritually. I’ve felt anxious and worried. I finally realized that I wasn’t plugged in to the right source. It wasn’t that I was being intentionally rebellious or committing awful acts. It was simply that I was relying on the wrong things to sustain me. I was relying on my own strength, my own intellect, my own schedule, etc. I was relying on ME. That’s quite a poor substitute for God’s unyielding power! As anxiety, insecurity and doubt crept into my life, I began asking lots of questions from people I trust. Through their loving accountability, God cleared my vision and helped me get plugged back into a vibrant, growing, intentional relationship with Him. It has been amazing how that slight course correction has turned the things in my life that were becoming work into joy!

So, I want to encourage you. As worship leaders, it’s easy to get focused on the tasks at hand. But to be effective, we must first and foremost focus on the Father!

Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6

Desert Song

2011-08-15T13:05:00.004-05:00

Do you ever go through dry times spiritually? Are you ever in a funk about things? Can I be honest? I've felt like that's where I've been for the past two months. I have been spiritually numb. That's a dangerous thing for a church staff person to say. It's not to say I haven't been growing. I believe that God has used this time to grow me (not a fun growing season). But, it's just to say, I've been in a place where I've had to fight to stay spiritually attached and not to become apathetic or complacent. That's definitely not the norm for me.

As I sat at home last Friday night watching TV, I was thinking about how numb I felt. I was asking God why I was feeling so alone. I have a great marriage, incredible children, a job I love, family all around me. There's no clear reason why I should feel so detached. As I was thinking about these things, I heard my husband on the phone in the other room with a co-worker who had lost his job that day. Dennis was comforting him, praying for him and helping him make contacts for new employment. In that moment, I was so proud of the Christian example my husband was being. But, I also recognized that I was in a serious drought.

Finally, Sunday morning, between services, I just cried on my husband's shoulder. I confessed to him how I have been feeling in my spiritual walk. I was reminded in such a mighty way that when I am weak, God surrounds me with strong people. My husband reminded me that there have been many reasons why I've felt down--everything from life circumstances to loss of a loved one to the blazing heat we've experienced this summer. He's right. When there's a drought like we've had, and a financial crisis like our country is facing, that can deeply affect us, even though we may not realize it. But, he also reminded me that God loves me, and cares deeply what happens to me. Dennis reminded me that God is strong even when I am not, and occasionally, it's okay to ask Him to carry me through.

After that good cry, and that solid confession, something in me awakened. I felt encouraged, and knew that I was NOT alone (it's satan who wants us to feel alone). I went on through my day, and met encouraging word after encouraging word. New believers who shared scripture with me. Friends who shared faith songs with me. I even had a new believer come to me with a faith crisis that caused me to verbalize my deep faith and reclaim it!

I was reminded in a very tangible way how blessed I am to be a part of this body of believers. The CHURCH! I was also reminded that our naturally inclination when we feel down is to withdraw, but in fact, that's when we need Him (God) and it (the Church) the most.

Since then, I haven't been able to get this song out of my head. So, I hope its text will bring you hope and determination:

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
“My God is the God who provides.”

And this is my prayer in the fire,
In weakness or trial or pain.
“There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames.”

And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
“I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand.”

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
“I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow.”

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship.

Lyrics by Brooke Fraser

Fear

2011-06-14T18:53:00.004-05:00

I had an interesting experience a couple of weeks ago. One of my neighbors invited Abby and me to her daughter's Quinceañera. She thought it would be a neat experience for Abby to experience this aspect of their culture. I agreed. So, Abby and I went to the mass for her daughter. As we stood in the back of the Sanctuary, people were all speaking the Nicene Creed together. Then, they pulled out the kneeling benches at the appropriate times and participated in the different aspects of the mass. I had been to a Catholic mass many times before, so I was perfectly comfortable in that setting. My daughter was not.

About ten minutes in, she said, "Mom, I'm scared." I thought, "Scared...what's there to be scared of?" Abby went on, "I don't understand what they're doing. Why are they kneeling? Why is the guy at the front saying something and then they're all answering him? What's that thing that they all said together?" It was foreign to her, so her response was fear--a perfectly natural response.

I think many of us have that same reaction when we experience new or unknown things. As a matter of fact, I once had a teacher who made herself learn something new every year to combat that fear. One year, she decided she was going to learn how to build Legos sets. Another year, she decided she was going to learn the ukelele. Another year, it was relearning how to play the violin backwards (right hand on the neck and left hand on the bow). She wanted to remind herself what it felt like to her students to learn something completely foreign.

I never much thought about fear in worship in that way. Of course, I've thought about the reverent "fear of God". But, not the fear that comes because of something new. I've worshiped in many different environments. I've worshiped in customs in Mexico. I've worshiped at the top of a mountain. I've worshiped in a foreign culture with a language I didn't understand. I've worshiped in a Catholic Mass. This Sunday, I'll be worshiping with a group of our youth at the opening pavilion of the Chicago Zoo!

I guess I'm writing this because I saw through my daughter with fresh eyes. I saw how the unknown can sometimes make us afraid--and that it's okay--a perfectly natural reaction. But, as I talked her through it, she became more comfortable, and I was reminded that I need to continue to broaden her worship vision.

The other thing I was reminded of is that God doesn't want us to be afraid. If anything, I believe He wants us to continue to grow our vision and our perspective. He wants us to embrace other cultures and worship experiences. He wants us to value genuine worship the way He does--not just see it as the "have it your way", consumerism worship that we sometimes have a tendency to want. Ultimately, He just wants us--our hearts, our minds, our bodies. He asks us to live worship (Romans 12:1-2). That's really a pretty incredible thought! We can live everyday, unceasingly in worship of Him. One day, that will be a literal thing for all believers around the Throne!

So, embrace Him. Embrace the new things He has to teach us. And above all, don't be afraid. God may show you something beautiful in something new. He did me, just this week. He showed me a new song (and funny enough, it addresses fear) -- Forever Reign. The text is below.

You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me.
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see.
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in.
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin.

You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling.
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering.
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing.
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost it's sting.

Oh, I'm running to your arms,
I'm running to arms.
The riches of your love
Will always be enough.
Nothing compares to Your embrace.
Light of the world forever reign.

You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say.
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim.
You are here, You are here
In your presence I'm made whole.
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go.

My heart will sing no other name -- JESUS!

Credits :
songwriters: ingram, jason; morgan, ruben
© shout publishing;sony/atv sounds d/b/a timber pub co;windsor hill music

Sing Over Your Children

2011-05-11T00:11:00.002-05:00

My personal verse for this year is Zephaniah 3:17. That verse says (NIV1984),

"The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”

I know my God is mighty to save. I never tire of hearing that or saying that. My GOD is MIGHTY TO SAVE! When I hear of the death of a terrorist, MY GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE. When I think of how someone so evil could walk into a church and murder my friend, I remember MY GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE! When I see people suffering through divorce or depression, I remember MY GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE! I never tire of hearing or saying that. I'm not talking about the type of salvation where He'll rescue you from a life threatening situation. He doesn't promise that. I'm talking about ETERNAL salvation. He saves through the blood of the Lamb--through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. No matter our sins, no matter our past, no matter our disappointments, if we confess with our mouths that "Jesus is Lord" and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we WILL be SAVED. OUR GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE.

Even though I could stop at 3:17a, my favorite part is yet to come. It comes in those three actions:
"He TAKES DELIGHT"
"He will QUIET you"
"He REJOICES over you"

Our God is not a passive God. He is a God of action. He doesn't merely stand by and watch the world spiral out of control. He's a God of order. He's a God with a plan. He's a God who builds relationships with each one of us individually. This verse is very personal. Our God is a very personal God. The God of the Universe takes delight in me. He will quiet ME with His love. He will rejoice over ME with singing.

This Sunday, our Grad ensemble will sing a song based on Zephaniah 3:17. It's a Matt Maher song called, "Sing Over Your Children." Here's what the writer has to say about it:

"I knew subconsciously of Zephaniah 3:17 - that God sings joyfully over His people (aka, the shout of the King) - and that song, that voice can soften the hardest of hearts. Our relationship with God is initiated by Him and His love - freely given as gift; despite my constant temptation with the things of earth, God's love doesn't waver." (Matt Maher, www.mattmahermusic.com)

The chorus simply says this,
Out of the depths you cry,
Come and be satisfied.
Father, You sing, Father You sing over Your children.

Let us see through Your eyes
We are Your great delight
Father, You sing, Father You sing over Your children.

No matter what circumstances you may face this week, remember that God is actively a part of your life. You are His delight. He hears your cries and He is mighty to save. He responds by taking delight in you, quieting you with His love and rejoicing over you with singing.

From the Inside Out

2011-05-02T18:37:00.004-05:00

I have the wonderful privilege each Sunday of meeting with a group of six girls, ages 17-18. We talk about life, pray for each other, ask questions and study the Word together. Right now, we are working through a book by Beth Moore entitled "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things." The purpose of this book is not to point the finger at others, but rather to recognize our areas of weakness and fortify them with the Truth so satan can't penetrate them. Easier said than done!

This week, we read the following passage:
"Satan knows that the nature of humankind is to act out of how we feel rather than what we know. One of our most important defenses against satanic influence will be learning how to behave out of what we know is TRUTH rather than what we feel." (p.22)

We set the goal to make our decisions this week based on the TRUTH we know, rather than behaving out of how we feel. Setting that goal was like begging satan to come and attack.

Moore goes on to say, "Satan's desire is to modify human behavior to accomplish his unholy purposes. 2Timothy 2:26 tells us that Satan's objective in taking people captive is to get them to do his will. If we have received Christ as our Savior, Satan is forced to work from the outside rather than the inside. Thus, he manipulates outside influences to affect the inside decision-makers of the heart and mind."

So, how do we combat that? We must be transformed from the inside out!

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) says, "Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life."

Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

We have to literally stand guard over our hearts. We have to constantly be pouring into them TRUTH so our hearts and minds walk in TRUTH and don't give in to deceit. It's an active thing.

So, at the end of our discussion this week, the girls asked me one simple word, "How?"

We pray...without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) We meditate on the Word...daily. (Psalm 119:148) We edify one another and hold each other accountable. (Hebrews 3:13) We press on and never give up. (Philippians 3:14) We write on our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3) and speak aloud songs, hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19). We give thanks (Psalm 100).

We ACT OUT Romans 12:1-2 (NIV1984):
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

No, it's not easy. But the good news is, we're not alone. We are a body of believers on this journey together. We have the ONE, TRUE God as our shield and His WORD as our guide.

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out.
--Hillsong

K.I.S.S.

2011-04-26T16:59:00.006-05:00

This week, I have to admit, I have been a bit overwhelmed. This has been a weird 2011. There was the ice that shut down so much of February and put us behind on rehearsals, shut down Superbowl plans, etc. Then, there was Clint's murder and Judy's beating, which shocked us to the core and will forever change us. Then, a month later, my grandmother passed away. And there have been a million things in between. It's been an overwhelming and emotional time.

This past week, Easter week, was the first time I felt like I was "back in the game". It seems like it was my first "normal" week in a long time. But with that normalcy came the reality of how far behind I've gotten the last two months.

When I get busy and overwhelmed, anxiety creeps in. When anxiety takes root, my first reaction is to try to control it all. I tend to take it all on myself, and not trust the Lord with "it" (fill in the blank--whatever "it" is). I realize, though, that when I become that way, it's because somewhere deep down I don't trust God enough. Isn't that crazy to say? That I don't trust God? Because in my mind and in my heart, I absolutely do. But my sinful nature competes with that trust, and somehow plants that little seed of doubt. It may come in the form of "This is such a little thing, God doesn't really have time for this. He's got bigger things to do." Or, maybe me seeing someone else nearby in such incredible pain, that I need to let God just take care of her and not bother Him with my little problems. Or perhaps, I don't even give God a thought. I just simply go on auto-pilot and tackle "it" myself. And, needless to say, whenever that happens, I fail miserably. Sure, I may accomplish the task, but at what cost? In accomplishing a task, I might hurt a relationship, or yell at my kids. It never works well when I try to control things and operate on my power alone.

This week, as I was feeling overwhelmed, I read 2 Peter 3:8, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." As I read that, I paused and asked God why today couldn't be like a thousand years so I could get everything done that I needed to get done. I felt as if He answered me, saying, "Who has placed these deadlines on you? Are they real deadlines or arbitrary ones? What about MY time with you?" As I read on, this conviction became even stronger. Verses 11-12 say, "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming."

It seemed really simple to me right then (you've heard the old adage "Keep It Simple, Stupid). Everything that was overwhelming me faded away. What I am to do is LIVE, and live a life that is holy and godly. If I'm doing that, everything else falls into place. Now, I realize Peter's talking about end times in this passage, but isn't he also talking about "now" times? We won't know the time nor the hour of the Lord's coming. So, he's not asking us to live that way in 10 years when we're more mature. He's telling us to live that way every day. "You ought to live holy and godly lives."

It's amazing. As I spent this time with the Lord, asking Him questions about this passage, and sharing with Him the things that were overwhelming me, He reminded me that I'm not insignificant. He reminded me that no problem is too small for Him to handle. He reminded me of Peter's first letter, where Peter says in Chapter 5 verses 6-7, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast ALL your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

He cares for me. The God of the Universe cares for me. What a glorious thought. Not just a thought, but an absolute TRUTH. He cares for you, too. So, my prayer for you is that as you feel these times of anxiety, don't try to take it on yourself, but simply do what you know. Tap into the power of the Almighty! He has big shoulders that are waiting for every one of your burdens...big or small. What a mighty God we serve!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

A Simple Act of Obedience Can Affect Generations

2011-04-19T06:42:00.006-05:00

Last Tuesday, I was sitting on the golf course with my friend Ginger. We were watching our 14 yr old sons take golf lessons together. We were also watching our 10 yr old daughters playing and laughing together. Ginger is one of those friends that really knows me. We met 20 years ago, and she has been a friend through good and bad, through my low points and my high points. She has loved me even when it was hard. She's one of those friends that really KNOWS you, and she LOVES you completely.

I was telling Ginger about my grandmother's illness, and some of the decisions she was facing. Ginger reminded me that it was my Granny that introduced us.

You see, Ginger was a Missionary Kid to Brazil. Back in the late '80s, Ginger's family was getting ready to come home to the US for furlough and were going to be staying in our church's Missions Residence. My grandmother knew they would be coming, and knew we were the same age, so she asked me to write Ginger. She felt God leading her to make this family feel welcome and encouraged me to do the same. I took that address, and wrote Ginger in Brazil.

Ginger and I ended up being great friends. I helped her find some community here, and she helped me to grow in my walk with Christ. For the past 20 years, she has been a friend and confidante. God blessed us both with children at the same time, so not only did we get to experience each others friendship, but our children have grown up together and are now doing life together. My grandmother's calling to missions and act of obedience in responding to this missionary family is now affecting its second generation through incredible friendship in the Lord.

This week is one of my favorites because it is the week where we are reminded another act of obedience affected 2000 yrs and counting worth of generations forward, not to mention all of those preceding it. For me, the most moving part of the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion is the prayer he prays in the garden. In that moment, the disciples have fallen asleep. Jesus is alone in the garden. He could have tucked tail and run from what was about to happen to him. He was fully human, so I don't believe he could foresee the events that were to come. But he also knew the Scripture and the prophecy, so I believe he had a pretty good idea of what it would take for the prophecy to be fulfilled. "He was despised and rejected...bruised for our transgressions...pierced for our iniquities." No way around that...it doesn't sound like a path anyone would want to take. So, he had every reason to bow out. But there in that garden, Jesus has that moment where he basically says, "Father, if there's any other way for this to be accomplished, then let this way pass from me. But, since it doesn't appear that there is, I love you and trust you enough to take the next step forward in accomplishing Your purpose." Talk about an act of obedience that has affected generations!

I love this week. It is a painful week as we walk through that last week in Jesus' life. It is painful as I reflect upon the initial sin of Adam and Eve that led to this means of God reconciling Himself to man. It's painful as I reflect upon my own sin that held Jesus to that cross. But it's a glorious week, as we witness how Jesus' life and death of obedience resulted in the Resurrection and hope for ALL of man -- past, present & future. As we move through this week, let's commit ourselves to be a little more obedient. Who knows when God might use one simple act of obedience to affect generations to come!

Lead Me to the Cross

2011-03-01T17:14:00.001-06:00

A few years ago, I was in Glorieta. I was introduced to quite a bit of “new” worship music. There was one song that they introduced that I couldn’t sing because I didn’t believe it was scripturally true. I found out later that it was a direct quote of scripture, but it was taken so far out of context that it made the theology of the song misleading. What that conference taught me was to evaluate carefully the things we use in worship (whether music or video or testimony).

When I listen to a worship song, or sing it for that matter, I look for the scriptural truth behind it. We all have favorite songs—songs where a text has spoken to our hearts, or where the music has stirred an emotion deep within. But as I evaluate the worship music we sing, I look first and foremost for spiritual truth.

This Sunday, we are singing a newer song for our congregation—“Lead Me to the Cross”. I’d like to take us through the text and point out the scriptural truths that have jumped out at me as I’ve meditated on its text. Perhaps you will find others that I’ve missed—I’d love to hear your thoughts as we journey together! (emilyk@fbca.org) The song lyrics will be in italics. They are followed by the passages those lyrics brought to light in my journey with this text.

Savior, I come, quiet my soul. – As I reflect on this line, I hear my favorite verse Zephaniah 3:17 being sung “…He will quiet you with His love…”

Remember Redemption's hill where Your blood was spilled for my ransom –Hebrews 9:14-15 “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! ¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”

Ev'rything I once held dear I count it all as lost. Philippians 3:8 “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out. Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down. Rid me of myself, I belong to You. – John 1:27, 29 John the Baptist speaking: “He [Jesus] is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie…Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord...”

Oh lead me, lead me to the cross.You were as I, tempted and tried, human. – Matthew 26:39 “Going a little farther, he [Jesus] fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”

The word became flesh, Bore my sin and death. – Acts 7:52-53 Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin: “And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”

Now you're risen. – Acts 2:24 “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it is impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

As you sing the texts to all of the worship songs this Sunday morning—When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Nothing But the Blood, Lead Me To the Cross, Jesus the Very Thought of Thee—spend some preparation time meditating on these truths and writing them on your heart. Sunday’s going to be a great day of corporate worship together as we come to the Lord’s Table and recognize His suffering and rejoice in His grace!

My Attitude Adjustment

2011-02-22T17:28:00.005-06:00

Yesterday morning started off terribly. Have you ever had one of those days where you just acted badly? That's how it was at my house. Everything seemed to set me off. I wasn't just grumpy--I was unbearable. I let things outside of my family's control dictate my mood and anxiety level. I walked into Staff meeting, honestly not feeling like being very spiritual. Funny how when you least expect it, that's when God speaks.

I walked into a prayer time with our staff where concerns were being lifted up. I walked into a place where people were sharing their stories and their struggles. At the end of an emotional request time, Nick Pitts prayed. God spoke to me through His prayer. Here were the two things that Nick prayed that struck my heart:
1. God, be at work in these situations so that man won't be glorified, but you will be glorified through the result of your mighty work in these struggles and difficulties.
2. Use these struggles to help us focus on You, so that we might become less and You would become more.

Every once in awhile, I need the reminder that the world doesn't revolve around me or my bad mood or my anxiety. That's sin at work in my life. But it was in that moment as Nick prayed, that I righted myself and my perspective with God, and restarted the day with a fresh vision and attitude. First of all, I thanked God for who He is. Secondly, I thanked Him for surrounding me with godly people like Nick, like my husband who puts up with me, and like the rest of our staff who are willing to share and love and pray for one another.

The song we sing this Sunday, sums up who God became to me in that moment--my Messiah. Whether you're like me and need to refocus, or whether things are hunky dory right now, I pray it will be a blessing to you:

He became sin who knew no sin
That we might become His righteousness.
He humbled Himself and carried the cross.
Love so amazing, love so amazing.

Jesus Messiah Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The Rescue for sinners,
The Ransom from heaven,
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all.

All our hope is in You.
All our hope is in You.
All the glory to You, God
The Light of the world.

Why LEARN?

2011-02-08T00:00:00.004-06:00

This past Sunday, our Pastor shared with us more about the growth area LEARN. Early in his sermon, he made a statement about this growth area--that it was fundamental in our growth as Christians. Basically, a growing Christian must be a learning Christian. LEARN helps us equip ourselves for each other growth area: LOVE, OBEY, TRUST, SHARE, WORSHIP. When DW made that statement, I made a mental note of it--one that stuck with me. And God began to reveal to me its truth.

Remember the video from Sunday--the testimony about transformation? There's always a back story. I want to share some of that with you, and focus on the couple of kids who led that young man to Christ for a moment.
1.LEARN -- Those kids were nourished in the WORD. When words and reason and difficult questions came about, they had hearts and heads full of the knowledge of Scripture -- the revealed WORD -- and could share effectively.
2. SHARE--This was a natural extension of learning for them, even though it wasn't necessarily the "cool" thing for a 16 year old to do.
3. TRUST -- When he got off the phone after sharing that first verse, the youth asked his Dad -- "Dad, did I say the right thing?" His dad reassured him. This kid was a good steward of what he had been given. He was able to trust God to grow the seed that was planted, and God was able to trust him, because they were in relationship with one another, and the kid had been faithful in his walk with the Lord.
4. LOVE (& SHARE) -- Another youth (along with the first one) spent years loving on this kid--before and after sharing that initial verse. If you'll remember in the video, it took a year and a half before that kid fully accepted Christ. But it wasn't a year and a half without significant spiritual conversations. It was built on a lifetime of friendship, so when it came time to have that conversation and others it came naturally. It was a relationship built between people, a respect, so that an invitation to camp could be extended, and accepted.
5. OBEY-- As I mentioned earlier, sharing came easy because the kids were nourished in the WORD and practiced their faith. Remember, this kid didn't just see them with their church clothes on. He saw them everyday at school. If they'd been living disingenuous lives, he'd never have listened to a word they said.
6. WORSHIP -- Before that kid went to camp (this wasn't in the video, but he told me this), he came and checked out High Tide, the Wednesday night youth worship. Watching his friends from school authentically and passionately worship God affected him. He went home, and called another lost friend and said, "Dude, I think I'm going to camp for God..." Through the worship of others, he was directed to the Living God!

What these youth had LEARNed through relationship with Christ provided the foundation for each of these other areas of growth and for the contribution to another's story of transformation.

One quick Abby story and I'm done...

Two weeks ago, Abby was late getting to the car after school. I wasn't paying much attention because I was on a phone call, had had a terrible day, and she was not my focus. She got in the car and waited for me to get off the phone. She was so excited. She said, "Mom, do you want to know why I'm late?" I looked at the clock...the first time I realized that she actually was late...like I said, I was in my own little world. She said, "I think I had the opportunity to touch someone's heart for God today." I can tell you, I immediately put the phone down, and she had my entire focus.

She was late because she was sharing with another little girl. Abby had taken her Bible Drill memory cards to school. They are like flash cards. During their independent study time, she took them out and was memorizing them. A little girl, who is unchurched, saw them and asked Abby about them after school. Abby pulled them out and shared some of the verses with her. The girl didn't know anything about the Bible, but she thought it looked like a "cool game." She asked Abby, "Could you get ME some cards so I can learn about the Bible, too?" Of course, Abby couldn't wait to get the cards and share them with her friend.

WOW! God will use us if we just daily live in relationship with Him and follow Him. He will reveal Himself to us through His WORD and through being in relationship with Him.

The verse that the youth in Sunday's video shared was 2 Corinthians 4:18, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." After he said that verse, we sang "Hosanna" by Brooke Frasier which contains the line, "Heal my heart and make it clean. Open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like You have loved me." That's my prayer for us this week--that He will open our eyes to the things unseen and show us how to grow daily in His love as we reach this world for Christ! Who knows who's transformation story WE could be a part of this week?!

you are not a god: You are God Alone!

2011-01-20T13:14:00.007-06:00

Romans is a deep letter. In our TWOG4TPOG readings Jan 17-21, we read the first 12 chapters. But, there were days I would get stuck contemplating just one or two verses. Thursday, (Romans 10-11) was such a day.

Here are the verses I'm referencing:
"For I can testify about them (the Jews) that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness." -- Romans 10:2-3 (NIV1984)

The Jews practiced their religion with so much zeal, the Scripture says, but they placed that zeal in something they created rather than something that God created. What a human thing to do!

This next week, we will kick off an 8 week series on LEARN where we will begin to learn and communicate the meta-narrative -- the BIG Story. Our first Sunday focuses on "Who is God?" As I read this verse in scripture, it reminded me that first and foremost God is God and we are NOT. Next Sunday, January 30th, we will sing a song that says exactly that. Here are the lyrics, penned by Billy J & Cindy Foote. I hope they will bless you as you spend some time focusing on God and who He is.

You are not a god created by human hands;
You are not a god dependent on any mortal man.
You are not a god in need of anything we can give.
By Your plan, that's just the way it is.

You're the only God whose power none can contend.
You're the only God whose name and praise will never end.
You're the only God Who's worthy of everything we can give.
You are God, that's just the way it is.

Chorus: You are God alone;
From before time began
You were on the throne;
You were God alone.
And right now in the good times and bad,
You are on Your throne;
You are God alone!

This week, my prayer is that we have zeal--that we pray and sing and live life with ZEAL. But, that we have ZEAL based on knowledge of the one and only True God! He is God alone!

Leadership

2011-01-18T17:11:00.005-06:00

I read an interesting article this week in Worship Leader Magazine by Vicky Beeching about Deborah. She referenced the story of Deborah's leadership in Judges 3-5. Think about that time and place in history and the role of women at that time. Specifically, think about what it must have been like to be a woman in leadership at that time. Here's what it says about Deborah:
v.4 "Deborah, a prophetess,...was leading Israel at that time. She held court...and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided." Pretty amazing!

She had enough respect among men to arbitrate their disputes. She led the military with Barak and led their nation to victory. But the remarkable thing is not that Deborah was a woman, though this was unusual. The remarkable thing here is that she knew how to lead. Beeching says, "She wasn't just a political and military leader. Her role also involved helping people know what to do in life." Beeching goes on to say one of the most profound things that has stuck with me all week:
No matter who is in leadership or what their gender, the important thing is that leaders are called first and foremost to follow God. Whatever we try to accomplish is empty without His truth, guidance, and inspiration. Deborah reminds us that God is the true leader. Our role is to be in tune with His direction; then we are privileged to share that vision with others.

After she led Israel to victory, Deborah sang a beautiful song of worship. Here's one of the lyrics from that song: Judges 5:2 "When the people willingly offer themselves--praise the LORD!"

As we prepare for worship this Sunday, and for this year of Tranformation, my prayer is that we will first and foremost willingly offer ourselves for God's Kingdom. My prayer is that we will tune into His truth, His guidance and His inspiration so that we have the privilege of sharing who God is with others.

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace.

Carpe Diem

2011-01-10T11:57:00.006-06:00

One of my favorite movies as a teenager was Dead Poet's Society. It's a story about this incredibly shy kid, Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), who attends a boy's school. He has an outgoing roommate, Neil, and an incredibly inspiring English teacher, Mr. Keating (Robin Williams), who encourages Todd to come out of his shell. The theme of the movie is Carpe Diem -- Seize the Day. This professor is encouraging the kids not to merely conform, but to transform their world--to make a difference. Each student does so in a different way.

I watched this movie over the holidays with my husband and son. It truly is one of those timeless movies. Even though it came out ten years before Ben was born, it spoke to him. The teacher in this movie, "O Captain, my Captain," wanted to inspire these kids to be true to themselves. He encouraged them to live life to the fullest. In a sense, he encouraged them to be rebels--to challenge conformity and think outside the box. He wanted them to wrestle with life, with ideas, and LIVE!

As I watched, I thought that often we as Christians can be like these kids in this movie. We can walk the way we think others want us to walk. We can shy away from sharing Jesus because ___ (fill in the blank) ...we each have our own list of excuses. We can put in our time at church on Sundays, and follow the "rules", but not ever really challenge ourselves to think, meditate on the Word and allow it to truly transform our lives. We can go through life without ever creating waves. But I'm not sure that's what God intended.

One of our focal passages for this preparation time in our church is Acts 17:1-9. It's the story of Paul and Silas in Thessalonica at Jason's house. The Jews didn't like Paul & Silas being in town, so they went to Jason's house to find them. The Scripture tells us "they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city." When they didn't find Paul and Silas, here's what they said about them: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here...saying that there is another king, one called Jesus."

My favorite moment during the entire Christmas season was one Sunday when we were selling t-shirts in the Welcome Center. Helping me sell the shirts was a new Christian, and while we were selling, he shared his testimony with me. He was going through a rough time, and a believer shared a verse with him, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matt. 11:28-29). The guy responded to the shared verse with, "Man, why'd you have to go there? I don't want to talk about that religion stuff." But the believer had already stirred up the soul of the unbeliever. This kid wrestled for a solid year with God, and finally surrendered his life to the LORD this past June.

That's the kind of trouble I'm talking about. The kind where all we do is be bold enough to speak the Truth that we know, and allow God to use it to penetrate a heart, and wrestle that heart to surrender. So, I'm praying that each of us prays for and expects these opportunities to come our way, and then are faithful enough to embrace each opportunity and stir up some trouble.

There's a song called "Until the Whole World Hears" by Casting Crowns. Here's a portion of the text, or you can check out the video online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6BW_5WosgA :

Lord, I want to feel your heart
And see the world through Your eyes
I want to be your hands and feet
I want to live a life that leads
Ready yourselves, Ready yourselves,
Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night

I hope these words will inspire you as you put feet to God's commands. Carpe diem -- let's "seize the day" and shine the light of Jesus from now until the whole world hears!

Pray Expectantly

2010-12-20T12:15:00.005-06:00

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and I will bring you back from captivity." -- Jeremiah 29:11-14a (NIV1984)

I finished my Christmas gigs last Saturday night. I always love playing the corporate parties and seeing how different people celebrate this time of year. My friend that I play with is a wonderful Christian woman. She has prayed for me in many situations, and I have prayed for her. I was telling her of how God had answered a specific prayer. When she dropped me off at my house, she said, "Emily, I've been praying specifically for that. But I think I'm a pessimistic prayer. I didn't think God would answer that prayer need so quickly."

Her comment caused me to examine my prayer life. I found her sentiment reflected what often times happens in my own prayer life. I pray out of obedience, but not always with expectation. I've decided that I need to re-frame the WAY that I pray. When I bring things to God, I need to bring them EXPECTING Him to answer them. I need to pray boldly.

One of my grandfather's favorite hymns was Sweet Hour Of Prayer. Listen to what the hymn writer, William Walford, pens in his second stanza:

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless:
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His word and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my ev'ry care,
And wait for Thee, sweet hour of prayer.

My prayer for all of us in 2011 is that we will pray boldy, with expectation.

Ephesians 6:18 (TLB)
Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit's wishes. Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere.

My Story

2010-12-09T15:58:00.003-06:00

This Advent season, we have had several people won to Christ in our worship services. It has been incredible to hear the stories and to see the transformation in people's lives. One girl even wrote out her testimony and sent it to me last week. It touched my life as I read it, and read about the power of Christ in her life. As I've thought about it, I have been reminded of the grace that God has bestowed upon me. I have reflected on the day that I accepted Jesus. I would like to share my story with you.

I grew up here at First Baptist Church Arlington. When I was three, I sang the song, "I Am A Promise." I still remember the words, "I am a promise. I am a possibility. I am a promise with a capital P. I am a great big bundle of potentiality. And if you listen, you can hear God's voice. And if you're trying, He'll help you make the right choice. 'Cause I'm a promise to be anything God wants me to be." What great lyrics to write on a little girl's heart. I've probably forgotten more than I can remember, but I have never forgotten those words and the TRUTH behind them.

At eight years old, I was sitting in Vacation Bible School. Dr. Wade was talking to us about Jesus. He told us how each of us were sinners and about how that sin resulted in brokenness and separation from God. He told us about Jesus. Jesus was God's Son and lived a perfect (sinless) life. Jesus died on the cross because He claimed to be the Messiah. He bore the penalty of death (the weight of our sin), and conquered death when He arose on the third day. He remained on the earth a short time, and then took His seat at the right-hand of God the Father until He will one day return. Jesus died for EVERY ONE of us. And Scripture tells us that if we confess with our mouths that 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God has raised from the dead, YOU will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NIV 1984)

I remember Dr. Wade gave an invitation for us to ask Jesus to come into our lives. I was so incredibly shy. I don't know what happened to the little girl who could stand on the steps and sing in front of everyone because this little eight year old was scared of her own shadow. But Dr. Wade extended the invitation. We sang, "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus." I remember every verse. I felt God tugging at my heart, and I stood frozen listening to the text of the song. Then, the song ended. I thought I had missed my chance. But Dr. Wade, sensitive to the Spirit as he was, said he felt like there was someone out there to whom Jesus was speaking. He said that he would pray a final prayer, and whoever that person was could just slip out the side door and meet him. I was that person! While he prayed, I quietly tiptoed past Mrs. Sondra Adair, and to the side door of the Sanctuary. I met Dr. Wade and Mrs. Waldrop and prayed to receive Christ that day. Jesus came to live in my heart, and my life will forever be changed.

My life has taken many twists and turns since then. I'd love to say that I've acted right every day since then. That would be a lie. But no matter what, I have NEVER DOUBTED the decision to FOLLOW JESUS. My faith has been tested, but never broken. I love the truth of the verse:
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (NIV1984) Christ is unbreakable.

As a matter of fact, looking at that 2 Corinthians passage just a few verses earlier, we have the reminder: v.6 For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Since eight years old, that light has never extinguished in my heart. I praise God today for the prayer I prayed almost thirty years ago. I praise God today for the hope that is found in Him. I praise God today for reconciliation. I praise God today for redemption. I praise God today for renewal.

My testimony is simple. But it is true. God made me His own, and I have been running the race ever since. I may have been lapped by others. I may have made a couple of wrong turns. I may have even fallen down a couple of times. But God, through His Son Jesus, lifted me up and even carried me when needed. He corrects my course daily as I seek Him. He surrounds me with people to lift me up, to hold me accountable and to love me.

What is your story? I'd love to hear it. Every believer has a story. Every story is unique.
Write me at emily.klophaus@fbca.org and tell me your story.

O Holy Night

2010-12-06T10:49:00.006-06:00

John 1:9-11 (NIV) says, "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him."

I love Christmas music. Well, let me back up...I like MOST Christmas music. There are some really BAD renditions of Christmas music out there (in my opinion). But there's something about hearing it, singing it, playing it. It's just different than any other type of music.

Last week, I bought the GLEE Christmas album. GLEE is not one of those shows that I would recommend--simply because I believe it has an agenda and its morals are not in line with what I'd want to promote. But, the talent of the cast is pretty incredible (if you like belting broadway singers, which I do). So, I buy a lot of their music.

As I listened, I was surprised by how much sacred Christmas music was on the cd. I even found it ironic that the Jewish girl in the cast was singing "O Holy Night." I wondered if they knew what that song was about when they had her sing it. I wondered if she knew she was singing about Jesus--the Jesus in the verses above. And, while I don't agree with the morals of the show, I was thrilled that the message of that song would be put out in the mainstream market. Millions of people will buy that album. Millions of people will hear that message. My prayer is that the text of that song will root itself in the hearts and minds of people who don't know Christ, and will cause them to seek Him.

"O Holy Night" is truly one of those unique songs. It grabs people's hearts. Two years ago, I was playing a job with a Muslim friend of mine. The choir on the job we were playing sang "O Holy Night". My Muslim friend thought it was the most beautiful piece he had ever heard. He had to leave the country shortly after that, but I've prayed often that he would hear that song again, and that the message would penetrate his heart.

Several years before that, I played in an orchestra where we played the most AWFUL arrangement of O Holy Night I'd ever heard. It was musically sub-standard in my opinion. But funny how God doesn't really care about my opinion on the quality of music. He used that evening, and that specific arrangement, to work on the heart of a neighboring violinist in the orchestra who broke down in tears before God after hearing that song. She hadn't been living right, and He convicted her and changed her heart through that song. It was a lesson to me that I need to be careful what I deem as "quality" and "sub-standard". The message is more important than the form, and God will use that message. He promises us that if we put His word out there, it will NOT come back void. (Isaiah 55:11)

Well, here's the abbreviated story of O Holy Night, and how it came about.

"Oh, Holy Night”, based on the poem “Cantique de Noel”, was written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847 in France. The song died out in France, but was discovered and translated into English by an American, John Sullivan Dwight. Being an abolitionist, the following verse really spoke to Dwight: “Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His Name all oppression shall cease.” The song achieved worldwide fame when Reginald Fessenden made the first broadcast over the airwaves on Christmas Eve. He read the Christmas story and then played “Oh, Holy Night” on his violin, thus becoming the first song ever heard via radio waves.

Since then, it has become a favorite of many, and one of the most beautiful carols sung during this season. Pray that songs like this will fall into open hearts who need to know Jesus. Then, pray that we will be sensitive enough to follow up and lead people to the Christ.

"In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." John 1:4 (NIV)

Obedience: The Least of These

2010-12-01T09:30:00.003-06:00

Last Friday, we began our drive home for Thanksgiving. It was a good Thanksgiving. We spent two days with my parents in their beautiful cabin in Glorieta. My Mom is one of the best cooks ever, so we had turkey and stuffing and cranberry sauce...and pumpkin pie and pecan pie... It was delicious.

The day after Thanksgiving, we had to come home because my husband was struggling with his back--so much so that he ate Thanksgiving dinner facedown in bed. So, Mom made my favorite leftovers for the road--turkey sandwiches--and we headed home.

If you've ever driven with me on a trip, you know that all I care about are four little words: "We made good time." This was my mission on Friday. My children were cramped in the car because Dennis had to lie down in his seat. Dennis was in intense pain. And I was the only driver. So I was anxious to get home!

As we were stopping for gas in Amarillo, something caught my eye. It was a man on the side of the road. He was sitting on the corner of the underpass with a sign that said, "I'm just hungry." I drove past him and into the gas station. But, as I pulled in to fill my car up with gas, Matthew 25:40 would not leave my mind, "...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

I paid for the gas and pulled out the lunches that Mom had made for everyone. I gave the kids and Dennis their lunches, but I couldn't eat mine. MY FAVORITE SANDWICH was in that bag and I couldn't even open it. I looked back at that underpass with the man and his sign. I wasn't hungry--I don't know hunger. Not many of us do. I pulled back around and pulled up to him and gave him the sandwich and a bottled water and dessert. He jumped up with a BIG smile on his face and ran over to the car and thanked us. This former statue on the side of the road came to life over the prospect of a leftover turkey sandwich.

As I drove away, I realized how desensitized I've become to people in need. I wondered how many people I drive by daily who are asking for help. I wondered how many times I could have helped someone, but was simply to self-centered to notice them or their need. I was ashamed that it this was just a sandwich, yet I had the spiritual battle of whether or not to be obedient rise up within me. My prayer quickly became, "God, please make me more sensitive to Your Spirit--to Your people."

I began to reflect on who Jesus was/is. Jesus is light. He came into a dark world, and he lit up this world! John 8:12 (NIV1984) says,
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

But following Jesus doesn't just mean paying lip service. It means following in His steps, imitating His actions, growing in relationship with the Father. It means denying our very nature--our self-centeredness, our greed, our comfort -- and taking up our cross and following Him.

This Advent season, our theme is Jesus Christ: Light of the World. We have the opportunity to share that light in this world. As you go through this season, ask God to make you more aware. Ask Him to help you be obedient to His leading. Ask Him to consider "the least of these".

There are so many in need. We have such an opportunity to make a difference in the darkness of this world. Ulitimately, this is my prayer for all of us this season:
"Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:16 (NIV1984)

Let Your Light Shine

2010-11-30T17:00:00.005-06:00

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed and exasperated? That was my house this morning. Abby couldn't find her report card. She has gone almost a month without getting signed at school. She's really worked hard to do right this year, and she's matured so much. But, without that signed report card, she was going to get her name signed on her behavior report.

She was beside herself. She asked me where I put it (of course, it was all MY fault that it was missing). I told her it was exactly where I had left it when I told her to put it in her backpack -- on the dashboard of my car. She couldn't find it. She came in and threw an absolute crying fit (HIGH DRAMA!). Now, I know nothing like this ever happens at your houses, so don't judge! :)

Well, after about five minutes, I finally went out to the car, and sure enough, the report card was right where I said it was. I handed it to her and told her to put it IN her backpack. She continued to blame me for having "moved" it. Then, she went on to tell me all of the other things that were my fault. I took it for about a minute, and then said, "Okay, Abby. I realize that you are starting off rough this morning. So, go ahead...give me your best shot. Think of all of the things that you could possibly blame me for, and I'm going to stand here and just take it." Her tears immediately changed from ones of exasperation to ones of remorse. She sobbed as she grabbed me and hugged me and apologized. In that moment, she realized that she hadn't been treating me right. That tender, beautiful heart came out through the tears of my precious daughter. We hugged, and then dried the tears, and then she went on to school with a smile on her face.

I thought about that after she left this morning. That's what I did to Jesus. I cast all of the blame on him. He took the brunt of all of my sin. He carried the burden of my temper tantrums and poor choices and disobedience.

My prayer this afternoon was that God would make me more sensitive to His Spirit. We are filled with so much junk. We permit ourselves to act so badly sometimes. We get overwhelmed with life, and let the junk spill out instead of the light.

But, Jesus was light. He came into a dark world, and he lit this world on fire! John 8:12 (NIV1984) says,
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

This Advent season, we sing about light. Jesus Christ: Light of the World. We have the opportunity to share that light in this world. As you go through this season, ask God to make you more aware. Sometimes, as in Abby's & my case, that's all you need -- that gentle reminder.

This is my prayer for all of us this season:
"Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:16 (NIV1984)

Pick Me!

2010-11-09T21:48:00.005-06:00

Tonight was a night filled with tears. My son came home...cut from the basketball team. This kid LOVES to play basketball. He was crushed. He was angry. And the tears flowed.

Of course, as a parent, I wanted to sympathize and tell him how rotten and stupid the coaches were. But the fact of the matter is, there is no basis for that statement. I haven't seen the tryouts. I don't know the criteria of the coaches. I don't know what they saw or didn't see in players. I don't know what my son's attitude was toward them. What I know is that he was hurt, and when he hurts, I hurt!

Last week, our Pastor shared a passage of scripture with us. God, as usual was working way ahead of us. He knew I needed this scripture fresh on my mind. It is from Ephesians, Chapter 1.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
--Ephesians 1:3-10 (NIV1984)

Read that passage again, beginning verse 4, and note the verbs used:

*He chose us
*He predistined us (adopted us)
*He has freely given to us the One
*He has lavished grace upon us
*He has made known to us Himself -- He reveals Himself to us and does not hide from us
*He brings unity to all things under Christ

This is a powerful section of scripture showing us our place in this world. My favorite verb in this passage is Chose. The GOD OF THE UNIVERSE CHOSE US! Let that sink in a moment.

There wasn't much I could say to comfort my son, or ease his ego about his basketball skills. But, I could let him know his place in this world--as an adopted (chosen) child of God. Junior High coaches may not have chosen him, but the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE did. God wants my son on his team. God wants my son as a part of His Kingdom work. He chose him. He chose me. He chose you!

When I read this passage with my son, and showed him those verbs--God not just watching from afar, but taking real action--his tears change from tears of sadness and sorrow to tears of thankfulness and deep-seeded joy.

All of us have disappointments in life. All of us are excluded at some point by some group. All of us experience doubts about ourselves and our abilities. When things like this happen, just read this passage, and be reminded of your place in this world -- child of God!

John 15:11 (NIV)
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

LOVE: Building Significant Spiritual Relationships

2010-11-08T14:58:00.003-06:00

This week, I was riding in the car with a friend of mine. We were on our way to play a “gig” in Ft. Worth. She is an incredible Christian woman, and we were talking about a conversation she recently had.

She walked into a small shop in Arlington to sign her daughters up for sewing lessons. After talking with the woman for a short time, she made the comment, “Well God has certainly blessed you.” The woman immediately informed her that she didn’t believe in God. My friend immediately found herself in a spiritual conversation without even expecting it or preparing for it. But, she had the opportunity to witness to this woman. The woman didn’t accept Christ, but she did hug my friend and said she looks forward to future conversations as my friend brings her daughters for sewing lessons.

Sunday evening, several of the kids in the youth choir were telling me what God was doing in their lives. One girl – who almost never says a word – came and found me after rehearsal. She wanted to share with me what God was doing. God placed her next to a boy in one of her classes who claims to be an atheist. She has had the opportunity to have many spiritual conversations with this young man. Through time, he’s come to respect her and has told her so. She had tears in her eyes as she told me her fear that she isn’t going to know all the answers or say the right thing. I reminded her that God placed her there for a purpose and He would give her the words. It wasn’t about who she is, it’s about who God is.

LOVE – this is one of our growth areas. I’ll bet you expected me to say “SHARE”. But really, it all starts with LOVE. In both of these situations, it is going to take time to build a significant spiritual relationship. It takes time to earn trust and respect. But both of these women were available for God to use them—even when they weren’t expecting it, and maybe felt less than prepared.

We have an opportunity this week right here on our own campus to build significant spiritual relationships – to LOVE. On Monday, November 15th, we expect to have between 75 and 100 students from UTA here to hear Music Mondays with UTA. I would like to encourage you all to be here to meet them and support them. It’s a wonderful opportunity to love on them, to begin to build relationships with both students and faculty members. If you are available and willing, please come at 12:15 (or a little early to visit) and stay afterward to host these students and faculty for lunch. The recital only lasts 30 minutes.

If you can’t be here, please join me in praying for this opportunity. Also, please join me in praying for the four individuals I mentioned above – that the believers will be faithful to love, and that God will soften and change the hearts of the unbelievers.

1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

Living Sacrifice

2010-11-01T17:22:00.002-05:00

Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
I’ve been thinking about those words: Living Sacrifice. Sacrifice is not something that is natural for most Westerners. Most of us complain if the room is too hot or too cold, or if the food isn’t to our taste.

I was talking to my daughter the other day about how there are people in the world who don’t have food to eat. She said, “Why don’t we just buy them some food?” I told her the story of when I was in Cuba. It was shortly after a hurricane had hit the island. When I was picked up from the airport, I was picked up in an un-air-conditioned van that had huge holes in the floor (we suspended our feet as we drove). The man who picked us up told us that part of his daily routine was walking into town to see if there was food that day. If there was, they ate. If there wasn’t, they went hungry. I told him I’d buy him and his family some food. We stopped at every little town, and I offered my money. The problem wasn’t money—it was that there was no food. It was my first experience seeing people literally praying for food each day. As we went throughout the week, God provided rice and plantain for us each day. The last day, the family killed their rooster for us to eat. It was their sacrifice—their offering—to us to thank us for discipling them in the faith.

I say this, because we are such creatures of comfort. I’ve been convicted about this lately. Here is the question I have asked myself when I worship: “What have I sacrificed today for the Lord?” “What is my offering?” It may be something as simple as spending time away from the television and in the Word. It may be practicing for a rehearsal more so I can be adequately prepared to rehearse players and singers to lead worship. It may be denying myself something so I can give more generously to others. But, the Bible tells us clearly that we are to be “living sacrifices”. What does this mean? Here’s verse 2:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The key is transformation. We need to be growing in the Jesus Way every day. This requires submission, surrender, study, and yes, sacrifice.

As we approach worship this Sunday, we are singing a new song called “Awakening” by Chris Tomlin. Before we can begin to ignite this world for Christ, we first need a revival in our own souls. That’s what this song calls for. Here are the lyrics. I urge you to meditate on these as you prepare for Worship this Sunday. Pray for awakening in your heart…in your city…in your nation…in this world.

In our hearts, Lord, in this nation
awakening.
Holy Spirit, we desire
awakening

For You and You alone
awake my soul; awake my soul, and sing.
For the world You love
Your will be done, let Your will be done in me.

From the Inside Out

2010-10-28T16:50:00.003-05:00

This week, as I was beginning my youth band rehearsal, I had a kid (not in the band) say to me, "I need a minute to talk to you." I stopped and asked him what was up. He said, "You've been asking us what God is doing in our lives. I just wanted to tell you what He's doing in mine." We visited for a moment. It was great to hear about how He was listening to God's direction for his life. God was doing some great things in this young man's life, and he was so eager to share.

About 15 minutes later, we actually began rehearsal. We were halfway through a piece--just a normal rehearsal. Once of the players said, "Can we just stop and pray?" We stopped immediately and prayed. This young man felt the leading of the LORD to focus us and focus our hearts.

About an hour later, my youth choir came in. If you've ever been in a youth choir rehearsal, you may think it's complete chaos. I'll admit, there is that element. We began to sing. We were singing the song, "From the Inside Out". We got to the point in the song when it says, "My heart and my soul, I give You control. Consume me from teh inside out, Lord." I felt like we were just paying lip service. We stopped. We took a moment to pray. I asked them to focus on the things that they would praise God for right in that moment. Then, we sang the song again--not paying lip service this time, but worshiping from our hearts.

It was a POWERFUL afternoon of worship--probably one I'll never forget. These kids were so open, so unashamed before the Lord.

I went home, and read a story about the great violinist Joshua Bell. it said that Bell recently performed an experiment where he went into a Washington, D. C. metro station unannounced. He took his 1713 Strad violin (worth millions) and began to play the top pieces in his repertoire. A thousand people went by, and nobody recoginzed him or his talent, nor did they recognize the craftsmanship of the instrument. Finally, one woman recognized who he was and stopped to listen.

The point of the story was that, too often, we are so busy getting from one place to another that we are unaware of God's presence. We pass up so many opportunities with Him. The author used the passage from Matthew 11.

"Let him who has ears hear. To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance...'" Matthew 11:15-17 (NIV)

This was a wakeup call to me. I don't want to miss the Master playing for me. I don't want to miss a single opportunity to sit in His presence and learn.

WORSHIP. Take a moment to focus on these words to "From the Inside Out" by Hillsong.

A thousand times I've failed, still Your mercy remains.
And should I stumble again, still I'm caught in Your grace.

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades.
Neverending, Your glory goes beyond all fame.

My heart and my soul I give You control.
Consume me from the inside out, Lord.
Let justice and praise become my embrace, to love You from the inside out.

Your will above all else, my purpose remains,
the art of losing myself in bringing You praise.

When was the last time you heard His voice? When was the last time you lost yourself in praising Him? Find some time this week. Lose yourself in praise. It was amazing to me, as I began praising Him how my needs became so small, and the LORD -- His sovereignty, His grace, His provision, His greatness -- overwhelmed me. We worship THE Almighty God! What a privilege.

Imitate Me!

2010-10-28T16:27:00.003-05:00

I'm reading a fantastic, challenging book right now by Bob Roberts, Jr. called Transformation. Transformation is a word we're going to be hearing a lot about. As a matter of fact, it is our (FBCA) theme for 2011. Our Pastor will be further unpacking the growth areas we've adopted as he teaches us how to be "Transformed along THE WAY."

Roberts talks a lot about how to measure spiritual growth. He issues a corporate challenge early on in his book. He says (p.24), "When people say the name of your church and the church you attend or in which you serve, what do they think? May it be that we love God with all our beings and are trying to live transparent lives of integrity. May they see us giving out all that we have and all that we are."

As I read this, I thought about our church and what people would say. I believe that, thanks to 150 years of healthy people that have gone before and healthy leadership now, many positive things would be said. But, then I took it a step further. "May it be that we love God with all our beings and are trying to live transparent lives of integrity." That statement hit me close to home. What facades do I put on? What areas of my life am I keeping hidden because I'm not fully walking the Jesus Way? This challenging word has caused me pause. It's caused me to re-evaluate some of the things in my life.

What would someone see if they looked into your everyday, unguarded life? Would they see someone who reflected Christ? We know that we are supposed to be like Christ. Ephesians 5:1 tells us, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." I often think about imitating Christ -- or the proverbial phrase, What Would Jesus Do? -- and, so often, I talk myself outof being Christ-like because, after all, none of us are expected to be perfect. Christ is the only perfect one who ever walked the earth, and the only one who ever will. What a cop-out on my part! Someone said recently that many of us [Christians] have learned how to "manage" sin. They said, "We believe it's okay to be a responsible sinner." In other words, as long as we're not committing the BIG sins, we're really okay, right? Our little sins don't really affect anyone, do they?

But Paul issues us (imperfect, human journeymen) a challenge of his own. He says in 1 Corinthians 4:16, "I urge you to imitate me." Is that something that you can say to others? Is that something I can say? People DO imitate us whether we say it or not. They imitate our compassion (or lack thereof). They imitate our commitment (or lack thereof). They imitate the way we love others, relate with others, etc. People watch and imitate.

Bob Roberts issues this challenge to us: "We [the Western church] talk about the qualifications for ministry in terms of education, ordination, rules, and regulations. However, isn't the main qualification for ministry the ability for a person to say, 'Imitate me'? Not that they are perfect, but that they are willing to live their lives as examples for others." (p.27)

Okay Bob & Paul...way to throw down a challenge! Is what I am doing, how I am living my life, how I love others, how I love God worth imitating?

I attended Barry Rock's class at DBU this past week, and here was one of the things he said. "The greatest problem in worship today is personal godliness. Worship means NOTHING apart from a transformed life." I believe he's right. I believe we (and I say this as a guilty party) find ways to justify or overlook our sin, and therefore stunt our growth as Christians and our ability to lead others along The Way.

This Sunday, we are participating in the Lord's Supper. Before the Lord's Supper begins, we have built in a small time of confession. Don't wait until Sunday. Find some time this week in your personal time with the Lord and lay yourself wide open. See what transformation He desires to take place in your life. Make it your prayer to be able one day to stand up in front of others and say these radical words, "Imitate me."

Transition

2009-05-27T08:23:00.001-05:00

The last six weeks of my life have been a whirlwind. I did something that I usually don't do--I took on a 6 week gig that involved 8 shows a week (in all my spare time). I realized this would be a sacrifice for my family, but I also knew it would be a great musical experience, and would really stretch me. It did all of that. It met and exceeded every earthly expectation that I had. What was most amazing, though, were the unexpected blessings.

I had time every day in the drive back and forth to Dallas to think. I spent a lot of time praying, visioning for the future, thinking about relationships. It was time needed and well spent for me. But the most unexpected blessing came the last day of the show. Someone said to me, "I've been praying for you every day for the last 6 weeks--for your safety on the road." That blew me away. I felt so incredibly blessed to have that person in my life.

As I thought about that, I thought about all of our seniors that are graduating over the next few weeks. I looked through the beautiful program that David McDurham did for this weekend, and saw so many faces that I have prayed over for the last 18 years. It was a reminder to me that prayer is so important. It is foundational. It is heard. It is powerful. God is faithful to answer our prayers. I looked through the pages and saw the lives that He had transformed over the years. I saw lives that He had brought through great hardship. I saw lives that He had matured well beyond their years. I saw lives that He has just taken hold of. Beautiful children of God.

This morning's WOG4POG reading in Deuteronomy 31 takes place during a transitional time in the life of the Israelites. As I read, I thought about our graduates, and how they must have some of the same emotions and fears that Israel had. They've journeyed. They've at times wandered. They've followed. Now, they have to cross over into the next phase of life. But, I was comforted that we don't go alone. Moses says, "The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you." He does that at every transition point in our life. He is always ahead of us!

So, as we approach this transitional time, take time to pray for one another. Take time to evaluate the transitions taking place in your life. Turn over the fears and the doubts and the uncertainties to Him. Write Moses' words on your heart:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified...for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

Find Us Faithful

2009-01-20T17:12:00.002-06:00

Last week, my son got in the car and absolutely fell apart. When I asked him what was wrong, he said he was afraid he was going to have a B in math. Now, I’m not a “check every grade”, “has to make straight A’s” parent. I don’t have regular teacher conferences—as a matter of fact I don’t know that I’ve ever had a teacher conference about grades. I’m probably too “hands off”. I had noticed that he had trouble with some of his papers, so, quite honestly, it didn’t come as a shock to me that he might make a B. But he was devastated.

I think sometimes we get so caught up in perfection. Perfection is something that is impossible to achieve this side of Heaven, yet we still get discouraged when we fall short. For my son, every college scholarship, honors class, and award was fleeting before his eyes. Ridiculous, right? But that was how he felt. For us, it may be as simple as getting behind in our daily readings for The Word of God for the People of God, and giving up because you can’t catch up. Or, maybe you don’t feel like coming to rehearsal, and don’t think anyone will really notice, or that your voice or instrument will really matter if it’s missing. Or, maybe you have fallen at some point in your life, and you feel you can never be useful to God’s Kingdom again. These are ways that satan steps in and discourages us from being faithful in our service to God.

David is one my favorite heroes of the faith. He failed time and time again, but he sought God. He didn’t just seek Him halfway—he sought him full out. He sought God with an uninhibited passion matched by no one else in scripture. David was also skilled. He dedicated his talents to the LORD. He played and wrote psalms of praise to God, using his gifts and skills. And God blessed him. David’s “heartsongs” to God have stood the test of time and exist even now to bless us, to minister to us during times of difficulty and to use as prayers and praises to Him. A perfect life? No. A life that mattered to the Kingdom of God? Absolutely!

So, what is required of us?

Jim Cowan wrote a song, “When It’s All Been Said and Done”. Here’s a portion of the text:

When it's all been said and done
There is just one thing that matters
Did I do my best to live for truth
Did I live my life for You?

My son was really upset last week. I couldn’t do anything to fix his grade…that time had come and gone. But, I asked him one simple question: “Did you do your best?” He could honestly say he had. I hugged him, and told him, “Then, that’s all you can do. It’s going to be okay.”

Only one perfect man walked this earth. Aren’t you glad He did?

Lord, thank You for loving us, imperfect as we are. Thank You for sending the One and Only to live a perfect life, and bear the weight of all of our shortcomings. Thank You for molding us and shaping us into who You desire for us to be, even when we fail You. Encourage us. Find us faithful.

Living Life

2009-01-14T08:55:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, in our Staff Meeting, Ricky C delivered our staff devotional. He was talking about our responsibility as Christians to live holy lives—set apart. Here’s what he said, “We are to live lives separate from the world, but not isolated from it.”

That is something that as a follower of Christ and as a Christian parent I am trying to balance. This past weekend, we had a wonderful time of retreat with our Praise Team members. We didn’t talk a lot about music. We didn’t focus on calendaring. We retreated. We spent time in the Word and with the Word. We carved out just a few hours for God to speak to us about living life. It was an incredible time together. I want to share with you all one of the passages that we studied.

2 Chronicles 14:2
Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.

As I read that, I was amazed. Can you imagine God inspiring someone to write that statement about me or you? What an honor that those words about Asa exist for all time! Here’s what Asa did. He was King of Judah. He removed foreign altars, he commanded Judah to seek the LORD. Here’s what 2 Chronicles 14-15 says about Asa. Azariah came to see Asa, and old him basically the following things:

Live right & serve God
You are surrounded by nations crushing nations. You are surrounded by turmoil on every side. Don’t cave into what you see others doing, but lead YOUR nation to seek God.

This is a very contemporary thought! This is something that we encounter every day as Christians. We are surrounded by worldliness. Think about that and how it applies to your families. In your jobs, do you see backstabbing? How about your children’s sports or school activities? What about your neighbors? How many of your children’s friends still live in a home with both their mother and father? We are surrounded by nations crushing nations even today! So here is our challenge, too, from Azariah’s lips:

Live right & serve God
Don’t cave into what you see others doing, but lead YOUR household to seek God

Easier said than done, right? But Asa obeyed and did it. Read with me 2 Chronicles 15:12-15, 17

They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side…Asa's heart was fully committed [to the LORD] all his life.

Asa’s heart was FULLY COMMITTED to the Lord all his life. WOW!
How do we follow Asa’s example? It’s a journey. But, God tells us in Colossians 3 how to live:

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

It’s a journey that we’ll be on for the rest of our lives. And, we’re going to have failures along the way. It doesn’t happen overnight. And satan will use every opportunity to discourage you, derail you, demoralize you. Don’t let him. Stay attached. Know that YOU make a difference. You are important to this ministry and to the believers around you. You are a blessed child of God!

My closing prayer for us is this…taken from the last few verses of Colossians 3:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Glorify Your Name

2009-01-06T22:34:00.001-06:00

Paul Baloche wrote a song recently entitled "Your Name". This song has been so meaningful to me as I've read through the Psalms in "The Word of God for the People of God" over the past few months, as so many of the images in this song come from the Psalms. Below is the text:

As morning dawns and evening fades
You inspire songs of praise
That rise from earth to touch Your heart
and glorify Your Name

CHORUS
Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save but Your Name

Jesus, in Your Name we pray
Come and fill our hearts today
Lord, give us strength to live for You
and glorify Your Name

This Advent, I had more time than ever to meditate, praise and be nourished in the Word. It has been an amazing time for me personally. I want to thank each of you for the blessing that you are to me in my life and ministry here. I wouldn't have had that time had it not been for your hard work, preparation, giftedness, willingness, flexibility, love, service and godliness. From hearing the TMS musical, to seeing the brass play at Mission Arlington (with the guy covered in tattoos leading the sing-along), to the fun of Family Night to the blessing of the Youth Choir singing "Glory in the Highest", I felt the presence of God like no other Advent. I know that the Christmas season can be a hectic time, but for this one person on this journey alongside you, it was truly blessed. Thank you!

As we move into this new year, I want to encourage you in the following things:
1. Stay connected. One great way to stay connected is simply to be here every time you are able.
2. Stay rooted in the Word. If you haven't been reading the daily readings our Pastor has laid out for us in The Word of God for the People of God, start with today's reading. It has already been an amazing journey for my family. I know it will bless you as well.
3. Encourage one another. As you have the opportunity, drop someone an email or call them and check in on them. Or, simply take time to thank someone who has blessed you.
4. Pray for one another and for this church. Pray that people will remain faithful during this difficult economic time. Pray for continued health and unity within the church. Pray that we will grow deeper and glorify God through our daily lives.

Jesus, in Your Name we pray
Come and fill our hearts today
Lord, give us strength to live for You
and glorify Your Name

Hope!

2008-11-24T23:52:00.004-06:00

"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah." v. 33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34

Years of prophecy, followed by years of silence. Can you imagine those 400 years of silence? Waiting? The people of God waited in anticipation of a Savior, and when He came, many didn't even recognize Him. After all, he came to a carpenter and his wife. He came in the middle of the night in a stable. He lay on a bed of straw. He was surrounded by animals, and shepherds. There were no trumpets sounding, or fine linens. It was just a plain, ordinary night. That was the night our Savior chose to enter this world. After 400 years of silence, here's what John says:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. v.9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. v. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1-5, 9 and 14

There is something transcendent about the Gospel. It's such a simple story--one which prophets foretold for generations. One which has been passed down through generations in the church. But it's not just a story...it's an account of something that really happened. One ordinary night, the Word became flesh in a stable. The lowliest of places, the King of the world was born.

Read that opening scripture from Jeremiah again. I love that promise from Jeremiah. As a believer and a child of God, I cling to that promise--that His grace is sufficient for me. He will not forget His covenant--the new covenant through Christ. But it wasn't a covenant He made just with Israel. He made that covenant with all (Colossians 1:27). God chose to make known "the glorious mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

That is our message this Advent: Christ = hope.

I have a relative whom I love dearly. He is an atheist. He makes fun of the Church. He has dealt with all kinds of physical problems from birth. He's lived a challenging life. He's skeptical and cynical, and a brainiac who doesn't believe in anything he can't define or understand. Several Christmases ago, we were at his house. He had nativities all over the place. We were sitting at the dinner table, and I was commenting on all of his nativities. I asked him why he had all of the nativities (knowing that he's an atheist). He said, "I just can't help but think there must have been something really special about that night." It's funny--whether this relative realized it or not, even the most proclaimed athiests at some level can't deny Him.

Wise words from a non-believer. That night fulfilled prophesies...the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Our hope. Our deliverer.

People long for hope. People long for purpose. People long for something more meaningful than their finite minds can understand. We have the opportunity this Advent season to share with them the hope in Christ. Share your story. People are hungry, and listening.

Lord, You promise us that where we proclaim Your Word, it will not come back void. I pray right now that you will burden us with the names of people who need to know You. Give us the opportunity and courage to share you with a world that is in such need of Hope. Remember Your children, remember Your promise. We know that Your grace is enough. Allow us to reflect Your light and Your glory this season.

One Pure and Holy Passion

2008-11-18T17:57:00.004-06:00

Election season is over. Do you just breathe a sigh of relief? No more political ads. No more evening phone calls from candidate call lists. No more political Facebook statuses.

I can remember not too long ago that I was sitting in my den listening to political pundits spin their candidates' tax plans. Both of them were misrepresenting the facts and figures. I began to talk back to the TV as they presented their side saying, "That doesn't make sense. That can't be true..." things to that effect. I finally hit pause on the TV, grabbed a pen and paper and began scribbling. After several minutes of running figures of both tax plans, I looked back up at the face of the paused pundit and rather agitatedly said, "Did you not learn math as a kid? Do the American people really buy your misrepresentations? Doesn't anyone know how to do simple math anymore?" About that time, I realized that my 11-year-old son was staring up at me from his book. He looked rather bewildered at why I was yelling at the TV about math. I think he thought his Mom had completely lost it. I looked at him and said emphatically, "Ben, this is why you need to learn math!" Okay, so me screaming at the TV probably wasn't the best way to get my son excited about his math homework. But my actions boiled over from this passion inside that had to get to the "truth" behind the "spin".

I've thought in recent days about how passionate I was about that issue, and, quite honestly, it made me a little ashamed. It made me wonder, "Do I show that same kind of passion in pursuing my Lord?" "Am I ever complacent about my walk with God?" "Do I miss opportunities to share the Gospel because my passions are divided?" As I was pondering these questions, I came across lyrics from the song "One Pure and Holy Passion", written by Mark Altrogge:

Give me one pure and holy passion. Give me one magnificent obsession. Give me one glorious ambition for my life: To know and follow hard after You, to grow as Your disciple in the Truth. This world is empty, pale, and poor compared to knowing You, my Lord. Lead me on and I will run after You.

We are blessed to have a Pastor who pursues his one pure and holy passion: Jesus Christ. He is getting ready to lead us on a two-year journey through the Scriptures. Next week, we will begin "The Word of God for the People of God". As we prepare to embark upon this journey together, I am praying that God will continue to cultivate that passion in me. How much more important it is for me to digest the Scriptures and learn Biblical principles than test political pundits and yell at the TV! I can't change politics. But I can help change this world for Christ, one relationship at a time. I have never been more excited about being in the Word as I am today. I can't wait to see all that God has to teach us along our journey through the Word.

"Lord, Lead me on, and I will run after You!"

Jeremiah 15:16
"When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear Your name, O LORD God Almighty."

Why do you stand here looking into the sky?

2008-11-05T10:40:00.001-06:00

I have been working through the New Testament using Warren Wiersbe’s “Be…” series. Right now, I’m in Acts, using Wiersbe’s accompanying material “Be Dynamic”. I love that word dynamic! That is something that I am not, but have always strived to be. I’m comfortable behind the scenes—but not with being “out there”. But what he’s talking about is not an “in your face” kind of “dynamic”, but rather the motivating kind.

In the first 11 verses of Acts, we read about Jesus’ ascension into Heaven and the promise of His return. We hear the challenge of going into “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth” with the Gospel. But after that, two men dressed in white suddenly appear, and they ask this question of those witnessing Jesus’ ascension: “Why do you stand here looking into the sky?”

That phrase hit me. So often, we as Christians become paralyzed. It’s so easy to get bogged down in all of the junk and not have clear direction, and end up stagnant. Or, it’s easy to be looking at ONLY the eternal, that we’re paralyzed here in the present. I think that’s what the disciples thought. Their Savior and Lord disappeared into the sky…but they knew He was coming back. If I were standing there, I’d probably just want to sit down and wait. But, the two men in white prompted them into action.

Here’s what Wiersbe has to say about this passage in Acts. Leading up to this event:
“Jesus did not rebuke them when they “kept asking” about the future Jewish kingdom. After all, He had opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, so they knew what they were asking. But God has not revealed His timetable to us and it is futile for us to speculate. The important thing is not to be curious about the future, but to be busy in the present, sharing the message of God’s spiritual kingdom.”

Waking up this morning, with a new administration, with uncertainties about the economy and with all of the concerns that each of us has individually, this was a timely thought from Wiersbe. It is not important to be curious about the future, but busy in the here and now.

We have so much work to do, so many relationships to build, so many to share the Gospel with. We should each feel a sense of urgency, and a call to action. Just like the men in white implied…don’t just stand here, get moving! There’s a whole world who needs to know the love of the Savior that we already know and love!

This month is Missions Month in our church. We will hear testimonies and be challenged about spreading the Gospel. After that, in December, we begin an EXCITING ADVENTURE through the scripture – The Word of God for the People of God. Our Pastor has developed a 2 year walk through the scriptures for our church. God has AMAZING things in store for our future. Let’s put our feet to the plow and stay faithful everyday in our service to Him. Remember that you all are the FIRST TOUCHES with people as they come into corporate worship. You are important and you have purpose! It’s going to be a wild ride!

CELEBRATE

2008-10-27T17:45:00.005-05:00

"Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee, and out of Zion's hills salvation comes!"

Robin Mark's Days of Elijah is a song of celebration for our church, and for believers world-wide. Sunday morning was a time of celebration for me. During that worship time, we had the largest orchestra all 3 services that we've ever had on a Sunday morning. I had to pull in chairs for the 8:00 service!!!! It was awesome. Then, as we sang that song, I had the blessed privilege of sitting in front of Aiden J. Aiden is 7, and he doesn't just sing, he belts it. He praises God with his WHOLE self. Everyone should have the opportunity at some point in time to just sit in front of that sweet voice and join in their voice in lifting praise to Jesus.

That was the beginning to an entire day of celebration. Sometimes as Christians, we are so task oriented that once we complete one task, we are off to the next task. Today, I just want to bask in God's glory and CELEBRATE.

Sunday night, we had thousands on our campus for our first annual FirstFest. The sounds, smells and sights were amazing! Little kids in costumes laughing and playing filled the area. A sea of orange shirts from the over 500 volunteers covered the grounds. Hamburgers, coffee, bratwurst...the smell of good food was accompanied by the long lines of people anxious to get a taste! The sounds of praise filled the Levitt Pavilion as the Jeff Johnson band took the stage, and over 1500 worshiped. It was awesome!

Here were some of the stories from that night alone; five reasons among many others that I celebrate today:

1. I was monitoring one of the bounce houses, and a little girl yelled my name from across the grass. She was so excited to see me. I didn't remember ever seeing her before, but I knelt down to talk to her, and asked her to remind me of her name. She reminded me and told me that she comes to VBS every year with her cousins and that I was her music teacher at VBS. She was so excited to see me, and she wanted me to meet her Mom. Connection.

2. Again, I was standing next to a bounce house, and I recognized a name of a person. He was a brand new Christian. I had never met him before, but had seen his name, and knew that he and his wife had been visiting. I introduced myself. He was overwhelmed by all that was going on and how amazing it was. He told me how much this church meant to him and his family-- "I love this place!" Excitement.

3. I walked around to the games area. The sight was amazing. People of all ages were working together to hand out prizes and facilitate the games. I saw a woman in her 70s working with 3 teenagers that she probably had never met before that night. They were having so much fun together, interacting, and made it so much fun for the kids that came up to their booth. It was a glorious picture of the body of Christ. Community.

4. I talked to a young mother. This young mother recently started a blog of her faith journey. I had been reading it, and thanked her for sharing her faith--for being willing to step out there and risk telling her story. She said, "I just feel like everything in my life should be pointing people to Jesus." She wasn't just saying that because she was at church. She and her husband have made a transforming life change, and they are passionately and "on the edge" living out an authentic life in Christ, and willing for the whole world to see if it will in some way point someone to God! Authenticity.

5. One of our faithful teenagers was listening to the concert. A friend of his who became a Christian recently was listening to the music with him. That friend leaned over and thanked this young man for "saving his life". He told him that he was instrumental in leading him to Christ, and thanked him for being that person in his life who wasn't afraid to point him to Jesus. Transformation.

What an incredible glimpse of the Body of Christ. There are so many more stories of celebration. Young and aged, new believers and seasoned ones: God is at work in this place!

Thank You, Father, for all of the stories of celebration. Thank You for how You work in each person's life. Help us all to be transformed daily and live lives of authenticity that point people to You. Help us to connect with our neighbors and our friends and form lasting relationships that can only be attributed to You. Thank You for this community of believers. Thank You for giving us a day of true celebration! We owe it all to You!

Practice

2008-10-21T17:47:00.004-05:00

What do you think of when you hear the word "practice"?
Practice Makes Perfect?
Practice What You Preach?

Saturday morning at 8:30, this was the scene at our household: Dennis was getting to sleep in for the first time in a long time. Abby was watching cartoons. I was sorting laundry. Ben was in the front room practicing his cello for All-Region. I heard him practicing the same thing over and over again, and it sounded great. So, I told him to move on to something harder.

8:45 Ben is in tears practicing his cello, saying, "I just can't play this." Abby was in the front room playing his piece on the piano (showing him up) and I was ripping my hair out because they were both fighting because she was distracting him. At that moment he hated the cello, All-Region, and especially his sister! So much for a peaceful Saturday morning!

8:50 I got Abby settled back down watching cartoons, and sat down with Ben to work with him on his music. First, I told him he needed to set attainable goals for that practice time. Playing something once through and expecting perfection is not an attainable goal. I also explained to him that music is never going to be perfect --it's an extension of us. We will never play something the same way twice. So, rather than set a goal of perfection, I encouraged him to set a broad goal of excellence, but also map out the daily goals necessary to achieve that excellence in his music. So, we decided to focus on an A major scale. After several minutes of breaking things down and working on one thing at a time, he started making major improvements, the tears stopped flowing, and once again, we were enjoying our Saturday morning.

I started thinking about his practice time, and I thought, "We are that way with God. We want to work on the things that are easy for us, and don't want to tackle the hard things". We tend to define the "hard" things as those things that we can't immediately perfect--things that don't come naturally to us. These things become discouraging to us, if we let them, and we often abandon them.

It's kind of like being on a diet. If you select a diet that is radical and unsustainable, you'll lose a lot of weight short term, and gain it all back and more in the long haul. Then, you're usually more discouraged than before you started the initial diet because you've tried and failed. I think we tend to be that way in our Christian walks. We burn brightly, often out of our own strength, and fail to plug into God's power and keep our eyes fixed on His guidance and direction. Soon, our strength gives out, we realize that we are farther from God than when we started, and we get discouraged. Many people fall away simply because of this pattern of behavior.

Here's the cool part, though--God doesn't expect us to be perfect. And especially not the first time! He's given us a whole life to walk that journey, and has made it clear that perfection is not something attainable this side of Heaven. The only one who ever walked this earth and was perfect was Jesus. Whew! Now, that doesn't give us license to be intentionally disobedient...let's face it...sin is sin. But, what Scripture does tell us is that He wants us to keep walking, keep trying, and continue to be refined. He wants us to set goals, keep our eyes fixed on Him and put our full weight behind attaining those goals.

In Hebrews Chapter 11, the author paints for us a beautiful picture of the faith of all of saints that have walked before us -- real, live, flesh and blood people. He opens Chapter 12 with this statement:
Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.

We cannot attain perfection. But the One who sits at the right hand of God did attain it. All we have to do is set our eyes on Him-- Jesus, the One and Only-- and keep putting one foot in front of the other until the day that our story joins those of the saints that have gone before. So, practice...daily, joyfully and with all of your heart!

Lord, thank You for sending Your Son to model life for us. Thank You for sending Your Word to act as an encouragement as well as an instruction book for our lives. Thank You for living in communion with us daily, that we might turn to You for direction on this grand journey. Help us to continue to daily put into practice the things that will draw us and others nearer to You.

DI+S#T^RA&C+T^I%O*N

2008-10-13T10:16:00.006-05:00

Have you ever been talking with someone who had a chunk of food in their teeth, and you couldn't focus on what they were saying because you were so bothered by what was in their teeth? Have you ever sat in a lecture, and while you were trying to concentrate on the material, there is some high-pitched mechanical noise that you just wish they'd fix? Have your kids ever tried to tell you something, but you were working on a project on the computer, and didn't even realize they were talking to you?

I have to admit -- I have a SHORT attention span. If there is something to distract me, I'm going to be distracted by it. Here were the things that distracted me on the way to church yesterday morning:
1. I got out of my car in the church parking lot just before 7 a.m. The train was going through town. The train whistle was so horribly out of tune with itself, it was piercing to my ears. And it just kept getting louder and louder. I got inside as quickly as possible -- rather than enjoying the cool of the day and the beautiful moon that was out!
2. It was hot in the Sanctuary. Not just kind of hot -- really steamy hot! Every time I'd try to focus on something, my mind would wander back to my own comfort.
3. My daughter came in once again with a different outfit on than what I had picked out for her to wear -- and she had rolled around on her hair in the car so that, once again, it looked like it hadn't even been brushed. I was distracted about this moreso because I knew my mother was going to say something to me about it, and so I was bracing myself for when I saw her.

How selfish are those thoughts and reactions? My reaction SHOULD HAVE BEEN the following:
1. God -- thank you for this beautiful morning -- the weather, the moon -- this beautiful park that just opened next door.
2. God -- thank you for the freedom to worship you this morning with your people in this beautiful church building.
3. God -- thank you for my precious, free-spirited daughter. I am blessed to have her.

Here's the most shameful part about it -- I wasn't convicted until the 3rd service. I was sitting there in my seat, again focused on the heat. I realized the doors were open and I thought, "People are going to start walking by as they leave church, and it's going to be distracting to what Dr. Wiles is trying to preach." At that moment, two thoughts hit me:
1. When I was in Cuba, it was hot, all the windows were open-air. People were gathered throughout the church and street. There was more "noise" there, it was hot, everything was in a foreign language, and yet, I still worshipped.
2. It was as if God said, "You've been using excuse after excuse to be distracted all morning...are you going to continue to find excuses, or are you going to meet me in this place today?"

Then, I began to focus on the words of the Pastor. His message was incredible -- about faith, trust, reliance on God and not on self, and then....distraction. Casting ALL worries on God.

God is truly amazing. He can take us when we are at our most sinful, our gaze turned away. And yet, He let's us know, one way or another, that He desires our focus. He wants our attention. I'm so thankful that He is a jealous God, and that He desires, in fact delights in, that time spent with me.

Proverbs 3 is one of my favorite scripture passages. It talks about trusting the Lord completely, and He will guide our paths. But, further down, it talks of the Lord's discipline. I felt a little bit chastised yesterday. But I'm grateful for it. Here's what scripture tells me about it in 3:11-13.

"My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD or loathe His reproof, for whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding."

Thank you, Lord for loving us enough to remind us that you are LORD, and that You deserve our undivided attention when we are in community with you -- especially when we worship you. Thank you for loving us, delighting in us and being a jealous God who doesn't want us being poisoned by the things of this world, but rather filled with Your goodness that only comes from time spent with You. This week, help me to eliminate the things that distract me from You.

A Builder's Faith

2008-10-08T08:40:00.005-05:00

James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, for the testing of your faith produces endurance."

Have you ever known anyone with incredible faith? Faith that plummeted the depths of your understanding? Have you ever seen someone toil day after day and still manage to dig deep, and find the joy in every circumstance? Not a fake, plastered smile, but a heaviness in their spirit--one of resolve and hope and peace that came only from joy in Christ.

This is what I experienced among my brothers and sisters in Cuba. They have a deep, growing, joy-filled faith that stems from their daily walk with God. They don't take His Word lightly. They walk daily with Him as "Lord", because apart from him, they have NOTHING.

When I went to the Eastern part of the island, I saw several families living together in one home. We're not talking one of our American homes. I'm talking about 4 concrete walls (about 10 X 10) with MAYBE one or two smaller rooms with concrete walls, and a concrete floor. We threw a bucket of water down the toilet to "flush" it. We bathed with a bucket, standing in what seemed to be a bathtub. Sometimes that bucket of water would be fresh, and sometimes it wasn't. It rained every afternoon, and the streets were mud, so as I walked the mile and a half between the home and the church, I'd slosh mud up on me the entire way. They thought this was so funny--that I didn't know "how to walk" so that I could keep the mud off of me. So, when I got to the church, they'd greet me with a towel, and I'd attempt to get all of the mud off of my legs while they laughed. We found a lot to laugh about.

When I was there, 2 years ago, there was a food shortage. I thought, "I've got money, so I'll just buy them some food." We went to several villages, and I pulled out my American dollars, and found the same answer that they did daily -- there wasn't ANY food. So, for 8 days, we had rice and plantain. I've told you the story before...we had mashed plantain, fried plantain, boiled plantain. The amazing thing was that they were so fed by the Word of God, that I never heard them complain. We would sit around the table and feed off of the sweet fellowship, the laughter and the friendships. All I heard about were the wonderful ways that God had sustained them, and the things he was doing in their lives. The people had nothing compared to our earthly standards, but they had joy!

Why do I bring all of this up again? Because I received an email yesterday from one of the worship leaders there. He is one of the most influential, and yet humble, leaders in the area. I've taken out names and locations so he can't be identified. I wanted to share with you this modern day saint's words of faith:

"Hello my sister Emily. We never forget you, thank you because you always remembers us. Thanks to God we are well, How are you and your family? The hurricane harmed us a lot of, thanks to God we are alive, now we are working a lot to continue ahead, the temple of our church in __________ was largely destroyed. Now I am not musician of the church, I am builder. We are lifting the construction to take place where to meet, we making the service with sky as our roof. Wonderful are the services of adoration to God always with the stars on our heads. Thanks to God that has never rained while we are in the service. help us in pray, so that we can get what we lack for the temple, if you know to some person or church that wants to help, you can communicate with ________, they know what to make. ...(some personal greetings and updates, and then) Greetings to all, I have many problems with my mail, now I don't have telephone where I am living, it is very difficult the communication but God knows everything. Always your brother that don't forget you, ________________"

Do you see the praise in his words? He praises God for the opportunity to worship with "the stars on our heads". He thanks God that it hasn't rained while they were in worship services. He has abandoned his role as musician, and now has joyfully put on the hat of "builder".

I am telling you about this for three reasons:
1. I want you to be encouraged -- God's people ARE COVERING this earth. And they are faithful.
2. Be challenged. Actively participate in every opportunity that you have to cultivate that joy-filled faith journey with our Father. He is our Sustainer. He is the Great Physician. He is our Rock. He is the Cornerstone.
3. Pray. I read this, and immediately I want to fix their situation. But I can't outside of God's authority. However, I can pray, and follow God's lead. Pray that we (our missions team to that region) will have an appropriate response to their situation. Pray that God will help us with all of the practicalities associated with that response. Pray that He will call forth a team of people with the right skills, and willingness of heart, to go and help. Pray that their spirits will not be crushed as they toil, but with each hammer stroke, and each stage of the rebuilding, they will be drawn closer to God. Pray that they will be able to draw others close to Him through their acts of faithfulness.

My favorite passage to pray through, and I prayed through it with my brothers and sisters in this village last time I was there, is Philippians 1:2-6. Begin with this as your prayer today for them:

Father, reveal to our brothers and sisters in this region the grace and peace that you have for them through Jesus Christ. I thank You, my God, in every remembrance of my brothers and sisters there, always offering a joy-filled prayer in every prayer I pray for them, in view of their participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that You who began a good work in us and them will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Amen.

Concentric Circles

2008-10-01T08:39:00.001-05:00

In Luke 10:27, Jesus reminds us of the two greatest commandments, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself."

A couple of days ago, I was flipping through my son's school notebook. One of the classroom papers he had to do had concentric circles. He was supposed to place the things most important to him in the inner circle. As he went away from that center circle, he was supposed to prioritize people in his life, and also character issues. For instance, in that center circle, he put "parents" and "God". Of course, this made me proud -- this was a school project, done in school with no input from me or Dennis. So, the fact that Ben put God at the center of his life pleased me. As it moved outward, there were words like "grandparents", "honesty", "respect". As it moved to the outer circles, I saw "lying", "cheating on a test", "gang members", etc. Finally, I got to the far outer circle. I saw "drugs", "profanity", "stealing" & "my sister". I got so tickled...of course, I know that he loves his sister and one day will appreciate her, but for now, he was putting down his honest assessment, and "sister" ranked down at the bottom!!! Okay...so the "loving thy neighbor" part hasn't come as naturally for him.

It got me thinking about "loving my neighbor". That is a hard concept. I think it's even harder in modern-day America. We are fighting our neighbor and everyone else for everything that we have. You hear horror stories of fights breaking out at the gas pump because of the gas shortage in the Southeast. You hear of people cussing aid workers in Houston because they're not getting to them "fast enough". We hear of bad loans, high interest rates, unfair business practices -- all geared toward one individual making more money over another individual. That's without mentioning crime rates or terrorism. It's a difficult concept to "love" some of these people!

But "neighbor" is a relevant word to us --- especially here at the church. Our church is at an exciting place right now. Here in the City of Arlington, we are right in the center of so much activity and growth -- so much potential for reaching our community. If you walk outside this church building, within view are the Levitt Pavilion (which will soon host thousands each weekend that have never even heard of FBCA), City Hall, UTA, and all of the downtown businesses. Within a mile or two are The Ballpark, the new Cowboys Stadium, and plans for so much more. It is an exciting time.

That means that for us it is so important that we are faithfully growing as authentic, "walking daily with God" Christians. It's so important that we are witnesses of the Jesus Way to the waitress who messed up our order or the guy in traffic who cut us off or the frustrated "customer service" representative we get on the line when disputing a bill. My prayer each day is that I don't get in the way of someone being drawn to God -- that somehow my failure doesn't turn someone away from the Truth of the Gospel. All we have to do is be faithful in living our everyday, ordinary lives -- planting seeds -- nurturing relationship with our neighbors. God will grow them into a harvest!

1 Corinthians 3:6 says, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth."

Lord, we pray that you will remind us daily that others see us in action. We pray that you will continue to grow us spiritually deeper in You so that the things that come spilling out in the difficult times point people to You and not to our own selfish gain. We pray that You will help us to live lives that are authentic. We pray that you help us to walk the Jesus Way daily -- not just when it's convenient for our circumstances -- and by doing so, live lives that will glorify You. We desire to be faithful. We look forward to the day of Your Harvest!

Accountability Part 3: Legacy

2008-09-23T16:52:00.002-05:00

My great-aunt went to be with God on Sunday. While we will miss her, it is a time of celebration because she lived a life that touched so many and that meant so much, and we know that she has eternal life through Christ. She was a child of God, and left a legacy of faithfulness and godly example.

This week, as I have heard from people, I’ve heard so much about how she touched their lives in a spiritual way. She allowed God to use her for His purposes and made everlasting impact on lives. I sat at the piano on Wednesday night and realized that every hymn I know, I learned from her. She was my first piano teacher, and she valued the hymns even more than the classics. Thanks to her, I can even play the ones in Ab (sometimes).

I spoke with someone on Sunday who made this statement to me: “She touched so many lives and left such a legacy. I’m thinking of my legacy, and outside of work, I don’t have anything that I’m invested in.” That was a pretty indicting statement. It caused me to pause and take evaluation of my own life.

1 Corinthians 3:10-16 says, “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is in Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (NIV)

This is a pretty profound admonishment. I began to think about the foundations that I am laying on top of what Christ has already laid. Here were some of the questions I asked myself: “Am I doing _____ (I could fill in the blank with countless things) for my glory or for God’s glory?” “Am I treating others, especially my family, as Christ would?” “Am I building things by eternal standards (things that will last) or earthly standards (things that will crumble)?” I just have to be honest…I didn’t like some of the answers I got. Those are the areas that I need to re-evaluate today and ask God for help in changing those areas. Sometimes, I focus so hard on lifting my gaze and looking upward, that sometimes I forget to make sure that my feet are firmly planted and rooted in the deep roots of the foundation that He has laid.

As a worship leader, this foundation is particularly important. In Numbers, Chapter 8, God says that the Levites (worship leaders) are to be ceremonially clean…purified. He says that they take the place of the firstborn – they are meant to be sacrifices. They are to be presented before the LORD as a wave offering so that they may be ready to do the work of the Lord. They are to be set apart from the other Israelites. I don’t know enough to know what all of that means, nor do I know enough about Jewish tradition to understand all of the ceremonies. But what is very clear is that we are held to a higher standard. God expects more from us – those of us who are leading His people in worship. Wow….that’s a lot to take in. At least, it is for me. It can seem overwhelming, but instead of seeing it as a burden, we need to see it as an honor. We need to pray daily to be more righteous – not in a Bible beating sort of way, but in a God-honoring way. We need to ask Him to transform us DAILY!

I sat awake this morning, and I can’t begin to tell you the list of things that need to change in my life. I can only tackle one at a time, and I know that He will help me prioritize them and accomplish what He has asked me to do. One of the chief things I feel He has asked me to do is to make sure I surround myself with people that I am accountable to, and to make sure that I make accountability a priority in our ministries.

We all need trusting, authentic voices—people that speak truth into our lives. So, my prayer is that we won’t be afraid to speak out when those times are necessary. The fact of the matter is that life is only going to get busier. It’s never going to get easier this side of Heaven – not if we’re continuing to work toward eternal gain. So, let’s hold each other’s feet to the fire, and make sure that as we lift our gaze, we’re not building faulty structures on the foundation that Christ has already laid.

Philippians 1:4-6 “I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” NIV

Living Water

2008-09-10T10:38:00.001-05:00

I have spent this week in kind of a funk. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the September 11th attack. Do you still see those planes hitting those buildings? It's an image forever burned in my mind. Every year I go into a time of rememberance and mourning.

Then, this week, I've watched the devastation Hurricane Ike has hurled upon places like Haiti and Cuba. I spent so much time praying on Monday as it made landfall not far from where I stayed while I was in Cuba. I thought of the family I stayed with, and wondered about their safety. I prayed as they mentioned that the road that took me to the families I worked with was completely under water because a reservoir had flooded it. They were cut off. I prayed as I remembered the food shortage that was there after the last hurricane -- for years! And I wondered what this one would bring. I remembered how I would slosh mud on me as I walked through the streets after a light rain, and imagined the people being swept away by the mud. I can put faces on those people. They had almost nothing to begin with, and now what do they have left?

I felt silly even asking that question of God. He's never slow to remind us that earthly things are temporary, but He is eternal. God reminded me of what they DO have. The people I met had a burning passion for Him -- for His Word. They fed on it day and night. It was their sustenance. So, my prayers began to change. Rather than prayers questioning God, they were prayers petitioning God to draw more people to Him -- to place unbelievers next to these strong believers that I know there. And that they would be able to lead people to Him. I know they will be faithful. I know He is with them.

Our Pastor has talked about the next two years' journey through this church, as we read through the Bible together. I am so excited about that journey together. One of the images He presented on Sunday was from the scripture Revelation 10:9:

"And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey."

As I thought of my brothers and sisters in Cuba, I thought of that passage. For years, they have literally devoured the Word daily. They feed on it! I am praying right now that their bellies are full of the Word and that their mouths are sweet as honey as they use this time to dig out from under the mud and win souls to Christ.

Psalm 42:1-2 & 7-8 says: As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; v.7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.

As we encounter tragedies, violence, nature's wrath, difficulty, etc. I cling to that final promise in verse 8--the promise that He is with us and will not leave us--it doesn't say "might" be with me, it says "will" be with me: The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night.

Lord, we cling to You. You are our Rock. We pray that as we continue on this journey that You will remind us of the sustenance that Your Word brings. We pray that You will fill our bellies with it, and help us to devour it in such a way that it is the first thing that comes forth in times of challenge. We know that You have Your hand on Your people. We know that You watch over us day and night. Thank You for never abandoning us and never forsaking us, but always loving and encouraging us as we walk daily with You.

Accountability Part Two: The Team

2008-08-27T13:59:00.003-05:00

Here are the clichés we’ve all heard, but they are true:
* There is no “I” in TEAM
* A Team is only as strong as its weakest link
* TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More
* A job worth doing is worth doing together

But let’s face it: Sometimes it’s a challenge to be a part of a team. Especially one where there are so many different backgrounds and abilities. Sometimes, we begin grumbling toward one another, or wonder why so and so gets more spotlight than we do, or wonder why we weren’t asked to do a solo. Or, sometimes, we may feel like when there are so many people, why are we important? Maybe you’ve felt like nobody would even notice if you weren’t there.

Last week, I heard this story (don’t worry—all my stories aren’t going to be about football, but bear with me through one more):

There was a coach on a local pee-wee football team. He had led a team to a city championship. There was a star athlete on that team – we’ll call him Joe. Joe had breakaway speed. He was a natural…a star! Once the team won the championship, other higher level sports divisions were looking at Joe, and recruiting him. Joe went to one of those teams. The next season, that championship team didn’t win the championship, but grew together as a team. This season, Joe came back and wanted to play for the original team again, but he didn’t want to practice with them, didn’t want to go through all of the conditioning. He just wanted to come in and play and win. With his breakaway speed, he could win for the team—maybe even lead them to another city championship. The coach told him that if he didn’t come to practice and didn’t condition with the rest of the team, he wouldn’t play. Joe told the coach that there were plenty of other teams recruiting him. The coach told Joe to play for one of those teams. In essence, he said, “I’m not a star-maker. I’m a team builder.”

Here’s what Romans 12:3 “The Message” has to say about our team – “the body” and our role in it:
3I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

I love the statement that each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of HIS Body. It isn’t something that we do, but something that He does. Continue reading verses 4-6:

4 -6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.

What He asks of us is simply this: Be yourself, be satisfied with who God made you to be and your role in His Body, and don’t miss out on being a part of the whole.

The chapter opens with this statement:
1 -2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.

He just wants us: ordinary, everyday, sleeping, eating, going-to-work, walking-around people. He desires to cultivate us into one body. But, even though we are ordinary, we are incredibly important. Each of us is called to serve a function of the body. The body is incomplete without us in our place. Isn’t it incredible—the God of the Universe desires US to be a part of His great plan? He wants to use us—broken and imperfect as we are. He doesn’t need us…he WANTS us. And we NEED Him and each other—that’s how He created us to be.

So, the next time you feel like your voice doesn’t really add to the choir, or you won’t be missed in a rehearsal, remember that you are a part of the whole. The next time you feel a twinge of jealousy, remember that our purpose is not about any individual, but about glorifying God. You are a member of this team—His team. We’re not here to produce stars – the God of the Universe is the star of this show. We’re here to develop co-laborers in the journey! You are an important part of that.

Lord, help us to be accountable to one another. Help us to realize the importance of our role in this wonderful plan. Help us to be faithful to who You made us to be, to our calling, and to those around us that You have placed us in service and fellowship with. You are the Master Designer. You know that we aren’t happy until we’re a part of Your plan and Your Kingdom work. Increase that desire in us daily. Help us to grow deeper—to move from the superficial into the deep waters. Help us to give you every part of our lives—even the ordinary and mundane. Use it to Your Glory!

Joy in the Journey

2008-08-27T13:57:00.001-05:00

I wrote on accountability last week as a Part 1, and plan to write on Part 2 again next week. But this week, I want to address something a little bit different.

We had an all-day staff meeting this week, and it was a great reminder of our purpose: To glorify God by living the Jesus Way. That’s our theme. That’s our lifesong! When I pray, you’ll often hear me end a prayer saying that I want to glorify Him in all that I do. That is truly my prayer. It is a difficult thing to do—especially during tense times or times of uncertainty or stress.

We are getting ready to do a recording project over the next couple of weeks. For some, they are enjoying every moment of it. For others, they are anxious, and it seems to be coming up really fast. I want to start by saying nothing in the recording studio is more important than worship in our hearts every week – corporately and personally. So, as we gear up for this project, I just want to clarify a couple of things about its purpose.

I am excited about this project. It is one of the projects that make us better and stronger. People ask me often why we record. There are basically two purposes:
1. To present a product that glorifies God and can be a tool to draw people to Him.
2. To make us better -- it sharpens our skills. It helps us listen differently. It simply makes us better.

A lot of times, I fail to clearly lay out the expectations of something. Here they are:
1. Do the best you can. I'm not expecting perfection -- just each individual's best. (Plus, remember—I’m Paula in the studio – Barry’s the Simon!!!).
2. Don't do anything that causes your heart to drift from that #1 purpose listed above: Glorifying God. I want us to focus and deliver a musically excellent project, but it's not because I want the glory or for people to say “Look what FBC Worship Ministries is doing”. It's because I want people to be led to the God we serve! I want them to be drawn closer to Him through everything we do.
3. Have fun -- we're in crunch time right now, so the next two weeks will be a little hectic. But when we enter that studio -- HAVE FUN!

My son came home from football last night. It was a really rough practice. He got yelled at by every coach on the field. He got kicked in the head. His equipment didn’t fit quite right. He got trampled on. He got knocked on his rear. It was a hard practice for a mama to watch. But, I watched it and at the end, he came off the field with a smile on his face. I asked him if the coaches yelled at him. He said, "Yes." I asked him if he felt like he was getting better. He said, "Oh yes...a lot better." Then, I asked him if he was having fun, and his smile literally spread from ear to ear, "I love football. I'm having a blast." He likes the challenge. He likes the conditioning. He knows it's making him stronger, faster, better. He understands that you can’t base the entire journey on one practice or one “crunch time”. He also knows the joy of fulfilling the goal of a city championship—he knows what that feels like to hold that trophy in hand, and knows that it takes a lot of work to get there.

What we are doing is so much more important and so much less finite than a city championship –it’s eternal! So, I want to encourage each of you to keep the joy even in the midst of the workout! Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Enjoy the ride!

I love the Message version of Philippians 3:12-21. It’s a little long, but worth the read:

12 -14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
15 -16So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
17 -19Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
20 -21But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

Accountability -- Part 1

2008-08-27T08:37:00.002-05:00

Accountability: Part 1 –Corporate Worship

Confession: When I was a youth, I was a part of the charter church orchestra here at First Baptist Church. I started playing in the 7th grade. I remember sitting next to people who helped to make me better. I was really just a screechy beginner, but there were people sitting around me who were much better than I was, and they mentored me. When they heard my bad notes, they didn’t scowl and tell me not to play so loud. They offered advice – “Try shifting here.” Or “Let’s work on that passage slowly together.” If I couldn’t make it to practice, there was a dedicated violinist who wrote in the fingerings for my music and sent it home with my Mom. Can I just say, I was a spoiled brat, and didn’t realize what a blessing this was at the time!!! As I grew older in the youth group – and better as a violinist – I didn’t model their attitude. I thought I was pretty hot stuff, and didn’t want to be rehearsing when I could be with my friends. Part of that was growing up. Part of it was taking for granted the incredible opportunity that was before me. But, the people around me loved me and grew me up in spite of my shortcomings.

Growing up with that kind of modeling, I discovered through time was that it wasn’t so much about what I got from serving, but it was about what I was able to give. Through that, I discovered an inexplicable joy that comes from serving in these Worship Ministries week by week.

I have had the privilege of playing in some of this country’s greatest concert halls—Carnegie Hall, the Myerson, Bass Hall, Symphony Hall in Boston, Walt Disney Theatre in Los Angeles and many others. It has been amazing. But each time I played, it was just a performance judged on how “perfect” the music was or how pleasing to an individual ear it was. I always struggled with nerves, because I knew that I would never be able to please everyone in that audience—there were always critics.

When I play for God, when I serve in my church, when I worship in the privacy of my own home, I can’t begin to tell you the pure JOY that comes from playing for GOD – my audience of One! He is examining my heart – not my shifting or tuning. It’s truly an amazing thing. He’s not there to critique me, but to sharpen me, to fill me up with His thoughts and His truth, and to mold me as His child. It fills me up week by week, and I’m grateful for every opportunity I have in this place to worship Him corporately, and hopefully to encourage others as they grow in their worship expressions to Him.

I have spent a lot of time this week in the Psalms this week. David needed his time with God. He needed that time of worship, that time of petition, that time of supplication, that time of praise. So do we. We worship a MIGHTY GOD – THE Mighty God! As you prepare for Sunday morning worship, join me in meditating on His Word from Psalm 99:

The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; He sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the LORD in Zion; He is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name – He is holy. Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His footstool; He is holy. Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.

This Sunday, we have the opportunity to come and worship Him corporately in a time of celebration. As you come, notice those around you that need encouragement. Fill your place—whether you are one that needs a lot of training, or whether you’re one who can help mentor someone else. Give Him all that you have! Ask Him to give you His ears and His heart, and let’s worship Him in His Majesty and Authority. He is Holy!

Be Still

2008-08-04T23:13:00.001-05:00

Wow! What an incredible week it's been.

In the midst of preparing for a mission trip this past week, my son, Ben, got VERY sick. Many of you know that , he was bed-ridden for several days with an unknown illness. He had to have two IVs put in and was a very sick little boy. It couldn't have come at a busier time for us...or so we thought (in our selfish minds). We were so busy filling our lives with worry and anxiety that we almost missed God's blessing in it all.

You're probably saying, "What could possibly be the blessing in a sick child?"

Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God."

We were forced, as a family, to be still for an entire week. This didn't hit me until 12:30 a.m. Thursday after 3 days of no sleep, when Ben was finally resting. I had slept (I use that word sarcastically) outside his room on the couch for 3 nights. Abby came in to where I was on the couch, and wanted to chat....at 12:30 a.m.....when Ben was asleep...when I had a chance to sleep. But, I knew it was important.

She began to talk to me about her friends and how she just couldn't be friends with one of them anymore. I asked her why not. She said..."We're just too different." I said, "Abby, you're in all the same classes, you go to the same church, you're in every activity together...how are you different?" She said, "Well, he's a baptized Christian and I'm just a plain old Christian." That opened up a wonderful conversation between the two of us. She asked some incredible questions, and we sat down and discussed very simply the Gospel story. It was one of the sweetest moments as mother and daughter that we've shared. We prayed at the end, and we're going to continue to seek where God is leading her. She doesn't have a full understanding yet, and is not ready to be baptized. But in that stillness, He opened her heart to a sincere search for understanding.

That night, Ben slept soundly, we all slept 6 hours, and he was "on the mend" thereafter. He's going strong and is a part of our Monterrey Missions team this weekend--something he's worked to earn the privilege of going on all year long.

God is good. His people are pretty okay, too. Thank you for all of your phone calls, emails, prayers and concern for Ben. The nurse that administered the IV said she could tell that he was being lifted up in prayers and just reminded me that when we lift up a patient in prayer, we're also lifting up the doctors and nurses. So, she felt your prayers, too.

This week, 29 of us are headed out of the country on Mission. Please continue to pray for us, specifically for the following things:
1. Focus and Unity--that we will accomplish what God has in mind.
2. Open hearts -- we will be ministering to children in a children's camp, prisoners on death row, and we have a team painting a beautiful mural that will be a witness to the community surrounding the church.
3. Safety and good health.

Thank you for your prayers, and for all that you give week by week, not only in Worship Ministries, but in everything you do in the church and in lifting up others.

With great joy,

Emily

P.S. One more thing. I discovered one very interesting thing in my conversation with Abby that I want to share especially with her Sunday School teachers (two of whom are in the choir). She told us about her Sunday School lessons about Saul (Paul) and how Saul "saw Jesus on the road to Massachusetts." ... oh, and her "lie-ing days are mostly over".

Monterrey Devotion 2008 Day 5: Worship

2008-08-04T22:47:00.000-05:00

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

We are just hours away from our final corporate worship time together with our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Monterrey. Aren’t you thankful for this time we’ve had? Just spend a moment rejoicing in what the Lord has done. Be specific.

Read Philippians Chapter 4: 3-20. I love the way that Paul closes this letter with this chapter. He rejoices in verse 4. He encourages in verse 6. In verse 7, He shares the peace (a wonderful tradition in other denominations—a time in each service where you turn to your neighbor and simply say “Peace be with you.” And they reply, “and also with you.” It’s really a very meaningful part of some liturgies).

Then, here’s what he says in verses 8 and 9:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

I love that Paul leads by example. We can learn from the example of our brothers and sisters here in Monterrey. Weren’t you overwhelmed by their hospitality? How about their joyful spirits? The warm welcome? The light in their eyes? Think about those things listed in verse 8 –true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. Does it remind you of anything?

Turn to and read Psalm 19. Do you find a similar list?
Starting in verse 7, the Lord is perfect, true, right, radiant, pure, sure, more precious than gold, sweeter than honey. Meditate for a moment on His goodness and His radiance. Just bask in His glory. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Finally, flip back to Philippians 4. Just before Paul’s final farewell, he says in verses 19 & 20, “And my God will meet ALL your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Remember on the first day, how I said John was my favorite book? Read this beloved disciple’s and fellow worshiper’s account in Revelation 7:11-12 where he visions what Paul says, “All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

Today is a day of worship. Today is a day where we simply come before His Throne. We join with the saints that have gone before, present worshipers around the world, and as John shows us Heavenly worshipers truly in the midst of God’s glory. Lift up your eyes to Him, and lift up your voice with praise to our God forever and ever. He is worthy!

Alleluia!
For the Lord God Almighty Reigns!
Holy, holy, holy are You, Lord, God Almighty.
Worthy is the Lamb.
Amen!

Monterrey Devotional Day 4: Endurance and Purpose

2008-08-04T21:45:00.002-05:00

Though I’m writing this in advance of the trip, today (day 4) is most likely going to be the hardest day of this journey. We’ve performed the concert, we’ve painted, we’re on the last day of the Children’s camp. We’re trying desperately to complete the painting and tasks we’ve come to accomplish. It’s hot. We’re ready for our own beds and the remote. We’re ready to hug our loved ones that have been left behind. It’s a tough day. Today, we need to pray diligently for endurance.

Philippians 3:12-14 says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Our task today is evangelism. There is a message to be sung and lived out. People are watching you even today. You are a witness at the hotel, among the church members, with the parents and children, prisoners, cashier at the Home Depot, etc.

I have a confession to make (which probably won’t come as a surprise). I am a terrible evangelist! Evangelism is not my spiritual gift. I do music missions because I feel called to discipleship—teaching others and building them up in the faith. But, when it comes to evangelism, I get scared. I stumble over my words and thoughts. I think it’s because I’m so passionate about it that I try to overcomplicate it. The Gospel is so full of mystery and seemingly complex (because it blows our mind that God would humble Himself on our account), but it’s also so simple. It transcends every language, culture, walk of life, age, gender. It’s amazing.

So, today, be bold. If you are going to the prison—sing with Jesus spilling out of your mouth and on your face. If you are shopping, hand a ticket to a salesperson or someone even on the street. If you are at the hotel, invite a hotel employee to the concert tonight, or to church tomorrow. Be bold. God will give you the words to say. More than likely, it will come much more naturally than you think.

Meditate on this promise:
Isaiah 55:8-11 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, SO IS MY WORD THAT GOES OUT FROM MY MOUTH: IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I DESIRE AND ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH I SENT IT.”

All we have to do is proclaim. He transforms. All we have to do is plant. He brings forth the fruit. His Word WILL NOT COME BACK VOID!

Last Sunday, in the 2nd service, the choir and the orchestra were singing their anthem. We had a monitoring issue in the orchestra area (not anyone’s fault…just one of those things that sometimes happens). In the middle of the anthem, the orchestra and rhythm were exactly 1 beat behind the choir. That meant they were one beat off on every chord changes. All the sudden, for about 20 measures, instead of “I Still Cling to the Old Rugged Cross”, it sounded like The Gaithers meets Screamo (well maybe not quite that bad, but that's what it felt like). But, the soloist and pianist hung tight and managed to get us all back together, and we ended fine. But, I was upset because I thought that I had ruined worship (how egotistical!!!). But, at the end of the song, I was amazed—everyone clapped. People responded to the Gospel message that the soloist and choir sang. God’s Word did not come back void, but rather touched the hearts of His worshipers.

You see, we are flawed messengers, but we are delivering a perfect Message. A perfect, protected Message.

So, be bold. Allow God to use you. He will amaze you…that’s just what He does!

Lord, how sweet it is to be in Your presence. We thank You that You can use us—imperfect, damaged individuals. We thank You for trusting us to be Your messengers of Your Gospel Truth. Help us to step out of our comfort zones today. Reveal to us in an undeniable way those who need to hear about You. Help us to boldly respond. Use us. We love You, and count it all joy that we have this opportunity to serve You today!

Monterrey Devotion Day 3: Relationship

2008-07-28T23:42:00.000-05:00

Today’s devotion is short and sweet, but probably one of the most difficult challenges for me personally. Today, I want us to focus on building relationships.

Again, turn to Philippians—this time to Chapter 3, Verses 7-10:

7 I once thought these things (he’s talking about the Jewish law—the “rules” of the tabernacle) were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ, For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.

Look at those first 5 words in verse 10 and ponder them a moment:

I want to know Christ

God didn’t desire for us just to have head knowledge of Him. He didn’t desire for us to “go through the motions”. Nor did He want us to merely pay “lip service” to Him. He desires a RELATIONSHIP with us. Paul didn’t want to know about Christ. He wanted to KNOW CHRIST.

I always relate this to the President of the United States. I know a lot about George Bush. If I wanted to know more, I there are thousands of websites, newspaper clippings, books, etc. where I could learn more about Him. But, though I know about him, I don’t know George Bush. He is not my personal friend. I have never had a conversation with him.

But I KNOW the God of the Universe—the One, True God—through my relationship with Jesus. I haven’t touched Him, but I’ve talked with Him, and He has touched my heart many times!

Today, act out of that relationship with Him. Ask Him to help you be bold to build relationship with the people here in Monterrey. Today, we may encounter parents of a child we’ve taught in crafts, or a prisoner who needs a kind word and a warm handshake. We may meet a child who wants to tell us their thoughts about God in their simple, but awesome way. Or, the singer singing next to us may need someone to stop and pray with them. Look for ways to KNOW the people you encounter today in a meaningful way.

Lord, this is probably the most challenging thing for me. You know how I am made. I am an introvert. I don’t like to meet new people, and it is hard for me to know what to say or how to begin a conversation. Please speak through me. Help me to draw closer to You today so that You may draw closer to them through me. Help me not to withdraw as I meet new people, but to risk so that others may come to know You through my life and testimony. Pour out Your message from this shy soul. Help me to be sensitive to the needs of those around me. In and of myself, this is something I cannot do. I need Your power and Your guidance.

Monterrey Devotional, Day 2: Humility

2008-07-28T23:14:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago, I wrote in my blog about “humility”. It is my least favorite issue to deal with. It seems like I have to wrestle with it A LOT! But, I’m thankful that God reminds me from time to time, in a bold way, that He is God and I am not!

Here’s the story I told:

The other night, my husband came home from work exhausted. He's been working so hard, and giving every spare minute to our family and the "honey do" list. We were getting ready to leave on a 10-day vacation. I didn't have the heart to ask him to mow the lawn (which DESPERATELY needed it--the grass is growing so fast right now). We have a large yard that requires so much care, and though we feel like we work in it often, there's always something else to do in it. So, instead of hitting him up with "Can you mow the lawn?" the minute he walked in the door, I asked him to show me how to use the mower. It's a new riding lawn mower, so I figured it couldn't be too hard. I could get the yard done in no time, and he could come in and kick his shoes off and relax.

He was so appreciative, so he quickly gave me a lesson. I got on it, and released the brake to go forward. Immediately, it jerked and I was thrown forward. Evidently, I released the brake a little too fast. I slammed on the brake again, laughing (and a little shaken). I looked up, and noticed that there were 8 roofers on my next-door neighbors' roof, laughing and pointing at me. A very obvious lesson in humility!!!!! I waved and laughed and continued on with trying to figure out the mower, and finished the lawn (well, almost...my husband had to negotiate the hill in front).

Okay, let’s just get it out in the open. We will all probably deal with lessons in humility over the next four days. Perhaps, it will be because we misspeak about something minor. The first time I was in Cuba, I tried to tell someone my son was 7, and mistakenly said I had seven sons! Imagine the look on their face. Well, I’m sure that the more I try to speak Spanish, the more I’ll fail, but I’d rather try and have a little laughter than not build a relationship with anyone along the way. That would be so much more of a failure! Perhaps it will be a larger faux pas—something that hurts another individual. We must be on our guard.

But, my prayer is that we’ll go even deeper than that surface humility—not the kind that’s about us and our feelings, but the kind that develops true servants. Let’s turn to scripture…again to Philippians…and see what Paul has to say about it, starting in Chapter 2, Verse 3:

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Meditate on that statement a moment—YOU MUST HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE THAT CHRIST JESUS HAD. How is that even possible? What a HUGE expectation. But, that’s what Paul tells us we need to do. Spend a moment asking God for that sentence to manifest itself in your life! Read on:

6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

God is not asking us to die right now on this trip. But He is asking us to serve. Look around for the humble positions of a servant that we can take to serve our brothers and sisters in Monterrey. We are not there to be served or to be pleased. We are there to serve—to be slaves to Christ!

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

EVERY KNEE WILL bow and EVERY TONGUE WILL confess. Let’s pray that through our service, people will come to know Him NOW, and experience fully the JOY of living a life in Him.

Here is my prayer for us—our instruction manual if you will—from Paul’s words 2:12-18:
Dear Lord, help us to:
· 12Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
· 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you.
· Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
· 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
· Be joyful in all circumstances: 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

Those are challenging words. They are much deeper forms of humility than my experience with the mower. But, I know that God does not teach us such lessons to be demeaning, but rather to remind us that He is God, and we are not. We don’t serve something that our minds can control or define. He is so much greater than the greatest scholars and thinkers can wrap their minds around. He is so much grander than any engineer or scientist could build. He is so much more compassionate than any humanitarian or donor that we could imagine. He is a healer, like no physician we know. He is God. We serve the One, True, Living God. With joy and humility, let us take the news of Him to a world that needs desperately to know Him!

Lord, we love You and ask You right now to keep us humble so you can redirect our paths as needed. We are Yours.

Monterrey Devotion Day 1: Unity

2008-07-28T22:40:00.006-05:00

We are preparing for a unique journey. God has great things in store. He has been at work long before we ever knew where Monterrey was on a map…long before we were ever born.

My favorite book of the Bible (if I had to choose one) is the Gospel of John, followed closely by the letter to the Philippians. John captures the sights, sounds and emotions of the Gospel. He saw things with such a unique perspective. John doesn’t talk of the physical details of Christ’s birth, but rather sums up the purpose and significance in the first 14 verses of the Gospel account. He talks about light coming into a world of darkness. He reminds us that this light is God in human form, but that Jesus (the Word) was with God in the beginning. He speaks of the fact that though we were made by God, we did not know Him. And then, in verse 14, John writes the most glorious words—he writes about something that would change this world FOREVER:

14And the Word became flesh, and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory of Jesus the One and Only from the Father, full of grace and truth.

We are preparing to share this incredible TRUE ACCOUNT with a world in desperate need of the hope of this message. We will share it in song on Friday and Saturday nights. We will share it through encouragement as we serve alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ at Prince of Peace Baptist Church. We will share it with prisoners in prison. We will share it with children who come to participate in a craft or drama or instrument. We will present to them the account of this Gospel. So, right now, as we begin, let us begin by praying for unity in heart and spirit.

Read with me Philippians Chapter 1, beginning verse 2:
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5in view of your participation in the Gospel from the first day until now. 6For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Skip to verse 9:
9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

My prayer for right now is that as we embark upon this journey, our love in Christ may abound more and more in REAL knowledge and ALL discernment so that we may be and be a part things that are excellent…to the Glory and Praise of God. What a noble purpose!

As you finish this reading, thinking about what lies ahead, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, and look closely at His prayer from the Garden just before His journey to the cross, as accounted in John 17:

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

Isn’t it amazing that Jesus, Himself, was praying for our unity in Spirit and Truth in that garden. His last thoughts and preparation before He gave Himself up for us was that WE would be unified and made one so that the Father’s glory would be revealed to this earth. Let us pray now that everyone who comes in contact with us throughout the coming days sees Him. Let His light and His grace radiate off of our faces. Let our words and instruments and song give Him glory. May people believe that God sent His only Son into the world because He loved us and loves them, and that He desires to have a relationship with them. What an awesome responsibility!

He is beginning a work in us. He will be faithful to complete it. As we close our devotion for today, ask Him to enlighten your hearts toward unity. Think thoughts of unity. You can’t go wrong with focusing on names of praise for our Savior. After that, think of ways to build up the brother or sister sitting beside you, or befriend a brother or sister on this trip that you don’t even know. Ask God to embolden you and speak through your actions, your song, your instruments, and your words.

I am rejoicing that you are on this journey with me! I am thankful to God for each one of you on this journey:
…for Richie, Beth, Laney, Keaton, Hayden, Malcom, Carl, Tami, Matt, Kerry, Jana, Jonah, Raeann, Lisa, Carmen, Valerie, Lynne, Jana, Halie, Daryl, Jack, Julie, Ken, Nancy, Chrisann, Kim & Ben

Dear Lord, we are humbled that You have called us forth as a team for this purpose. We pray that it will be Your purpose, and that we won’t go astray. Lord, we turn over our hearts to you even now, that You will focus us on You, thus focusing us on Your goals. We thank You, our Savior, our Redeemer, the Lover of our Soul, the Rock, our Refuge, our Deliverer, our Friend. Savior, like a shepherd, lead us now as we embark upon Your journey!

No Less Days

2008-07-22T10:53:00.004-05:00

Barry, Jana, Daryl and I have been in the Worship Leader National Conference this week. We just left a room of 2500 people all joining hands and singing the first verse of "Joy to the World" a capella, in perfect harmony. It was an amazing time of worship.

Last night, as we sat in worship, we heard some wonderful worship leaders, and some amazing new songs. We heard a variety of styles, expressions, etc. But what was overwhelming was God's presence and His sovereignty. It was a time filled with praise--I felt like my heart was exploding with praise. There were many songs that I didn't know, but on those, I was able to just write the texts on my hearts as others sang, or open my journal and just write thoughts of praise.

Last night, the Pastor started us off with an image. Before we ever even sang a note, he merely said the word, "Manna." It was an image that immediately focused me on what God had to teach me and on the blessings of being in His presence and uttering praise and adoration to Him. At one point during last night's worship, we got to a moment when we all sang "Amazing Grace". As we began to sing the last verse, "When we've been there 10,000 years...we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first began." That phrase just burned in my mind.

Can you imagine? A time of worship where time isn't limited. It will be a place where we will utter praises and be in His presence for eternity. We won't be counting down the minutes until lunch. We won't be counting down the days to an event. We won't be counting down the years until our lives are over. We'll be serving in praise among the saints...actually as a member of the saints...for eternity.

I have a dear friend whose mother is very sick right now. She is living on "borrowed time"--as are we all. As I focused on that phrase, I thought of my friend and her Mom--both of whom are strong believers. That image of her Mom praising Jesus around the throne...not counting down days...not worrying who she might be leaving behind...not feeling pain or sickness. Just pure, holy praise. I could just picture her radiating with God's glory. It was an image that brought tears to my eyes. It is an image I long for--a time when I'm not living on borrowed time, but rather home with my King.

As I left, I was reminded once more that I should NEVER take worship for granted. I should NEVER treat it as routine or ordinary. I should take EVERY opportunity personally and corporately to rehearse for Heaven! I should take EVERY opportunity to fill our hearts and our lips with praise.

I love the Psalms, and want to finish praying exerpts from Psalm 25:
"To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in You I trust...Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long...My eyes are ever on the LORD...Guard my life and rescue me...may integrity and uprightness protect me because my hope is in You."

Serving Joyfully

2008-07-14T21:34:00.003-05:00

Psalm 100
1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

This is a very familiar Psalm to all of us. One of the things we face as servants of Christ, and as members of a very busy church is the balance between serving joyfully and serving out of obligation. I have been reminded in a very bold way about serving joyfully, and I am claiming that for my life and my ministry.

A few weeks ago, a mother told me about a decision her 5th grade son had made. He accepted Christ as his Savior. He was telling his mother about this, and he said, "Okay, now what's my job?" She asked him what he was talking about. He said, "Well, you sing in the choir, and Daddy runs sound. You both have jobs in the church. What's my job? I'm a Christian now. I need a job."

I love his enthusiasm. It's not that worldy "What can you do for me" attitude. It's "What can I do for God". It's that authentic change--that mysterious gift that only comes from God. This sweet boy was so excited about his transformation that he immediately wanted to give back.

I'm thankful for a church that allows those opportunities. A few weeks ago, my son was in a First Things First episode. Abby was terribly upset that she didn't get to be in it. Daryl--one of our greatest gifts when it comes to training up children--gave her a job. He taught her how to run a teleprompter. Most of us would be afraid to touch one, let alone allow a 7 year old to touch one. But, Daryl showed her how to do it, made her feel important, and she was able to contribute to ministry. I am thankful for people in this church who aren't afraid to trust and train our children--our next generation.

This next week is Vacation Bible School. There are many adults and teenagers who will serve. They need many more volunteers. It's a great opportunity to share and minister joyfully. It's also a great opportunity to touch a life eternally--to encourage a child in the church where one day he or she will be serving joyfully and training up the next generation.

That little boy who asked his mother about his "job" is now running graphics every other week at Brown Blvd--now called NorthPointe Baptist Church! What a tremendous opportunity that church has and is cultivating in the life of that boy. I know many more stories like his will come out of faithful servants, joyfully serving Christ in the church and community.

Thank You, Lord for giving us gifts and skills that we can use to serve You. Help us to cultivate joy daily as we use them for Your service. Help us never to become complacent, but always be looking for ways to encourage others in their gifts. Thank You for 150 years of church history with people who weren't afraid to serve and train up the next generation. Help us, as we work with VBS, that lives will be touched and that You will cultivate the next generation of joy-filled servants. Draw us nearer to You every day, Lord, and fill us with Your joy and glory.

Humility -- My Least Favorite, but Most Memorable Lesson

2008-07-03T08:13:00.009-05:00

Tuesday night, my husband came home from work exhausted. He's been working so hard, and giving every spare minute to our family and the "honey do" list. We are getting ready to leave on a 10 day vacation. I didn't have the heart to ask him to mow the lawn (which DESPERATELY needed it--the grass is growing so fast right now). We have a large yard that requres so much care, and though we feel like we work in it often, there's always something else to do in it. So, instead of hitting him up with "Can you mow the lawn?" the minute he walked in the door, I asked him to show me how to use the mower. It's a new riding lawn mower, so I figured it couldn't be too hard. I could get the yard done in no time, and he could come in and kick his shoes off for a moment.

He was so appreciative, so he quickly gave me a lesson. I got on it, and released the brake to go forward. Immediately, it jerked forward and I was thrown forward. Evidently, I released the brake a little too fast. I slammed on the brake again, laughing (and a little shaken). I looked up, and noticed that there were 8 roofers on my next door neighbors' roof, laughing and pointing at me. A very obvious lesson in humility!!!!! I waved and laughed and continued on with trying to figure out the mower, and finished the lawn (well, almost...my husband had to negotiate the hill in front).

Psalm 25:9 "He leads the humble in doing right; teaching them His way."

This lesson in humility was a quickstart to my week. I've said before that I go to the mountains every year for vacation. I think the main reason why I am so drawn to the mountains is because it is a time of rejuvenation and reflection. But all of that begins with humility. God reminds me PHYSICALLY to be humble. In 24 hours, I'll be standing between two mountains fishing. There is nothing else around. The river rushes so loudly, that nobody would ever hear my voice if I were in trouble. Our cell phones don't work. Internet is a joke. The bears are around...and cougars...and skunks. It's a huge, unknown world. There's always a moment as I'm fishing that I realize just how vulnerable I am. It reminds me to thank my God, my Provider, my Shelter.

"Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?" -- song by Casting Crowns

Every year, while up there, I climb to the top of Hamilton Mesa. It reminds me of how small I am. I am a mere dot on the canvas of this earth. I look around and see peak after peak after peak. On my peak alone, there are miles of wilderness and trails. I am but a dot.

"I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind" -- song by Casting Crowns continued

I am a mere dot. But the God of the Universe cared enough to send His Son to die for me and for my sins. I am not worthy, but He thought I was worth rescuing. He cares. He, who is busy with the 6 billion other people in the world, still hears my voice when it calls out to Him. He desires a relationship with me. How mind-boggling is that?

"Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours." -- song by Casting Crowns continued

I love this time in the mountains. It reminds me that God is God and I am not. It reminds me that He is Lord. It reminds me of my commitment to let Him shepherd, and let me learn and follow. These are all lessons contrary to what the world instills in us every day. This is my grounding time--as I turn my eyes upon Jesus. It's a great physical reminder of the rest of the world fading away--the things of earth becoming dim--as I stand there, a dot, against that marvelous canvas. I am reminded that I don't come from gasses colliding in outerspace and accidentally creating what we now call Earth, but that the God of the Universe molded me, shaped me and made me uniquely who I am, just as He did each mountain and each blade of grass. But He created man even more special--in relationship with Him. Here are the final words of this great worship song:

"Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are
You've told me who I am.
I am Yours." --song by Casting Crowns continued

Psalm 69:32 "The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged."

Lord, help me to see You at work throughout this week. Help me to focus on what You desire. Make clear my part in Your Kingdom so I can follow with fervor and confidence. Keep me humble so you can redirect my path as needed. I love my time with You! I am Yours.

A Holy, Famous Name

2008-07-01T23:35:00.010-05:00

Proverbs 22:1 says, "A good name (reputation) is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold."

Tonight, my daughter, Abigail, was playing on the piano. She will sit there for hours, picking out tunes that are familiar, then harmonizing them, then reharmonizing them. We laughed at Christmas because she learned "Deck the Halls" in major...then minor...then in the Dorian mode, etc. Dennis and I find it very entertaining (most of the time).

Tonight, she picked out Beethoven's Fur Elise. After she picked it out, she rearranged it. It turned out to be a "dueling Fur Elise" in the style of "Dueling Banjos". It was quite humorous.

When she finished, I was praising her creativity. She came in from the music room and said, "I think I'm famous." We asked her why she thought that. She said "because Beethoven named a piece for me" (her middle name is Elise). I told her that her first name was a famous name, too. She said, "Yes it is...a HOLY famous name." We've often told her of the story of Abigail and David from 1 Samuel. Abigail actually means "her Father's joy." She is not only her Heavenly Father's joy, but our joy as well.

As I began to prepare for bed, I was smiling and thinking of her statement--"a holy famous name". It dawned on me that each of us, as followers of Christ, has "a holy famous name". Our names as believers are written eternally in the Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). That thought just made me feel like celebrating. Here's the text of praise that came to mind, from the great praise song (and ancient hymn text) Before the Throne of God Above:

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

My name (and yours--for you who believe) is written on His heart and graven on His hands. He stands as payment for my sins and as intercessor for the Father. He stands so that I can dwell with the Father eternally. My name is holy. Meditate on that thought for a moment.

My name is holy.

No tongue can cause it to disappear from His heart and His hands...from that precious Book of Life. Our reputation is spoken for by the Lamb of God. Our name is sealed by His blood.

Thank You, Father for sending Your precious Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. We are not worthy in and of ourselves. But You have made us worth more than any great wealth of this earth. You have sealed our names in the eternal Book of Life. Thank You for the hope, foundation, and security we have in You. We love You. We praise You for the profound mystery and eternal hope found in this precious gift.

Patience and Perserverance

2008-06-14T01:29:00.008-05:00

The Lord will refine my patience until the day I die. I have more patience than I had 10 years ago, but I am still far from patient. I want things on my schedule, done in the order I would do them, and have little tolerance for those who don't do it my way. I want people to respond in my time, and fail often to wait on the Lord. But God is gracious, kind and gentle. He hasn't given up on me and continues to teach me this valuable fruit of the spirit daily.

Several weeks ago, I was in the car with my 11 year old son. He had heard me talking with a friend of mine about a drug issue that her daughter was facing. He asked me what "pot" was. I saw this as a golden "teachable moment", and proceeded to tell him what pot was, and probably way more than he wanted to know about drugs. I told him that he would encounter a lot of temptation over the next few years as people his age began to make bad choices and experiment in lots of different things. As I was talking, I noticed he had a very serious face and was deep in thought. I asked him if he had anything on his mind. He said, "Yes." I asked him if he'd like to share it with me or talk to me about it. He said, "Well, I was just thinking...if I were a superhero, which superpower I would want to have. It's a very hard decision." I wanted to throw my hands up in the air. I felt like he hadn't heard a word I had said. My teachable moment had just flown out the window.

Last weekend, we took our youth on choir tour. For Sunday church, they sang between two basketball games. That may sound odd to you, but a Christian coach had a vision and followed it. He was going to church, but couldn't get his boys on his team there because of Sunday basketball games. In the midst of his discouragement, God told him, "Why don't you bring church to the basketball court?" He answered God faithfully, and did. Between tournaments, they have a church service in the lunch room where the boys come to get their snacks. We led in worship, and then sat down to hear the preacher. The preacher preached, and I thought, "Nobody is listening...this is futile." But at the invitation, two of those boys accepted Christ. The man served faithfully, and God penetrated hearts!

Isaiah 55:11 says, "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."

There are times when we may feel like our words or our testimonies are falling on deaf ears, but I assure you they are not. Back to my son's story, the next time he needs to ask about drugs or has a concern about another issue, he knows that he can come and talk to me. He heard me. I was just too impatient to appreciate his innocence and God's timing. As I've reflected on that, it reminded me to be thankful for that innocent, "little boy" perspective that he still has. This preacher preached his heart out--truth about salvation in God--and two boys gave their lives to Christ. He was patient in his delivery and perservered in his passion for winning those boys to Christ. God was faithful, and answered boldly!

With perserverance and patience, we must keep seeking out God's Word. And then, with patience and perserverence, we must keep proclaiming it. As promised in Isaiah, it will not come back void!

You said, "Ask and you will receive whatever you need." You said, "Pray and I'll hear from heaven, and I'll heal your land." You said Your glory will fill the earth like water the sea. You said, "Lift up your eyes; the harvest is here, the kingdom is near." You said, "Ask and I'll give the nations to You". O God, it's the cry of my heart. Distant shores and the islands will see Your light as it rises on us. O Lord, we ask for the nations. (worship song by Reuben Morgan)

The Generation to Come

2008-06-10T09:12:00.004-05:00

Sounds: laughter, diving boards bouncing, chatter, frogs croaking, children's praise

Smells: sunscreen, dirty socks, chlorine, camp food--it all smells the same

Touches: heat on your skin, hugs, breeze on your face, splashes from the pool, the Holy Spirit present

These are just a few things that I experience every year at Children's Camp. This year, we took 299 sponsors and children to Glenrose. It was an amazing time. David, Shawn, Brian, Kim and others work tirelessly to make sure our kids are safe and have an incredible experience. Barry and Dennis lead so wonderfully in worship. Daryl and his crew work tirelessly around the clock to address every media need and capture the memories on video. This year, we had 35 professions of faith and 17 rededications. Their hearts are so tender, and so honest.

One of the lessons I learned (or was reminded of) is that we need to set our expectations high for the future. There is a wonderful generation of kids just waiting to be used. And they need to be trained and made to feel useful.

Our youth band led worship at Children's Camp. This was a group of 5 guys entering 8th grade to entering 11th grade. They took it seriously. Now they were kids...complete with the ghost stories, sleeping in life preservers, camp pranks, etc. But, when I challenged them in leadership, they stepped up. It wasn't about music or performance to them. It was about modeling and leadership. They took seriously their spiritual preparation each day--spending quiet time with God. They took seriously their musical preparation--they would have played all day if I'd have let them. But then, they took seriously the modeling. They spent the afternoons playing with the kids in the pool, or helping Brian by filling water balloons. They were servant leaders. I was proud.

I came back to Brown Blvd on Sunday, where one of our adults was training two of our "children" to do the graphics. She showed them how to do it just before the service, and that 5th and 6th grader ran the entire service on Sunday. I didn't even notice that it wasn't an adult running them. They felt useful, and were helping to lead the entire congregation in worship.

Mark 9:37 says, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me;"

I have been truly blessed by the ministry of these "children". Scripture talks about faith like a child. We often think of that as "simple" faith. This week, I thought of it as willing and fearless. It made me truly excited about the next generation of believers and all that God will do through them.

Lord, thank You for Your provision. Thank You for Your training. Thank You for a church who believes that even our children can serve You powerfully and meaningfully. Help us to teach this next generation, and help us to be willing to pass the baton graciously as that time comes. Thank You for the reminder that You are eternal, and Your work will continue for generations to come!

Journey

2008-06-05T10:24:00.006-05:00

Two lessons I've learned over the past several months:

1. You can't expect to get out of people what isn't there. I tend to see people with rose-colored glasses and think I can "fix" them or convince them to do the right thing. Sometimes people are just broken or incapable, and we can't "fix" them. It has been a great lesson and reminder that I can't rely on my own power or strength in these circumstances, but have to ALWAYS depend on God's transforming power and renewal. God can fix or change any heart--in His time.

2 Corinthians 4:18 "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

2. I am so grateful for this church. I love my church. I'm thankful for the health. I'm thankful for the opportunities. I'm thankful for the leadership. I'm thankful for the vision. I'm thankful for the hardworking, healthy people I get to plow alongside on a daily basis. I'm just thankful!!!

Matthew 16:18 "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Thank you, Lord for the hard lessons in life. Thank You for the reminder that You are sovereign, and that You alone heal hearts. Thank You for Your presence in my church. Thank You for Your promise about The Church. Thank You for the promise of hope and a future. Thank You for Your victory over sin and death. Thank You for loving us as only You can do.

"In Love"

2008-06-02T13:34:00.004-05:00

Ephesians 4:15-16 says, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

This has been a remarkable month. Just in corporate worship, I have experienced seeing a strong class of seniors graduate on to the next stage in life, new babies dedicated into this family of faith, new staff positions and responsibilities, countless people serving selflessly in worship leadership, and powerful preaching. In rehearsals, I've seen 8th graders preparing to lead children in worship at children's camp, 3 year old choirs through senior adult choirs preparing to lead in worship, youth ensembles, adult ensembles, orchestras, rhythm sections, handbells, praise teams, media teams....it's overwhelming the number of people serving faithfully. Then, personally, I've seen Sunday school teachers, choir directors, karate teachers, orchestra teachers, coaches, parents, and so many other wonderful Christian people leading my children by example.

As Curt spoke Sunday, I was struck by the passage both he and Dennis mentioned: Ephesians 4. The part that jumped out at me was the passage above. Twice, Paul mentions that we are to do things "in love"--speak the truth, grow, build each other up. I can honestly say that I would not be the person I am today if I didn't have COUNTLESS Christian examples in my life who spoke the truth to me, instructed me, prayed for me and encouraged me "in love". I am thankful that this church continues to live out that legacy which Paul laid out for us in Holy Scripture.

I am thankful for Margaret Johnson, who was my hero growing up. I always wanted to be like her and admired her so. I was star-struck every time she came home on furlough, because I loved her stories about how God was at work, and I knew she was living her life for Christ. Because of her example, I learned to embrace God's calling in my life, and not to fear it.

I am thankful for faithful Sunday School teachers like Bill Johnson, Sondra Adair, Donna McCown and sound pastors, Dennis Wiles and Charles Wade who taught me, and continue to teach me, the truths in Holy Scripture. I'll never forget my 8th grade Sunday School class--we learned more about the Bible that year than I ever did in any other class. Because of their faithfulness, I learned to crave knowledge and depth in Scripture.

I am thankful for choir directors and musicians placed in my life. But none could compare to Barry Rock, who once asked me the most painful (but revealing) question "in love": "Are you worshiping God or are you worshiping the music?" It was a question that sent me and my husband on an incredible journey as we sought out why God gave us the tools He did in this body, and how He desired for us to use them. And I can't leave the "music" subject without mentioning Jane Ellis. What a remarkable musician, and what an incredibly faithful servant of the Lord! Her knowledge of the Bible and thirst for it as she continually studies and shares with younger women is inspiring. Because of their modeling, I learned that God desires my whole life, not just the musical part, and I learned that the music is just a tool that He has given so that others may be drawn to Him.

I am thankful for our youth and children who continue to challenge me every day. They are reminders that we must continue to grow, because we have a responsibility to shape them, and they are our future! Because of their uninhibited worship, I look forward to worshiping with abandon this week at children's camp.

Well, all in all, I was just overwhelmed with gratitude to God for placing me in a congregation of believers who challenge, grow, question, speak, teach, sing, worship and encourage "in love". I look forward to many more years of growing deeper in Christ with this body of believers.

Lord, thank You for opening the eyes of my heart and allowing the gratitude to spill out. You are good. Thank You for challenging Your people, and allowing us to grow, even through difficult times, "in love". Thank You for the Scripture, and how it leads us and guides us every step of the way in our walk with You. Thank You for being in relationship with us, and filling in the gaps our our limited understanding with Your Spirit. There are many lives still to shape and call forth in You. Help us to do our part. Amen.

Back to the Basics

2008-05-27T09:00:00.006-05:00

This week is a big week in the Klophaus family. My son has been training since he was 5 for his black belt. It has taken lots of time and discipline. It hasn't been easy, but it has been very worthwhile. I won't go into all of the reasons why I appreciate the things he has learned through martial arts, but I will say that he has had a Christian instructor who has instilled Christian principles in him, and taught him how to deal with real life conflict in tangible ways.

There are many requirements to fulfill when in the final stages before a black belt test. Of course, he has to know all of the forms, but then he has to write an essay on respect, have written recommendations from others, etc. I was reading through the criteria, and I read this statement: "Here is the dirty little secret about all decent martial arts programs, there is nothing new! The only thing that matters is getting better at the basics."

That was a powerful statement to me. I believe the same is true in our Christian walk. Oftentimes, we get derailed by peripheral things or petty disputes, and oftentimes, we need to explore those things. But nothing should take us away from the basics, or rather, the basics should be strong so that we continue to grow every day. It is our core that defines us. It is what strengthens our faith. It is what we will rely on during times of trial.

I received a call yesterday from a girl who grew up in a church, but is not currently an active member anywhere. She and her husband had come up against a circumstance where they had to discuss their faith. They had never had that discussion before. When it came right down to it, though she is a Christian, she was confused about some of the basic, core beliefs of Christianity. This made it even harder for her to discuss this "faith thing" with her husband, who does not share those core beliefs and certainly doesn't know the "Baptist language". It was a reminder to me that we, as followers of Christ and as Christian educators, should NEVER neglect the basics. We should never assume that people understand the "Christian" language. Sometimes it may be completely foreign to them. I am grateful that she and her husband weren't afraid to ask questions, and begin the journey together now.

Several years ago, a missionary came and spoke to our Bible study class about a tribe he had been working with. It was a tribe that didn't understand the concept of exchanging money for work, or "earning wages". Therefore, the verse, "For the wages of sin is death..." didn't translate. The missionary spent 9 years there without a single convert. He spent that 9 years understanding their language and their way of life so he could share The Gospel with them. He spent 9 years working on translating the basics so that an entire tribe might someday come to know Christ, and be able to read Scripture in their own language.

The basics are so important. I value the time I spent in Bible Drill (learning scripture), Children's Choirs (learning hymnody) and in the Lutheran church (learning the creeds), because those are the core values of my faith. We as Baptists tend to run from creeds, but I am thankful for the Lutheran church teaching me the Nicene Creed, because it helped me memorize those core truths, and more importantly, verbalize them. There is a newer chorus that encompasses these truths in more contemporary verse:

We believe in God the Father. We believe in Christ the Son. We believe in the Holy Spirit. We are the Church and we stand as one. We believe in the Holy Bible. We believe in the virgin birth. We believe in the resurrection, that Christ one day will return to earth. We believe in the blood of Jesus. We believe in eternal life. We believe in the blood that frees us to become the Bride of Christ.

...and the powerful worship chorus (which scripture says one day ALL believers will sing around the throne): Holy, holy, holy is our God. Worthy, worthy, worthy is our King. All glory and honor are His to receive. To Jesus we sing because we believe.

May we never take for granted the core of what we believe as Christians. Let us look for opportunities to grow in the basics--studying the Scripture, worship, prayer, fellowship with believers, discipleship, missions. Like martial arts, we need to constantly strive to get better at the basics!

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Lord, help me not to get sidetracked by the peripheral or the petty, but stand firm on the Solid Rock. Thank You for giving me a sure foundation in Christ. Help me never to be complacent about sharing Your grace and mercy with this lost world. People need to know You! Draw me nearer to You everyday, that I might stay focused on the tasks You have for me to do, and that I might be a reflection of that grace which You bestow upon me daily.

Worth

2008-05-19T22:26:00.002-05:00

One of the funniest websites (especially if you’re in a cynical mood) is despair.com. It presents the most bleak outlook on life. It has posters with “demotivational” sayings—posters like:
A picture of the running of the bulls with a saying, “Tradition: Just because you’ve always done it that way doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly stupid.” Or “Meetings: None of us is as dumb as all of us.” Or, “Doubt: In the battle between you and world, bet on the world.” It’s a whole website (meant to be funny) poking fun at motivational sayings. It makes its money on “demotivation”.

As I was looking at it and laughing, I came across one that just made me sad: “Worth: Just because you’re necessary doesn’t mean you’re important.” The reason why this particular one struck me is because I meet people every day who don’t think they make a difference—not just lost people, but Christians. First of all, lost people are just that…lost. And that “lost”ness is often accompanied by worthlessness. There are many Christians who take that first step, but never cultivate a relationship with God. There are many Christians who fall away, and in that detachment feel worthless. But God created us in His own image—a people with a purpose.

Genesis 1:27-28: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it...” and then He calls us “very good.”

I hope that nobody in this ministry EVER feels worthless. We are worth so much that God sent His only Son (what was most valuable to Him) to die for our sins. Therefore, our ministries and our lives on this earth are not worthless. We MEAN something. We make a difference. From the beginning, He desired that we inhabit and care for this earth and everything in it. Then, after “the fall”, after years of separation, and after the renewed hope in Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus tasked us with reaching and discipling every one in every nation. What an incredibly worthy task! Maybe even a little overwhelming.

I love the story about the man on a beach that is full of dying starfish that have washed ashore. This man begins picking them up one by one and throwing them back in the ocean so that they will survive. Another person says to him, “What are you doing? There are so many starfish washed up here, you can’t save them all. This is futile. You’re not making a difference at all….” The man replied to him as he threw in another starfish, “I made a difference to that one.”

That is us, each and every week…touching lives one by one. We are worthy because God made us in His image, and He died for us. They (the "lost") are worthy because He did the same for them. They just need someone to tell them about Him. But most of all, our God is worthy of everything we can give. He has given us a high calling. He has entrusted us with telling this world about Him, and modeling our lives for them to see His love, mercy and grace! “Worth: You are necessary and you are important.” And we have much work yet to do.

Philippians 1:3-6: "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Dear God, Thank You for not giving up on us. Thank You for going to such great efforts to redeem us. Thank You for giving our lives purpose. Help us to make a difference every day in the life of one, so that as we walk daily with You, we can show many Your love. Help us to accomplish all that You have for us to do.

"Good" Enough?

2008-05-14T08:28:00.004-05:00

I spent last week adjudicating a competition. It was a lot of fun. I got to hear 5th-8th grade choirs, orchestras and bands from this and surrounding ISDs. I was really amazed at what these young kids were able to do with music, and how fearless they were. It was also interesting to see the psychology of it all--how a group truly took on the personality of its director. But that's all for another blog.

In this contest, we were encouraged to give the best ratings we could to encourage the kids. It wasn't hard...we heard some very good groups. But, I was looking at the ratings system:
I--Superior, II -- Excellent, III -- Good. III was the lowest rating--it was just "good".

This man-made rating system got me to thinking about the word "good", and how we totally misuse it in this society. We feel the need to self-inflate things--we aren't satisfied with being "good". We've always got to find a way to make "good" better. For instance, with graduates, you have Cum Laud, but that's only representative of those who have done "good" (well). So, we add "magna" and "summa" to provide further distinctions. Our ice cream has rim colors to distinguish it--"good" ice creama is brown. "silver" is even better (more expensive) and "gold" is the best (another way to charge us even more money). Even our gas has a ratings system: "regular" (good) isn't good enough for the more elite cars--so we've created "Premium" and "Super" and charged a higher price. Somehow, "good" has become associated with mediocrity or underachievement.

Yet, when our Father speaks "good", it is of the highest rank:

In Genesis 1:27, we are told how God created us in HIS image, and it is followed up in v. 31 with God looking upon EVERYTHING He created and calling it "very good".

In walking the Christian walk, we often talk about how we want to live a life that is worthy of Him, and how we long for the day when we meet Him in Heaven, and desire for Him to say about us as the master did in Matthew 25:21:
"'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

So, I began my search through Scripture on what was "good".

Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than fine perfume
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good
Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 118 repeatedly says: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

The LORD is Good--I couldn't count the number of times that the LORD Himself is represented in Scripture as "good"--there's nothing mediocre about that!!! His love, and His mercy endure forever. He is Sovereign. He is perfect, all-knowing...the list goes on and on.

So, how do we attain this kind of "good"ness that exceeds any earthly rating? I found at least part of my answer in Titus 3:

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

First of all, I just have to clarify that we are only "good"/justified because of God's grace and mercy--not by anything we've done (as this passage clearly states). Having clarified that, living the life of a Christian follower and being "good" isn't easy. It requires much discipline...consistency, faith, patience, humility...all of those things contrary to earthly success. But I don't want an earthly "superior" rating. I want to be "good"--in the image of my Father in Heaven. That's a much higher prize with a much more difficult road, but I am committed to the challenge. I want to run the race, like Paul said, to receive the highest prize. Or as Jesus said in Matthew, I want my light to shine so that people may see my GOOD deeds, and thus no longer see me, but give praise to my Father in Heaven.

Lord, in this world where everyone is trying to run the rat race of life, help us to run the real race and keep our eyes fixed on the real prize. Help us to set our sights high--living good lives and being good and faithful servants. Help others to see our good deeds and have no choice but to give praise to You. Help us to collectively be "excellent" because each of us was devoted to doing Your good. I love You, Lord.

Proverbs 31

2008-05-12T23:33:00.002-05:00

Being Mother's Day and all, I spent some time pondering on Proverbs 31, and realizing how short I fall to the example laid out in that passage. But, I was also reminded of the incredible women God has placed in my life to be examples and to help me through each day--women who bless my life.

vv. 10-12 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

I was blessed to have a mother whose character was above reproach. Dad has always known that he could count on her for whatever he needed. She made our house a home--and a loving, happy one at that. She is incredibly noble, competent, generous, honest...the list goes on and on. I am thankful for the example she set forth for me on being a godly wife. I know that she set a wonderful example for my brothers because they couldn't have picked better wives suited for them. I'm so thankful for the partners that God has given each of us.

v. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

I have been blessed to be in a family where the women worked hard. I learned such a strong work ethic from women like my mother (who was up early to make sure we had incredibly happy mornings) to my grandmother who worked in everything from her nursing job to missions to medical clinics. My grandmother turned 80 on Saturday and still has an amazing work ethic. And I can't forget my two aunts. Bunny studied and practiced with each of her kids, modeling excellence for her children (while working full time, playing for children's choirs, etc.). My aunt Erin has always been such a hard worker--there wasn't ever anything she couldn't do or accomplish. She can see the potential in anything. She's amazing.

vv. 23 & 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

When I read these verses, I can't help but think of my precious Mammy. She was the epitome of dignity and respect and refinement...and gentleness. And there was no doubt that Pappaw was not only respected at the city gate, but every where else he walked. The other woman in my life who is clothed with strength and dignity is Miss Jane Ellis. She has walked with the Lord and blessed tremendously my life, and the lives of other women in my family. She has instilled in each of us a love of music, but also modeled for us the importance of a close walk with the Lord.

v.28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

Each of these women that I mentioned above have children that absolutely adore them. I pray that I will raise my children with excellence, respect, fear of the Lord, love overflowing, generosity, faith and strength as these have.

v.30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Lord, my ministry is only as strong as my family. I pray that each and every day, You remind me of that. Strengthen my family daily. I pray that You will bring generations to come of strong women who fear You and walk closely with You. I thank You for the women You have placed in my life. I thank You for the wonderful women I work with on a daily basis--Amy and Beth--who model for me the importance of family. They are wonderful mothers who I have the privilege of learning from. I pray that You would use each of us to encourage each other in our journeys as women, mothers, wives, ministers, servants. We love You, Lord, and thank You for loving us. Amen.

NEGs

2008-04-28T20:52:00.006-05:00

Have you ever known a NEG? That's short for one who "needs extra grace". You can call them needy, high maintenance, joy stealers, energy suckers.... I call them NEGs. I know it's not very nice, but I'm writing about my journey, and part of that is being honest about the sinful attitudes with which I struggle. Dealing with NEGs is one of those areas.

This week, I have encountered several NEGs. It is really easy when encountering these people, to become prideful, arrogant, judgmental, patronizing.... This week, as I found myself in that circumstance--dealing with NEGs and being quite put out that "they" were sucking so much energy from me (how arrogant), God slapped me in the face with Philippians 2:5-8:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

I wonder if, as He hung from that cross, He thought, "That Emily...what a NEG." I am deserving of that name...NEG (and many others as well). But, somehow, I know He didn't think of it in the negative way. He thought about me and how I needed grace to save me from my sin that separated me from Him. He saw me as worthy. He saw me as His child. He saw my potential. He overlooked all of the blemishes and things in my life that suck joy, and He thought I was worth dying for. He thought every one of us was worth dying for.

As I thought about that passage of scripture, it reminded me that I want to be a grace giver--not a judge. I want to be humble, not proud. I want to be like Christ. It was a very firm reminder that I need extra grace every day, and there was One who was perfect and blameless who was willing to give it to me.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. Amazing love, now flowing down. His hands and feet, that were nailed to the tree. His grace flows down and covers me.

Lord, I pray for those in my life who need extra grace. I pray that I won't approach them with a haughty spirit, but a humble one. I pray that You will continue to place those individuals in my life. I pray that You will give me the tools I need to minister to them. I pray that I will learn from them and from their walk with You. I pray that You will sharpen me through those experiences. I pray that You will place people in my life who are willing to give me extra grace as needed. I pray that You will continue to unify this body of believers so that we can show Your grace, love and mercy to a world that so desperately needs it. Thank You, Lord for this tough, humbling lesson. Thank You for being willing to teach this sometimes prideful, dense soul. Thank You for using this NEG and not giving up on me. Help me to be more like You each day.

Satisfaction

2008-04-28T20:21:00.003-05:00

In Proverbs 30:7-9, Agur cries out to the Lord, "O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name."

So often, I come to God and ask Him for such meaningless things. As I read these sayings of Agur, first of all, I was moved by the poetry that he spoke to God throughout the proverb, but I was also moved by the wisdom in his prayer.

Agur first sought to be honest before the Lord and man. He didn't want to pay lip service to God or others. He wanted that honesty that comes from the heart--pure and righteous. How often do we say one thing, when in our hearts, we mean another? Or, how often do we say we'll do something, and not follow through? Agur wanted to have integrity in his word and in his walk. He asked...no, begged the Lord for that kind of integrity that only comes from relationship with Him.

Secondly, he wanted to be satisfied. So often, we seek riches or power or popularity. He wanted enough so that he wouldn't be tempted to steal, but not so much that he might depend on it, and not on God. What a noble prayer.

Sunday night, the youth blessed me in worship. One of the songs they sang was, "My Portion Forever." It says, "Lord, You are all I need, my portion forever, the strength of my heart and my life. You're my sufficiency. In You, I take refuge. You're my all when all is gone."

Agur spoke a sure word. There was no anxiety or worry in what he said or what he asked for. Further in his sayings, he spoke of the things he was sure of. This song, My Portion Forever does the same thing. It reminds us, as it says in Isaiah 40, that "the grass withers and the flowers fade, but Your promises are sure." Our dependency, our hope is in the Lord, not on the things of this earth--money, status, influence, popularity....

When we are seeking God and what He wants for our lives--nothing more, nothing less--the complexities of life seem to fall away, and we are left with pure, simple satisfaction. Thank you, Agur for recording these words for us so that we could be reminded that all we need is to live lives of integrity and be satisfied with our portion.

Who can satisfy my soul like You? Who could ever comfort me, or love me like You do? Who could ever be more faithful, true. I will trust in You, my God. --Dennis Jernigan.

Lord, thank You for being a God who meets our every need. Thank You for the promises that are throughout Your Word about how You will provide for us. Thank You for reminding us of Your love for us. Thank You for people like Agur who walked before us, and taught us how to pray for noble, meaningful things. His prayer was truly not of this earth, but focused on a walk with You. Help me to seek and be passionate about the things of Your Kingdom and to be satisfied with my portion here on earth. You are the only portion I need--the eternal One.

Encouragement and Investment

2008-04-26T19:20:00.004-05:00

Hebrews 3:13 says, "But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

This week, I've experienced encouragement after encouragement from the people around me--people I wouldn't have expected to influence my life. Let me tell you about a few of them:

1. My students performed in a contest. The purpose of this contest was not to win any grand awards. It was simply an opportunity to play for "judges" who listened to the students' playing and then gave them a few words of encouragement. I had 3 students who participated. All 3 made Superior ratings. But the rating wasn't what was great about it. The meaningful part, to me as a teacher, was that each judge took time with each kid to give them an encouraging word. Part of that encouragement was to commend them on what they had already done, and part of it was to spur them on to set new goals. One judge told my student: "You command the instrument. Your intonation is good. You were very well prepared. Now, I want to see you be more confident. I want to see some showmanship." What a great word! It acknowledged the hard work that had been done, but also let her know that music isn't about the perfection and it's never a finished product. It's about the connection you make with an audience--and having fun with that connection. It's an art. She encouraged that student to break out of her shell and begin contributing pieces of herself to the music instead of simply playing what was on the page.

2. I had to go to the pharmacist to pick up a new prescription for one of my children. The pharmacist placed a note that he wanted to talk to me. He spent 20 minutes talking to me not only about the prescription, but telling me stories about his kids, etc. He was so encouraging to me as a parent. Simply spending that time with me--when he had plenty of other customers--was such an encouragement to me. It showed that this was a person that cared. I called my mother and told her I felt like I was living in the 50's, where I had a pharmacist who knew my name, knew my children, and just had time. It made such a difference in my day.

3. Saturday morning, my neighbor down the street rang the doorbell. I have maybe said 2 words to her since I moved in. She and her granddaughter were standing at the door with a plate of cinnamon rolls. They had been to an early breakfast and had made way too many cinnamon rolls, so they were walking door-to-door around our cul de sac offering the extra cinnamon rolls. She thought my kids might like them. It was just a simple act of kindness and again, that personal contact.

4. I sat next to someone this week in a meeting from Brown Blvd. We were there to be trained on a new program, but instead, we used the "free time" during the meeting to chat about the church. She spoke to me for a long time about the changes that have gone on. Sometimes, there were tears in her eyes, and sometimes we were laughing. It was a time that we haven't had before just to sit and talk and be thankful for what God is doing in that place. Just in case you don't know, God has His church right there on Brown Blvd. It is growing--from the inside out. It is exciting! For me, it was so meaninful to hear from a long time Brown Blvd. member their perspective on how things had changed. It was an encouragement to me that what we are doing is making a difference. But even more so, it was an encouragement to me that God is always faithful when we are committed to His service. He is at work. He is present. He's not wasting a moment of our time that we commit to Him!

Life happens in the details. These small moments out of my week were so meaningful. It was example after example of people with busy lives who chose not to live in the midst of their stress or busy-ness. They chose to live in relationship with each other--this week, in relationship with me. I hope to never be too busy to take time to live in relationship with others. How else will they know God if they don't see Him in our lives or hear about Him from our lips?

Lord, help me this week to look at the little ways that I can encourage another person. Help me to spend meaningful time with the people around me. Help me not to get caught up in the meaningless details and the busy-ness, but instead remind me to take the time and energy to make an investment in someone else's life--whether it's an investment that lasts 20 minutes, or it's something that You use to last a lifetime. Lord, I am Your servant. Use me.

The Vine

2008-04-20T15:48:00.007-05:00

John 15:5 says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing."

I have written before that my biggest fear is that of failure. Probably a VERY CLOSE second is the fear of heights. I'm not talking about being afraid of sky diving or cliffs. I'm talking about step ladders. I can't stand to not be on the ground. Don't ask me to climb a ladder or ride the parachutes at Six Flags or anything that means my feet will be leaving the ground! I've decided it is really a control issue. I'm more afraid of not being in control than I am the actual heights, because being on top of a mountain doesn't bother me. It's simply my feet leaving the earth that scares me silly!

There have been several things lately that have just stirred up fear in me. I won't go into detail, but I have found myself concerned about many things that are out of my control. I have had trouble sleeping, and I have even had a couple of nightmares. Some of these are righteous things that I worry about, and some are not. They are simply fears that come from me trying to work out of my own strength and not drawing from God's strength.

Last weekend I went on the 5th grade retreat, and I spent some time with the Lord, and decided I need to relinquish this sense of always having to be in control--a "control freak" as Jane used to call me (I smile and think of her everytime I struggle with this--she always knew and always held me accountable).

I am a pretty capable person. I don't generally complain about something unless I have a solution for it already in mind. I generally don't say I can't do something, and I certainly don't respond well to others telling me I can't do something...hearing someone tell me that is a guarantee that I CAN and I WILL! So, on this retreat last week, I decided to face this fear of heights head on. I decided that if I could conquer it (at least temporarily), then I could begin to conquer the other fears that were needling me and disturbing my sleep. That's where the zip line came in.

Now, some of you are probably saying, "A zip line? You're scared of a zip line?" No. I'm not scared. I was terrified. But, ultimately relinquishing control of something means having to trust in something else. After questioning the people monitoring the zip line over and over again, I finally decided to trust. I put on my gear, took my hook and climbed up the several stories of stairs to the top of the platform. Once I made the climb, I was bound and determined to jump off. Of course, I asked the poor man monitoring the equipment about 4 times to prove to me that it was really going to hold me, and that I really was attached firmly. I don't know about you, but I was looking at how far down it was, and was a little skeptical about hooking on to a cable and jumping off. But, I finally sat down, scooted to the edge, blocked everything else out and leaned forward. Within moments, I was flying through the air. It was the most exhilerating and freeing experience of my life. I actually enjoyed it, and David B has the video to prove it. I was smiling from ear to ear all the way down!

Sometimes, I feel like our Christian walk is similar to that zip line. We are attached to the lifeline of God, but we also know the comfort of our own shoes and the safe ground that we walk every day. Sometimes it's hard to lean forward and trust enough to let go. Sometimes we are resistant to change. Sometimes we fear being bold about the Gospel. Sometimes we are guilty of keeping our mouths shut when we should stand up and speak for Truth. Sometimes we are simply guilty of trying to be self-sufficient and don't take time to be nourished by our Creator. Ultimately, we have to trust God's prompting. We have to trust that He stands there--not wanting to shove us off into a foreign land, but rather, reminding us to attach our lives to His vine of life, thus securing our path all the way to Him. Aren't we grateful that we don't have to put our eternal trust in the things of this earth--the manmade zip lines and parachutes--but rather in the eternal God?

I had to face a major fear in ministry following that zip line experience. I knew it was coming. And, remarkably, it was painless. Why? Not because I jumped off a 5 story platform, but because I tangibly forced myself back into a right, clear perspective. I realized that God is not going to ask me to do something unless He is going to equip me every step of the way. I may not know how or when, but I know He will--and He'll do it in His perfect timing.

The best part of the zip line was the friendly faces (jaws dropped) at the end of the line. My Christian brothers and sisters were cheering me on--encouraging me. It was a reminder that with us spurring each other on, Jesus as the Vine and God's nourishment and supervision, we can accomplish anything He has in mind for us to do.

Psalm 9:10 says, " Those who know Your name will trust in You,
for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You."

Let us keep encouraging each other to push forward, out of our comfort zones, into service and spread this Gospel throughout the world. Let us be faithful in our community, and faithful in our places week by week. There are people in the Metroplex who don't know the transforming power of the Gospel. People are eager to hear. They just need people who are not afraid to step out and tell!

Lord, thank You for helping me to put my fears into perspective. Thank You for challenging me daily to step out and live for You. Thank You for the reminder that You are trustworthy, right and pure. Thank You for being unfailing. Help me to live daily apart from sinful fear, and rather in righteous fear and reverence to You. When I stray, Lord, remind me that the one secure line is Your lifeline. Help me to stay attached to Your vine and remain in You.

How Beautiful are the Feet

2008-04-08T08:06:00.007-05:00

First, an update. I wrote several weeks ago about Scripture Cards and how I was reading those with my children in the mornings, and what a difference it made. Well, over Spring Break, my Mom invited the 3 middle cousins over to her house for a sleepover. Abby is mine, and she is 7. Grant and Claire are Jack's, and they are 5 and 3. Mom was trying to get them calmed down for bed, so she put them all back on her big bed to watch a movie. A little while later, she heard Abby adamantly quoting scripture to them. She walked back into the room, and saw that the movie was paused and poor Claire was sitting in the bed with tears rolling down her cheeks and Abby standing over her saying, "Listen...listen to me...Blessed are the poor in spirit...." Abby had the box of scripture cards that she had taken over to Kaykay's to "share" with her cousins and was bound and determined that they were going to listen...whether they liked it or not!

Obviously, we don't exist to shove Scripture down people's throats. But, it reminded me that when we are enthusiastic about something, we are anxious to share with others. Easter is over. We geared up to invite people to our campuses for Easter Sunday morning, and it was exciting. But we don't exist just for Easter Sunday. There is so much more going on week by week that is exciting--and it's not about numbers, but rather about changed lives.

Who do we need to tell? Who do we need to personally invite? Who do we need to follow up on?
I find personally that it is so much easier to invite someone to a soccer game than it is to invite them to church. But, statistics show...actually, forget statistics....real life shows that a large number of people who receive a personal invitation WILL ACTUALLY COME!

When my grandfather was a young man, he was not a Christian. My grandmother got up and took my Dad and his brother to church by herself. A couple from that church followed up on that visit, and showed up at my Grandfather's door with a steak and invited him to church. He didn't go. But he appreciated (and remembered) the steak and the invitation. My grandmother continued to go to church every Sunday faithfully, until one day, she was tired of getting up and getting two boys ready by herself. She rolled over that Sunday morning to go back to bed. Their church life could have ended there. But God had been wrestling with my Grandfather's heart. Quietly, my Grandfather got up and helped get the boys ready. They all went to church that morning. My Grandfather accepted Christ shortly thereafter. That invitation from that family who took the time to visit him and invite him, combined with the faithfulness of my grandmother, changed his life forever.

This past Sunday, a lady who came to Brown Blvd Campus on Easter with her 2 sons and daughter came back, and brought 3 more children. They were excited about what they experienced on Easter, and wanted to come back and bring others.

Isaiah 52:7: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

This week, I'm asking God to light a fire in me to be bold in inviting people. I want to share what I am enthusiastic about. I want to share with others the excitement that this church brings--that BOTH campuses bring. God is doing AMAZING things. It's up to us to share that with others in our community and personally invite them into this place.

Unlike Abby, you have to be prepared to take "no" for an answer, but I'll bet most will say "yes" or at least "I'll think about it".

Lord, help me to proclaim the Good News. Lord, I know that you have not gifted me with evangelism, that I can't quote large sections of Your Scripture from memory. But I know that You have given me the simple task of inviting others to come and share in this Good News, to be fed by the message You give our Pastor each week and to share in the fellowship of Your people. Help me to be faithful in proclaiming that which I am excited about. Help me to be bold, but gracious. Prepare the hearts of the people I will tell, that they might be ready to embrace the Gospel and not reject it. Prepare my heart for rejection, that I might not be discouraged, but rather strengthened. Help me to grow in my expectation of the difference that one person can make by simply extending an invitation. Lord, there are so many people here that have never heard of your Love and sacrifice. Help us not to keep it hidden...as if it is something that is just for us. Help us to share it with this world, boldly and faithfully. Amen.

The Power of Prayer

2008-04-07T20:53:00.003-05:00

I know that many of us experience the incredible, mysterious power of prayer each day. But there are times when God impresses upon us specific things to pray for. Today, I just want to share a few testimonies that prayer is REAL and TANGIBLE and relevant today. God hears His people, and responds boldly.

Let me preface this by saying that Cuban Christians are in the midst of 50 days of prayer. The prayer guide is located at http://www.50dias.com/ if you would like to commit to pray. Here is the blog entry from several days ago:

Day Eleven
Last summer Ivette, a Christian violinist for a Havana symphony orchestra, and some other Cuban Christian musicians used music to share the Gospel with rural Cubans. In one week, 450 people accepted Christ. Ivette returned burdened to win fellow musicians to Christ. Pray for her and another orchestra member as they share their faith with their peers.

Did you read that? In ONE WEEK, God changed 450 lives FOREVER through the actions and obedience of just a few. This entry particularly caught my eye because I know Ivette. Ivette is a violinist that our church has prayed for and helped.

I met Ivette on my first trip to Cuba. She has such a powerful faith and zeal for the Lord. She has a burden for sharing her faith, even amidst the threat of persecution, and a joy that just exudes the moment you meet her. Ivette's violin was in very bad shape. She asked me to pray with her, that God would somehow help her to get a better violin. This was a bold prayer in a place where you can't even get strings, let alone a violin. She didn't ask God for a violin because she wanted a material item. She asked for it because she wanted to use it to God's glory...to witness to others in the symphony. That first trip, she invited many from the symphony to our classes. 60 lives were won to Christ through God's presence in those classes that week. I agreed to pray with Ivette. I shared that prayer with several groups in our church. A year and a half later, on my second trip to Cuba, I was able to return with a nice violin for Ivette. Not only were her prayers answered, but look at how God is using her life and her testimony of His love and His provision!

Today, a friend told me that her husband sometimes feels very specific burdens to share the Gospel with people. He felt such a burden recently with his neighbor and boldly went to his neighbor's house and shared with him the plan of salvation. He asked the neighbor if it was something he had ever heard. The neighbor told him that he had NEVER heard it before. Can you imagine, right here in Arlington, TX, perhaps even next door to you, that there is someone who hasn't heard the Gospel? We should NEVER take that blessed story of Love and Truth for granted. That neighbor died yesterday. I'm so thankful for a burdened heart that didn't let fear, busy-ness or any other excuse keep him from sharing that life-saving Gospel of hope that we know in Jesus Christ.

Our prayers make a difference. Whether it be to bring healing to the body or healing to the spirit, whether it be to start a church or to grow one that already exists, God hears our prayers. And, He is faithful to answer them.

2 Chronicles 7:14-16 says, "...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."

Matthew 18:19-20 says, "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Let us pray with boldness and humility like the Cuban Christians, who today ask that God win 1,000,000 Cubans to Christ by 2010 and start 100,000 new churches in the next 5 years. Let us obey without fear or hesitation like Ivette and my friend's husband who shared with his neighbor. Let us continue to gather together and strengthen one another through prayer.

Romans 1:16 says, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes."

Lord, I pray that my actions will bring glory to You today. I pray that You will remove any fears I have in sharing the Gospel. Lord, remind me daily that so long as I act in Your power, You will do amazing and mighty things through me. All I need to do is to seek Your face, humble myself and act in obedience in accordance to Your direction. Help me live a life of worship--unashamed, unquenchable and abandoned to Your will. I love You, Lord.

Press On

2008-03-30T22:58:00.014-05:00

When I was 14 years old, I went on a backpacking trip with the church that my grandparents hosted. Our destination was Pecos Baldy in the Sante Fe National Forest in New Mexico. From my grandparents' cabin, you can look off of their porch, out over the tops of the trees and see Pecos Baldy, covered with a thin layer of snow most of the year.

Well, I set off on this backpacking trip. It was my grandmother, me and another lady and then about 10 guys. My grandparents taught us to pack smart. We had our tent and sleeping bag, some beef jerky, trail mix, water, a couple of extra pairs of socks, etc. But, they didn't allow us to overpack. I'll never forget the other lady that came brought a wash tub so she could wash her clothes and bathe (not important to this story, but it was quite a sight, seeing her poor husband carrying that washtub on his back!). She also wore her brand new "outdoorsman" designer hiking shorts. We were going through brush, and it was going to get very cold at night. She looked like she had just stepped out of a Banana Republic advertisement, but obviously, she wasn't a seasoned backpacker.

Anyway, we hiked the entire day--something like 8 miles through the mountains with our packs on our backs. It was rugged. I'll never forget how tired we were when we made camp that night. We had just enough time to build a fire and heat up rocks to stick in the bottom of our sleeping bags so we'd stay warm. Then came the rain. It was torrential rain. It's amazing that it didn't take our tent and all of us down the mountain, but somehow, we stayed grounded that evening.

The next morning, we were tired, hungry, sore, and still had the hardest climb ahead. I remember waking up and seeing the peak of Pecos Baldy. We were camped at the bottom of a cliff leading up to it. I remember thinking, "I've seen it, and I've really gone far enough. Let's go home." But, I had already come that far, so even though some stayed behind at camp, I began up the final trail with my brother, grandmother and grandfather.

As we started up, rain clouds moved in again. But we were determined to make it to the top. After negotiating all of the switchbacks, we finally made it to the top. I can't describe that view. It was absolutely breathtaking! I could see the top of every other mountain in the range. They looked like little stepping stones from our viewpoint. But what I remember most was the feeling of accomplishment. I had pushed, I had stuck it out with all of those boys, and I reached my goal. And what an amazing reward--the view and the tremendous sense of accomplishment! I praise God every time I think of that moment--for the splendor and beauty of His creation.

Since then, every time I've encountered something I didn't think I could handle, I've remembered that moment. Physically, I've never endured anything so tough (except maybe the 10 days I spent in Eastern Cuba). But what I learned was that if I perservered and didn't give up, anything was possible. It was a life lesson in just a few days' journey.

I believe that is a glimpse of the type of perserverence Paul writes about in Philippians 3:12-14:
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

God has a job for me in His Kingdom. He has set forth many goals. The journey has already been long, but Paul challenges us to forget what is behind us--in other words, don't look back. He tells us to keep pushing forward--there are even better things to come! Our Pastor's series, "Fit for Life" reminded me of this journey to Pecos Baldy. It reminds me that every day, I'm on a Heavenly journey. I need to keep my eyes focused on the goal. I need to continue to press on, striving toward what is ahead. I need to make sure that I keep my eyes on the prize "...for which God has called me..." not the prizes of this world. There is much work to do. I'm just thankful that God allows me to be a part of His incredible Kingdom work!

Thank You Lord for teaching us so much through our everyday experiences. Thank You for not being only a God of the past, but a God of the present and the future. Thank You for the lessons You teach me daily. Thank You for being a God who doesn't constantly remind us of our failures, but reminds us of our successes. Thank You for Paul and his writings to the church of Philippi--the encouragement it brings to us as we press on towards Your goals. Sustain us, encourage us, and help us keep our focus on You.

Growing

2008-03-26T08:56:00.005-05:00

This week, I took my 11 year old to the shoe store. His foot had grown, and he needed some new shoes for Easter. I took him to the boys’ section where I ALWAYS take him, and they didn’t have his new size—a size 7. I was at a loss as to what to do. I searched and searched for the “pre-teen section” (just in case you go looking for it…no such thing exists for shoes). Then, I went back to the children’s section and had him try on the 6s again, just to make sure he couldn’t squeeze his foot in them one last year. Finally, I realized that the 7 was in Men’s shoes. I think that was the hardest walk I’ve taken yet as a parent—that walk up three aisles to the Men’s Shoe department. Ben was so excited about getting to wear men’s shoes. I wanted to put a brick on his head to keep him from growing up. No such luck.

It was a reminder to me that we are growing—each one of us every day. We can’t stop growth. We are living, breathing organisms. God designed us to grow. But, it also caused me to stop and think about HOW we grow.

Basically, in our spiritual lives, we are growing in one of two directions—either growing closer in relationship with God, or increasing separation between us and God. Even though our salvation is secure through our belief in Jesus as Lord, the Christian walk is so much more than that. It's kind of like a garden. If you weed it, and don't plant anything, weeds will grow back. If you weed it, plant flowers, but then don't maintain it by watering it, giving it sun and nurturing it, the weeds will grow back and overtake the flowers. We have to give that same love and care and nurturing to our relationship with God. We feed it and nurture it through prayer, living in and by the Word, relationship with believers, worship, service, fellowship with believers.... And it's absolutely worth it. There are so many joys and wonders and miracles to experience by being in growing relationship with the Father.

In my college days, I spent some time away from the church. Those were the darkest days of my life. It wasn’t because the church building was some magical place to be, but it was because the church was the place where I could be taught in the Truth, worship corporately with the people of God, be held accountable and encouraged by brothers and sisters, and experience the joy of seeing God at work. Because I wasn’t growing in my relationship with God and with God’s people, it was a very unhappy, dark time in my life.

Now, having spent the last decade+ of my life invested in my relationship with God, and thus invested in the church, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I receive so much joy from being here. I am taught new things every day. My perspective is broadened. I get to hear the amazing stories of God working actively in people’s lives. I watched the DVD that Daryl put together “Becoming”, and I couldn’t stop smiling because of the joy I felt in being a part of this place—the diversity, the energy, the future. I look forward to the challenge of our mission as a church: Making Disciples.

We had over 3600 on campus Easter Sunday, and almost 140 at Brown Blvd. What a blessing—a milestone, really! Now our challenge is to greet and make welcome the visitors, disciple them—visitors and members--continue to reach our community and our world. Easter was a big day, but we are needed in our places EVERY week so we can continue our mission. We must continue to grow in our individual relationships with God and as a corporate body. It was a reminder to me that every morning, I need to seek Him fresh so that I can be a vital part of this Church and His Kingdom! What a joy it is to serve alongside my brothers and sisters each week in this place!

Lord, thank You for the church. Thank You for knowing our every need--especially the need to be surrounded daily by people of God and by Truth seekers. I thank You for our Pastor who seeks You and is a vessel for Your Word. I thank You for each of the faithful members here who encourage me in my walk week by week. I pray that You will continue to challenge us with new lives that need to be won to this Kingdom. Help us to continue to faithfully grow in You.

Godliness: The Key to Good Self-Esteem?

2008-03-10T21:15:00.005-05:00

I heard recently of a friend of mine whose son has been picked on at school. Some of the other boys were making fun of him. This has particularly burdened my friend because her son has some difficulties that he has had to overcome. His parents want him to be happy, feel loved and have good self-esteem. He has wonderful parents, and I know that he is one of the luckiest little boys alive to have all of the love that he has from his family. But that doesn't alleviate the pain of that mother and father.

Last year, my son was picked on by a kid at school. This kid wasn't physically threatening--he was just hurtful with the names he called my son. The difficulty for my son (who is about to get his black belt in karate) was that he knew he could break the bully's arm, but he also told me that there might be some time along the way that that same kid might need a friend. So, Ben refrained from decking the kid. Instead, we talked about it. I emailed the teacher explaining that there was a problem (not assessing blame--just pointing out that the boys were having a personality conflict with each other). The wonderful teacher sat down with both boys and kindly, but firmly laid down the law that their conflict needed to be resolved. I appreciated the teacher taking the time to sit down and talk it out with both boys and allow them to talk it out and resolve the conflict.

The fact is, kids (like adults) can be cruel, thoughtless and insensitive. I can remember when I was a teenager, I was standing right outside the Sanctuary of our church, and I called a boy with some learning problems a horrible name. I was making fun of him. My friends were laughing with me, when suddenly, they stopped and were staring over my shoulder. I turned around and discovered I was face to face with the boy's mother. I will NEVER forget that feeling. She didn't say a word. She didn't have to. Her eyes said it all. She was so disappointed in me, but even more, that was HER BELOVED SON that I was poking fun at. I've never forgotten that moment, and I'm grateful that God impressed upon me in that moment the impact of my cruel actions, and the love and pain of that devoted mother.

In discussing with another friend how to raise our children in this world with so many temptations and so many cruelties, he told me that the key to raising a child with good self-esteem is to raise a godly child. He equated good self-esteem with godliness. I've chewed on that thought for the past several weeks. I think he was absolutely right.

How do we equip our children to deal with bullies or mockers? We train them in Scripture, Truth, reason, how to grow in healthy relationship with God and with others. I'm not saying turn them into judgmental, pious Bible-beaters. I'm talking about teaching them God's way to react to situations. Heck...it's a path that I need to continue on daily.

I've got to daily equip myself in the Truth by staying in relationship with God, keeping close friends who keep me accountable, writing His Word on my heart, growing daily in my marriage, and just the daily humble reminder that God is God and I am not. Those are the things that count...the things that lead one to feel truly good about oneself.

My son was absolutely right about that bully needing a friend in the future. The boy that picked on him last year came to Vacation Bible School over the summer. He was a visitor who needed a friend, and Ben was able to befriend him and welcome him at church. The kid has been much nicer to Ben this year at school (and I'm sure Ben's attitude has changed, too). Why? Because he didn't handle the situation out of wreckless emotion and human reaction. He reasoned it out with the people that God put on this earth to help guide him--his parents and his teachers. And Ben is better because of it. He now has the knowledge that he can handle the next difficult situation that comes along--a huge boost to his self-esteem.

I guess it all boils down to this nugget found in Holy Scripture:
Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

Lord, help us to train in Your ways. Help me to daily re-devote myself to Your teachings and to Your perfect path. Lord, help me remember my failures, that I might not repeat them. But encourage me in the promise that growing in You holds for my life and for my place in Your Kingdom. I am Thine, O Lord.

How to handle a bully 101

2008-03-10T21:03:00.003-05:00

This is something I am writing for posterity. Some day, I want my son to read this story about his father, and be proud of him like I am.

Last week, my husband had an awful week at work. He works in sales, and the boss (we'll call him Frank) gave my husband's prime territory to Frank's step-daughter. My husband has consistently been one of the top sales people, and one of the most loyal to Frank, so this was frustrating to him. He made a comment to Frank about it, and a temper-tantrum ensued. Frank yelled and screamed. At one point, Frank backed my husband against the wall, with his finger in my husband's face and was screaming so close to him that my husband could feel and smell Frank's breath. My husband felt physically threatened, but rather than yell back or push him away, he merely stepped away and walked out the door of the building. Frank chased after him, yelling things like, "Are you walking out on me? Are you quitting? Are you leaving?" My husband, wisely, refused to answer until he had calmed down enough to keep his cool. When he could respond, he said, "Frank, I will not be bullied by you. You won't allow me to complete a sentence, and I can't respond to you until you do."

That's what I want my son to hear. His father walked away from a fight. But he didn't allow the man to bully him either. He merely called him into accountability. He made Frank aware of his actions. From that point on, an adult discussion took place, and resolution was made. Neither party was completely satisfied, but that's typical of conflict. Nobody's going to be satisfied 100% of the time. But, my husband kept his cool and his job, and Frank made some concessions and later promised not to gut anymore of my husband's territories. There were no threats made, no names called, just a rational discussion between adults.

Even adults make mistakes and act irrationally. But my husband took the high road. He managed to get his point across without escalating the situation. I'm proud of him. I'm thankful for how God works daily in his life, and for the example he sets for our children. Love you, honey!

Hungry

2008-03-03T14:52:00.005-06:00

Very few here in Arlington, TX have experienced true hunger. Have you ever been in a place where you truly didn't know where your next meal was coming from? Or have you ever had the worry of feeding your child? I haven't. Well, maybe I didn't know where the next meal was coming from, but I knew that I'd be back in the States in a few days and wouldn't really have to worry about it.

The worship song "Hungry" by Kathryn Scott is a hard song for me to sing. "Hungry, I come to You, for I know You satisfy." It's difficult because I don't know what physical hunger is. It's difficult because I know personally of people who experience it every day, and I'm helpless to change that.

The closest I've ever come to hunger was when I was in Eastern Cuba. The people there literally did not know where their next meal would come from. The man that picked us up from the airport told us of his daily routine. He wakes up in the morning, prays for food, and then goes about the town trying to find food for his family. I can't imagine having to search for my food each morning. Nor can I imagine the possibility of not finding it and coming home empty-handed.

I brought in my snacks with me to Cuba--trail mix, beef jerky, etc. During our journey, we picked up several Cuban ministers to take with us to our meeting point. They were hungry. We thought, "We'll buy them some food". We went to town after town with our money, ready to buy food. There was none to be had. I pulled out the trail mix and the beef jerky, and they ate and were so appreciative. As we went through the week, God provided for us. We ate beans, rice and plantain (not so many beans as plantain). We had boiled plantain, mashed plantain, fried plantain... By the end of the week, I was so tired of plantain. But I also noticed that I wasn't particularly hungry. God provided everything I needed. That plantain was like the manna from heaven. It satisfied. And God was glorified through every meal. His joy was on the faces of the people serving us. His hope was in their hearts. He was very present.

God's Gracious Dealings is the subtitle in my Bible under Deuteronomy 8. Deuteronomy 8 is a chapter that describes God the Provider. He talks about the suffering of the Israelites--the hunger, the wandering. Scripture tells us, "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD". It continues saying that He allowed these things to happen so that He might humble them and provide for them, "Otherwise, you may say in your heart 'My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.'" He humbled them, and He humbles us today so that we might seek Him, remember His promises, His provision, His faithfulness. He humbles us so that our major source of nourishment, and the most sustaining source, will be from His Word.

"Hungry, I come to You, for I know You satisfy. I am empty, but I know Your love does not run dry. So I wait for You. Broken, I run to You, for Your arms are open wide; I am weary, but I know Your touch restores my life. So I wait for You. I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me. Jesus, You're all this heart is living for."

We may not know physical hunger, but each of us has places in our lives where we are spiritually starved. As I sing this song, I use it as a song of confession. I focus on the areas of my life where I am spiritually starved--where I need what only God can provide. Sometimes it may be a particular circumstance. Sometimes it may be a behavior or an attitude that I want to change about myself. The point is that hunger leads to humility. Humility leads to surrender. Surrender leads to change. Change leads to growth. Growth leads to the pure joy of being in relationship with the Father.

So I wait for You, Lord.

Dear Father, Thank you for your provision in our lives. Thank you for how you take care of our every need. You tell us in your scripture that we don't have to worry because You will provide. Help me to stay humble enough to seek Your provision and not go out on my own. Help me to be hungry for You and for Your Word. Thank you for the promise that Your love will not run dry, but will sustain us through the very darkest and brightest of times. We wait for You.

Abandon gives way to Abandon

2008-02-25T20:52:00.005-06:00

We are in the midst of Lent. Reading through Holy Scripture, I can't help but focus on the cross, and Jesus' words there. "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani", "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" Those are challenging words for me. I read it and I feel complete and utter sadness, guilt, weightiness. It is a moment when Christ is completely abandoned to pay the penalty of sin in my life. Fully human, and completely abandoned. There is no rescue. There is no hope. He knows that what He faces--this Innocent One--is the wretched death sentence of my sin and your sin and the sin of every other human being that has walked the face of this earth. Utter darkness. Pain. Despair. A crying out that receives no answer. There is no hope.

That word "abandon" literally means "to leave completely and finally". When reading that definition, the word "finally" jumped out at me. …The finality of separation from God. Without Christ's sacrifice, it is overwhelming. Can you imagine? He had a choice. He was fully God. But at this moment chose to become fully human. Jesus had never before been separated from the Father, until this moment. He didn't have to go through that pain. But He chose to for you and for me.

Stuart Townend writes, "How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure that He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure. How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turns His face away as wounds which mar the chosen One, bring many sons to glory."

God the Father turned His face away from Jesus the Son one time. Can you imagine how He grieved? Can you imagine how painful that was? Abandonment. Darkness. Pain. His Son.

Townend continues, "Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders. Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, call out among the scoffers. It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished. His dying breath has brought me life. I know that it is finished."

Finally, the hope returns. With the death of Christ, and His triumph over death, our penalties were paid. Every last penalty--past, present and future--paid for. His dying breath brought me life. Here's where that dark, final abandon turns into glorious "abandon"--to yield (oneself) without restraint or moderation; give (oneself) over to natural impulses, usually without self-control--to worship. We are to boast in NOTHING but the power of Christ! We are to give ourselves over -- without restraint -- to the worship of Him.

"I will not boast in anything--no gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom." Townend truly has a gift for expressing the beauty of the cross in this great hymn.

Today, there was a blackout at the church. I was in complete darkness. I've never seen it that dark anywhere. I was in the ensemble room off of the choir room. I didn't have my cell phone...no flashlight. It was pitch black. I felt my way (very slowly) out to the sunlight. It was a reminder to me that as I worship Him, that's what my life needs to be like. I am abandoning the darkness to the abandonment of worship of Him--unrelenting worship--worship without restraint--uninhibited worship. What a divine gift! God, the Divine Creator, the Lord over all, turned the hopelessness of abandonment into something glorious--the worship of His people.

Psalm 103:11-12 says, "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. "

Thank you, Father, for being willing to abandon Your Son at the cross to pay the penalty for my sin. Thank you, Father, for the blessing and joy that come from worshiping You. Thank you, Father, for loving us so much, and removing our sins so far from us that we can share in fellowship and communion with You once again. Thank you for not abandoning us, but rather allowing us to abandon the things of this world in total and complete worship of You. We are Yours.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

2008-02-20T08:54:00.002-06:00

This past Sunday, I was leading music at Brown Blvd, and we sang the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness. One of the gentlemen visiting the church that day was from Kenya. His home had been burned recently with all of the turmoil there. Two of the people I serve with week by week have parents serving in South Africa as missionaries. I began to think of Kim and Cindy and their team, and how people were being won to Christ in some of the darkest regions of the world. Great is Thy Faithfulness was such an appropriate song to sing as I began to think about how vast His church is, and the varied circumstances it faces!

I told the congregation this story about my time in Cuba. We were in Cuba, visiting a church on a Thursday night. It was my first trip there, so I didn't know what to expect, and quite honestly, I was afraid. The church was packed out--people standing outside, leaning into the windows so they could hear. ON a THURSDAY NIGHT! We had done some praise team sessions earlier. I was the only one with the group who had worked with praise teams, so even though I wasn't planning on it when I went, I was quickly recruited to teach those classes.

That night, we followed up with a time of worship and an orchestra concert. I was asked to give my testimony at church that night for two reasons: 1. Because I was appropriately dressed (I was wearing a skirt--this is a big deal in Cuban churches) and 2. because I was playing a solo on my violin later in the service, and they wanted them to hear my testimony. Well, I don't remember ever giving my testimony in public like that before. And, I legally wasn't supposed to. I wasn't there on a religious visa at the time. But, God convicted me, reminding me that He was faithful, and I gave my testimony. And I had a wonderful translator who was a passionate, growing Christian and translated so passionately.

We had been singing the song "Come, Now is the Time to Worship" earlier in the worship time, and had taught it in Spanish to the praise teams I had worked with earlier in the day. I followed that song with my testimony. I just re-told those words, "One day, EVERY tongue WILL confess You are God. One day, EVERY knee WILL bow. But the greatest TREASURE remains for those of you who choose Him now! You can know true joy by choosing Christ Jesus right now!" As I said that, all of the lights in that packed church went out. Every last light in the village went out. It was pitch black. I was scared.

But then, I heard the strong, but quiet voice of Camp Kirkland standing behind me say, "Keep going, they're listening". I continued with my testimony, and though there were no mics due to there being no electrical power, the Power of the Spirit was there, and people were quiet, and they heard the Gospel.

When I finished my testimony, there were still no lights and no power. We couldn't continue the concert. But one of the praise teams I had worked with earlier in the day got up and began singing in Spanish "Great is Thy Faithfulness". They sang all 3 verses. Then, they sang "Shout to the Lord". The entire congregation joined in. I will never forget that time of worship in the dark. There was a peace and a sweetness as you heard that dark room filled with the light of hope in the voices that rang out songs of praise.

After awhile, lights came back on, and we continued with the concert. At the end of the concert, we had our first profession of faith on the trip. It was a young girl (probably 18) who had been in the praise team workshop that day. She had come because she just wanted to learn music. She had no idea she'd receive the gift of salvation and the joy of a life knowing Christ. We gave her a Bible, and told her to start with the Gospel of John. The next morning at 8 a.m., she came back and found us and said, "I've finished John, now where do I go?" Throughout the course of the week, she brought back her mother and her grandmother and her aunt. All accepted Christ that week. All in all, this little group of instrumentalists and church musicians embraced 60 people as they came into the Kingdom family that week. We had little to offer in and of ourselves, but God was FAITHFUL. He took what we had, and He used it in a mighty way to change lives FOREVER!

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness."

Lord, no power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck us from Your hand. Thank you for your faithfulness. Even when we are weak or afraid, You are fearless, strong and FAITHFUL!

I want to be like Tychicus

2008-02-11T20:10:00.000-06:00

I must confess that today was not one of my most "Christian" days. I had a bone to pick with someone, and I picked it. More like I bulldozed it! It wasn't one of those moments to be proud of. It was actually painful. It was a moment when I felt that I had to confront something, and was right to feel the way I felt, but didn't necessarily deal with it in the right way. As I went through the day, I began to focus (ironically) on the word, "Encouragement". I must admit...this is not an easy word for me.

I am a classical musician. I hear the imperfections first, even in my own playing. I'm incredibly self critical. I just am. So, I have to work to be encouraging. However, we are called to encourage one another...to build one another up (Rom 14:9). Now, I'm not talking about flattery or pandering. I'm talking about true encouragement. The word, encourage, literally means to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence. We're talking about spurring people on to real meaning, to core values, to spiritual truths. We're talking about inspiring them to attain eternal perspective and lives filled with purpose.

I don't think I realized how important this was until recently. I've had the opportunity to work with the worship team at Brown Blvd--people who are incredibly gifted, but needed some encourgement. They needed someone to pray with them and for them. They needed someone to encourage them in their giftedness and instill confidence in them. I've had the wonderful privilege of being one of those people (I hope). The other day, a lady wrote me about something I had said to her about her spiritual walk and how it had meant so much that I took the time to encourage her. I meant what I said to her (another thing to know is that I say what I mean...I don't believe in flattery). It was affirming to me to know that actually speaking it out loud to her encouraged her the way it did.

Well, as I focused today on this word "encouragement", I did a Bible search on the word. This guy, Tychicus, kept coming up. Paul sent Tychicus to encourage...to share good news. When Tychicus was coming, he was accompanied by a positive word. Paul closes two different letters with the word that Tychicus was coming to encourage. What a great thing to be associated with! Tychicus' name went down in Holy Scripture as an encourager.

We live in a world where everywhere we turn, we are confronted by the fact that we are not good enough, not smart enough, not wealthy enough, not thin enough. TV is loaded with images of (seeming) perfection, and yet it's accompanied by people who "have it all" and are complete basket cases--people like Heath Ledger or Brittney Spears. Well, I don't want to be a Heath or Brittney. I want to be a Tychicus! The world needs more people to encourage in truthful things. It needs people called to be true encouragers--to inspire people to courage in their faith and in their walk with God.

So, I'm praying that I won't have many more failures like I had this morning (though I just received an email from the person in question saying they were relieved that we had such an honest conversation--that's an absolute gift from God!!!!). I'm praying that I will see things more with God's eyes (and ears) and less with my own. I want to close with this simple prayer of Paul's found in Holy Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 2:16-17:
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Tender-hearted Prayers

2008-02-05T11:14:00.000-06:00

First, an update... My kids love the scripture cards. They look forward to that time each morning. As a matter of fact, it actually works as a motivation to get them up and going. The sooner they get ready, the more time we can spend with the scripture cards. Now, perhaps that's backward. We should give God our firstfruits. But when you're trying to get two kids up and ready for school, and you can use scripture as a motivation, I think God understands and accepts that offering.

One of the things that has meant the most to me is hearing my kids pray. The scripture cards I'm using have a scripture on the front and an explanation/prayer on the back. We've used the back of the cards to get my kids started praying in the morning. But the amazing thing is, giving them the few words to start prompts them to the most amazing prayers. For instance, last night, Ben and I were up in the middle of the night because he had a terrific sinus headache. He spent half the night crying. This morning, we read the scripture from Matthew, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you." As Ben followed up the scripture with prayer, he didn't pray for God to relieve his headache, even though he still wasn't feeling well. I must confess, that was my prayer--I knew how he had agonized throughout the night. But Ben asked God for wisdom, peace and joy that comes from knowing God. My 10 year old son caught the value of that eternal perspective. He modeled it in his prayer, and he modeled it for his sister, who was listening intently. I know that God was pleased by that tender-hearted prayer this morning.

I am thankful for tender-hearted prayers. I'm thankful for the people who take time to teach my children and nurture that simple, yet powerful faith. It's not a meek (mouse-like) faith. It's strong. It's unwaivering. It's powerful. It's what God calls us all to have.

Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened.

O Lord, I ask this morning that you place eternal things on our hearts. Help us to see with Your eyes. Help us to run from the materialistic or superficial things of this life, but instead to treasure Your knowledge, Your wisdom and Your power. Help us to gain those things so that we are better suited for Your Kingdom work. Thank you for the modeling of children and their simple faith. We love you, Lord!

Scripture Cards

2008-01-25T14:56:00.000-06:00

When I was a little girl, I loved G.A.'s (Girls in Action). I remember one of the earliest verses I learned was James 1:22 "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only." I identify with that verse. I am a doer. If you've read other blogs of mine, you'll know that I make no apologies for staying busy. I like to be busy.

One of the things I struggle with is the fear of failure (again, noted in previous blogs). I'm afraid that if I don't get it done, it won't get done. That's incredibly egocentric (self-important) and can at times be a real sin battle in my life. But it's honest. That verse, be ye doers, has stuck with me. I love to work, but with it comes its anxieties.

Several months ago, I confided in a friend some of my anxieties and struggles. Yesterday, he handed me scripture cards--1" X 2" cards that had a subject and a verse. For instance, "Worry" and a verse "Matthew 6:34 For do not worry about today..." As I looked at these verses, I thought of two things:

First of all, I had a great childhood. I couldn't have asked for better parents. My parents are godly people who raised me to know what was right from wrong. Even though there were times I tested it, I knew from them what was right, and I also knew that they loved me. Sometimes that love was tough love. But some of my fondest memories growing up were of us kids eating breakfast and Mom pulling down a scripture card--much like my friend gave me yesterday. She would read it to us and ground us in scripture every day. We didn't memorize it...we simply heard it and started off our days with it. She gave me that same box of scripture cards for my children to begin with them. I have to admit, I haven't been as diligent as she was, but I now see the importance and plan to do better.

Secondly, "Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only." It says, "not hearers only", which supposes that you ARE a hearer BEFORE you are a doer. So often, we are so busy "doing" for the Kingdom, that we forget to listen. What better way to listen than to ground ourselves in Scripture?

I treasure these scripture cards from my friend. I put them in my desk drawer, and will pull them out daily...especially as I struggle with some of the issues laid out in those cards. My husband wants a copy as well. We both thought it was an amazing gift from a godly friend.

So, as you face issues that you struggle with, there are several steps you can take:
Go to your copy of scripture or http://www.bible.com/ . Type in the search engine the thing that you struggle with, and it will list out countless verses to help you with that specific issue. Make your own scripture cards.

Another suggestion is a wonderful little book by Selwyn Hughes. Hughes passed away several years ago, but Dennis and I had the opportunity to hear him speak and we were so touched by his simple testimony, powerful faith, and his tangible application of scripture for our lives. The book is entitled, "Hope Eternal".

I'm so thankful to God for the people He places in our lives. I'm thankful for my godly parents. I'm thankful for my godly husband. I'm thankful for my precious children. I'm thankful for godly friends like the one who took the time to write out the cards for himself, and then wasn't afraid to share them.

Lord, help me to listen today to what Your Word has to teach me. Help me to cast my anxieties and burdens on You. Help me to first "hear" Your directives for my life, and then "do" with my entire being. Thank You, for being our Hope, our Rock and our Deliverer.

Simple Prayers

2008-01-13T20:52:00.000-06:00

Matthew 18:3 And Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

This weekend, our church had a Spiritual Formation retreat. I had the privilege of working with the children, 1st-6th grades. The worship of children is always an amazing sound. They are uninhibited, shameless worshipers. We sang Undignified and had a great time being silly and shouting out. But, then, we sang God of Wonders, and the sound coming from the hearts and voices of those children was sweet, but strong. They meant what they sang--the lyrics of Praise to our God of Wonders, the Lord of all creation. I memorized it--burning it forever in my mind. It was such a picture of pure, perfect, impassioned worship. I could feel God's presence in that room as he sat smiling down upon them.

I hadn't planned to do anything more than music that morning. I planned to finish up my duties and then go down and hear the speakers for the retreat. But God had other plans for me. We had more children than expected, and our Children's Minister asked me to go with him and take the 1st and 2nd graders on a prayer walk around the church. Their prayers were amazingly simple, but pure, honest, true prayers. It was such an incredible blessing to hold hands with these children, and hear them take turns at each stop, praying for the people that would inhabit that particular room throughout the week. They looked over the city of Arlington and prayed for our leaders. They looked over at the Youth building, and prayed that the older kids would be good examples to them. They prayed over the Preschool rooms, and prayed that they themselves would be good examples to the Preschoolers. They prayed for their parents, they prayed for our staff, they prayed for Mission Arlington.... Thank you, God for the privilege of hearing those prayers and sharing in that time with them, and with You!

As we entered one of the 3rd grade Sunday school rooms, I saw a list of prayer requests on the wall, in the handwriting of the children that attend that class every Sunday. One read, "Dear God, please help my Mommy while she is in the hospital." Another read, "Dear God, please help my sister be okay." But the one that struck me the most was from a little boy. It simply said, "Dear God, help me be smarter." What wisdom that little boy had in his prayer!

It reminded me of Solomon in 1 Kings 3. God tells him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give to you" and Solomon asks for wisdom--or more specifically--"a discerning heart". 1 Kings 4:29 says, God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.

Lord, like Solomon and this precious 3rd grade boy, help me not to live within my own abilities, but to grow in Your wisdom.

Delight

2008-01-07T21:52:00.000-06:00

I love this word. There's something about it that immediately brings joy to my heart and a smile to my face.

Today, my friend Carol called me and left a message on my voice mail. It was a message of her praying, and her 3 year old, precious son, Will, belly-laughing while she prayed. Will delighted in that prayer...that special prayer that he prays with his Daddy every night. I delighted in hearing Will belly laugh. It brought an immediate smile to my face. I was teaching violin at the time and shared it with one of my students, and we laughed and smiled at Will's delight.

I immediately thought about how God feels when we spend that pure, wonderful time just praising Him and enjoying His presence. What's even more amazing is that He delights in us.

Psalm 18:18b-19 says, "but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me."

This entire Psalm is filled with David's adoration of the Lord. David truly was an unceasing, uninhibited, unquenchable worshiper who delighted in God, and in whom God delighted.

This blog is short today, because I'm turning on my iPod to "O Praise Him! All this for a King!" and spending some time delighting in the Lord....Thank you, Carol and Will, for reminding me how important it is to sit back and delight in Him.

Waiting....not my Forte!

2008-01-04T12:40:00.000-06:00

I have been convicted lately about the fact that I tend, in my sinful nature, to operate out of my own strength, and not out of the Lord's strength. This happens especially when I'm tired or weary. So, today I was doing a search on verses in Scripture to help me with this issue in my life. My search criteria was "Be strong in the Lord". Many verses came up, but the one that stopped me in my tracks was this one:

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Right now, in my life, this is a time of uncertainty. The most frustrating part is that I can't pinpoint all that is uncertain. I can't limit it to one area of my life. It seems that everything is going by so fast, that everyone is so busy, that there's hardly time to catch my breath. I'm not afraid of doing it all. I'm just not sure what all I'm doing--what I'm really contributing that is meaningful. So, for me, it's been a season of evaluation.

After reading that verse, I pulled up the entire Psalm 27, and here's how it begins:

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

Do you just feel the burdens of life being lifted away just in the reading of those words? I certainly do. Immediately, the Lord takes control away from us, and places it squarely upon his GIANT shoulders. Immediately I think, "What am I worrying about?" then, I continue reading:

4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

Just think about the beauty of the Lord. Take a moment to seek a glimpse of Him. Rest at His feet...all the days of my life...not just today.

5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

He always points us first to Him, and then to our fellowship with each other. I sat last night at our satellite church and worshiped with believers over there. It was a sweet time of fellowship and we made music to the Lord, and when I left, my heart was truly filled with joy at what had been accomplished in that place.

7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.

Just be still. Seek His face.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.

Continue to ground yourself daily in His teachings. This is such an incredible reminder for control freaks like me that DAILY I must surrender my ways to His. I must daily release control and yield to His ways. The straight path is not always the easiest--you may have to cut through a mountain--but His straight path is always the best.

13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

If we take time to look, we'll see it. If we are too wrapped up in our lists, our busy-ness, we'll miss the goodness. Take time throughout this week to notice the goodness of the Lord in this land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

This verse is so affirming for me. I want to "do" all the time. I feel that if I'm not doing something, I'm accomplishing nothing. What an incredible reminder that it's really okay--even in this day and age of rushing around and getting ahead--it's really okay to WAIT.

Lord, help us to walk in Your ways. Help us to wait on Your direction. Fill us with peace and joy as we wait on Your Guiding Hand. We love You. We are Your servants. Use us.

Absolutes vs. Uncertainty

2007-12-19T13:03:00.000-06:00

I've had conversations with so many different people this week. We are all very different. We have different perspectives about life. We have varied backgrounds. We are in different stages of life. We have different sets of problems. Some of us have children. Some have raised their children and sent them off to bother someone else. Some have grandchildren. Some are just beginning their families. Some are divorced. Some are single. Some are widowed. Some are dealing with infertility. Some are struggling with serious health issues. But the people that I'm speaking of are all believers.

As believers, we have unique gifts and skills, and yet God has assembled us together for one common purpose. Take the diversity of the believers in the worship ministries area and multiply it exponentially and you see the vastness of our church and its makeup. Take it again, multiply it exponentially, and it becomes almost overwhelming as we try to comprehend reaching this world. So many people. So many different perspectives. So many problems.

One of my favorite things to do is try to figure out why people think what they think. I love reading books on philosophy and psychology. I love observing creation, and admiring the creativity of God. Nothing man-made can compare—no work of art, literature or music—to that which God has created. I like to try to understand why people have such diverse points of view. As a violin teacher, it is amazing all the different approaches I have to try with students. Some are motivated by rewards such as stickers. Some are motivated by praise. Some are motivated by the sheer accomplishment of learning a new skill. Some are just there because their parents are making them be there, and I try my best to make it fun so they don’t grow up hating music.

When I encounter adults in daily life, I spend a lot of energy trying to figure out the same types of things—what motivates them? Why do they see things the way they do? Why do they face the issues that they face? Is it a matter of circumstance or poor choices? There are so many people with so many problems. It becomes overwhelming to try to help and encourage and understand in the midst of so much hurt and pain and frustration.

I know that you have problems, and that they are different from mine. I know that each of us has a unique set of circumstances. I know that you have to deal with hurting people with huge problems. And, quite honestly, it seems like I’ve encountered my fair share lately. Perhaps it's because my prayer has been that God would develop the relationships in my life into real, meaninful relationships and not surfacy "Hi, how are you", "in passing" relationships. Perhaps it’s because the church is growing so fast, and with that the diversity is just growing exponentially. Perhaps it’s because this is such a relational church, and what better way for satan to distract us than by causing rifts and plaguing us with the distractions that problems bring. I don’t know. But I’ve prayed for God to give me insight, and help me understand better the people and problems that I’ve encountered as of late.

Here was the answer that He gave me…it was very simple. It is tucked away in a chapter of admonitions for our daily walk, and it was in a verse that I learned as a child in preschool here at FBC:
Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

In other words, I have been asking the wrong question. I have been focusing on the reasons rather than the purpose. I have been focusing on the distractions (problems) rather than focusing on the goal. I’ve been focusing on my own strength rather than relying on Jesus’. I’ve been seeing things through my eyes, and trying to see things through "their" eyes rather than trying to see things through the perfect eyes of Christ. In the midst of every "imperfect human being" (myself at the top of that list of IHBs), we have a perfect, consistent God.

Read with me about the consistency of God from the mouth of David, one of his most inconsistent, imperfect worshipers:

Psalm 19: 7-10, 14
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

If you want a list of absolutes in this world of variables and uncertainties, there it is. In summary:
The Lord is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, sure, more precious than gold, sweeter than honey.

My prayer for you today is that your focus is not on the hardships and distractions of the day, but on Christ. ...that we become less as He becomes more. ...that our heart song today is the last verse that David writes in this Psalm:
May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

The World has come to us

2007-12-18T07:03:00.000-06:00

Twenty years ago, who would have thought that Arlington, TX would be as culturally diverse as it currently is. In the past twenty years, the world has come to us. What are we doing about it?

A friend of mine from Costa Rica commented to me the other day that the biggest adjustment for her in living here is how isolated everyone is here. That comment struck me funny. The US...isolated? We have immediate access to every form of communication, to every comfort, etc. I asked her to explain. She said that she notices that everyone drives alone, that we are all so busy going from place to place that there is no time for community. She said she doesn't really think that anyone really knows anyone else. That comment hurt me, momentarily, and then as I processed it, I realized how incredibly insightful it was.

I was reading an article the other day about all of the international students in our community. The interesting part of this article was the extremely high percentage of foreign students who come and study for four years on UTA campus and never have a meal in an American home. I thought there was no way that the statistic could be true. Then I began to think through the international students I know. Just through UTA, I have met students from China, India, Jordan, Albania, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Korea, South Africa, Niger, and the list goes on and on. Of all of them, I could only think of one that I've ever invited into my home. That personal record put me to shame.

I have such a great desire to reach out to this world, and to invite people into my church. But I've failed miserably at just extending the hand of hospitality and inviting someone who is new to this country and this culture into my home for a meal. I'll travel to Cuba to minister and fellowship, but I don't do it here, in my home court?

My brother recently shared a meal with a Jewish family. He and his family went into the home of their new friends, and shared in their customs. What a wonderful experience for my brother and his wife and children! It wasn't just a faith difference that they experienced, but a lifestyle difference (diet, etc.). What a fantastic way to build that relationship between the families.

When you look at scripture and at the early church, that time of fellowship was so important to the Christian community. How many times did Jesus share a meal with someone in their home? It seems like it was an every day occurence. When we go out on the mission field, RELATIONSHIPS are how we reach people. That's why we go back to the same places time after time. That trust, commitment, friendship is so key in opening the door to share our faith.

How does that fit into our American culture? I don't think it does. I think our culture IS isolated. I think that we are so self-involved and so busy that we rarely sit back and evaluate the depth of relationships in our lives. I think most of us are satisfied with knowing a bunch of people, when in reality, we "know" very few. I think this is one of those places where we as Christians have to make a conscious effort to not be a part of this world (this culture), but reach out beyond it, and cultivate real relationships.

I'm terrible at New Year's resolutions, but I know what mine is going to be this year. Dennis and I sat down and discussed it this morning. We are setting the goal to invite at least one person a month, that is NOT a part of our church, into our home for a meal (and don't worry...I won't be doing the cooking!!!!).

Here's my challenge to you: Look for ways this holiday season and throughout the year to cultivate relationships that break down barriers. Look for ways to invest in other people's lives. It's not enough to simply invite them to church. We need to dig deeper, open ourselves up more, open our homes and look for ways to have a meaningful impact on our neighbors. God has brought this world to us. We must share His message of grace and love and build community with those around us.

Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.

'Tis the Season

2007-12-06T08:59:00.000-06:00

This is the season of expectation. I've been wrapping my mind around that word, EXPECTATION, for several weeks now. It can apply to so many areas in our lives. Expectations of your marriage, expectations for your career, expectations of a contract, expecting people to have the same views and same perspectives you do. It's a big word to wrap your mind around. But this season of expectation stems from that feeling of knowing something good is coming.

It's also a season of busy-ness, fear, frustration, depression, stress, short tempers, etc. I can tell you from personal experience that I've dealt with people representing those characteristics just this past week. I've heard short tempers flare. I've had people in my office, frustrated with the details of the season. I've heard tears from people suffering with depression. I've heard from people who are afraid they won't be able to accomplish everything on their list, and are even more afraid of how they'll pay for it if they do! Checklists, frantic shoppers, heavy traffic, short tempers, no time, full calendars. This describes an American's Christmas.

Two nights ago, we took care of our neighbor while his family dealt with a health issue. Our neighbor is 9. While coming home from Abby's gymnastics, with all 3 kids in the car, I decided to take them to see Christmas lights. Of course, we had to go and see my kids' favorite house--the Kulez' house (Ben says it looks like the sun). On our way there, I took them through several neighborhoods that had huge homes & gorgeous lights. Places that would be more than we could ever afford. I have to admit...that was where my focus was...the money, the expensive details of the house, the beautiful landscaping, the electric bills they must have.

One of the homes had nothing but a lighted Nativity scene out front. As we passed it, my 9 year old, unchurched neighbor spoke up from the back seat and said, "You know, I think that the Baby Jesus invented Christmas." In that moment, he wasn't impressed by the lights or the homes or the neighborhood. He was amazed at the Baby Jesus. He knew that in the midst of all of the lights, presents, and other hoopla, Jesus was at the center of this season.

It was in that moment that my whole Christmas season came into focus again--this time with the right focal point. Until we've stopped to worship the Baby Jesus, the rest is meaningless. So, if you haven't had that moment of simple faith and obedience this year, STOP. Kneel at the manger. Worship the baby--the Saviour of the world! It's simple, it's peaceful, it restores joy. But most of all, it overwhelms us with how unimportant our lists are in comparison to the fact that the Saviour of the world came into this broken world to live with us, model for us, love us, grace us and die for us! I'm so grateful for the words of that 9 year old boy.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

My Lifesong

Live Love

Power Sources

Desert Song

Fear

Sing Over Your Children

From the Inside Out

K.I.S.S.

A Simple Act of Obedience Can Affect Generations

Lead Me to the Cross

My Attitude Adjustment

Why LEARN?

you are not a god: You are God Alone!

Leadership

Carpe Diem

Pray Expectantly

My Story

O Holy Night

Obedience: The Least of These

Let Your Light Shine

Pick Me!

LOVE: Building Significant Spiritual Relationships

Living Sacrifice

From the Inside Out

Imitate Me!

Transition

Find Us Faithful

Living Life

Glorify Your Name

Hope!

One Pure and Holy Passion

Why do you stand here looking into the sky?

CELEBRATE

Practice

D*I+S#T^R*A&C+T^I%O*N

A Builder's Faith

Concentric Circles

Accountability Part 3: Legacy

Living Water

Accountability Part Two: The Team

Joy in the Journey

Accountability -- Part 1

Be Still

Monterrey Devotion 2008 Day 5: Worship

Monterrey Devotional Day 4: Endurance and Purpose

Monterrey Devotion Day 3: Relationship

Monterrey Devotional, Day 2: Humility

Monterrey Devotion Day 1: Unity

No Less Days

Serving Joyfully

Humility -- My Least Favorite, but Most Memorable Lesson

A Holy, Famous Name

Patience and Perserverance

The Generation to Come

Journey

"In Love"

Back to the Basics

Worth

"Good" Enough?

Proverbs 31

NEGs

Satisfaction

Encouragement and Investment

The Vine

How Beautiful are the Feet

The Power of Prayer

Press On

Growing

Godliness: The Key to Good Self-Esteem?

How to handle a bully 101

Hungry

Abandon gives way to Abandon

Great is Thy Faithfulness

I want to be like Tychicus

Tender-hearted Prayers

Scripture Cards

Simple Prayers

Delight

Waiting....not my Forte!

Absolutes vs. Uncertainty

DI+S#T^RA&C+T^I%O*N