Category: Listening

What’s Mine is…Not Mine and A GIVEAWAY!

Recently I told you about some gifts that I have been making and giving. It is just one of the things that I feel like the Lord can use me to do for His glory.

After finishing a number of things for others, I made a couple of items for myself. I pin various patterns on Pinterest all the time, but there are always a few things that catch my eye. One was a cowl scarf and another was a poncho and matching hat.

Earlier this week, I wore the poncho and hat and loved it. It was warm and fun and it made me happy all day. As I picked up my son from his hip-hop class, a friend from church saw me and commented (as many others had that day) about how much she liked it. I politely said thanks and went on with my day.

Then the next day, as I sat in our staff meeting where our discussion centered around the kind of church we want to be (one that brings glory to God), I felt the Lord impress on my heart that I was to give away that poncho and hat to the woman I saw at the dance studio. My immediate response was one of obedience. (Although I do have to say there was a twinge of disappointment that something I had made for myself wasn’t for me after all.) I went home, got it, and left it for her at her home.

Later in the evening, I got a message from her about how blessed she was by the gift waiting for her when she got home from a long day of doctor visits.

And all I could think was, “Thank You, Lord, for letting me be a part of your blessing for her.”

In that vein, I was thinking about you, my readers, this morning and the fact that there are people in your lives that need to be blessed in some way as well. So, I decided that today I will do a giveaway. Leave a comment on my blog page (not on Facebook or Twitter) about someone in your life who needs a blessing. Next Wednesday, I will randomly select one person and will make something for you to give to the person you told me about. As we all read the comments, we can also be praying for the various people listed. And that will be a blessing for all of them!

What are you waiting for? Get commenting!

New Time, New Week, New Challenges

Time change weekend always messes me up. I could barely get out of bed this morning because my body thought I should still be sleeping. Add to that it is Monday and another shift change week for our family.

But no matter how I feel, no matter what this day brings, no matter what challenges lie ahead this week, I know that I have much for which I am thankful.

And in that vein, I share with you one of my favorite worship songs of late, 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman. Enjoy. And bless His name today. “The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning, It’s time to sing Your song again, Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me, Let me be singing when the evening comes.”

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

[Chorus x2]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
Lord, I’ll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
I’ll worship Your holy name

There’s Something About Giving

In Friday’s blog I shared that February was a rough month. And it was. I’m still working on how to make March better. But one thing that helped me through February was some projects that I worked on and completed.

You may or may not know that I love to knit and crochet projects for others who need prayer and encouragement. (You can read more about that here.) In the last few weeks, I was able to complete a few projects to give to people. One person I don’t know at all, I heard about her situation from a friend. Another person I am just acquainted with, but am good friends with one of her friends. A third person I know a little more, but it’s not like we’re terribly close. What ties all of these people together is this: when I heard about the situation that each one of them is facing, my heart went out to them and I was prompted to do something to show them that God loves them and is taking care of them, and as a way to physically show them that care, I made an item for each of them. As I made each item I prayed. As I finished the item and got it ready for them, I wrote them a note about how I specifically prayed for each of them. And then I handed the items off to someone else to deliver.

You see, it’s not about being recognized for what I have done, it’s simply about being obedient. I don’t need a thank you. I don’t need acknowledgement. I just need them to know that someone is thinking and praying for them, lifting them to the Lord as they go through a rough time.

The process of doing something for others, even when I am struggling through each day, helps me to take the  focus off myself and put it where it belongs – on loving the Lord and loving my neighbor.

It reminds me of this song, one of my favorite Fundamental Elements songs, that they just happened to play at their reunion show on Friday night. We all need to remember that we are not alone.

(verse 1)
Sister, I’ve been hearing things
That you’ve been going through
For such a long time
You wonder if you’re ever gonna see the clouds part
See the sunshineWoah I want you to know
That I’ve been praying for your soul, child
Hoping you see He’s never gonna leave
No matter what you’re feeling now

(chorus)
Cause when the rain starts to fall
And I know it surely will
And when the pain becomes all that you can feel
Just get down on your knees and pray
I know you’re gonna find your way
But you’ve gotta know
You’ve gotta know you’re not alone

(verse 2)
Brother, I’ve been noticing
The way you walk around
With your head down
Thinking that nobody even knows your name
That you don’t even matter now

Woah I want you to know
That I’ve been praying for your soul, child
Hoping you fight to make it through the night
And morning comes early now

(bridge)
I know you’re tired of hearing
Everything is cool, that you’ll be alright
Cause you just wanna know
That somebody’s here with you to be at your side
And when words can’t mend a heart breaking up
When the sun won’t shine, and you’ve had enough
And when hope just fades away
You can always count on me

(ending)
And when words can’t fix it
You can count on me
Oh, when all hope is gone
You can count on me
Oh, when the sun won’t shine
You can count on me
Oh, you’re not alone
Oh, you’re not alone
Just get down on your knees and pray
You can count on me
Oh, I know you’re gonna find your way
You can count on me
You can count on me
Oh, you’re not alone

When all hope is gone
You can count on me
When everybody leaves you
You can count on me
I’ll be right here for you
You can count on me
Oh, you’re not alone
Oh, you’re not alone

credits

from This Moment – EP, released 18 May 2010
Produced by Stephen LeiwekeRuss Mohr: vocals, bgvs, snaps, percussion
Luke DeJaynes: drums
Mark DeJaynes: bass, bgvs
Dustin Burggraaf: keyboards, bgvs
Joe McGill: guitars, bgvs
Stephen Leiweke: guitars, snaps, percussion

Quiet Stirring

From I Kings 19:

The Lord Appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

My blog has been quiet for the last week because things have been quiet for me. There is much going on in my heart and in my spirit, but not much that I can put words to or share. There is a stirring, a longing, to hear more and learn more from the Lord, and thus a need to just be quiet and listen. I know that He could choose to speak through the craziness and loudness of life, but that he often doesn’t and instead speaks quietly which requires us to listen. So, for now, I am listening more than talking. And that is ok, because I want to hear the whisper.

If You’re Gonna Be Down…

For the first time in who knows how long, this is what my weekend looked like:

  • Pajamas
  • Knitting
  • Television (Once Upon A Time, Castle, Desperate Housewives)
  • Anne
  • Ty
  • Mike
  • Couch
  • Bed
  • Blankets
  • Naps
  • Late Nights
  • Hugs
  • Kisses
  • Feet up
  • No cooking (leftovers!)

In other words, AMAZING! I had no reason to leave the house on Saturday, and the same was true for Sunday after church and lunch. It was wonderful. It was needed. There’s nothing like complete down time with family to refresh and renew my body, mind, heart and spirit. I loved every minute of it.

When I can actually sit and relax and not worry about a to do list, or looking for something to do because I am restless, I know that the time has come for me to take advantage of the down time.

So that is exactly what I did this weekend.

We watched entirely too much TV. And I am okay with it. It’s not something we do all the time and I don’t think two days of complete vegging out in front of the television will rot our brains.

We didn’t eat overly healthy meals. And I am okay with it. It’s not something we do all the time and I don’t think two days with very few vegetables will kill us.

We did enjoy time together as a family. And I am great with that. Because family is important, and being able to just hang out together is a gift.

In this day and age, schedules are always full, families are often running in different directions, and down-time seems to be a rare commodity. When you get the chance to lay low with your family, take it. I promise you won’t regret it.

Giving Up

Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of Lent, or the season leading up to Easter. This 40-day season (the Sundays are not counted) are supposed to be a reminder of the 40 days that Jesus was in the desert at the beginning of his ministry. It is typically a time when people of many Christian traditions “give up” something to prepare themselves for Easter.

For some, it is rote. It is something they are supposed to do every year and rather than being a spiritual issue, it is simply traditional to do so.

For some, it is a time of deep spiritual longing, during which they truly are relating to the suffering of Christ.

For some, it isn’t even on their radar.

It depends on how they were raised. It depends on where they are in their faith journey.

Typically we hear about people giving up all kinds of things:

  • Chocolate
  • Coffee
  • Facebook
  • Alcohol
  • Soda
  • Meat
  • Television
  • Sugar/Sweets

Everything on this list (and most of the things that you would add to it) involves something which we become addicted to in some way or another. We become dependent on these things to get through our day, rather than depending on the Lord.

But the real issue I see is when we “give up” the things on which we are dependent, with what do we replace them? Do we give up coffee and replace it with hot tea? Do we give up chocolate and replace it with Skittles? Do we give up television and replace it with playing games on our iPad?

The whole point of “giving up” something, is to replace it with that which is more important – dependence on Christ.

I’m not sure what Lent looks like for me yet, I am still thinking through it. But if and when I decide what I need to “give up,” I want to make sure that I am filling that space with extra time with the Lord.

If you are considering what to “give up” today, I encourage you to also consider how you will replace it. How will you handle moments of temptation? Where will you turn?

Monday Musings – Thankful!

I want to start the week out with some reminders of the many reasons I am thankful.

  • I am thankful for a worshiping community where I can come and worship with both children and adults.
  • I am thankful for a wonderful afternoon cleaning my daughter’s room with her. (Yes, we both survived and I didn’t get angry AT ALL! And considering the state of her room, THAT is a HUGE thing!) We listened to music, worked together, and had a good afternoon.
  • I am thankful for my parents and their commitment to those that they love. They drove 12 hours yesterday so they could see Dad’s brother who is in failing health. The timing and the extra travel costs are not the best, but they did it anyway.
  • I am thankful for the ability to knit and crochet and the ways that I can use it to help others.
  • I am thankful for my husband and for the way that he loves me and spoils me. Especially things like a ticket to all nine country shows in St. Louis this summer. 🙂
  • I am thankful for friends and for the effort it takes to maintain friendships. It’s hard, but worth it.

What are some of the things that you need to remember to be thankful for today?

Impossible? No Way!

In the last couple of weeks, I keep coming back to these scriptures over and over:

  • Philippians 4:13 – I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
  • Matthew 19:26 – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

These are the things that went through my head during the Goofy race. I have been teaching these ideas in Kids Church. I have had to lean on them as I am trying to be obedient to do hard things. I am using these ideas with my kids constantly – even last night as Anne was struggling in tumbling and using the words, “I can’t,” I was reminding her that with the strength of Christ, she can.

Why is it that our first response to something hard is that it is impossible? Why is it that we immediately look at the situation and at ourselves and say, “I can’t do this?”

Why is it so hard for us to acknowledge that we can’t do things on our own, much less ask for help?

Is it pride? Is it fear of being vulnerable? Is it arrogance?

When those tough things are standing in front of us, our first response should be, “Lord, you are strong when I am weak.  I cannot do this on my own. Please help me. I know with your help I can accomplish even that which seems impossible to me.” Our second response should be to give our best so that God can then use it for His glory.

This is the clip that I showed in Kids Church this week. I love it. If you haven’t watched this movie, I highly recommend it. It is a great example of how God can use those who look weak in the eyes of the world and make them strong.

I encourage you to lean on Christ and His strength today as you face the giants in your way.

Too Short

I couldn’t blog at the end of last week. I didn’t know what to say. On Monday, we lost a friend. My husband’s longest friend, to be exact. Mike knew Mark since birth. Mark was the best man in our wedding. He was quiet and soft-spoken, a good friend, a hard worker, and had a great smile. When I picture him in my mind, he is standing with his hands in his pockets, smiling, and saying, “well…”

He was 38. His life was taken by a fast-growing brain tumor.

I hate cancer.

We are sad. We are grieving. As we drove to the graveside service, we drove past Mike’s grandparent’s graves, where his mom’s ashes were sprinkled five and a half years ago.

Life is too short.

As I talked to Anne on Saturday evening, I reminded her that we never know what tomorrow holds, so we need to make sure we are living in right relationship with Christ and with others. I told her that we need to make sure that we are always telling those we love that we love them, even if it feels like we say it all the time.

Because life is too short.

Life is too short to get mixed up in drama. Life is too short to hold grudges. Life is too short to throw it away on some mid-life crisis. Life is too short to give up on your wife, husband, kids, or friends. Life is too short to spend it wishing that something was different. Life is too short to spend it holed up on your couch in front of the TV instead of with the people who you love. Life is too short to spend it obsessed with making a dollar instead of building relationships.

Life is too short.

In John 10:10b Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

I want to have that life. I want to make sure that I am living in a way that is pleasing to my Father in Heaven, and that means living for Him, and loving those around me – family, friends, neighbors, enemies.

Because life is too short to live any other way.

More Devoted: Bar Patrons or Christ-Followers?

My dad is reading a book called Crossing Over: Getting to the Best Life Yet, by Paul Scanlon and this morning as he was reading, he was struck enough by the following passage that he called to share it with me:

I had a defining moment during this period of our crossing over when I met an ex-Baptist pastor who, after twenty years in ministry, had resigned and was now a barkeeper. He told me what had led him to this radical change was twenty years of soul-destroying ministry that put him and his wife on prescription medication. He described a church where he felt completely responsible to persuade people to get involved, but they refused. He became worn out from the huge effort required to convince, persuade, remind, and sometimes beg people to get behind his vision, but they wouldn’t.

I asked him what he enjoyed about being a barkeeper, and his reply hit me like a hammer. He said, “I love this job because my drinkers are devoted all by themselves.” He explained how he never had to persuade or remind his customers to come back. He never had to call his absent drinkers to assure them they were missed, nor did he have to inspire them to part with their money. Finally, he said, “my drinkers come early and stay late, but in twenty years of ministry, the church did neither.”

As my dad read it to me on the phone, I, too was struck by this statement. Wow. It’s so true.

I work for a church, and we talk about these things often. Now it seems that a “regular” attender is no longer someone who is here every Sunday, but someone who comes once or twice a month and considers this their church home. These “regulars” may or may not give financially to the church, even if they are a member and have committed to that as part of the membership covenant. Every month we look at a list of people who haven’t been counted present for the previous month and discuss how to follow-up with them to let them know they are missed. We are consistently looking for new volunteers in all areas of ministry and are just as consistently coming up short.

Why is this? Why are people, who say that they are devoted Christ-followers, not as devoted as they could be?

I don’t know the answer to that question, but that is what I am thinking about this Monday morning.

What do you think?