Shine Jesus Shine in 2009

Catchy, huh? I think so. Thanks to my pastor who decided this would be our congregation's "catch phrase" for this year. Very simply, this is exactly what we need to do each and every day. Not just on Sundays. Not just when someone is watching. Not because you feel guilty because someone else is doing it. Not just for the "big things". Every day, because you can.

My apologies for being so quiet lately. I let life get to me - I let it intrude between me and Jesus. But we all fight that, don't we. Sure, good things have happened over the last 2 months that I can rejoice over, but I let it get to me. He got in my head real good and choked out my connection between me and my Lord. Before I knew it, I was on a different path. Not a bad path, just not the one I know God intended for me to be on.

So I screamed in my car at the top of my lungs going over the Skyway Bridge. (No, it never occurred to me to stop!) This time of year is hard. Expectations. Traditions. Family. Friends. Job worries. Money worries. Etc, etc. You can worry yourself to death - literally. So my husband and I made a pact - give it to God and let him handle it. My boss sent me a little pick me up the other day that is exactly what we all need to remember.

"Don't tell God how big your storm is; tell your storm how BIG your God is!"

I like it alot! Now keep reminding yourself of that! Nothing is too big for your God or my God. He's the bomb! So let Jesus shine in your new year. Today and everyday, forevermore.

Matthew 5: 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

I have heard you calling in the night...

Literally.

Monday night I was on my way home after a very long day, not to mention a very long weekend. I had just come off of an Emmaus weekend, having served as a table leader. So, for the last three and a half days, I have been drenched in the Spirit 24/7. Nothing wrong with that, but it is exhausting - in a good way. Monday I volunteered in the phone room for the Joy FM's Sharathon. 6am - 7pm. Another day of exhaustion - CHALLENGE ALERT! STATIONS EVERYONE! Oops, I digress.

Anyways, I'm on my way home and I have to take a detour to the store to buy some necessities. Then it happened - the phone rang. I expected it to be my husband with a last minute item left off the list. Instead, it was a friend who needed help. They need to move into a new place on Saturday and she needs help cleaning it and painting. Not bad, except that she also needs help purchasing the paint. She's desperate for help as this is the step she's been working for - getting her family back on track and settled in a secure environment.

It's really not convenient and I've already got plans for the weekend - lots of plans actually. Pancake breakfast, candy making for bazaar, sign practice, funeral, church council. Then I hear that voice again ...

As that friendship blossoms, share your life stories with them. Be available to them when they need it, not necessarily when it’s convenient for you. Reach out to them, offer assistance and let them see glimpses of your living faith in action. As you grow comfortable in your Christian action, God will begin to challenge you by putting people in your path. These may be individuals who need help desperately but may be total strangers to you. Regardless of their circumstances or differences, Christ calls us to listen to those who cry out to Him. By listening to the cry of the hopeless and helpless, we determine our path of Christian action. We need to stand firm for Jesus, whether it’s the popular choice or not. Be an advocate for those who need your help and remember that where we stand determines what we see. The human reality we see determines our response.

I can see all of your faces, offering your summaries and skits. "You can't just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk" echoes in my ears. God is challenging me, causing me to stand up to my own words. As my friend Pam put it, "He couldn't have made it any plainer!" So, I have accepted the challenge placed before me and have put out the call to my brothers and sisters in Christ for help in meeting this challenge. We have sounded the alert and manned our stations. I have prayed hard for God's help and guess what - HE'S LISTENING!!

God is providing everything I am asking for and more! He's letting me know that it's safe to step out for Jesus and others. He has already prepared the way - I just need to walk it. Why do we fight it? I guess we'll never know. I do know this - “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) May we all be courageous today and everyday.

Step out for Christ and pave the way! Lisa

Hearts Afire

I was blessed to be present at closing this evening when 17 men stood before their brothers and sisters to give their personal testimonies from their weekend experience. From young men in the prime of their lives to a 93 yr old man who was "young at heart", each one gave their personal insights on the abundant love, grace and acceptance they had received over the past 72 hours. They thought they had seen it all - already had mountaintop experiences of their own that could never be topped.

Enter the magic that is Emmaus.

And so it goes, 17 more disciples have just been commissioned with the directive to "go and make disciples". They now understand what it is to be a part of the "Body of Christ", what their responsibilities are. More importantly, for this moment, they know what the love of Christ feels like, because they have seen it on all of our faces. In the songs, prayers, letters, and agape, our love and Christ's love has shown through to them like a beacon in the night. They know that God calls ordinary people to do extraordinary work for Him.

Keep them in your prayers so that they will be able to carry this glow with them into their first of many "Fourth Days" tomorrow. May they have the strength and courage to take what they have learned and apply it to their lives, so that they may continue His work. May they always remember the glow of the candles as a constant reminder of Christ's light that shines deep within each of us.

May you open your heart's windows and let his light shine brightly for all the world to see, each and every day.

Blessings,
Lisa

God is so good

Several years ago now, we had what we thought was a "thriving" youth group. We hired a full-time youth pastor who quickly grew our youth group. Life was good. We thought we were where God wanted us. The group had its typical growing pains, but it seemed to regenerate itself each time.

Then our youth pastor left and about a year later, our head pastor was relocated as is the Methodist way. We lost alot of our young families and consequently alot of our youth. Our group was dying - or so we thought.

In the ensuing years, God has continued to walk with us. We now have some very dedicated parent volunteers who coordinate our youth activities. It doesn't look like the group from previously, but that's okay. It's working really well and these kids are bonding as strong as ever.

God is so good - all the time!

Last night we had a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Heath Sammons, a young man who was part of that youth group I originally referred to. About 3-4 years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer. He's been receiving treatments at Moffitt in Tampa and last night was no different. As Heath sat in that unit, receiving radiation treatment, our church hosted the dinner to help raise funds to defray his mountain of medical bills. Although we thought that the ties to that group were long gone, God proves once more that he continues to walk with us, whether we choose to acknowledge him or not. People came from all over, having read the article in the community paper, by word of mouth, by flyer or being friends and family of Heath. The response was great and the fellowship and music, provided by a neighboring church's praise and worship band "Divine Intervention", was very comforting. What a blessing to be able to reach out to Heath and his family during their time of great need.

There are days, even seasons in our life where we get so mired down in the sadness of our daily lives. The economy, world issues, even local issues are taxing and worrisome. But our Heavenly Father is always there to hold us close - even carry us if necessary - to the next plateau. When things get gloomiest, His Light is always there for us to see.

May our God shine deep within you today, warming you from the inside to the outside. May you feel that warmth and allow it to radiate from you to others you come in contact with. May you always remember that He is with you and there for you - even when you least expect it.

Peace,

Lisa

Grace - I think I know her!

We are studying the book of Job in Sunday School right now. It amazes me how much grace is missing in the conversations between Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and Job. These guys are just outright mean. All accusatory and assuming ... very sure that they know why Job is suffering so. We are lucky because we have been privy to the conversations that took place prior to Job's suffering between God and Satan the Accuser. We know what's up; we know the plan. We know that God has such an unfailing confidence in Job that he tells Satan to go ahead and give it his "best shot!" But the "three amigos" don't know the "rest of the story." They're just relying on what tradition and experience has taught them. If this, then this. Seems pretty simple. Unless you're Job.

Don't we do the same in our own lives? Haven't you passed judgement upon someone you've seen, whether you know them or not, presuming that you have "the answer" to all their troubles? Or maybe you've got some sage advice about their actions or lack thereof. Pretty presumptory of ourselves when you get right down to it. But we all do it. We all get sucked in.
Yelling back at the tv - "I can't believe they did that" or "they ought to be arrested" or "they should have their children taken away", etc. etc.

Wouldn't it be grand if we could instead, offer them a little grace in their moment of need? After all, we don't know the whole situation. We are not privy to God's plan in their life, let alone our own! I think Bart Millard said it best:

I can only imagine
what my eyes will see
when your face is before me;
Surrounded by your glory
what will my heart feel?

Wouldn't it be grand if the world could be filled with nothing but grace? No more wars, no more hunger, no more need. Just a lotta love. What a wonderful world this would be!

Grace to you all,
Lisa

Reckless Faith

David brought me home a book the other week titled Reckless Faith. It caught his eye as he was receiving inventory because it was written by a lady who started an orphanage in Monterrey, Mexico. It's an easy read, not long, and the entries are journal style, not in any particular order. He thought I might enjoy it as I enjoy my mission trips to the Dominican Republic very much. I decided to not make the trip this year due to some health concerns. I was rather blue as the end of June approached, feeling as though I should be on that jet with the rest of my brothers and sisters in Christ, flying to Santo Domingo. I did alot of extra praying that week, knowing that my group was down there working to rehabilitate the facilities and ministering to the children. I terribly missed Luilli, Apache and Pablo as well as the rest of the boys. I couldn't wait for them to get back to hear all about the trip.

Amy emailed me about a week after their return. All was well, the number of boys at the home was at an all time low. That could be good or bad, depending upon how you look at it. Sometimes the boys get to go home during the summer to visit family and sometimes the parents come to fetch them when they get old enough to be of use laboring to make money. It's always a concern, but I'm learning to let go and let God. He is the one in charge of the boys' lives, not me. It's hard to do, but I'm learning. Luilli missed seeing me, Pablo is still young and not so connected. Apache had gone home, but we did not know the details. How I missed being able to give them big hugs and bring them a little something from Florida. I did send gifts with Amy, but it's not the same as taking them yourself. I missed being called for "iglesia" each evening and the rhythmic singing of the boys with their tamborines, drums and those metal grater things. Next time I go, I'm going to record them so I can play it back.

So, I'm learning about my reckless faith and what it has allowed God to do thru me. Sometimes I'm more aware of it, sometimes I'm not. Sometimes it's what he prevents me from doing, that allows me to be available for his bigger and better plan. Whatever the case may be, I pray each day for the strength to let go, so that he can work the plans that he has for me as promised.

Labor Day

The first Monday in September - Labor Day. Time away from work, to be with family and friends. What if you don't have any family or friends? What if you have no home to go to?

As I thank God for our many blessings today, I am reminded of our families at church that have no home to be thankful for. Their lives shattered by assorted problems or addictions, or maybe just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In the midst of trying to rebuild, Family Promise offers them hope when they are at their darkest. My small act of spending the night to be their host seems like a drop in the bucket. Sure, I can sleep on a squeaky cot for a few hours overnight because I have an air-conditioned home to get up and go home to in the morning. A hot shower and a cup of coffee made by a coffeemaker with an automatic timer so it's ready when I want it. A nice bed with my fluffy, purring kitty next to me, saying "Mom, where were you last night? I missed you."

However, I am reminded that the drop of water that hits doesn't just sink immediately to the bottom. It radiates from the place it landed, creating ripples upon ripples across the water, until it eventually reaches the other side of the pond ... or lake ... or river ... or ocean. It travels and affects everything else it comes in contact with. It all starts with just a drop.

And so it goes in our daily lives. Looking at the huge, big picture can be discouraging and downright immobilizing. "What can I possibly do to make a difference?" "How can one person change the world?" It all has to start somewhere ... with just a tiny drop.

What have you dropped today?

Getting started

As I sit at the computer this morning, I am amazed at the beauty that God lays before us every day. As we hurry through our days to get family up and running, work, then run home to finish out the day with our chores, family & commitments, sometimes it's hard to stop and see the beauty around us. That "stop and smell the roses" cliche is so true. So, I work every day to carve out a niche of time to just thank God for what he has done and what he is about to do in my life every day. I know he's getting ready to challenge me again ... I can feel it coming in my bones. So, I believe in what he has provided me with thus far, knowing that he will never leave me in a lurch. It's usually me who leaves me in that position!

Keep the faith!
Lisa