Retreat! We all need a little solace.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!" Mark 1:35-37

 When life comes at you like a freight train - full speed ahead - it's all you can do to hang on tight. There's barely time to think, no warning, no preparing or packing a bag - only time to react and latch onto whatever is in front of you until the train stops.

The unexpected happens all the time - life and death - but when they couple themselves together and come one after the other, our minds can't catch up with our hearts. In every crisis, whether good or bad, there's always stuff to be done - responsibilities and loose ends to tie up - for those holding up the arms of loved ones.

And when that freight train comes to a screeching halt - even for a brief moment - we find ourselves disheveled, speechless, utterly weary and maybe even a bit numb. We feel neither joy nor sorrow because we've been so busy caring for others that we pushed our own emotions aside. All we want is solace. Quiet. Retreat.

Retreat with me today at Encouragement Cafe...

I Want It!

"Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift..." Ephesians 4:7(MSG)

Screeches and screams erupted from Little Brother who, only moments earlier, quietly occupied himself with the wooden train. I find him tussling his train out of Big Brother's firm grip. My sudden presence prompted Big Brother to sentence himself to the time-out chair.

"Why did you take Little Brother's train?" I asked.

Between sobs and shame he answered me. "Because I want it." 

(Today I'm playing trains over at Christian Children's Authors blog. Join me? I promise to share.)

Forevermore-Pleasures

You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 NKJV

We welcomed the long holiday weekend with its blank calendar and no particular place to go; no demands or deadlines or distractions. Only time, a full gas tank, and an open road lay before us—a perfect weekend in our book.

Escaping the hectic pace we meandered along quiet country roads—some familiar, some not—soaking up every nook and cranny of God’s creation. Like a touch of heaven, beauty poured forth from every direction.

We bathed in radiant sunshine that warmed our winter-white skin as we drove beneath robin egg blue skies finding occasional relief from leafy green tree tunnels that arched high above our heads. We found red-barn farmlands that bragged of freshly plowed earth and sleepy neighborhoods with pristine gardens dotted in rainbow hues. We even hopped aboard a rural ferry to cross the river just for fun.

Compared to the serendipitous pleasures we enjoyed along the way, our destination seemed insignificant. For it’s through those experiences we catch a glimpse of heaven, isn’t it? It’s as though God’s foreshadowing what’s to come in the here and now; inexpressible pleasures on a simply perfect day that fill our lives with joy and peace and beauty.

We climbed aboard life’s merry-go-round two days ago and it started spinning, making it more difficult to see all God’s beauty.

This morning I spun past the dining room hutch towards my office—a hutch whose dishes tell stories of family history and journeys past. An English tea cup my daughter brought back from London caught my eye. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice to drink my coffee from that cup?” (I know, it’s sacrilegious to drink coffee out of an English tea cup, but that’s not the point). I dismissed the thought mid-spin, but as I sat down in my writing chair, God whispered, “Enjoy a cup of coffee in that pretty tea cup! It’s a simple pleasure for a daughter of the King.”

Now, as weird as it might seem to you, sipping my coffee from that beautiful cup ushered me into God’s presence because I knew He offered me that pleasure from His heart. In the midst of my every day, my mundane, my pressures and deadlines, God offered me His personal thoughtfulness and love—a simple pleasure that gave me just a glimpse of all the forevermore pleasures He has in store for me.

Here’s how Sarah Young describes it: “Why would you want to follow a man-made path when My path of life is wide open before you? This path glows with My radiant Presence and it stretches all the way into eternity. As you persevere along this way with Me, I give you samples of forevermore-pleasures” (Jesus Lives, 2009 Thomas Nelson).

What forevermore-pleasures has God shown you lately? Has he whispered his approval on some frivolous pleasure that, like me, you would easily dismiss? God so wants to spend time with you. Take the time to enjoy His little glimpses of heaven throughout your journey today.

Honoring Isn't Optional

Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise - so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. Ephesians 6:2-3 NIV 

 Father's Day knotted my stomach. Facing troves of "greatest father ever" greeting cards I'd sigh, mumble something like, "Yeah, right!" until I found the most generic card I could find. At least when I was younger all I had to do was scratch my name at the bottom of my sister's card and slide by the honoring part on her coat tails.

Until I was in my late forties, honoring my father never came easy and knowing the statistics of divorce, maybe it doesn't come easy for many of us or our kids. (Now, I'm not saying that it's only fathers that gain a child's disdain in a divorce, if at all, nor am I saying divorce is the only situation that causes us to dishonor our fathers. I only know my story and I'm writing a Father's Day article, so please allow me a bushel of grace).

Since God created the commandment to honor our father (and mother), honoring isn't optional. So, how do we honor our fathers (and mother) when we feel they fall short (divorced or not)? Or as mothers, how do we teach our children to honor their fathers when we feel they don't deserve it? 

(Be brave and join me at the Christian Children's Author blog for the complete article).

Meet Award-Winning Author, Pam McGlagan

What do two women living on opposite coasts have in common? Our passion for children and writing. 

Today I'm excited to introduce my dear west coast friend, award-winning author, Pam McLagan! 

Pam is a brilliant teacher and author of two bible lesson workbooks, BluePrint Bible Lessons for Kids, Vol. 1 and 2. If you're looking to challenge your children with deeper spiritual bible lessons, then her books are exactly what you've been looking for! 

Not long ago, Pam lived but one town from me before moving back "home" to Oregon. We shared many conversations  about family and ministry and flying (her husband's passion) while huddled up next to our fire pit enjoying ice cream. Little did we know we'd be traveling the writers journey together. 

Listen in on our conversation and send her some love in the comments below...

Where did the idea for these books begin?

About twenty years ago, I was coordinating children’s classes at our church and was co-teaching a precocious group of four and five year olds. Most of them had been “born in the pew” and were bored with curriculum that took six weeks to teach creation and never get to the Fall.  As I had experienced with my own children, these 4s and 5s were quite capable dealing with more than that, and they were certainly capable of memorizing longer passages of Scripture than “God is love.”   So in volume 1, the first three lessons are: 1. God creates the world; 2. God creates people in His image: the Trinity; and 3.  Adam and Eve disobey God… and that includes the promise of a Savior.  Also in volume 1, during the lessons about Jesus as our Teacher, the children learn the Lord’s Prayer.

What prompted you to write these books?

After using the lessons for several cycles with the original congregation, the lessons resided in boxes and envelopes of photocopies for many years.  About six years ago, they came out again and began to be used in two different churches in our area.  The children’s ministry coordinators and teachers were so enthusiastic about the format and organization that I began to think in terms of a broader audience.  I thought about small congregations like ours that didn’t have a lot of money to spend on curriculum and considered that something like this could be of help.  It was at that time, that I decided to pursue publication.

What makes your books unique?

Each book contains 52 (volume 2 has 53) lessons … that’s a year’s worth of Sunday School lessons, or mid-week or Bible Club lessons.  Most lessons take up only one page, so what people find is a BluePrint, not a script.  That also makes it easy to adapt presentation to whatever group of children a teacher has.  Each lesson page has the Scripture passage, the memory work that usually goes for several weeks, a “consider” section which gives the teacher something to think about, an “our children” section to relate the message of the lesson to kids, and a “something to make or do” piece to make things concrete.

Each book also contains a “teaching with style” portion to help presenters hone their skills.

Who might find these books most useful?

Children’s ministry coordinators find these books helpful as they can be used with a range of ages of kids.  They started out for 4s and 5s, but in the past years, our congregation has used them up through grade five.

Homeschooling parents have found these lessons helpful to provide a baseline for the Bible portions of their own broader curriculum.

Christian Preschools have used them as their Bible curriculum.

Grammas have purchased them to use with their grand-kiddos.

 Are they crafted for use in all denominations?

YES! I’ve tried to stay out of areas that could be “denominationally” problematic.  In volume 2, there’s a series of lessons linking the original Passover and coming out of Egypt to the Last Supper with Jesus in the upper room, and then to modern day practice.  I include several different terms for “communion” and do not specify any particular method, but mention “your group’s practice.” 

Have you won any awards?

In May, BluePrint Bible Lessons for Kids (volume 1) was named Winner in the Christian Non-Fiction category of the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and was also named as a Finalist in the Education/Academic category.

Would you share some positive feedback from users of your books?

One children’s ministry coordinator said, “The simple and short lessons give each of my teachers the opportunity to use any activities, crafts and teaching styles they are comfortable with.  The timeline approach has been very effective in establishing a solid foundation for Bible truth in all our kids.”

A homeschooling mom wrote, “…it’s neat how adjustable [BluePrint] is to different age groups.  It has been easy to use.  I have been teaching in children’s ministry off and on for 20 years, and what I like about BluePrint Lessons is that it gives me the guideline and allows me to find my own supplements, crafts, activities, etc.”

Another homeschooling mom said, “The kids love it and remember the lessons—which is the truest test of a good resource!”

So, what's next, Pam? 

Next on the list is a group of lessons for Tweens and Teens.  They are at an age when they need more than someone telling them the story; they need to be learning to dig into the scriptures for themselves.  It’s mostly in the planning stages at the moment.

Thanks for talking with us today, Pam, and introducing us to your new award-winning books!

###

About Pam and her books:

Pam is a mom and grand-mom and wife who has been teaching something-or-other since she was fourteen.  She’s been teacher, education coordinator, and director of Vacation Bible Schools in the congregations she has been a part of.  Professionally, she has taught in public and private high schools and is currently adjunct faculty in her community college’s English Department.  She is the author of BluePrint Bible Lessons for Kids: 52 Lessons for Preschool through Grade 5 (volumes 1 and 2). Pam lives in Albany, Oregon with her husband, Bill.

You may connect with Pam on Facebook for further questions or to invite her for an author event. 

Her books are available at:  Halo Publishing International, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

How this Author Gets Her Story Ideas

A book-buying customer once asked me, "How do you get your book ideas?" Like it was as natural as breathing, my answer rolled right off my tongue. "They just find me," I said. 

While I'm not a veteran author of hundreds of books, like many on this blog, I have published one children's book, the second is well into the illustration process as I write this article, and my third story has a tentative late summer publish date. Even so, I've written more that won't see a publishers desk and the ideas keep coming.

So, what do I mean when I say the story ideas find me? 

(Follow me over to Christian Children's Authors blog and I'll tell you my secret...)

I Thought I Knew What Love Looked Like

The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. John 14:21

"Most live life with love gone much unsaid." These narrated words from a new BBC series pricked my heart as I thought about all the years I withheld my love from my father; repressed my childhood affection from the one who walked away and yet returned with a repentant heart. We'd lost so much time play-acting our roles as father and daughter all those Saturdays of my youth, that when he returned in my college days, I didn't know what to do. Showing affection was awkward, at least, and risky. I allowed the fear of rejection to build an impenetrable fortress around my heart, keeping everyone at arm's length, especially my father.

We lived most of the rest of his life with love gone much unsaid until God took hold of my heart about nine years ago. That's when God pried open my soul and revealed to me my earthly father through His eyes. For the first time, I was able to accept him for who God created him to be and honor all his traits in me without shame. But it wasn't enough to only ponder these revelations alone. God challenged me to forgive my father face-to-face and to speak my love out loud to him (talk about fear and risk). It took me a long seven months of God working on me to gain the courage to face my father and risk it all, but I'm glad I did.

My earthly father passed over a year ago knowing how much I loved him and forgave him. We left no words unsaid, he and I. I thought his passing restored all lost love between us and ended my father journey, but recently God taught me differently. 

(I'm honored to tell the rest of the story on the {re}fresh blog, today. God's doing amazing things...)

The Sensitive Child: Encourage their Strengths

I was the child who cried when people looked at me funny or laughed when I did something cute. I blushed at the very thought of speaking aloud or performing in front of a crowd. As a preschooler, I couldn't distinguish when people where making fun or admiring something I'd done. Maybe this sensitivity or shyness came from being a "mommy's girl" but alas, it was how I was wired.

Being naturally introverted, I people-watched and intently observed human behavior and interactions wherever I went. That meant I didn't speak much because I was busy watching from the outside. Being the third-party observer, I gained a sensitivity to my world and innate compassion for the underdogs in most situations (and still do to this day).

So, how did I process all that I observed? How did I come to interact more normally in an extroverted world? (Psssst...for the answers, follow me to the Christian Children's Authors blog. See you over there.)

Pillow Talk: Keeping Communication Lines Open

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6 NIV

It started quite innocently when they were toddlers and fast became our nightly ritual. We'd split up between our son and daughter, alternating every other night, with books and then a cuddle before the lights went out. Inevitably, our children's bodies quieted, but their little minds raced with all the questions they'd stored up during their busy day. They'd ask questions like: Who made all the stars? Why can't we see the wind? How do fireflies glow?

Oh, they had great questions that allowed for some important pillow talk conversations and teachable moments!

(Bring your pillows and tip toe over to Christian Children's Authors blog for the rest of the story...)

Cinderella...Not Just another Fairy Princess Story

Ella stood before her dying mother, frozen with fear. “I want to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer,” whispered her mother, “Have courage and be kind.” Choking back tears, Ella nodded and sealed the secret between them with one last hug.

Little did she know, but this little secret would see Ella through life’s toughest trials.

While we know Cinderella’s story well—the beloved daughter of an English merchant who, after the death of her mother, is forced to live with her abusive stepmother and selfish, spoiled, homely stepsisters until she finds Prince Charming—Disney turns us on our heels in the 2015 remake of this childhood favorite.

Yes, all of the original fairy tale stays intact with its magic and transforming powers, but goes beyond the “happily-ever-after” ending, leaving us with four key lessons:  (1) What you’re called is not your doing, (2) Kindness begets goodness, (3) Goodness begets “magic”. (4) Forgiveness precedes freedom.

Lesson One: Have courage - what you’re called is not your doing

Cinderella and Prince Charming first meet while riding on horseback in the woods. After exchanging niceties, the prince asks Cinderella, “What do they call you?” Embarrassed by the truth, Cinderella plays coy, “It doesn't matter what they call me.” And the prince, seeming to understand her secret, states, “I’m sure it’s none your doing.”

We all carry labels, you know, those names others slap on our backs that distort God’s image of who He created. What we're called is not our doing, not our true identity. God holds our true identity, our true name. Throughout the Bible, God renames His faithful ones to match His purpose for their lives, signifying the death of their old identity and the birth of their identity in Him.  For example: Abram (high father) to Abraham (father of many), Genesis 17:5,  Jacob (supplanter) to Israel (God contended), Genesis 32:28, and  Saul (prayed for) to Paul (small, humble), Acts 13:9. Living that transformed life, living by the name God intended for us rather than the labels by which others call us, takes enormous courage because we’re constantly bombarded with the lies.

(Slip over to {re}fresh for the rest of the story...)

Setting the All-Things-New into Motion

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2

Lent begins today. Forty days ahead to prepare our hearts for Resurrection Day. The day when Jesus overcame sin and death for us--the day the earth shook and the stone rolled away--the day Jesus set all-things-new-pattern into motion. 

So, how do I prepare my heart in these next forty days? I've thought on this a lot lately. How do I honor the sacrifice Jesus made--laying aside his deity, his life? What hard sacrifice can I offer Him? Not something temporal so that at the end of forty days I gorge myself with chocolate and potato chips, but rather, what old pattern does God want to shake out new so that I might transform more into His likeness? What would truly cause me to desire Him more?

For me, it starts with solace. Intentionally closing out the world long enough to be still and bask in God's presence, to actually shut my mouth and open my ears to His heart whispers. Not just once in forty days. Not just once a week, but at least once a day. That's easy on the slow, snowed-in days, but not on the hectic, scheduled, everyone-demanding-me days. Those days will take supernatural intervention and discipline. 

Next, it's words. Words move me more than any other form of communication. More than personal touch, quality time, acts of service,  or material gifts. When I read the written word, my heart and mind have time to synchronize. I can read and reread until my heart finally feels what my mind understands. I need to sacrifice time to read God's word and the words of His saints to fill my heart and mind with the Good News and to start the renewal process; to  transform my mind into His likeness; to put away the old ways of thinking, stop believing the lies my mind whispers and believe the Truth of how God sees me and those around me. 

Writing words is another way I plan to prepare my heart this Lenten season. As powerful as words are to read, writing down encouraging words I hear in God's heart whispers allows my eyes to see what God's saying. It allows me to remember, revisit, reread and encourage my heart over and over again. So, over the course of the next forty days, God's calling me back to journaling His private whispers.

A fellow writer, Karen Ehman, has another great writing idea on her blog today. She's challenged her readers to write one encouraging note to a different person every day. The power of words goes beyond our own hearts and can be used to honor, encourage and lift up those in our lives we hold dear, but somehow never take time to tell them just how much they mean to us. I can't promise 40 different notes, but I will consciously sit down and send out notes.

Finally, God is calling me back to my writing passion. It's been a hard sacrifice over the past ten months as we prepped and sold our home and then  moved and built onto our new home. What I thought would take only three months has now taken almost a year to complete. I knew writing would take a back seat, but it's now time to discipline myself again, with God's help, and move forward into the calling of encouraging the hearts of those who grace not only this space, but also those God's called me to write for so many years ago. It's time to write down God's words and complete the work.

Like Paul, let's not conform to this world any longer. Rather than giving up the temporal only to gorge ourselves with it again in a few short weeks, let's seek God for what He really wants to change in us. Let's let God renew our minds, start the -all-things-new process in us so that at the end of forty days we're closer to being transformed into Jesus' likeness. 

May God truly have is way in us all these next forty days!

Dawn

My Jacob Moment

So Jacob was left alone,and a {wrestled with him till daybreak. 

There comes a time in our walk with Jesus, when our past catches up to the present. That past that we gulped down hard and packed away deep below the surface; the chapter that we thought we finally closed. But the funny thing is, if we don't resolve the past, it keeps challenging us to a wrestle in hopes of a resolution.

It was early spring and the New Hampshire mountains remained captive by winter’s frozen veil.

Lost in thought, I trudged my way up the newly formed snow path from my bunkhouse to the chapel, wondering if I’d made the right decision, because women’s retreats weren't “my thing.” Maybe it was all the fluff and foo-foo conversations that seemed to permeate every women’s retreat I’d attended before. I’d much rather bypass all those niceties and jump right into the hard stuff—the meaty conversations that changed your heart forever.

I waded through the thick molasses worship set and then poised myself to take copious notes of the speaker’s message, all-the-while praying, “Dear God, I showed up. Now speak! Make this retreat worth my effort, please?” Oh, boy. Did. He. Ever.

{Pssst...join me over at {re}fresh to see what God had to say...}

Heaven's Perspective: Retreat

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!" Mark 1:35-37

 When life comes at you like a freight train - full speed ahead - it's all you can do to hang on tight. There's barely time to think, no warning, no preparing or packing a bag - only time to react and latch onto whatever is in front of you until the train stops.

The unexpected happens all the time - life and death - but when they couple themselves together and come one after the other, our minds can't catch up with our hearts. In every crisis, whether good or bad, there's always stuff to be done - responsibilities and loose ends to tie up - for those holding up the arms of loved ones.

And when that freight train comes to a screeching halt - even for a brief moment - we find ourselves disheveled, speechless, utterly weary and maybe even a bit numb. We feel neither joy nor sorrow because we've been so busy caring for others that we pushed our own emotions aside. All we want is solace. Quiet. Retreat.

Isn't that exactly what Jesus felt? 

(Join me at Encouragement Cafe or Crosswalk for the rest of the story, won't you?)

Heaven's Song

"Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything." Ephesians 5:18b-20

"Would you buy me a music book for Christmas so I can sing the songs?" asked my blond pipe-curled granddaughter. The one who couldn't yet read or follow notes but always sang from somewhere deep within her soul.

The music called them both, she and her baby brother, in the middle of the store. They sang and twirled and clapped their hands. Uninhibited soul celebration that couldn't be stilled. 

Isn't it Jesus who said we should be more like children? 

(Psst...put on your happy feet and dance over to {re}fresh for the rest of the story, won't you?)

Scary Paths

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 8:11

The graveyard path stared me down. It was the safest route to school, she said. Yet, my first grade feet stood motionless--planted in fear at the opposite corner. I cowered my head into my mother's side. No words of comfort, no logical argument could persuad me to cross that street and enter the gates of death.

Then, the friendly crossing guard lady approached, holding open a small, black, silk change purse filled with rainbow sweetness.

(Pull up some courage and join me for the rest of this scary tale at {re}fresh...if you dare!)

The Shoe Rule

"Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Exodus 3:5

We never made taking our shoes off before we entered our house a hardened rule. Maybe because my parents never enforced a shoe rule on me when I was growing up. But I do remember the households that did have a shoe rule.

Grammy had a shoe rule even though Grampy overlooked it all the time. She had rules for just about everything and it showed. Her furniture was covered in plastic, her rugs had plastic runners, her lampshades were even covered in plastic. With all that plastic, I'm not sure she really needed the shoe rule. A good broom or vacuum should have been sufficient. Maybe Grampy thought so, too.

My aunt's house had a shoe rule. We were greeted with "Hi there. Take your shoes off and c'mon in." Her house was more inviting since I could actually feel the carpet underneath my feet and the fabric of her couches on my legs.

Most Eastern countries hold fast to a shoe rule, like Japan, Korea, Turkey. Even Sweden adopted the shoe rule. In these countries, besides the practical mean of keeping the house clean of dirt, bacteria, and toxins, it has become a gesture of respect and politeness to discard your shoes before entering the home.

 I guess I understand the need for a shoe rule. It does keep the floors and furniture cleaner and even softens your steps inside the house. Myself, I prefer to go barefoot inside, especially in the warmer months, or to wear slippers in the colder months. But, I don't enforce a shoe rule on anyone who enters my home if it makes them feel uncomfortable (unless they're tracking in heavy dirt or snow). I mean, what if they have holey socks smelly feet? What if they don't want to bare their tootsies? I let them be.

God had a shoe rule. 

{Pssst! Tiptoe over to {re}fresh for the rest of the story, won't you?}

Letting Go: a Hard Sacrifice

In the silence I willed my aching feet up the step ladder one more time. My weary heart sank deep as I dunked the paint brush deep

into the sunny yellow paint can. One more step. One more stroke. Just. one. more. 

Twenty-five years prior and five months pregnant with my daughter, I jumped up the rungs of that ladder, my heart feeling ten pounds lighter than today. You see, then I was painting God's gift to us--the house I longed for...prayed for...every time I strolled by. It was the perfect gift where my husband and I raised our two children, entertained friends and ministered hope. It was a true desire of my heart that God wrapped up with a shiny red bow long ago. 

And now? Now, God asked me to let it go, to change course, to release it all. 

With every coat of paint I rolled over memories hidden deep and dear inside my heart. The weight of all God asked me to sacrifice now grew heavier with every stroke. How could I release this precious gift? How could I let it go and allow strangers in? Would they know how precious this house has been or would they just consider it a place to hang their hat? 

But then God whispered, "There's something more. There's something new. Let. It. Go."

You see, I'd been white-knuckling this house like an idol--wrapping my fist around it and hanging on with all my might as though without it I'd lose my true identity; like it was my source of blessing rather than the blessing.  God was my source--is my source--and this house was but a very good gift and now He was asking me to let it go; to sacrifice something very good for something even better. 

In the midst of hard sacrifices, God calls us to worship; to refocus our attention off of ourselves and onto His goodness; to offer up our thanksgiving for His faithfulness in our past and thanksgiving for all His promises for our future.

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

So, I transferred my focus from myself to God's goodness and worshiped God with every roll of the paint, thanking Him for the life lived between these walls and the family He helped us raise. And when I did, my whole attitude changed. I realized God wasn't asking me to give up something very good for something even less, but rather to release the hold this home has had on my heart and to prepare for change.  Something better. Something lovely and freeing and full of His hope. Because that's how God rolls.

The paint dried and every surface reflected the Son just right. We staged the rooms in picture-perfect-excellence and manicured every corner of the yard. It was time to release the gift and let strangers in.

Have you ever been asked to make a hard sacrifice? If so, was it easy to release that something? How did God use that sacrifice for His glory?

Precious Lord, thank you for the blessings. Thank you for the years of family memories and your faithfulness in providing all our needs every single day. Now we release these treasures back to you. We freely offer your gifts as a sacrifice of praise to use as you see fit. Prepare our hearts for the next chapter, the next adventure, the next new thing. Help our eyes to stay fixed on you.  Amen.

On Sabbath Rest and the Pope

We knew it was Sunday when…

            …the scent of bacon, eggs and coffee wafted upstairs

            …Mom awoke us by singing, “Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory!”

            …we slipped into our best clothes and spit-polished shoes

            …all roads led to church

            …we broke bread with friends between services

            …all commerce stopped

Sundays slowed us down and refocused our attention away from our busyness and onto family, friends and God. Sundays reordered our lives with the gift of time. Time to nourish our relationships and enjoy life.

For believers, we called this slowing our Sabbath—a day of rest from creating, working, and doing— as God ordered from the beginning of time:

The God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creation that he had done. Genesis 2:3 NIV

The whole Puritan movement created Blue Laws (or Sunday Laws) attempting to legislate morality by restricting certain “immoral” practices on Sundays, such as gambling, selling alcohol, etc. 

But try as they did, humanity proved (and still proves) that you can’t legislate morality. 

Recently, our local newspaper ran an article that headlined this: Pope: No-work Sundays good, not just for faithful. Pope Francis was “lamenting the abandoning of the traditionally Christian practice of not working on Sundays, saying it has a negative impact on families and friendships…He added, ‘Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves if working on Sundays is true freedom.’”

While I understand and agree that constant work hurts our relationships, I think he missed one important point: freedom comes not by adhering to the Sabbath, but by focusing our heart on our Creator. When we stop and rest we give our minds and hearts room to hear from God and move into the places he wants us to move.

God tried legislating morality and relationship with him through all the Levitical laws. It didn't work. Morality and right relationships could not be controlled by restrictions because God gifted us with free will in a sinful world. Free will + sin = law breakers. 

So why did Jesus, who was sinless, break the Sabbath law by healing a woman? (see Luke 13:14-16)

Because he knew you can’t legislate morality. 

Morality was a heart condition not a condition of forced choices. To him it was more immoral to ignore this woman’s needs and  keeping her bound by the Enemy than healing her and releasing her into whom God created her to be.

While my my childhood memories of Sabbath warm my heart I have to constantly check my motives. Am I keeping the Sabbath out of religious obligation or am I truly resting in order to worship and enjoy my Creator God? And what if part of worshiping God involves unrest—physically working to bring God’s kingdom into a needy situation?

Slowing and worship—a heartfelt refocusing away from busyness and onto God—can happen any day of the week.  And, while I sometimes long for those Blue Laws that "forced" the less hectic pace, I realize that I can’t legislate morality for the masses. I am only responsible for my own heart, my own motives and my own relationship with God, my family and my friends.

How do you feel about taking a regular Sabbath? What does it look like for you? 

Are We There Yet?

“I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into…a land flowing with milk and honey.” Exodus 3:17

  

Our kids were decent travelers and made road trips pretty pleasant for the most part. Buckled into the backseat of our Subaru with their pillows, blankets, Teddy and Bunny and a stockpile of juice boxes and snacks between them, we were good to go.

Excitement ran high for at least the first hour in anticipation for our destination. Then, after we’d played all the travel games in my mental library, their patience ran thin and inevitably they asked, “Are we there yet?” or “How much longer?” And our answer was always the same, “About an hour.” (The first time they asked that, we truly were one hour from our destination so it became our ‘pat answer’ and eventually our inside family joke).

So there we were, stuck in the middle of NOW–our view muddled with fatigue and impatience for the road ahead–hanging onto the vision of our promised destination. 

(Pssst! Pull over and take a break as I tell you the rest of the story over at {re}fresh)

God Can't Resist Blowing Bubbles: Glorious Joy

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." 

1Peter 1:8 NIV

Perch a kid above a tall glass of cold milk with a straw and what happens? An irresistible urge to blow bubbles!

He heaves a tiny breath and blows. Blub.

Again. Blub, blub. He giggles, blows harder. Blub, blub, blub. Joy overwhelms!

He can't resist those rising bubbles so, he blows harder. Blub, blub, blub, blub, blub, blub, blub.

Bubbles rise and fill and spill, filling him with uncontrollable laughter, until Mom walks in and says, "Mop up that mess!"

He sucks down those milk-fed bubbles and sops up all the joy he can—still giggling—savoring the fullness that carries him through his day.

Entering God's presence is like that... {Grab a straw and a tall glass of milk and join me over at Encouragement Cafe and share in God's joy?}

Driving Miss Daisy: Hope That Transforms

"But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love." Psalm 33:18

Driving Miss Daisy (my Aunt) isn't always pleasant. She's stubborn and selfish, ornery and opinionated, just like Jessica Tandy's character in the 1989 movie by the same name. Driving her to doctor appointments and to Wal-Mart for her monthly shopping tries my patience every time.

I temper my conversation after Morgan Freeman's character by keeping my mouth shut and agreeing with a "Yes Ma'am" and "Mm mm hmmm." 

(Grab a glass of some sweet tea and join me for the rest of the story at Encouragement Cafe or Crosswalk. Feel free to share your own stories in the comments below or on the website. I'd love to hear from you).