Emmanuel - breaking the silence

Between the closing words Malachi in the Old Testament: “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes…”

And the opening words of Matthew in the New Testament: “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham…”

…there are 400 years of silence when God ceases communication with his people, and then – Emmanuel; God with us.

But 400 years is a long, long time. Fear, uncertainty and hopelessness must have gripped the hearts of God’s people throughout that time. A spiritual drought set in.

There are times in my life when I’ve experienced a season of silence or spiritual drought. And as much as I longed to sense God’s presence with me, I felt nothing – well, nothing except a big dose of frustration, fear, and uncertainty. But it was during those times that I learned the true meaning of faith. Trusting what I cannot see or feel. I learned through these lonely times that God’s presence is not dependent on whether or not I feel him with me. He is with me because he says he is with me – period.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. {Deut. 31:8}

As we go through the Christmas season, I am determined to exercise my faith. Exercise means "the act of bringing into play or realizing in action." As I give my attention to Emmanuel, I will bring my faith into play by intentionally seeing and hearing others who are struggling through a season of silence. Who can I help? To whom can I offer the hope I have found in Jesus? An act of kindness has the power to break the silence in someone’s life.

Lord, let my life speak volumes to someone who needs to encounter you today – Emmanuel.

I am not the Christ

Did you know you aren't God?

"Of course," you say!

But in the day to day, moment by moment happenings of life, don't we sometimes act like (or like to believe) we are in total control? Being in control of people and circumstances offers a sense of security; a reassurance that we won't be taken by surprise and experience something unpleasant. Being in control means if our loved ones follow our wise counsel, they too will be safe and secure. Well, try telling that to John the Baptist whose life was cut short when his head was cut off because of his faith in Jesus.

"Now this was John's testimony ... He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, 'I am not the Christ.'" {John 1:19-20}

John knew he couldn't save a single person, and his driving passion in life wasn't to be in control of people or circumstances, but to point people directly to the One who could save them - Jesus.

When John encountered Emmanuel, he boldly proclaimed him to be the Son of God "who takes away the sin of the world!" (vs 29} He didn't seek comfort as a priority; he didn't hide in his own little corner of the world and keep the marvelous truth of salvation to himself and his own family; he didn't take credit for transforming lives. He simply and directly pointed broken people to the One who could heal them in the most profound and permanent way - by taking away their sin and offering them eternal life.

John knew he was not the Christ. And he knew who the Christ was. If John had been seeking to control his life and remain safe, he would have missed meeting Jesus altogether. He would have missed the opportunity to announce him as the Son of God to a massive crowd, many of whom believed in Jesus and were baptized as a result. So sure, he could have been safe ... safe and ineffective.

I'll admit sometimes I try to be God in my own little corner of the world - then the words of John remind me, "I am not the Christ." But praise God I know him and I can freely testify of his salvation and truth and let him take care of the outcome. The last thing I want is to be safe and ineffective. What a tragedy! God is in control. I'm not. And that is truly a place of rest no matter the circumstances.

So I will gladly and freely testify, "I am not the Christ. But I know him, and I trust him."

He is Emmanuel. God with us.

Sowing seeds of faith

The following is from a beautiful young woman who is following hard after the Lord. At just 19 years old, she is sowing seeds of faith and will reap a harvest for God's kingdom. Keep on walking in step with the Spirit, Kjerstine!

A few days ago, I was feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Then I stumbled upon Psalm 127:1-2, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat — for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

I realized I was trying to do things all on my own, and it was getting me nowhere. Good grades and some money, but exhausted, depressed, and nowhere good. It was like God picked me up and rattled me around saying "Go to sleep! Let me figure out your work and school and finances." So I did, I went to bed. I allowed myself to rest....knowing I was getting nothing done, but always telling myself God was going to figure it all out.

When I got to school the next day, I found out my teacher pushed all our assignments back, giving me a whole extra week on a research paper; and my Chemistry professor assigned nothing for homework, when I normally spend hours on it.

Also, I haven't been able to go to church lately, and haven't been tithing like I should. I was trying to make a small fortune for myself completely on my own. It wasn't working. All I was doing was working long hours, becoming exhausted and always worried about money. But then I tithed – a lot – compared to what I made, because I wanted to make up for some of the times I missed. I told myself that God would figure all my money out. The next time I worked, we had a server call off, and my manager put me in his section, a pretty popular and difficult section for a new server to handle. And then we got very busy. I ended up making more than double what I normally make on a week night. I was so in awe of Him. It's like all He wanted was to take care of me, and for me to finally let Him.

Now I'm not worrying about money; I'm working and letting God do the rest; and giving back what is already His. I've been a Christian basically my whole life and He still flat out BLOWS. MY. MIND.

Our Creator is a mighty God who is never too busy for you and is always interested in being involved with the details of your life. Enjoy Him today!

Who would you side with?

I love a good story, don’t you? I sure hope so because I’m about to share one. It’s a story my mom sent to me quite some time ago as an encouragement and reinforcement of my freedom from shame. I don’t know the source of the story, but it goes like this…
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One night in a church service, a young woman felt the tug of God on her heart. She eagerly responded to God’s call and surrendered to Jesus as her Savior and Lord. The young woman had a very sordid past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But the change in her was evident after that night and she became a faithful member of the church.

Eventually, she began to serve in the church by teaching young children, and it was not long before this godly young woman caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son. Their relationship and love for one another grew and they began to make wedding plans. That’s when the problems began.

You see, about half of the church body did not believe a woman with such a past was worthy of a pastor’s son. The members of the church began to argue and fight among themselves until finally, a meeting was held to settle the dispute. As various people made their arguments against the young couple’s relationship, tensions soared and the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became increasingly distressed about all the things being brought up about her past. When she could no longer bear the pain, she broke down and began to weep.

At that point, the pastor’s son had heard enough. He stood up and began to speak:

“My fiancée’s past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today, you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin, or not?”

Now it was the congregation’s turn to weep as they realized they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Love is the trademark of a believer. God's word says we are like a noisy gong or a clanging symbol without it (1 Cor. 13). Without love for others, our hearts quickly grow cold and our faith is useless. We become mechanical in our Christian walk; in which case, it isn’t a Christ-like walk at all.

Think about it this way. Have you ever been awakened late at night or early in the morning by a neighbor’s car alarm or continual honking horn? And were your thoughts something like, “BE QUIET! STOP ALREADY!”? Similarly, as we go through the motions of being good and doing good apart from a thriving relationship with Christ, we come across just like that loud, annoying car alarm that no one wants to hear or be around. Faith without love is a major turn-off.

May we never be accused of putting the blood of Jesus on trial. May we never be found siding with those who look down on a fellow believer. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. May we always be found siding with the blood of Jesus. He loves with a wild kind of love - a magnetic kind of love that draws people to himself. Let's love like that. Let's point people to him. When we fail at this kind of love and repent, his blood washes us clean. When we succeed at this kind of love, it's by the mighty power of his Spirit at work within us. REJOICE!

Make sure you always know whose side you're really on.

Blonde moments turned God moments

My daughters and I recently visited my new favorite eatery, McAlister's. It's a new place for us, so ordering took quite a while as we looked over the menu with the help of our super gracious cashier. As it neared time to pay, blonde moment #1 occurred.

I realized my little byTavi pouch that holds my debit card, driver's license, etc. was not in my byTavi purse (yes, I love byTavi). But my point is: no money. I had used my card online earlier and forgot to put the pouch back in. As I fumbled through my purse to make sure, I noticed my checkbook and feebly asked if they take a check. A manager was walking by and said, "No." I sadly looked at the girls and said, "Well, okay..." when the manager said, "It's on us."

Honestly, I was so surprised I got all teary-eyed and almost cried. It was so kind and unexpected and I told them so. What a great God moment! This really is my new favorite restaurant!

As my daughters and I happily feasted on our yummy, free meals, a thought popped into my mind. Cash. I have cash in an envelope in my purse. Blonde moment #2! So as I finished eating, I asked God to use this money as he saw fit.

While waiting in line again to speak with the same cashier and manager, I wondered if I should offer the money to the women who were ordering from our cashier. ... "No, wait." So the ladies finished their order and it was my turn. But our cashier immediately walked away and began talking to a couple at the end of the counter. As I happily waited by her register, I began to hear bits and pieces of their conversation and I realized ... That couple goes to my church. The cashier's friend is in dire financial straits and needs help. Oh Lord, I know it's a small amount of money, but that's who is supposed to have it.

After a brief conversation and with the manager's approval, that is exactly where the money went. And the cashier was now the one crying with joy.

What a great, personal, mighty God we serve. He reaches down and blesses us when we cannot provide for ourselves - through a free meal, yes - but moreover through the death and resurrection of his Son. And then he even provides us with the means and desire to turn around and bless someone else. I pray more than anything for the cashier and her friend - and who knows who else - to see the BIG LOVE God has for them in that little amount of cash. I'm confident my blonde moments were part of God's plan to show Himself all along.

McAlister's is great, but with God is hands down my all-time favorite place to be. There is NONE like him.

Something new

I've noticed something about Jesus that overwhelms me, and I do mean overwhelms me.

Every time I go into a spiritual battle to be rid of something that prevents me from walking in his freedom, I come away from the battle with something new. BONUS!

Example #1: I fought hard for nearly a decade to overcome the guilt and shame of my past. And yes, Jesus was there all along feeding me a steady diet of truth. But it was a process of healing; and that process yielded immeasurably greater results and intimacy with my Savior than if I had been instantly set free.

BONUS: My focus during those years was on being rid of my "cloak of shame." It never occurred to me this cloak would be replaced with something new. BUT IT WAS! Jesus took my guilt away and gave me a robe of righteousness. He replaced my shame with dignity and honor.

Example #2: For the past year or so, I've been battling the paralyzing sin of fear. Most notably, a fear of speaking and "putting myself out there," which I know is what God has called me to do for him! (A week ago, I could not have made that declaration to you, out of fear.) This past week, I attended the Christian Communicators Conference in Asheville, NC, and had such an amazing encounter with Jesus that I will never be the same. He defeated my fear in one fell swoop.

BONUS: My focus, once again, was on being rid of my fear. It never occurred to me that my paralyzing fear would be replaced with something new. BUT IT WAS! Jesus defeated my fear and filled me a bold excitement, an overflowing JOY, at the thought of sharing his goodness with others.

Maybe to everyone else this is just common knowledge, but it's thrilling to me. Imagine having something stinky and rotting in your fridge, but you can't figure out the source. You scrub and clean and throw things out until eventually the culprit is revealed. You see the rotten item that is causing the stink, carry it out to the trash, and rid your home of it once and for all. Mission accomplished, right?!

BONUS: You walk back in and are greeted by a breathtaking aroma. It's so refreshing and pleasant; and completely unexpected. Where did THAT come from?

That's what Jesus does in us. While we are merely satisfied to be rid of our trash; Jesus goes above and beyond by replacing our stinky mess with something new, something pure, something beautiful. All glory to him! What a Savior!

I'd love to hear the 'something new' he has given to YOU.

Caught in the act

John 8:1-11. You know the story. A woman. Caught in the act of adultery. Forced out into the light of day. Into the light of the Temple of all places! Utter humiliation. Deep shame. Surrounded by highly respected religious leaders in the Jewish community. And Jesus.

“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”

He was silent. But their questions would not cease. They wanted to trap him. To catch him doing something contrary to the Law. And boy, did they…

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Stunned silence.

As sinners saved by grace, this story leaves us shouting for joy or weeping with gratitude - or both - for the amazing love of our Savior. But I don’t believe for a minute those who came spouting accusations departed with softened hearts and a new understanding of grace. After all, it was the Jewish religious leaders who later sought to have Jesus killed; and eventually succeeded. And it was surely encounters like this that persistently fueled their self-righteous indignation and hatred of him. In one fell swoop, Jesus unequivocally placed himself above the Law.

We have the benefit of hindsight, but would we really have reacted so differently to this man Jesus?

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Here in the 21st century, imagine you are caught in the act of murder. Caught in the very act. As a result, you are aggressively hauled into the police station where you are shoved into a chair directly across from the Chief of Police. While sitting there, head hung low, your angry accusers recount the depravity of your sinful act. There is no denying what you’ve done and the crowd takes pleasure in reminding the Chief of the required punishment by law. You deserve death. But something strange happens. As everyone waits with knowing expectation, including you, the Police Chief rises and says, “Let the one who has never despised, hated, or withheld forgiveness take her to the death chamber.”
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Jesus waited until one by one, they all simply ... left.

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir.”

“Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Outrageous. So … wrong. Can we really blame the religious leaders for their outrage? The Law – God’s law – was clear. The response of Jesus was truly extreme. Can you imagine the Chief of Police saying, “Well, you know, everyone here has refused to forgive someone; or hated someone at one time or another, and that’s like committing murder in your heart. I’m not going to enforce the punishment required by law on her, but you can enforce it yourself if you are free of sin.” But that’s not all. Imagine the completely innocent Chief of Police then taking your death sentence upon himself. It wouldn’t make sense.

But that’s exactly what Jesus did. He stepped in and took your deserved punishment. He took my deserved punishment. He suffered a cruel, torturous death. The wild and crazy declaration Jesus made to the woman, “Neither do I condemn you,” boils down to one fantastic, overwhelming truth: Jesus LOVES you.

And don't miss this: Jesus didn't stick up for the woman after she cleaned up her act and chose a relationship with him. We don't know if she ever did. Jesus extended grace right when she was caught red-handed in humiliating sin - he didn't even ask if she was sorry. That's the Gospel message! Get to know this God-man Jesus. He isn't religious. He's radical. He's relationship-driven. And he will ASTOUND you!

I like to believe that woman's life was never the same. I like to believe she followed Jesus, wept at his crucifixion and rejoiced at his Resurrection. I like to believe she loved Jesus and loved others - because when she was caught in the act, Jesus didn't condemn her; he loved her.

Loving Jesus and loving others sets you free. That’s what you are, friend. You are free…from sin, from death…to live, to love.

Love is what was missing in the hearts and minds of the religious leaders. The big question is…is it missing in yours? Don't get caught in the act of religious superiority. Do get caught in the act of loving others. Every. single. day.

More than a wedding day

Who doesn't love a beautiful, romantic wedding? Especially us girls! I, for one, am a complete girly-girl. I love all the foo-foo, frilly, feminine things that make being female such FUN. (A little overkill on the alliteration?) Oh well!

From high tea at the Grand Floridian...

...to princess parties and ballet...

to my fairytale wedding day on a Caribbean island...

I simply adore being a girl. In fact, next to Christmas, my favorite holiday is Valentine's Day; because in my girly ways I love the whole idea of love itself.

But candidly, if I were to hang my hat on this thinking, it would not be healthy at all. You see, when a person is in love with love, they care more about the benefits of the relationship than the person with whom they are in the relationship. Being in love with love doesn't bode well for enduring the difficulties and conflict that are sure to arise. To put it bluntly, a lover of love won't care as much about the person as much as what that person can do for them.

As I was lunching with my friend, Heather, this week (another fun girl thing!), she made a sweet and meaningful analogy about our testimony as followers of Christ. In a nutshell, it's this...

Coming to faith in Christ = wedding day
Ongoing relationship with Christ = marriage relationship

So frequently it seems many Christians associate their testimony with their "wedding day" when they first came to Christ. But in reality, we are to have an ongoing testimony - a marriage relationship with Christ - that will continue to grow and thrive and transform us over time.

Now to be fair, it's absolutely a blast, and even important, to reflect on our "wedding day" testimony when we came to Christ! Just as those of us who are married reflect on our wedding day - sometimes in an effort to rekindle that first love we had for one another. But let's also make sure that we aren't simply in love with love where Christ is concerned. Ask yourself:

Am I in this relationship because of what Jesus can do for me?
Do I really care about what he wants?
When I obey him, do I expect him to do something good for me in return?
When things go poorly, do I turn my back on Jesus?
Am I striving to cultivate a relationship with him; to really know him more?

If our only testimony is to tout how awesome our wedding day was, it's time to get busy building the testimony of our marriage relationship. After all, it's during the day-in and day-out ups and downs; joys and heartaches; victories and failures where true intimacy happens - and the true love story comes to life. Our relationship with Jesus is to be an ongoing testimony of an on-fire love life. And that's what this girly girl finds both irresistibly attractive and delightfully satisfying about life with Jesus. It's so much more than a wedding day...

I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bride with her jewels. {Isaiah 61:10}

Need a good spanking?

It seems more and more people these days can't handle a little straight talk. Even the subject of "spankings" has become extremely controversial. If you don't like straight talk or a little fire in your conversations, you may want to move on with your day.

If, on the other hand, you don't mind a little in-your-face biblical truth, and perhaps even enjoy it; then read on. After all, Jesus wasn't shy about getting in the faces of the religious leaders in his day. Neither was Paul. Neither were countless others, frankly. And while there are certainly situations that call for some strong hand-holding, encouraging words, and a comforting hug; there are others that call for a little (or big) spanking.

My husband and I will sometimes comment to each other that one of our teenagers needs a really good spanking. It's like they are crying out for it! How so? Well, after they've been told something over and over; and they've even suffered the consequences of their poor choices; they sometimes choose to keep doing the same dumb thing again...and again. Can anyone relate?

I find that we are the same way in our individual relationships with God. He clearly tells us exactly how to treat one another; as well as how not to treat one another: For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. - Galatians 5:14-15

Are you listening? We fulfill everything God wants from us if we simply LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Come on now, ya'll. That's what God says to do. No excuses. If you say you are a follower of Jesus, and someone offends you, it's not okay to gossip or hold a grudge or treat them as if they are not worthy of a simple "hello." There are two options:

1. Overlook it! God says that is to your glory. And you'll be acting just like Jesus. Woo-hoooo!!! {Prov. 19:11}

2. If the offense is too serious to overlook, talk TO the person, not ABOUT them. {Matt. 18:15}

3. Yes, I know I said two options. This one isn't optional. Love one another.

And by the way, when you talk TO the person (not ABOUT him or her), make sure you talk to Jesus first. Ask him to guide your every word. I've seen him reconcile relationships beautifully and more honoring than ever when hearts are motivated by seeing him glorified. And I've seen Satan have his destructive way with those who are puffed up by their own perceived goodness and just want to get something off their chest - with no concern for the outcome or God's reputation.

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. - Proverbs 16:28

And one more thing. Don't judge your sister in Christ's motives. Don't presume to know why your brother in Christ is doing what he's doing. When you choose to go down this path, you are showing your true colors, not theirs. Most believers we know are truly good-willed people and really do want to honor Jesus with their lives. No one is perfect. We all fail; sometimes BIG. Because we're all a work in progress. That's why we proclaim we need Jesus! That's also why that big fancy word "sanctification" is called a process.

Don't pass judgment in hopes of disguising it as discernment. Discernment breeds wisdom, love, and a desire for unity. Condemnation breeds pride, a critical spirit, and division in the Body of believers. If you find yourself doing that, confess it. Repent and seek forgiveness from God and from those you have involved in your sin. Judging a person's motives is putting yourself above God. It's a dangerous and evil thing to do. ... Yes, evil. ... It is joining forces with Satan himself when we "bite and devour" another believer. Satan, after all, is the accuser of the brethren. We are participating in his plans to destroy God's kingdom work when we taint the reputation of one of God's own children through back-biting and godless chatter.

Now, if you happen to be reading this and you are holding something against a brother or sister in Christ, believe me I know you have good reason. Don't we all? I'm not even kidding. What they did was horrible. They aren't even sorry. You know their heart because look at their actions. You've tried to talk to them and it didn't make a difference.

You know what I say to any and all of that? So many excuses; so little love. God has given you grace upon grace that you don't deserve. At all. Period. That's why it's called grace. We are to love one another. We are to extend God's unbelievable grace to one another. We are to defend and protect our own; flaws and all; not bite and devour one another. We're a family. God says so. Let's act like it!

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. - John 13:35

I've been spanked on this issue more than once; and I'm learning to truly embrace a life of loving and extending grace to others - especially my enemies. And while I doubt if I'll be in the clear until Heaven, it sure feels great doing it! I'm okay with the process. God's got me covered. Sometimes I just need a good spanking.

I have a life

Once upon a time, a blonde-haired, brown-eyed (bull-headed) boy was born to a blonde-haired, blue-eyed (bull-headed) single mom.

And that little boy, and his little brown-haired, brown-eyed (sweet-mannered) sister - who came 14 months later - changed the life of that sinful young girl.
Well, actually Jesus did that. But he used these precious little ones to do it.

Fast-forward almost two decades and I haven't been a single mom for half that time; nor am I (nearly as) bull-headed. My "precious little ones" are no longer little at all; but their temperaments from birth are still firmly in tact. I'll never know what kind of mom I would've been had I been married to their dad from the time they were born. I only know that they became my whole world and that they "saved me" from my very destructive self. For the first time in my life, I truly cared about someone else - and what was best for them - far more than I cared about what I wanted or thought I needed. Being the best mom I could be was my number one priority, and that drove me into a relationship with Jesus like I'd never had before. Because when it came down to it, I realized that Jesus was who I needed most of all. And Jesus was who I wanted to give my children more than anything.

This past November, our oldest son, Jensen, left home and entered the Air Force. For nearly 18 months leading up to his departure for Basic Military Training (BMT), I scoured the internet learning all kinds of things about his new life in the USAF. Gathering everything I could from the official Air Force site, as well as support groups on Facebook, all the information I could find was safely compiled into Word documents. This became my go-to reference material when various questions would arise, and information of particular relevance to Jensen's upcoming BMT experience was printed off for his reading pleasure. I watched numerous YouTube videos and oftentimes sat watching them with Jensen. We would laugh loudly at the intimidating MTI's (Military Training Instructors) yelling at their nervous BMT trainees - and we had hours and hours of conversation. But that part was normal...

Jensen has always been a talker. And he will tell you pretty much anything, even the stuff you really don't want to know. I love that about him. Our bond is strong and there was some concern in the family about how I would fare when Jensen left our home. In fact, Jensen asked me about it one day while we were at Steak 'n Shake together. I remember it because I wanted him to really hear my answer, to know that I was going to be okay, and that I would be more than okay. In a nutshell, I told him something like this, "I love you a lot and I am going to miss you like crazy, but I'll be fine. There is more to me than being your mom, and Noelle's mom, and Lauren's mom. I'm also Linda. I'm a child of God just like you are, and he has plans for me that include more than being your mom. I'm excited about what he's going to do in your life, and in mine."

In other words, I let him know (and affirmed to myself), "I have a life that doesn't include you."

Part of that life involves writing and teaching. This past winter, I taught a 6-week Bible study at our local church - a study that I had spent over a year writing. When it came time to teach it, I was wracked with fear. I felt an overwhelming aversion to opening my mouth and speaking in front of people. This had never happened to me before and only by the Lord's mighty power did I get through it, but not without a HUGE spiritual battle every, single week. Anything good that resulted from my teaching was purely a gracious act of God because all I wanted was for it to be OVER.

When it finally was over, I was determined that the enemy would not win in this area of my life and I signed up for a writer/speaker's conference in North Carolina. I had no way of knowing when I registered for the conference that it would coincide with the exact dates of Jensen's Tech School graduation and homecoming. Say it isn't so!

What's a mom to do?? I've only seen my son twice in the last 9 months. I'm so proud of what he's accomplished. I want to BE HERE when he comes home and be the first one to give him a big "welcome home" hug. That should be ME. I'm the MOM! Surely I am going to have to bail on this conference. Not to mention, my husband now has an out-of-state job and who is going to stay with my girls, and we could certainly use that money for something else...and...and...and you-name-it.

But I have a great husband, and great friends, and a GREAT God. This past week, in a matter of hours, God made it clear to me that I'll live (and Jensen will certainly live), if I'm not the one to welcome him home. So I'm embracing this new life of having an adult child. I'm embracing what God has planned for me, Linda; not just me, Mom. By doing so, I am continuing to lead my kids to Jesus, showing them that he holds my heart. And I'm happy to say that when Jensen arrives home from Tech School, I will be happily surrounded by 29 other women of God in North Carolina who also have a life!

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Hearing is not the same as believing

After a hard day at school, I held my sweet second-grader in my arms and told her how much she is loved; how precious and special she is to me - and to Jesus. You see, Lauren was heartbroken and in tears because her best friend told her she's no longer her friend at all. And a short while later, I was treated to this gem:

Lauren not only heard my words - she believed them. (And yes, she called me "Linda" - haha!) But she also went a step further. She made "this food" for me (it was chips and salsa). Her act of love was a natural response to what she heard and believed.

How often do you hear the words of Jesus, but not really believe them? Or how easy is it for you to believe that God's truth applies to someone else's life, but surely not your own circumstance or struggle? Hearing is not the same as believing, is it? And so I pray you hear and believe the words of Jesus today.

Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, "Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well." And the woman was healed at that moment. - Matthew 9:22

Have faith in him. His love and compassion will make you whole. He really, really is crazy about you. What will your response be? Do you believe him?

A song that no one else can sing

You are incredibly special to God. You are fabulously unique and irresistibly precious to him. And did you know that he has given you a song that no one else can sing? He has!

Check out Revelation 14. The scene is heaven. The 144,000 are from the 12 tribes of Israel. They suffered severe persecution for their faith in Christ and did not waiver. The apostle John records what he saw:

And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Okay, so maybe you're thinking...uhhhh...I'm not one of the 144,000. True. But if you are a child of the Most High, then he has given you a special song of your very own. The psalms are FULL of exhortations to SING A NEW SONG, and they also tell us that God Himself has "put a NEW SONG in my mouth; a song of praise to my God." (Psalm 40:3)

Only as we experience life with our God are we able to sing a new song to our God. And because we have our own unique relationship with Christ, our own sweet love story, we also have a song that no one else can sing.

I used to walk around in shame, believing that if I opened my mouth to speak about my past that I would bring dishonor to God. Guess what?? The opposite is true. Because it isn't about ME and what I've done at all. It's fully 100% about JESUS and what he has done. He took my shame away. He took YOUR shame away. And he enables us to proclaim THIS:

I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bride with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10

Now doesn't that make you want to open up your beautiful mouth and sing your own special GOD SONG - the song that no one else can sing? OH, SING IT!

Experiencing a delay?

My 8-year-old is learning to ride her bike without training wheels! Woo-hoo!! (Did you catch that part about her being EIGHT years old?) I don't know about you or your kids, but in our family, that's gettin' kinda "old" to be learning how to ride a two-wheeler.

According to the typical age of when babies and young children do things, Lauren has been "delayed" in most things. She crawled late (11 months old), walked late (16 months old), and even talked late. She didn't utter that precious word "Mama" until she was 17 months old. And because of these so-called delays, I remember the moments with clarity and the giddy excitement they produced. The fact is, there is nothing wrong with Lauren, and there is nothing wrong with her "delayed" timing.

Speaking of which, I feel like I typically know when something should happen in any given situation. God blessed me with a half-way decent brain and not-so-shabby organizational/management skills. So whatever is going on, it should pretty much happen according to my schedule. Because trust me, I've looked at all the various possibilities and weighed all the pros, cons, and possible outcomes. So clearly *this* is what should happen and *when* it should happen. It just makes sense!

Well...God isn't restricted to operating within the parameters of human wisdom. In fact, it's his modus operandi to do just the opposite:

Brothers and sisters, look at what you were when God called you. Not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence. Not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. - 1 Corinthians 1

God has been showing me that his ways are definitely not my ways; and his thoughts are not my thoughts. He chooses to accomplish his purposes in ways that I would not have chosen in any way, shape, or form! He definitely baffles me at times, but I can tell you this - he is trustworthy and good. Of that, I am 100% confident.

I'm so thankful for the ray of sunshine that Lauren is in our lives! And I'm thankful for her "delayed" timing in reaching those special milestones in life. She is a reminder to me that there is most certainly nothing wrong with God's "delayed" timing. As a matter of fact, the most life-changing spiritual milestones in my life have come after what seemed like an inappropriately long amount of time. But those are the moments that made me giddy with excitement when they came; and those are the moments upon which I reflect as a reminder of how great my God truly is. There is NONE like him.

So how about you? Experiencing a so-called delay? Share your thoughts and what God is teaching YOU in the comments below.

UPDATE: The 'delay' is over! On this day, 09.21.13, Lauren began joyfully riding her bike on her own. We prayed first. She said, "Okay, deep breath" and literally took one, and off she went with God by her side. Isn't that just the way he wants it? Trusting him as we go! He's even patient and loving enough to wait until we're ready.

Just love each other

Large, captivated crowds. People hanging on his every word – some in awe and some in anger. Rowdy children laughing, playing, complaining to mom they are bored or hungry or both. Hopeful parents pressing through the crowd desiring for this man to touch and bless their squirming child. Meanwhile the disgruntled followers of this up-and-coming leader are shooing the kids away in annoyance. But then…

Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children."

Are you doing what I find myself doing? Are you glazing over because you’ve heard this a thousand times? Well, don’t! Jesus just shared something of colossal significance. Take notice.

The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are LIKE THESE CHILDREN. Uhhh…what are they like because I wanna belong!

Well, I could talk about how children naturally trust people and accept differences in others. Or that children are teachable and eager to learn – and they are amazingly quick to forgive. But one of the most endearing and fun attributes of a child to me is their tendency to take things literally.

Eliza is the precious 3-year-old daughter of my friend, Jamie. Eliza knows how to cut-to-the-chase and not spend precious time messing around with bothersome details. She listens to instructions – and does exactly what she is told. Take a look at her bunny maze.

It makes so much sense, doesn't it?! Eliza reminds me of a sweet lamb following her Shepherd. My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. (John 10)
Now if only I could do the same. If only I were so quick to follow the clear and literal instructions of my Shepherd instead of trying to cut corners or veer off in the wrong direction - leading to a dead end. For example, Jesus literally means it when he says:

Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. - John 13

When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. - Ephesians 4

Discipline your children while you still have the chance; indulging them destroys them. - Proverbs 19

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. - Romans 12

This list could go on and on, right? But I prefer to keep things simple. And if I take it literally when my Shepherd says "love each other," the rest of the details will fall into place. As a child who belongs to his Kingdom, I'll keep striving to follow his clear and literal instructions. Love each other. Can't go wrong with that.

Christian-ish or Christ Follower?

Calling myself a Christian in America seems almost meaningless anymore. It's not a strong enough statement in this present culture. Everyone and their brother claims to be "Christian." I recently heard someone describe himself as "Christian-ish." The fact is, there's no such thing.

I am a Christ follower. As a Christ follower, I truly FOLLOW Christ and believe his every word. He affects every part of my life. Just as a marriage relationship is entered into with two devoted, loving participants...so it is in a relationship with Jesus. I continuously pursue a thriving relationship with him (and he with me!) and over time, I become an imitator of the One I am in a relationship with. He rubs off on me! (Try and tell me your spouse or best friend hasn't rubbed off on you in one way or another.)

There were times when Jesus was unabashedly confrontational, not with "sinners" who flocked to him because they knew they needed saving, but with the "religious" who were full of arrogance and pride. Sadly, "American Christianity" is something contrary to true Christianity. As David Platt has said, "We make [the gospel] look like us and fit into our lifestyle instead of adjusting our lifestyle to the gospel. In the process we make following Jesus more American than it is biblical."

What Jesus says to the church in Sardis he can say to us, “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief."

As Christ followers, we need to be sure we are AWAKE to the spiritual battle that rages around us. We need soft, pliable hearts – willing to repent and turn back to the God who made us and loves us. As any spouse or friend knows, there is plenty of need for repentance in relationships. Thankfully, we have a more-than-willing Savior ready to forgive, restore, and continuously make us NEW.

So…are you a Christ follower?

Filled Up with Grace

Below is a journal entry I wrote to my children November 12, 2010.

Jensen & Noelle,

I remember when you were Lauren's age - and just like she does now - you pretty much thought I was perfect. Then around age 11 or 12, Jensen began pointing out things that I would do wrong. And I recall being sad that the magical days of childhood "when Mom was perfect" were over! Obviously you know now that I never was, and someday Lauren will know, too.

To Jensen, Noelle, & Lauren: it's good to KNOW and ADMIT you aren't perfect. Perfect people don't have a need for Jesus. I need him more than I need anything else! I pray that you will always see others through eyes of GRACE. Sometimes it may be very hard to do. In those times, remember that you owe God a debt you can NEVER, EVER repay - and the gratitude you feel and the love you feel for Jesus will fill you up with grace for others.

I love you, Jensen. I love you, Noelle. I love you, Lauren.

Who are you following?

It is all too easy to look around and compare ourselves to others, isn't it? It’s in our nature to want to know how we stack up with the “competition.” And if we’re really honest, we’ll even admit that we get a sense of satisfaction when we think we’re doing better (at whatever) than someone else. We compare everything from hair styles, clothing, and accessories to parenting decisions over breast or bottle-feeding, homeschool or public school, as well as careers, social status, and more. But we also fall prey to this sin of comparison (yes, it’s a sin!) when it comes to God’s call on our life.

I can’t imagine there is a single one of us that hasn’t felt inadequate to fulfill a Spirit-led task or calling that was set before us. That is exactly why it is Spirit-led – because we cannot do it without him. Our need for the Spirit’s enabling power drives us deeper into a relationship of trust with our Savior and Redeemer.

Jesus said to [Peter], “If it is my will that [John] remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” - John 21:22

The good news of Jesus’ response to Peter is that you don’t need to worry about the next guy (or gal). God isn’t measuring your success by whether you are more or less effective than someone else. Your success comes from the simple, yet life-altering, command: “Follow me.”

One of the fun things I learned while in Cambodia is this quirky little common phrase: "Same same but different." It’s fun because it can be used for almost anything. If I’m eating the popular Cambodian fruit of mangosteen and you are eating the equally popular dragon fruit, we can say it’s “same same but different.” There are two items of fruit (same same), but they are different because it’s not the same kind of fruit. Get it? My sweet Christian Cambodian friends have this right when it comes to people, too. They recognize and value that we are all the same…and we’re all different.

This is the kind of unity the Father longs to see among his children. Some of us may have a very specific calling in life, such as ministering to troubled teens through equine therapy. That’s pretty specific. Others may find God’s will for them is a little broader, such as volunteering in various ways in the local community to be a light of God’s love to whomever they meet. The most important thing is to know your spiritual gifts and then begin to exercise them in the strength of the Spirit.

Recognizing that my [Paul's] calling had been given by God, James, Peter, and John—the pillars of the church—shook hands with me and Barnabas, assigning us to a ministry to the non-Jews, while they continued to be responsible for reaching out to the Jews. - Galatians 2:9

I think John and Peter learned this lesson well…and that is what enabled them to see without a doubt that God was working in Paul in ways that my beloved Cambodian sisters would say was “same same but different” from the way God was working in Peter. Both men were following Jesus on the path he had chosen for them. So let’s stop the sinful comparisons that land us right where Satan wants us – in a state of ineffective depression or pride – and let’s answer the personal call of Jesus with great passion and joy!

Fill in your name…Jesus is talking to YOU. _______, follow me!

Adapted from my 6-week study on Galatians, In Step with the Spirit.