Comfort and superficial peace

"It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But, it is absolutely vital to grasp that he didn’t call you there so you could settle in and live your life in comfort and superficial peace."--Francis Chan

"Take care of what I’ve given you"

This week I found myself doing dishes about 9 p.m. In-between crusty dinner plate and leftovers and messy counters, I was lamenting to the Lord. 

I was lamenting about our current state and the lack of knowing what the future state might hold. I was lamenting about finances and our family dreams and our heart to do things that we don’t feel we can do in this state of life right now. I was seriously lamenting complaining. I loaded the dishwasher and poured it all out (because God says we can you know. Go to Him. Anytime. Anywhere. Even while loading crusty plates and wiping messy counters).

And I heard him say, ever so softly, gently, but firmly… “Take care of what I’ve given you.”

Nothing profound, but profoundly affecting.

And His words, whispered to my heart, brought these words to mind: Take care of my sheep from John.

Take care of the children I have given you. They are young, so lather on your love and attention.

Take care of the husband I have given you. He’s trying hard to hold his chin up high…but he needs some love and attention.

Take care of the family I have given you. They won’t always be around so freely offer your love and attention.

Take care of the home I have given you. It’s old and requires love and attention.

Take care of your friends and the community you live in. The needs are great. Be intentional about giving of your love and attention.

And so I wiped the counters, filled the garbage, put the food away and responded to the Lord:

“Just to be clear, lest my heart be misunderstood, I wasn’t asking for more to do Lord…I was just complaining about what I can’t do—what we can’t do—even if we wanted to right now. Our hopes, dreams, desires—they are all on hold while we wait for employment. Big things and small things are all in a holding pattern. But now I realize…if it’s what You wanted us to be doing right now, then we’d be doing it. Because you are the One who opens the gates, you move the heavens, you light the stars, you guide the moon, you set the sun. And You—the One by whom all things are created and given—encourage me to care well for what you’ve blessed me with. And so I will Lord.”

Josh Kelley and Katherine Heigl adoption video

This video is all over the blog world....it's beautiful and sweet and I hope it encourages awareness about adoption. I believe Josh wrote the song for their daughter Naleigh Moon.

Faithful God

Can't stop listening, over and over again, to this beautiful song that my father-in-law introduced me to....





Faithful God by Laura Story

May the grace that sought my heart on that first day
Be the grace that binds my heart to stay
May the truth that opened up my eyes on that first time
Be the thoughts on my mind that never go away

For You are a lamp to my feet
A light to my path
You're the hand that's holding me

Faithful God, every promise kept
Every need You've met, faithful God

May the love that caught my heart to set it free
Be the love that others see in me
And may this hope that reaches to the depths of human need
Be the song that I sing in joy and suffering

For You are the love that never leaves
The friend that won't deceive
You're the one sure thing

Faithful God, every promise kept
Every need You've met, faithful God
All I am and all I'll ever be
Is all because You love faithfully
Faithful God

How deep, how wide the love
That pierced His side, the love
Redemption's mine, oh love
That will not let me go
How deep Your love

How deep, how wide the love
That pierced His side, the love
Redemption's mine, oh love
That will not let me go

How deep, how wide the love
That pierced His side, the love
Redemption's mine, oh love
That will not let me go

Faithful God, every promise kept
Every need You've met, faithful God
All I am and all I'll ever be
Is all because You love faithfully
Faithful God, faithful God

The sweet dance of joy and sorrow

2/3/07
“Today I went to hallmark and found my trip to be very ironic. I found a small Willow Tree figurine for myself to remember our little one that we lost too soon (my due date would have been tomorrow). It’s a figurine holding a flower that is upside down. The card says, “Always, I will remember.” I also bought a card for Chilly and Tracy that says we will be praying for them about the loss of their newborn daughter. Then I bought a baby congrats card for Liz and Darin who found out they were expecting on New Year’s Day. Something for a miscarriage, something for the death of a baby, and something for a new pregnancy. Isn’t that the circle of life?” – Excerpt from my journal

1/18/12
Today my friend has a baby in the hospital who is working every day to grow stronger and healthier so he can go home. Today my friend has a baby in her womb who she will be meeting in about seven weeks. Today my friend has a baby in heaven that she lost to miscarriage recently and will never get to kiss or hold. Today my friend has a baby with a diagnosis that will change the future of her family forever.

This, my friends, is the circle of life. This is the sweet dance of joy and sorrow. This is how life teaches us to simultaneously mourn and rejoice, grieve and celebrate, love and let go. 

We cannot plan these things. We cannot prepare for them. This is how life happens.

Sometimes we live such sheltered, comfortable lives, that we know these things….but we don’t really get it. We still think we can schedule our days, plan our families, organize our lives, prepare for our future. We know that those things happen…but not to our family. We know about these things, but we haven’t personally experienced them. And when we do, it changes everything.

E v e r y t h in g.

Because then we begin to understand not just with our head, but with our heart. We are not just aware of loss and pain and grief and the possibility of. But these possibilities have become our reality and with every breath we take, we struggle to grasp what God is calling us to as we face our reality. And we realize that not for one moment are we called to lives of ease, comfort and security.

We are called to Him.

And He lovingly holds out his arms and invites us to dance in both the joy and the sorrow.

"Christ's blood shed for you"

Last month Ryan and I had the privilege of serving communion at our worship service. Different people serve communion each second Sunday of the month.

I felt grateful to be asked to serve and was excited to participate in this way.

However, as people started coming to the front of the church, I was shocked at how emotional I became serving communion to others. I could hardly state the words that I was supposed to speak as they took the 'body' from Ryan and dipped it in the 'blood' that I held.

"This is the body given for you," Ryan said.

"This is the blood shed for you," I whispered while trying to hold back tears.

I knew many of the people who came up to receive communion. I wanted to stop each of them and individually say to them:

"Joe, this is Christ's blood shed for YOU."

"Brad, this is Christ's blood shed for YOU."

"Katie, this is Christ's blood shed for YOU."

I wanted to grab faces in my hands and look into eyes and say: "whatever your past, whatever your present, whatever road you walk or have walked...it's done. He did it. It was taken care of on the cross...for you. Do you know that? Do you believe that? Receive that truth today friends. This is Christ's blood shed for you."

Communion isn't about tradition or ritual. It's about receiving the gift of a sacrifice. And it's about remembering:

His body. Broken. For me.

Each time I drink the cup...remember me.

This is personal business people. Christ tells us to examine ourselves before we eat the bread and drink the cup. It's not about following what those around you are doing. Communion is about a relationship with Jesus and remembering.

I know some churches celebrate and recognize first communion. But really, shouldn't every communion be treated as our first? Otherwise we can risk becoming callous to what the body and blood mean for our lives.

I've taken communion so many times and I do not enter into it lightly. I pause, reflect, pray, confess, receive, remember and give thanks. I strive to comprehend the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice for me.

But offering the body and blood to another...wanting them to see and experience the sacrifice personally...desiring to help them remember...it's changed my perspective on communion forever. 

Verses for encouragement?

I have a friend who just had a baby boy last weekend. God has given this precious baby boy some challenges from the moment of his first breath. He will be in the hospital for awhile as he works on learning to breathe on his own and take consistent feedings.

Some friends are creating a care basket for her. I am going to add a few of my favorite Scriptures that have encouraged me in rough times. 

But I'd love to know...what verses encourage your heart when the future is scary, the tears are many and the heart is heavy?

Please drop a note in the comment section with one or two verses that have ministered to your heart or that you pray for others when they are discouraged.

If you're reading this friend, I'm on my knees for you...on my knees daily. Lord, bring that baby home!