Kingdom of God--Part II

Do you ever sit through a sermon and at the end of the message the pastor gives an "altar call" or invitation or whatever your group calls it and very few, if any people go forward. Awkward. Sometimes, the message is so of the flesh that the only ones to "walk the isle" should be to rebuke the pastor. Other times, the message is so of God. . .so Spirit breathed that no one can walk forward because they are paralyzed in their spirit because the Word of God has been sent out and it is not returning void. But we need to sit with it for a minute. Actually, I need to hop on the treadmill and let God get me quiet enough to hear Him apply His remedy. (I can't talk and run--or jog--just to be truthful.)  I don't happen to know if anyone went forward yesterday--I was watching via internet but Pastor Dan Riley's message series about demolishing strongholds--oh my--it would not be an understatement to say it was HUGE!!! Profound! And because I always like to add my "two cents" worth--I'll do that now. Oh, and if I got to add some notes here's what I'd say. So in this blog I'm totally taking his message and passing it along but ya'll I've got to--it was life changing. If you struggle with doubt, shame, anger, fear. . .etc, etc. and you want to be free-- As I was jogging/running--okay, I'm calling it running because I did shave two minutes off of my 5K time after listening to the sermon (podcast) having God apply this truth.  As I was running, I just wanted to set each of these issues before the Lord. Some things were obvious. I needed to repent and walk in freedom. But there is one. A big monster in my life. The loch ness of the lake. Never seen by others but always lurking about in the deep waters of my soul. FEAR. Fear. Fear. My fears have fears. I am always afraid of something bad happening. I live looking over my shoulder--sometimes afraid of experiening joy because I just know something bad is about to happen. Oh, I don't show this to anyone or many ones. . .but it is there.  So I sat it before the Lord.  And I simply said, "Lord, where is this coming from? What is fueling this?" And you know what--there may be things in life that have added to this . . . circumstances in life, untrustworthy people who have hurt me. . .but friends, God showed me that some things trace their roots back to Eve. Some strongholds have been passed down because we are "sons and daughters of Adam and Eve". Any men wonder why they don't assert themselves? Women wrestling with issues of trust? Read the account of the fall. And while life might have given added reasons to think that God is not for us--it all started with "did God really say. . . ?" (Genesis 3) Trust broken. So now what, Lord? His answer-- The journey to freedom is in the life of Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life. Oh, how precious that Word.  Freedom becomes obvious in the life of Jesus. (And Pastor Riley's sermon didn't hurt, either)!! Smile.
Pastor Riley spoke of repenting, rebuking, replacing, and receiving. Let me clarify that repenting is "to change one's mind" as Dallas Willard says, it is to think about how you are thinking. It is not to bang your head on the floor in tears. . .though you may want to do that after you "think about the way you are thinking".  Repent means to turn to God. Stop following the father of lies and follow the lover of your soul. Just for clarification. I want to say that this idea of repenting, rebuking, replacing and receiving is so intertwined that one barely knows where one ends and the other begins.
God began to show me this by taking my mind to various "scenes in the gospel". Thank you, Dan Riley, so much for basing your sermons on the Word of God, btw. John the Baptist began with "repent for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 3:2). He told them to share their things. "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none. . ." (Luke 3:11). Repent meant to change their mind about thinking only about themselves. Seems to me John was telling them to take care of one another. Hold their possessions loosely always ready to give. Because when we live in the reality of God's kingdom we learn that it's all God's. And He cares for us.We can relax--trust Him--and not spend every waking hour trying to control the world (it's an illusion, anyway). Daughters of Eve feed themselves the lie that no one is looking out for us with our best interest in mind. God is holding back His goodness so I'd better go get all I can for myself. I can't count on God.  Daughters of Eve even misquote God, remember she told Satan "we must not even touch it, or we will die" (Genesis 3) Uh, no. Can't eat it.  But you see,  I'm no longer a daughter of Eve. I am "in Christ". His life in the kingdom of God is my reality.  So I can change the way I am thinking (repent) and instead of just looking out for myself-- I can trust God to care for me. Remember the lillies.
Oh, this is long. Let's do a part III.  If you have a stronghold that is plaguing you, the first thing to do is to change the way you are thinking (repent). Go to God's word and see what He has to say about it. Then find some time to sit quietly alone and allow Jesus to speak a word to your heart. A word directly to your specific situation. He will. Then rehearse it over and over in your mind-- twice for every time you have rehearsed doubt or anger or fear or lust (or whatever it is). Have mercy, we are not sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. If you are in Christ then it's time to update the family album. Once we were lost and the album was dark and black and not very lovely. But pull out that white, shiny one, my friend because you and I are new creatures and we need a new family album. Let's picture all of us  huddled together  in beautiful new robes . . ., in my mind's eye I see the loveliest arms draped around us. Thank you, Jesus.

Talk to me,

Joy

Kingdom of God--Part I

I have not blogged much of late as I simply have not had much to say/write. . .which has typically never stopped me in the past, but God in His great mercy has kept my mouth/fingers shut lately. Usually, if I have little to say and do so anyway I spout off such ignorance that I later blush. Some of you may know what I'm talkin' bout!
Lately, ya'll God has been teaching Rob and I something so profound that I don't know whether to tie my hair back and stick my face toward the wind of the Spirit or hide under the covers in fear.  Somehow, I forget from time to time that Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God. Now. Not when we die and go to heaven. How, as the church are we forgetting this? God is teaching us afresh that this kingdom is now and later. Eternal life begins now!! I am totally indebted to Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, Ravi Zacharias and oh my, Henry Blackaby! These men have poured into my life in ways (that of course) they will never know. Give me an amen if you love 'em as well.  I so often need a succint way of understanding what that means--this kingdom life. The kingdom of God, is simply God's action---God's activity. . ."on earth, as it is in heaven". (Thank you Dallas Willard for the definition.) And folks God is doing such AMAZING things all around and in your sweet life that Satan is hell bent on keeping you unaware of. . .and a couple of his tools are shackles and distractions. These strongholds in our life are Satan's attempt to use what God meant to redeem as our mental weapon to assail the trustworthiness of our God. Listen, what Satan meant to ruin you--God meant for your redemption. . .otherwise He would never have let it happen (thank you for that wisdom, Beth Moore). God means to send you out with a word of freedom for your brothers and sisters. Jesus means for us to be free--so that we can allow Him to live out His life through us in God's kingdom on this earth!!
I simply have to share this and I don't do it lightly. Rob and I have sat through some doozies of pastors. . .so I am very cautious. We have heard the Bible be misquoted from the pulpit with the verses blazed (in error) across the big screens. . . then proceed to have a whole sermon "preached" from the misquote. Yikes! True, though. So when I recommend something I want to make sure that it is of God. Folks, if you want to be equipped to see God demolish the strongholds in your life go to www.knoxcalvary.com and listen to the last two weeks worth of sermons in the "Blueprint for Life" series. It has so blessed Rob and I that we sat in front of the computer to see church this morning.  I do mean sat through forty-five Droid commercials to hear the message. Our little ones have a cold so in good conscious we couldn't go expose them to ten other 2-3 year olds. It was so worth it. . . that and I might buy the Droid (kidding)!
God delights in allowing us the joy of participating with Him as He sets us free--then, He alone prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemy. We can eat that meal in front of Satan. The Bread of Life. The stream of living water. And we can crush the head of the serpent because when those shackles hit the floor our feet are going to learn to walk again in freedom. . .and then we are going to run--run to the side of the hurting and the lost--those that Jesus said looked like sheep without a shepherd. . . and then friends those feet are gonna dance before the Lord. Can I get an Amen?

Skipping down the road,

Joy

P.S. Tomorrow I'll tell you how this message shaved almost two minutes off my 5K.

Mother's Day

I come from a dysfunctional family. So do you. Sadly, the Fall ensures that in one way or another we are all flawed humans wallowing in the muck and mire of our own sin and a world gone mad. Your dysfunctional home may be doing its best to cover the madness with the appearance of a Mom wearing high heels while she serves the children made-from-scratch chocolate chip cookies ala' "Leave it to Beaver" style.  Or your home may just let it all hang out with the whirlwind leaving a trail of wreckage in its wake. But really its all the same. Does a mask really cover up the fact that there is a hidden face beneath. Maybe for a time, but not really. So when my Mom tells me that "she didn't do a good job" raising us, I'm stuck between choked-back sobs and hysterical laughter.  Why, I wonder, does she think that? Is it because our home faced down alcoholism, control issues, ADHD, sickness, disease and death?  Or is it because, however briefly, Mom forgot that our God is sovereign? No, He is not the author of sin--He hates it.  He wishes it had never happened.  But love demands freedom and He had to stare down the choice we made in the Garden through the backdrop of the cross. A cross He would hang on. For "God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ" (2Cor. 5:19). What parent doesn't feel the weight of pain that hangs on the necks of their children? None I know.  Ours is a Father who stared down the pain that would at times dwell on Wright street because He knew that His glory is best seen in redemption. Do you know of anything more glorious? Anyone could take a perfect world and produce perfect people. God did that once, too. Remember the garden. But what makes our God so glorious, so worthy of our praise is that He--only He--could clothe Himself in flesh, take up our pain and redeem it. You know anyone who can do that? Me, either. We tend to make things worse when we meddle with them. He takes our mess--our dysfunction--and redeems it for His glory.

So, while things were never perfect in our home (yours, either) He has taken it and weaved it into the most lovely fabric of redemption and "it is marvelous in our eyes". I wouldn't trade that for a mask of perfection anyway. Our masks never seemed to fit and kept falling off for the world to see. But lest Mom over inflate her sense of fault and diminish God's sovereignty and glory I'd like to write out the top ten reasons why she is the best mother in the world. Don't try to argue it--I promise she's the best--here's why:

1. She made sure that I had the opportunity to fall in love with Jesus. He's irresistible--- but we need to be exposed. I learned to love him on those small brown chairs in Sunday school rooms at FPC. I hid His Word in my heart. It didn't hurt that Mrs. Jones bribed us with money each week for memory work. Is that against anyone's religion? Lila Romine played the piano and Mr. McCampbell led us in singing. He did that weird hook thing with his hand, why? Watered down red kool-aid and butter cookies on your finger. Mr. Jones teaching cathecism. Mrs. Lovingood teaching us "Only a boy named David" and "Be Careful Little Eyes what You See".  One smell of that building and my mind floats back to a wonderful childhood in church.

2. She loved my Daddy regardless of what was going on. In a world of disposable marriages, she showed what commitment means. Their relationship just may be the closest thing I've seen to the love of the Father. He will follow after us to hell and back because His love simply will not let us go. I know of no one else on this earth other than my Mother who has that kind of tenacity. It may actually border on insanity but that is another post altogether!

3. My Mother made sure we had every opportunity despite some pretty difficult circumstances. I know of many people under much less pressure who simply fold. (Me, for example) I'm not good in a crisis. She must've been born for them. We were hauled to every manner of activity no matter what was going on at home. That takes intestinal fortitude. Or sheer stubbornness--she has that too. In a good way.

4. She cultivated rich relationships with family. We went to visit Granny Ruby, Murr and Daddy Earnest, the cousins in Coker Creek. Our lives have been so blessed because of their influence.

5. She had Summar dance ballet and be a cheerleader. Few things in adulthood bring more joy to my heart and deep laughter to my soul than this fact. My children so enjoy photos of her in her make-up and tutu.

6. She delights in her children. So much was this influence that I have five of my own. She adores her grandchildren. In a world that views children as an inconvenience and hindrance to fulfilling one's own dreams, she modeled selflessness. She has reinforced the dignity of raising children. She has never once said, "are you having another baby?" except with joy and anticipation. That alone should let you know what kind of woman she is. She just may be one of only a handful of people who actually believe God when He says children are a gift. Does our Father give anything other than good gifts?

7. She provides endless laughter for Summar and I. Especially if Summar has a camera. Few people have this gift. It is endless joy. She humbly accepts my attempts at humor at her expense. So varied are her excentricies (is that a word) that each one of us has our own joy at her expense. Daddy moving the car. Summar with the camera. Me with words of wit.

8. She found my husband for me. . . well, its a long story. Some family stories need to remain in the family, eh? I could not be more blessed.

9. She will absolutely drop everything to run to the side of someone hurting or in need. Many of you know this. There is no one I'd rather have in my corner that my Mom. She's also a fighter if you need that. A raging brown ball of fur, she is.

10. The uncontested reason my Mom is the best Mom in the world is because she has me for a daughter. REALLY! It took greatness to raise this level of intelligence, beauty mixed with compassion and humility. Oh yes, my wit . . .and humor. . .*wink* smile!

I love you, Mom

Joy

God Reads Your Blog

Apparently, God reads blogs. I don't say that with a smirk, either--though it does bring a smile to my face. I guess if few others read your musings, it's nice to know the One that really matters is listening. In fact, if no one else ever read a word I wrote, yet God in His kindness condescended to listen and respond--that would thrill this heart!! Really!! I'm guessing you feel the same way. I'm even beginning to believe that it is true. The apostle Paul was convinced that He was not far from each of us, "for in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). That's a pretty strong thesis. And we might be a bit more inclined to believe it were it not for a world gone mad with noise. NOISE! In a world with DVD, CD, Blackberry, iPad, iPod, cellphone, telephone (I'm writing these to a sing-song tune) a life lived in God is hard to recognize. It is a reality, that much is true--but our recognition and realization of this truth seems to allude us. At least it does me. It reminds me of a plaque I read that went something like this, "We should practice silence and solitude, for the world shouts yet God whispers".

He is infinitely kind. And while I rarely have the opportunity to practice the amount of solitude that my soul needs, He often breaks through my angst to sooth the disquiet. My blog wonderings of late--He is kindly attending. And isn't it just like God--to speak to us the way we hear. For example, my husband "hears God" best when they commune with music. Others I know "hear Him" best outside admiring His creation. For me, give me words. The Word. Faithful to speak, He has brought books from every corner of the theological spectrum to bring me closer to Himself. I am so thankful. My soul relaxes and leans in. Love expands.

He knows your love language as well. Let your soul stir. . .then listen. . . He speaks.

Journeying with you,

Joy

It's All Fun And Games

Disclaimer: I want to place a disclaimer on this post so
that you are prepared before reading further. This post may offend you! The
thoughts in some way offend me—but I believe they are true. On the front end, I
want you to know that in some ways I am a prude. There, I said it. I find it
offensive when people do things like post their “Hollywood crush” on facebook.
I am usually more offended if the person is married (yes, blows my mind but
people really do this. . .as if their spouse is totally okay with it). Get
real! I have also been known to delete facebook friends (I don’t have that
many) who put pictures on the page that are in my opinion soft porn i.e.
scantily clad women or men. So, if you do not happen to be the least bit
prudish then my advice would be to ‘x’ out of this blog and come back again on
another day. Okay, that said. . . this is on my mind—
The morning after Easter is a peculiar time, wouldn’t you
agree? After the climax of what had to be the worst few days in the disciples’
lives—they are now living in the reality that He is alive. HE IS ALIVE!
Everything changed. Everything is changed.
Yet for those who “knew Him not” life returned to normal. Think for a moment, after the crucifixion—clean-up from the Earthquake began. People went on about their normal routines. Those who shouted “crucify Him” had succeed and after it was done-- they probably
returned home and began to prepare a meal after sundown. I’m sure it had to irritate the disciples that the “world” just went on as if nothing unusual had happened. They simply did
not grasp that God’s Promise had been crucified. Yet for the disciples, life spun out of control. . .their Center was dead. . .defeated they returned to the boat. . .waiting. . . but for what? Then came the morning when a few bleary-eyed women beheld the face of the One they loved. Nothing would ever be the same. Fast forward two-thousand and some odd years later. Monday morning seems like nothing has changed. What we celebrated yesterday has become old news on Monday. The church has returned to business as usual. How can this Monday morning feel so like last Monday? So I’ll tell ya’. . .I was irritated this morning. I’ll get to that in a second. But I’ve been irritated a bit lately—and it is an irritation pointed squarely at me! Jesus does not hold anyone responsible for my walk with Him other than--me. But Saturday night after our family celebrated a Messianic Seder meal together, I went into my living room full of awe at how the feasts, the celebrations point to Jesus—they are fulfilled in Him. There, staring at me from my mantle were five gaudy Easter baskets. I should’ve laughed but it wasn’t particularly funny. It was angst. How could I have spent my entire life coloring eggs, hiding eggs, finding eggs. . .yet I had never experienced the Passover meal? How had a woman raised in the church never raised the shank bone and beheld Jesus, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world? How come I had never been taught how the Old Covenant announced with the blast of the shofar—Messiah
has come! No wonder God had to shout through the heavenlies , “this is my beloved
Son—listen to Him” (Mark 9:7). Perhaps, if I’d been following the ordinances set before me I would recognize God when He comes. My argument is not that we try
to keep the law so that we have justification before God. Absolutely not! But I also don’t think we just chuck the Old Covenant now that Jesus has fulfilled it. We are free, as Paul
told the Galatians, we don’t have to keep the laws (not that the Hebrews or
anyone were able) but it doesn’t make sense to lose our spiritual heritage and
culture (we are the spiritual seed of Abraham and heirs according to the
promise (Gal.3:29) and instead decide to adopt the world’s culture. Makes no sense to me.
Back to my irritation this morning. Driving to the dentist, I see a church sign that says something to the effect, “bring your peeps”—with a cute Easter peep on the front. It was absolutely cute. Culturally, it fit right in. You might expect to see it on the sign for Dollywood or Disney or the like.
But a church! Really? Have we decided to become so “seeker sensitive” or “culturally relevant” (I told you this post might get offensive) that we are about cute signs to attract people. I would also like to know if anyone on this planet has ever graced the doors of a church based on one of our cute, yettrite signs? Why doesn’t the church—rather, why don’t I—decide to be a
lighthouse for the storm-threatened ship instead of a flashing neon sign
announcing “Fun here”? If the cross is offensive to those who are perishing
(1Cor. 1:18), then why are we trying to make it as palatable as possible? Do we
fear God can’t do his part? Is “saving grace” of us? Our clarion call should be--
once you have tasted from the all-you-can-eat-and-never-feel-satisfied buffet
of the world, Jesus offers a banquet feast of Himself—one that promises you
will never hunger and thirst again (John 4:14). Instead, the church in America seems
to be offering the world’s buffet--dessert served with a sprinkle of Truth.
Where are you disciples and leaders of the Church? Why do our children know how to color, hide, hunt and find prize eggs---yet they don’t know that when we hold up the shank bone we are remembering that Jesus became our Passover lamb. Why is there no wide-eyed wonder over the words of Jesus as He holds the cup of redemption, “this cup is the New Covenant in my blood,
which is poured out for you”? (Luke 22:20)
Why do my children, when they realize Easter is coming, ask when are we
going to color eggs? Why are they not asking, Mom, when are we going to
celebrate Jesus, our Passover Lamb? The truly sad part
is-- the world isn’t buying it. Why would a seeker want more of the same? Why
would you seek if the world is so satisfying? And why in the world is the
church reducing the offense of the cross to cute signs and Easter basket giveaways!?!
God help us to see that the Glory of the Father in the face of Christ was a spear-struck, bloody Lamb-- not an Easter bunny carrying goodies to entice children. God help us! We have lost the joy of the ordinances you set before us to teach our children. We have tossed the baby
out with the bathwater because we are afraid of being accused of legalism. And
we are at a loss to know Whose we are in the world and how to carry the gospel
forward as a beacon of hope to a dying world. For crying out loud, we look just like the
world. Father, forgive us—forgive me.

What If?

What if we are missing out on the greatest Love of our life? What if we are exchanging the most thrilling adventure for a mulch-piled-high landscaped comfort zone? What if the American dream married our self-sufficient arrogance and produced indulgent-yet-bored offspring. Could it be that we are missing the forest while staring at the trees? Shaking our heads in unbelief simply because it really should depend on us more. If I can’t figure out how to help God run His world. . .then I’ll. . .I’ll just pack up my toys and leave the sandbox.
I recently finished the autobiography of George Muller (the nineteenth century saint who relied solely on God to provide for thousands of orphans) and I was blown away by his story. Correction—I was blown away by the tangible, real answers to prayer that sustained this amazing ministry. Still shaking my head, it was as if God was speaking about prayer every time that Bible was opened. Zechariah and Elizabeth. . .the second Psalm. . .so it got me to thinking. What if God doesn’t need our advice, our input or our solutions to world problems? What if He is simply waiting on His children to give up their own agenda (you know that whole crucified life thing) and take up the work of prayer. What if He simply wants the joy of our company? Don’t get me wrong—I’m not implying that our prayer is what gets God to act according to His will and good purposes. I totally believe that ultimately God’s will in this universe trumps anything else. After all, “the God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:24). But, He designed a world in which we “seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27). How amazing that God would be pleased to condescend to us in relationship. Yet, we—I mean I, squander that relationship trying to “do great things for God”, when what He really wants is a child who will look up, take His hand and walk with Him. Loving mercy. Doing justice. Walking hand in hand.
So, I think I'm giving up my self-inflated ego fed dreams of what a super star I can be for God. Seems that role is pretty well taken already (I mean have you seen the press some of our "christian leaders" get). Funny really. . . a first century rabbi eventually completely deserted and we have mega church leaders. Go figure. (Digression resolved--back to regularly scheduled blog)
Since I'm pretty anonymous anyway. . .and I really do want to know that I can trust completely. . . what'd ya' say? Wanna walk together prayerfully depending on a God who promises faithfulness. Wanna record that faithfulness--not for our own glory--heaven forbid--(which I'm absolutely sure He does) but for our own children and anyone else who might be encouraged?

What if we decided to make much of God--for the glory of God--by abiding in Jesus through believing prayer--and this for the encouragement and discipleship of others by looking to where Jesus is working and then prayerfully joining? Sounds like I've got myself a mission statement--I do dearly love having it spelled out simply and succintly.

Who's in?

May the road you travel this Holy Week be prayerful,

Joy

My Money

Anyone mesmerized by the 96 million dollar contract Peyton recently signed? I started to write the opening line to this blog with the catchy phrase, "the new Peyton contract got me to thinking about wealth". That's not exactly true. The Words of Jesus have got me thinking about wealth. Remember when He told me that I "needed to get to know Him", well it seems that I have projected some of my lifestyle choices onto "His will for my life". . .don't think it's too pleasing either. If you've read the book Radical by David Platt--well, my guess is you think that it is really, really radical as well. He seems to argue that one day, we as the Church, will look back on our extreme wealth with the same disdain that we viewed historical "christians" who thought it was okay with God for them to own slaves.

It's striking to me that the essence of repentance that John the Baptist preached was to turn from greed. That's so interesting to me, because judging by the majority of sermons I've heard, I always thought repent meant stop drinking, cussing, and smoking. John says, "the one with two shirts must share", "don't take more money than authorized" (Luke 3:9-14). Jesus speaks over and over about greed and money.

I always assume that must mean someone else. After all, I know what we make--and while I know we're blessed--I certainly wouldn't label myself rich. But guess what? If your family income is $35,000, you are wealthier that 82% of the world's population. Check out www.whoarethejones.org

Another assumption that we here in America love to make is that when Jesus confronted the rich young ruler. . .well, we should see that in metaphorical terms. . .after all, Jesus would never ask that of me. I like what one pastor said--those who assume Jesus would never ask that of them, are probably the one's He's asking. Ouch! I sometimes think that we have scared our church leaders off. Why else would we have so few leaders stepping forward to say, "this it how it looks". Here is how much is enough. We have run so far away from being "legalistic"( and for good reason) that we have no clue how to reorient our lives to God. We don't know in a practical sense what to do. I say let some men and women rise to the occasion and dare to lead a generation of wealthy Americans to lay up treasures in heaven. Oh, please no not call me to this, Lord. I'm serious. You know it always hurts worse for those who go first. Sure, now any color woman can sit anywhere on a bus. . .but I promise you this--the cost was greater for Rosa Parks. We need some folks who would dare to look the American "Christian" Church culture in the face and scream--ENOUGH! REPENT! If you have two coats (or twenty-five) share!! If you and your pet live in a two-thousand square foot home either move in a bunch more folks or downsize!!

And don't even get me started on how much we spend on our pets!! Yes, I know. . . they are family! We love them! But in the time it takes me to write this post five children--children created in the very image of Jehovah God--will be dead from preventable causes! The angels weep at our lack of concern for the dying children in the world . . .when we are running around Petco trying to find matching outfits for our cat and our chihuahua.

I want to be very honest about this season of my life with Jesus. It is anything but a feel-good, buddy, buddy relationship right now. He is confronting me with some serious stuff. Like why I tend to be selfish. Is it because I really do want to keep up with the Joneses? I've already established that I am a Jones (see aforementioned website). You probably are as well. That's dispicable if true. Worse yet, I could simply not trust the One who says He is faithful. Do I hoard because I'm afraid Jesus is a liar? He promises that He knows "the number of hairs on my head" and He will care for me. Jesus will not let me get away with living my own plan if I am a follower of His. As Bonhoffer said, "when Jesus calls a man, He bids him come and die". We westerners think its more like, "come to the front, say these words, live anyway you like". And that is a lie straight from the mouth of Satan himself.

So, what to do? I wish I were one of those courageous leaders I was hoping would "rise up". We do have to guard against legalism for sure. But at the expense of obeying the words of the One who calls us to go and spend our lives on behalf of the lost and poor--I think not. I'd love to know what you think. I'm not that brave or bold--but I'm going to start room by room and lay my "stuff" on the altar. I'm going to start by sharing. Lord, have mercy when we get to the homeschool room. Serious. I love my books.

Joy

Burnt Baja Tacos and a War in the Heavenlies

Is it the fate of all newbie bloggers to see life in snapshots to later be developed into the theme of a blog post? Hope it's not just me. Seriously though, life in this crazy household of seven gives too much fodder to ever completely cover in a blog, so I hope we can be friends in real life. Then I can elaborate on all the craziness. Today's particular event however, could not be left un-blogged (hope that's a word) and while I'm not always great at immediately seeing God's lessons painted in obvious strokes on the canvas of these four walls--today--let's just say while it wasn't a pretty picture, I sure didn't miss it.

Actually, I should feel most sorry for our lovely neighbors. Very soon they (our neighbors) will be putting their house on the market to move closer to their grandkids. Who can blame them? My parents swear grand-babies are the joy--great joy and reward for allowing my brother and I to survive into adulthood. I sincerely hope Mr. and Mrs. Neighbor were not looking out the window this morning. My guess is that if they were, they became even more discouraged that the crazy, weird homeschooling family next door--the one with all those kids had finally and once-and-for-all single handedly plummeted neighborhood property values so low that no amount of home improvement could remedy the situation. To their credit, they have done extensive work in the yard. Don't get me wrong, it was gorgeous before--how could it not be--more people work on the man's yard than work on my body, hair, teeth and nails combined. Seriously, I would not be one bit suprised to see a manicurist taking finely sharpened scissors to each individual blade of grass. If their house doesn't sell within 48 hours on the market, it won't be for lack of yard work. Do I seem jealous?

Anyway, I'm sure their hopes of selling quickly were a bit douced this morning when five uniquely dressed (their Daddy dressed them) children went running out the front door with plumes of smoke billowing behind them. One deeply discouraged Momma followed. It all started with the dream of a perfect new delicious recipe that I was just dying to try out on my family. Baja Fish Tacos.

What does this have to do with lessons of faith? I'm convinced that the life of faith was meant to be walked out in daily life. The mundane. . .the monotonous. . .the bored-out-of-my-mind-doing-endless-loads-of-laundry-and-cooking-mac-and-cheese. I don't know about you but I want my family to see Jesus in me even more than the folks I run into on Sunday morning. It might be easy for the Sunday morning crowd to think I'm that nice and friendly all the time. My family knows better. It was to the end of extending them love and mercy that I had prayed to God just a few hours before. Seriously, before I rolled my extra-wide behind out of bed this morning--even before my eyes were fully opened (I'm not a morning person)--I had prayed and asked Jesus to fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish a monumental task. You stay-at-home moms know the task to which I'm aspiring. The task of being loving and kind to your own family. It is especially difficult if you have been with your children for over 130 days straight with no break and no end in sight! The last thing--the very last thing-- you feel like doing when they have tracked mud through the house again is to extend mercy. Hence my need for the power of the Holy Spirit.

And it was all going so well. My husband even commented on how nice it was when I woke up in a good mood. So glad he noticed. Confidence in the power of Jesus rising. Then--not one hour later--the flames of hell burst forth. Okay, they weren't really the flames of hell but they were the flames of my oven. Yep, after meticulous preparation--fish broiling, homemade coleslaw prepared, mango salsa waiting. . . I put the taco shells in--and to hurry the process--after all hubs had to leave for work soon--you guessed it. . . Footnote to self---never put taco shells on the top rack with the broiler going. Smoke everywhere. . .I panicked (my tendency in a crisis) and my sweet husband came to rescue us from the arm-length flames bursting from the pan. Let's just say he is all man--and anything that resembles a tool (this time a fire-extinguisher) will be used en force. He not only extinguished the fire coming from the oven--I think he was making sure it didn't extend to both counters. . .and the cabinets. . . and the floor. Never let it be said that my man is not thorough.

While I'm not convinced this was all an elaborate plot of the enemy-- more likely it was my carelessness-- I do think the enemy planned to take my now-disatrous-kitchen coupled with seven grumbly bellies-- and armed with such tools-- the enemy attempted to rob me of the Spirit's power to help me be like Jesus. Extending mercy and kindness when I would rather be shouting for five little people to get out of my hair so I could clean up this mess.

As I sat sulking in the McDonald's parking lot eating my microwaved burger (I only know that McD's no longer fries the burgers in house because my mom, the school-teacher got to volunteer there to raise funds for her school) I sensed that the day could go south very quickly. My son (the one who seriously dislikes new things) had tried earlier to console me with how very much he was looking forward to fish tacos. Those who know the boy are smiling.

Faithful that He is, I was quickly reminded that the Holy Spirit's power is available regardless. We must abide. Release ourselves in trust. A holy sense of humor certainly doesn't hurt, either. While I'm absolutely sure that burnt baja tacos do not in any way compare to what some folks are facing today--my prayer is that "the eyes of our heart may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe"(Eph 1:18-19) A power that proves "this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed. . ." (2Cor 4:7-8)

Friends, one thing I know--if my children and husband see Jesus in me--if they ever, at all see Jesus in me--it will be the Spirit's work. Left to myself I am one grouchy, short-tempered woman. I must go now and clean up the layers of extinguisher dust covering my kitchen. Come to think of it--perhaps, the portrait He's painting is lovely simply because it is His and it is not yet complete.

May your day be filled with wonderfully prepared homemade meals,

Joy

The Jesus I Never Knew

Recently, when Jesus whispered to my heart, "you need to get to know Me" I was a bit taken back, as (a) that wasn't the question I had just posed and (b) why would I need to get to know You, I've accepted Your salvation and I've been learning about You since--well, a long time (and those of you who were also at church every time the doors swung open can relate). It occurs to me that one reason I need to get to know the true, Biblical Jesus is because I seem to have taken the "Sunday school version" into my adult life. Not that there is anything wrong with that--I don't begin to know where I'd be without the foundation I gained at FPC Sweetwater, TN. Just this morning, I was cleaning my windows and the vinegar smell took my mind floating back to the days of my beloved Christian Daycare Center. Sadly though, I think that perhaps the true Jesus may have been softened there to protect me. I get that. I totally skip over periods in history (or at least gloss them over) so that my very sensitive ten-year-old's heart can be protected. I know, I know. . .parts of history are horrific. I should teach the truth. Yes, but for a bit I'd like to keep her heart innocent and carefree. The hard stuff will come.

Which takes me to the point. I have always just thought of Jesus as "sweet". I mean isn't that the picture our minds pose at the words "meek and gentle of Spirit"? I, for one, must not have a proper framework for meek because the Jesus I have encountered these past few days on the pages of Scripture is anything but "sweet" (at least the way my mind contrived the word).

Jesus comes on the scene and to say the Messiah is not what anyone expected would be a gross understatement. We know that Jesus was at odds with the Pharisees and ruling Jewish establishment but check out Luke 6:6-11. Seems He has went from "at odds" to exceedingly upset. Jesus essentially gets up in front of a large crowd at the synagogue and calls out all of the leaders for how they are twisting the law to prevent someone from being healed. So I ask you --and me--when was the last time we saw a group of lead pastors get called out in front of a church for not doing what was right in the eyes of our Father. Do you think Jesus would ever approve of a "church" budget that gave more to self-serving programs to benefit the rich (that's us) than to feeding our brothers and sisters who are starving.? Yeah, me either. The tragic part is we don't have enough of the passion of Jesus or the fear of the Lord to have the courage to do what He did and challenge the status quo. At least I don't.

He seemed to have an affinity for upsetting the establishment, didn't He? Calling a tax collector. This was a hard concept for me to "get" because, quite frankly, I am a spoiled American middle-class woman. I've never lived under the oppression of occupation. I've never seen one of my fellow Americans take my hard earned money and give it to the enemy-- my oppressor. So, this one slipped by me. But can you imagine what it was like for Jews to watch their fellow countrymen take money from their poor to line the pockets of the indulgent, bloated Romans? Then, this traitor gets called to be a follower of the Messiah--a disciple. Really? God must indeed look on the heart cause this seems nuts to me.

Lest you think Jesus was only ticked with those who should have been helping to remove the burdens from His people, Jesus seemed to have a "word" for His followers as well. You know the whole Sermon on the Mount. . .love your enemy, bless those who curse you, turn the other cheek. Yeah, that sorta slipped by me as well. My rationalization usually went something like this, " Lord I'll be nice to those who don't like me, but quite frankly I can't imagine who that might be--I am, after all, extremely likable!" However, the Jews, who--just like today--had their fair share of enemies might've been thinking, " let's get this straight--Jesus expects me to begin reciting blessings over the Romans--the very barbarians who are crucifing our people on the side of these dusty Palestinian roads". If a Roman centurion strikes me, I am to turn and let him strike the other side of my head? Then Jesus goes further and takes the blessing of God-- the "year of the Lord's favor" and bestows it on a centurion's servant --pausing only long enough to commend the warrior's faith--to His followers--the "chosen of God". (See Luke 7:1-10) I can't even get my mind around it. Sorta be like asking the church to speak down blessing on abortion doctors and terrorists and queers. Or like commending the faith of a drug smuggler. Exactly when was the last time you saw a fancy-schmancy church goer bend down and apply salve to the wound of someone dying of AIDS or journey to the "hood" to love on those who believe their worth is found in the loot they are acquiring from running those drugs? Yeah, I'm too afraid as well.

Jesus was so radical and worked so counter to anyone's expectation that even John the Baptist--forerunner to the Messiah--sent his disciples to double check that Jesus was indeed who He said He was. After all, seems to me that the Messiah was gonna be the one to restore Israel to her former glory. How in the world was the glory of God going to shine on His people if they were blessing, serving and loving the enemy? Got me.

The only thing that makes sense so far to me is after one particularly hard teaching John records the following, "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed Him" (John 6:66). My guess is I would've ran for my life long before that encounter.

I wonder if we have so tamed the Lion of Judah in our minds, in our churches, in our homes that it is easy to follow Him. Seems pretty easy to me. Yet for those who actually heard Him speak, felt His embrace, touched His wounds--it was anything but easy. If our version of the "crucified life" seems simple and appealing to the masses we might want to pull out the gospels and meet the Jesus we never knew.

He is scaring the life outta me--

Joy

Of Marx and Me

Scanning The Communist Manifesto this morning I was suddenly struck by the thought that Karl Marx produced one of his most famous works out of struggling with an age old question about God. At least this is my theory. He may not have framed it in his mind in those terms but tell me what you think. Isn’t the quintessential human struggle with a simple question about the nature and character of God? One doesn’t even have to be a believer of anything to struggle with this question. Athiests just frame the debate a bit differently. But if your feet walk the dusty roads of earth very long one question is bound to surface. It goes something like this, “if God is good, then why did __________happen?” If you happen to fall into the minority of those who claim to believe nothing (which is a discussion of which I shall not attempt today) then there is no framework for claiming order and therefore the word “good” might be a bit arbitrary. But for most of us, who claim to believe something/Someone is ultimately in charge of the universe and beyond-- sooner or later-- we are going to grapple with the “why question”. Job did. The disciples questioned. I have. Maybe you have as well. Seems only those who reside in the heavenlies don’t struggle the way we do. Maybe therein lies the answer. Maybe part of the reason our ‘whys’ often go unanswered is that we simply can’t see with these “fallen eyes”. Our egos have convinced us that the truth of the Bible which claims that God's thoughts are not like our thoughts and His ways unlike ours--indeed worlds apart they are (Isaiah 55:8)--is somehow untrue. Surely, we reason, I could do this better than God. I've certainly voiced the doubt. I've even said that I would definitely do things differently, given the chance. . . which hasn't happened and that alone is enough for a thank offering.

I’ll admit I was a bit condescending when I was looking over Marx’s work. I didn’t read it very closely, mind you. But I did judge the man. Thought about making him and his philosophies the “enemy”. I do that sometimes before the Holy Spirit whispers into my soul-- reminding me that I am just like those I judge. Then I feel a kinship to them. I ache for them, like I’ve ached in my own struggles. You see, this morning it occurred to me that Karl Marx was the son of parents who had converted to Lutheranism. I'm thinking that surely he was at least briefly familiar with the God they worshipped. Perhaps, he had heard his parents speak of the “Sovereignty of God”. I’m sure his parents would have worshipped and praised the God who is “good all the time”. . . “Yes, oh yes he is a friend of mine”. . . wait that was a jingle that ran through my mind, of which I’m sure Marx had never heard. That alone would have made him bitter. Kidding. Major digression. Yet, when Marx and his family lived in London later in his life—he lived in abject poverty. In fact, his friend and later the one who helped him pen the works for which he is famous, Friedrich Engels, gave his family money so that they could survive (A World of Ideas, pp. 219). Perhaps this is a bit simplistic, but do you think it is possible that Marx was so hurt by the thought of a good God allowing him and his family to suffer-- so much so-- that he concluded that a good God--maybe even a God at all-- was simply untrue? I've thought it before. How could a truly good God allow . . .(fill in current world atrocity). Therefore, with a mind as brilliant as his, he formulated a way for the government to keep the atrocities that he was staring at each day from happening to others. The idea was noble even if it proved impractical. I am tearing up at the thought. Not at the thought of communism-- I’m not arguing whether there is more merit to capitalism, communism, socialism or feudalism (smile). I’m simply hurting for a man who had struggled with our common humanity. I have been there, and my guess is you have, too.
My confession is that I sat smugly at the end of my bed with book in hand and thought, “Oh, if he had just leaned in and listened for God, perhaps he could have moved from the why questions to relationship then to redemption. . . Yes, my own smugly pious thoughts nauseate me as well. It was a condescending thought. And faithful that He is, the Holy Spirit whispered to my soul, “so Joy how well did you 'lean in and listen' during your seasons of deep pain?” Uh. . .ahem. I fell flat on my face. Hard. Embarrassingly hard. I couldn’t “lean in and listen”, to quote myself; because I was too busy flailing my arms amid a fit that would have rivaled a three-year-old. Seriously. Just.ask.my.mother. Better yet, just take my word for it. It has taken a while to even believe—wait, I don’t believe it yet—to consider, yes that’s where I am—that what I thought surely God meant for my harm, in fact He meant for good. In ways I don’t yet even know. Okay, I’m not going to cry.
My thought is that Karl and I might have a lot in common. Okay, not so much. He was after all brilliant. I sorta border right at or below average. He actually came up with a Manifesto to “help God out” in running the universe. All I can come up with is a red-face, snotty-nose and accusations about why God is not doing exactly what I want. But we both, along with everyone else, will feel pain. Of course, our struggles will vary in intensity throughout our live—but if we live—we will have trouble. Jesus said so. I so wish Marx would’ve had men and women in his life who deeply knew God, who knew His Son. The very God-man who tasted and felt all of our struggles—and then offered us peace. I wish he could have had someone to hold his hand and walk with him through those seasons of pain until he could get to the other side--- farther along down the road—far enough to look back and at least consider that what he was sure God had meant to be his undoing was actually the mercy, grace and Love of God. I wish the same thing for myself. Wait! It occurs to me that the Bible speaks to this when it talks about God giving us comfort so that we can give comfort to others when they struggle. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2Cor 1:3-4).
Friends, this is why the Body of Christ is so important. We are essential in each others’ lives. You have a role to play in comforting, encouraging and spurring me along. And I, you.
Talk to me,
Joy

Our Conundrum

A conundrum--a riddle or play on words--and while the following isn't exactly a conundrum it was fun watching the puzzled looks on my childrens' faces. Mainly, on the ten-year-old's face as the others got frustrated and moved on. (They are, after all, only seven and five.) More confusion followed but that is to be expected when trying to explain the complexities of our God using only words. Or body language. Or wild, fanciful gestures. Nothing captures His God-ness. Nothing. But I wrote these two lines on the board anyway:

You were created by God, for God, to do the work of God.

Only God can do the work of God. (writing of Jonathon Edwards during the Great Awakening)

"How children, can both of these statements be true?" I ask.

The answer, I got to explain in words that they did not fully understand-- The Holy Spirit.

What am I saying, I don't even fully understand. But the following words by Francis Chan about had me undone this morning as I sat in my rocker warming my legs before the fire (nevermind its gonna be 63 degrees today--a fire makes me think better):

Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the "Helper" or "Comforter." Let me ask you a simple question: Why would we need to experience the "Comforter" if our lives are already comfortable? (Forgotten God, p. 107)

Uh, is all I can say--then blankly stare at the fire. All this time I have worked and prayed so desperately hard that my life would be pain free, stress free, worry free--comfortable. You mean, Lord that might not be "your will for my life"?

Joy

Are You Living the Christian Life On Your Own? Don't Even Try!

God has been impressing on me two words over the past couple of days---Holy Spirit---and so questions seem to flow much more rapidly than at times I could write them down. Questions such as:

If the Holy Spirit is central to our life in Christ, why do I know so little about Him?

Why does the church so often teach so little about Him?

If, according to Jesus, "we can do nothing apart from Him", why are we more diligent to teach our children rules/behaviors than we are to help them recognize the Spirit and "keep in step" with Him, as Paul urged the Galatians?

Then it occured to me as I was listening to a God-ordained-for-me-at-this-moment message from David Platt. . .the grand ephiphany--I could fall into the same category as the Israelites and live my entire "Christian life" apart from the power and Presence of God. Seriously, you ask? How much of my life--either at home, school, work, etc. do I need and rely on God. Probably very little. I don't pray "give me this day, my daily bread"--I've got cabinets full. I even have a five, ten, (gasp) fifteen year plan. I could fool everyone into thinking I am this "good little (uh, medium to large) Christian" (whatever that is). . .especially given we don't have much company. I have substituted the blessings of God for the Presence and power and fruit of His Spirit and I am dumb enough to pause. . .much, much later than it would take most people and say. . .something is not right!!!

So, I said to God this very afternoon--that's me--you remember when Moses was saying to God--Exodus 33--if You don't go with us how will we be distinguished from all the other nations. I thought, and said--that's me--without your Presence how will I (or anyone, for that matter) be any different than all the other "christians". (I'm putting that in quotes to refer to the massive amount of people who would label themselves christian with no real thought that it is anything other than a label for those of a Judeo-Western-Culture-American birth).

Seriously, I feel as if I (maybe you feel the same way) have a plan for how things are gonna go and I have given zero real thought to listening to the Holy Spirit much less keeping up with where He leads. Oh, I don't mind asking God to bless my plans, my life--but seriously give God a blank check with my life to do with as He pleases. . .uh, let me think about that. Do I even need to wonder why on earth I am not "doing greater things than this". . . God help me!! GOD HELP ME!!

So, as I'm in this state of "God, help me to know the Presence of Your Spirit in my heart--in my life"--I'll share a couple of hopeful thoughts that He is giving me.

1. God promises that if we ask--He's a good Father and will give us the Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:13)

2. We will know the Spirit's Presence in our lives. (John 14:15-19)

3. We will live lives characterized by the power of God not our ability to figure out a plan. (2Cor.4)

So now, I turn (repent), pray, wait patiently for the Lord. The Celtics used to call this Christian life chasing the wild Goose. . . I hope that characterizes my life of keeping in step with the Spirit. Jonathon Edwards once wrote, "only God can do the work of God"--and I so desperately want to be a vessel.

Love journeying with you,

Joy

Promises, Promises

What is that makes believing God so hard? Not just "believing in" Him, though I'm sure for those who are searching and seeking this is equally difficult. No, I'm talking about believing something that He has promised will in fact happen. It's hard, isn't it? And for those of us who've been followers for a while--seems it should be getting easier--so, why isn't it? It seems that this year's theme for me is "promises kept". I can't ever remember a year having a theme and I'm not sure if God supplied the theme this year before I asked. Seems like He did. Then He kept bringing it up. Church--just so happens the pastor starts talking about God being able to keep His promises. Blogs I read are talking about God's faithfulness. Mass email from famous pastors. . .you guessed it--promises. Then, the audacity of it all--the Bible starts on this and just doesn't stop!! All.through.it.God.is.Faithful.

Still, I'm not convinced. Apparently, Eve wasn't either and it didn't go so well in that particular instance and so the prospects of me getting away with blatant unbelief don't seem so promising (no pun intended). John Calvin believed that all sin had at its root the sin of unbelief. I suspect he may be right. I wish I could offer you the solution--the five things to do so that you never wrestle with unbelief. I wish. Seems nothing much is new under the sun because as I attempt to read through the Bible with my lovely daughter and husband I am struck that Abraham, yes the great man of faith, seemed to struggle here as well. We tried reading through the Bible straight from start to finish once before and sorta died in the desert of Leviticus, I believe. . or was it Numbers. I digress. Back to Abraham.

So, here's the scene. God once again announces to Abraham (or Abram) that He is going to give Him an heir. An heir birthed by his lovely, young (or not so young) wife. Check out the middle part of Genesis 17 and I kid you not--God makes an astounding promise--albeit a bit impossible and what does Abraham do--he starts trying to help God out. He laments, "oh, that Ishmael might live before you!" (verse 18). Do you see it? Abraham is trying to help God out. Just giving the almighty a bit of assistance in keeping His word. Otherwise, it doesn't look like it is even possible. I do that, too. God gives me a promise, I see that it is "impossible" and I start thinking of all the ways He can work it out--so that it's possible--I want to help Him out of the quandry He's just created--for both of us. I am so scared of disappointment. At least I think that's what it must be. Afraid that God might fail--and then what?!? If He can't be trusted then this ship is bound for the shoals. Or Sheol.

Yet is not this the whole of the Biblical story. Not meaning to simplify here, but isn't the whole truth of all of it---- God is faithful. He. is. wholly. Faithful. . . .Holy.Faithful. Too.

God, not content to let us eat the fruit of our unbelief makes a way for our belief--Jesus. . .God's faithfulness. His answer to our insistence that He cannot be trusted is to prove Himself over and over and over again.

Lest we think He is all fine and dandy with our unbelief--I'm convinced it grieves His heart like nothing else. Nothing. Not even the most heinous sins. 'Cause look back at Genesis 15:6. Eleven little words that sorta blow your hair back. "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness". What? You mean all that following and obeying didn't do it? 'Cause that's what we teach. Go to church--check! Do nice things--check! Behave-check! Attend small group-check! Listen, I really hope Abraham got at least an "atta-boy" for pulling up his roots and trapsing all over God's country (literally) until God brought him to his country. But all we see from the text is that believing God was what the Almighty Father wanted from His boy.

That's it!! Just believe that He can keep His word--no matter how crazy, unrealistic or impossible it seems!

You think that might be all He wants from me? And you? Don't think the organizers of any institution will be announcing that --'cause they do need us to show up and act like good little girls and boys, but what if. . .

What if He is just waiting for you to relax a bit. . .take a deep breath. . . loosen your grip--on damn near everything---and enjoy the ride. Let Him show us the impossible.

Maybe?

What promises has God made you? Do they seem impossible? I'd love to hear from you!!

Joy

Really?

Does anybody besides me find the story of the birth of Messiah, Jesus the Christ, to border on the absurd? After approximately one thousand and some (perhaps ten to fifteen) odd years after David is anointed by Samuel and years later when God announces to him, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2Samuel 7:16), God fulfills this prophesy by placing the only Beloved in the arms of a teenage-out-of-wedlock-mother. Really? And get this? Luke wraps up the whole birth scene in two short paragraphs. Huh? Seriously, I could write an entire book—okay, at least a condensed very wordy short story—about each of the births in which I participated. Trust me, these are HUGE events. Luke just barely hits the highlights . . . she gives birth. . . wraps him up. . . places him in a manger. Oh yeah, because apparently all the hotel (inn) rooms are full because of this blasted census that Rome has decreed. Don’t even get us started about the government that has us under its thumb. (Sound familiar?)
Then the grand announcement is given to shepherds. Seriously, if you are an angel wouldn’t you think you were going to be sent to the grand halls of the capital of the Roman world? But a field near Bethlehem--huh--did I hear that right? I happen to believe the angels thought this had to be some sort of joke as well. After all, they had seen Him in His glory—just before. . . just before this? The very God---indeed, the fullness of the Godhead bodily-- is going to be dropped off in this obscure, nasty town and the only ones to hear about it are some smelly shepherds. Really? I know I’ve said that before here—but I mean it—really? So picture it. A day just like every other day before . . . just doing what you do. . . watching sheep, trying to earn a living, complaining about this or that or what-have-you. And suddenly—and suddenly—your world is invaded by a host of angels announcing the fulfillment of hundreds of years of waiting. Did the shepherds laugh? ‘Cause I think I would’ve laughed—that is, right after I got through wetting myself ‘cause of the fear and all. Then I would’ve laughed and probably God would have reminded me of Sarah (and Abraham) and how that whole laughing thing didn’t go so well. But really. . . (there’s that word again).
So, what’s the takeaway? I’m not too sure, because it seems there could be so many. And I need to resist drawing conclusions that may in fact not be accurate. One thing seems certain, God doesn’t do things they way I would. That seems obvious. I announced every one of my childrens’ births to as many people as I could. Newspapers, personalized announcements with pretty bows for the girls, manly baby blue for the boys. And if the whole world is God’s stage it seems to me He could have sent out a broader announcement. But something else weird sticks with me. God really meant that whole thing about using “the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1Cor. 27). God seems to be okay with advancing His kingdom through ordinary people like us. You know the ones. . . the ones working in sawmills or factories. . . in fields raising hogs or growing corn. . . or us who are at home washing load after load of laundry and are you kidding me? You can’t be hungry---WE JUST ATE!!! Making another meal that will be devoured in thirty-seconds and then, more dishes.
Perhaps, this should cause us Americans to pause—we who have made rock stars out of our “Christian leaders”. We who think that a successful church is one that has thousands of members --or whose members all act alike and think alike. I mean, heaven forbid that you like courting while I prefer “dating with boundaries”. Or please, contemporary music cannot hold a candle to hymns. Really, if you don’t use a hymnal once during worship then—probably it’s not worship. Ouch! I’m so glad that Peter and Paul thought alike, aren’t you? Wait—oh, never mind. One takeaway might just be that we can relax a bit. God seems secure enough in His Godness to trust us with living in and thus, growing His kingdom. After all, He realizes (and perhaps we need a fresh reminder) that it is “God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (2Phil. 2:13). He really did send the Holy Spirit—it is His work, not ours. Relax—breathe deeply. It is His work!!! And perhaps one more takeaway just might be to expect the unexpected. How many days had the shepherd done what they do. Did they ever dream that God might just fulfill His biggest promise to the entire world-- to them-- on this, just another day? What about you? Waiting for anything God’s promised to you? Weary of another day—just like every other day? Who knows, God may just decide one day to scare the living daylights outta you when He breaks through with a promise fulfilled. I bet you’ll say, Really? Really? Well, right after you clean yourself up a bit.

What are your takeaways from this story--really--write me!!

Journeying on,

Joy

Just Being Himself

God just keeps being God, doesn't He. And when we decide, for one reason or another that we are or are not going to (fill in the blank) He often decides, in His infinite wisdom to change our minds. So it seems with us recently. You see, we were sure that our faith would grow best out unleahsed in the wild-- without the constraints of "organized church". I still think that is partly true. Our faith needs to be our own. . . not mom or dads, or even our pastors (though his often looks more robust doesn't it?)! And by constraints I mean the authoritative power which we often bestow on well-meaning (at least I hope they are, though I fear otherwise) if misguided leaders. I'll be honest--I've witnessed a "pastor" misquote scripture ( which I was staring at --then proceed to expound--INACCURATELY--upon what he had just misquoted to establish a man-made doctrine). I've been the recipient of power that was abused. And it hurts. And I say this seriously, God does not take this lightly. Orthodox theology must be true for all people in all places and at all times. We can't decide that God is far more concerned about some of our social stands than He is about His glory. The western church desperately needs to get a grip. But that really wasn't what I was going to write about. So I shall hop off the soap box.

Okay, now. . . so anyway, we thought that we would leave the confines of organized religion and pursue God out where we can feel the wind of the Holy Spirit in our faces. "Follow the wild goose" as some of our Gaelic friends would have said. And we are so thankful for the time we have met with God in our own personal spaces. It's a start toward healing our distrust. But while I'm certain that God takes very seriously the abuses done in His name--He, I'm convinced, desperately wants His children to live like family. Not like orphans. We really do have brothers and sisters here and throughout the world. So He has sent some our way. One is a pastor and his family who we really like. But more importantly, this man speaks a Word to me each Sunday that I sit under his teaching. I suspect this is of God because this pastor and his family seem so. . . not like us. Not. at. all. like. us. They are refined and classy (at least they seem to be). We, well we're the family that has ruts in the yard because my man can't seem to fit his truck on the available concrete space. Oh yeah, and he decides to grow his mammoth pumpkins in the flower beds, because "if you can't eat it, what's the point of growing it". Really, he said that. Hide your impressionable children. We. are. that. family. The ones who embarass the whole neighborhood. But my husband respects him. Is impressed with the wisdom he has seen and heard from this pastor. And I'm happy because he (the pastor) lets me add an addendum to his Sunday morning sermons. Not outloud. He isn't even aware I do it. But I come home thinking--and here is what I think today.

Today's message was about Jacob, and I do dearly love the story of the Patriarchs. Our family can relate to this type of imperfection. But three things this morning keep ringing in my head from the message:

1. We don't have to "help" God keep His promises. He is faithful. We can relax.

2. God's life for us is not necessarily the life we would have chosen for ourselves. (This is one point of orthodox theology I have wrestled with over and over and over. I don't like it--neither did Eve apparently and her choice to be in control didn't turn out so well. Mine doesn't usually either).

3. What is my stew? (You'd have to listen to the whole message and if you want just send me a comment and I'll direct you to it).

But I wanted to add the following addendum. I am convinced that if we would get in our head and in our heart that God is faithful to what He promises us--we would live in the freedom that He bought at a very high price. Second, if we would let Him, God would take that which the enemy has used to tempt us, trap us or otherwise wreak havoc in our lives- our stew-He would take that very achilles heel and use it to beat the livin' daylights out of our enemy. We were meant to live victorious. Secure. Steadfast. We were meant pull ourselves up to a "table set before us in the presence of our enemy" (Psalm 23). We have cowed to him too long. It's time to take God at His word. Ask Him to make those promises living breathing realities in our lives. I think I'm gonna.

God, help me walk the next leg of this journey unafraid,

Joy

A New Year with The Power of Six

I had this great idea for starting the new year (at least it
seemed great at the time). Now well. . .not so much!! I called it the Power of Seven (really, stop laughing). These ideas need a good title. We would pick seven areas to focus on and try
some old-fashioned fasting and deprivation to see if we couldn’t bear good
fruit. Please don’t ruin my story withthoughts of “oh, I know how this is going to turn out”—humor me, will ya’?

So, here is the list:
1. Seven foods—yep, that’s right . . . we were to pick out seven foods and eat nothing but those for seven days. Then, we each got to add in ONE food per week for the following seven weeks. I took the idea from several blog/books of people doing something similar. I don’t think any of them were doing this little experiment with five children. Hmmm. The one exception is that we were allowed to use up any remaining food (from weeks past) that was in the house. Oh thank you, thank you for crumpled bags of chip crumbs and leftover ketchup and sour cream.

2. Seven weeks of major media reduction. No TV for the children, no Facebook for me, and no internet except for email and other necessities (such as Gooseberry).

3. Seven weeks of purging: clothes, the garage, toys, books, junk drawers, closets, and I can’t remember the other one.

4. Seven weeks of daily exercise. This seems self-explanatory.

5. Seven weeks of gratitude. The older three children and I made a gratitude journal and committed to writing three things in it each day we were grateful to God for.

6. Seven weeks of serving.

7. Seven weeks of His promises. Seeking God's promises to us through His word.

Four days in and one thought comes to mind---what was I thinking? Really, as I
look over the list I think I’ll only completely abandon one—Guess which one? That’s
right. Food. My idea to restrict our diet in order to identify and relate to those in the world who live on very little has apparently backfired. Instead of empathy, I'm feeling angry (hungry) and irritable and so I'm losing the beauty of the other six. I'm totally obsessing over food!!

And then a thought occurred to me this afternoon. This is so like me!! So. like. me. And so the antithesis of what it means to walk with God. I had missed it--though one glance in His word or at His church would have reminded me that I'm not the only one. We want a God we can control. Just give me my rules. If I do this--then You'll do that. I'm a legalist junkie. I NEED ten steps to "knowing God completely and having all your prayers answered". He whispers--"it doesn't work that way". He is after my love--not my duty. And while identifying with the poor and then getting off my duff and doing something about it is certainly at the center of God's heart and will. . . my legalistic notions are not. It really is a walk and not a chore. A journey not a job.

All is not lost. I need to exercise--and Monday is looking better and better already. I am going to purge, 'cause we have WAY to much. I may avoid facebook for a while and focus on those who are in my face. . . like five little snotty-nosed cuties. I will cultivate gratefulness. . . I even have a story about my wall and some chalkboard paint and an afternoon of "not-so-craftiness" but I'll save it for a later date. Please Lord, your promises. . .Your words--they are life---send them. And then send us out to serve.

But my legalism. . . I'll unload that backpack---'cause this journey is lighter without it. And I bet a big, juicy burger is just what I need. . .

To make it one step further down the road,

Joy