Imagine

Imagine if Mary had had a change of heart.  Imagine that she succumbed to the social and cultural pressures of being an unmarried mother.  Imagine that she decided that the responsibility of raising God's Son was just too much trouble or infringed on her personal plans.  Imagine that Mary opted for an abortion instead.  Imagine how different the world or your life would be.  Imagine.

From My Perspective Anyway

"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point." ~ author unknown

Barnabas aka Rainmaker

I attended a very interesting networking group this morning.  It wasn't a typical business group where people are looking to make connections and make a buck. It had a philanthropic focus and the attendees were there to see if they could help someone else make connections, raise funds and be successful in their nonprofit venue. 

The idea is that once a quarter, three speakers present their organization's vision, goals and needs.  Then, during the breakout sessions, we, the audience, participate in small group discussions in ways to best fulfill those needs.  It was interesting, exciting, challenging and fulfilling.  I hope to make this a regular habit.  It's right up my Barnabas alley. I really get a kick out of making connections to help others succeed..  Just call me Rainmaker.

Put Out

There's a reason God has me "put out" ~ as in put out of my work room so my son could have a safe landing from joblessness ~ as in put out of my subsequent work corner so the ceiling could be repaired and the walls painted ~ as in put out over the chaotic disruption of the temporarily unusable back yard.  He's teaching me something.  I guess I have to stop feeling "put out" about it and wait to be "poured in."

Not !

I would love to say this photo graced an article denying that shopping is the way to happiness, but it didn't.  It did offer minor acknowledgment that since becoming a mother, the author can no longer indulge entirely in her mantra that clothes-make-the-woman  (her baby barely trumped  her clothes closet).  She spent a lot of time whining about the loss of freedom to attend three-day parties celebrating some big-name designer's new collection.  Her tone was partially tongue-in-cheek and partially her truth.  

I get it.  Really I do.  I'm not a clothes horse but I get how women can get wrapped up in the whole fashion scene.  What I don't get is when these women allow their clothes, or worse yet, the blind pursuit of shopping to define who they are.  I dumbfounded over that concept ~ really, I am.  It's a nice capitalistic sentiment that keeps our economy going (and I'm all for that), but it's not the foundation of my self-worth.  

Even in my BC days (before Christ), my parents' instilled a sense of value and self-worth in me that stood separate from what I did, wore or looked like.  In my AD days (after accepting Christ), I realized my true value in God.  I am His child, pre-thought of before I was even conceived, cherished and loved by Him.  Don't get me wrong.  I still like steppin' out with a freshly washed face and clean, even somewhat matching clothes, but it doesn't make me who I am.  Nothing I own or could buy makes me who I am.  Nothing.

Life, Death and Purpose In-Between

Two quotes in yesterday's paper struck a chord with me ~

"Whatever you do, do something that is of some service to somebody else, because if you do, you'll know that it mattered that you were born."  ~ as spoken by Ann Curry's dad when she asked his advice on a career path

"It was about the inevitability and unavoidability of death ~ and the importance of putting yourself out there, at risk, for humanity.  Because what else, really, is there?" ~ as spoken by Kjerstin Erickson referencing Steve Job's 2007 Stanford commencement address 

Two speakers sharing one theme that resonates with everyone at one time or another in his/her lifetime.  "Of what purpose is my life?  Did it really matter that I sojourned on this earth?"  We all share the life spark of birth and the darkening of death, but what we do with the in-between time makes all the difference in the world, however long or short our reach may be.

   

Getting into My Groove

I just started a new Bible study last night, The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg.  I have to admit that at first I was completely put off by the title.  It sounded so new-agey, so self-focused, so all-about-me.  I'm trying to be about others and looking up, not at me.  Soooo boring and self-absorbed to be all about me, me, me.  But as I delved into the study I realized that there is merit to looking at, and becoming, the me that God intended me to be when He created me.  Not like a work plan where I do works for His kingdom, but flourishing in myself so that I am fulfilled and fulfill my distinct role in His kingdom plans.  Sounds like a fine distinction, but there is.

What Ortberg addressed head on, first session, was our being anyone but who we are designed to really be.  You know, the "me"

• I pretend to be or
• I think I should be or
• other people want me to be or
• I'm afraid God wants me to be or
• that fails to be

I've blogged before about how we get sidetracked trying to be what the media tells us to be, or to change in ways that others want us to change.  It's tough really figuring out who we are and what our best life was designed to be.  Not our "perfect" life or our "no problems ever" life, but our life that flourishes from our own special gifts and talents.  Kind of like living in the groove that is uniquely ours.

I think ~ no, let me rephrase that ~ I know I'm going to like this study, even though I may not like the process I may have to go through to reach its intended outcome in me.  So get ready with the fertilizer, sunlight, water and weed hoe, 'cause this flower is ready to bloom! 

 

Blackberry 7

Most adults carry around numbers their whole lives.  Social Security numbers. Credit ratings. Passwords.  Net worth. (Chronological age) You name it.  And when this stuff gets stolen, they call it "identity theft."  Like someone can steal your identity.  (spoken by Josh in The Blackberry Bush by David Housholder, p 132)

This quote knocks me out.  I am not a number.  Even if my numerical identity was completely wiped out,  I am so much more than the little boxes that society tries to put me in.  I belong to my Maker.  I am His and my identity in Him far outweighs society's pathetic attempts to categorize me into a series of neat, orderly digits.

Blackberry 6

When you start to stick out ahead of people, they try to find ways, together, to pull you back to their level.  There are all kinds of rules to follow if you want people to like you, and one of them is avoiding excellence that makes everyone else look bad.  (The Blackberry Bush, David Housholder, p 98)

Really?  I don't want to stunt my growth planted around those weeds.  I want to be the flower, not the bud that never blossoms ~ a flower amongst others flowers in a compelling, flourishing garden.

If You Think You're Not Worthy

Dear readers in bloggerland ~

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossip, Mary was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zacheus was short, Abraham was old and Lazarus was dead. Can God use you,too?

(shared from a friend)

Blackberry 4

And everybody always wants me to do better than I am doing.  They say it's because they want the best for me.  But it doesn't feel good.  The older I get, the further behind I am.  I don't have enough friends.  I haven't finished enough homework.  My room is not clean enough.  I wasn't polite enough to my parents' guests....people don't like me enough....I'd rather be disliked for who I am as a person than loved for some projected image of who I am supposed to be.   (spoken by Kati and Josh from The Blackberry Bush by David Housholder, pp 27,139)

Simply teenage angst or does it ring a bell in your adult soul?

Come Walk With Me (as I Walk With Him)

We're getting ready to start a pilot mentoring program at church.   In a nutshell, a mentor says to a mentee, "Be more like me."  The word mentor is intimidating enough, but being a Christian mentor carries with it the weight of what it means to live a Christ-focused life.  Modeling life as a mature Christ-follower sounds like a downright daunting and impossible task ~ which it is, if I think of this responsibility as lying squarely on my own shoulders.  But Jesus said, "Let me carry your yoke because my burden is light."  What He's saying is that we aren't meant to do this thing on our own.  We are meant to be plugged into His power source, His guidance, His teaching, His unconditional love and encouragement for others.

Whew!  I feel better.  First of all, the thought of someone wanting to follow in my shoes is a bit unnerving.  Better that person follow the footsteps I'm trying to follow.  Second, I am far from a perfect Christian.  I honestly don't think that such a person exists.  We can only strive to walk closer, gaining strides towards maturity in Christ.  It's a lifelong process.  Come to think of it, I am qualified to encourage someone to walk with Christ, and in doing so, my own life will be called to a higher standard.

 

Blackberry 1

Sooner or later in life we all discover that something in us is broken ~ and that there's an empty void we want filled with pure, unconditional love and acceptance.  We all long for a way out of the trap of meaninglessness ~ a way to be reborn into a new life of purpose and freedom.  (David Housholder, The Blackberry Bush, p9)

How does one release the trap door?



 

Real McCoy

Road Trip ~ Atlanta continued

The reason I went to Atlanta in the first place was a woman's writing/speaking conference.  I'm not the real deal, I  just dabble in the stuff, but I was the guest of Groovy Muffy who is an accomplished speaker and author.  To be honest, I was a bit intimidated by all the accomplished speakers and authors in the room, let alone the scriptwriters and movie producers.  These people make money at their craft and their message goes out to a multitude of people.  I write a simple blog with a small following and speak/teach a little.  Needless to say, it was both exciting and a bit daunting.

It was a weekend of learning and applauding each others accomplishments, but it wasn't a game of one-up-man-ship at this gathering.  Oh no, they were all very clear on who was the head of this ship.  While each attendee had a different field of expertise and interest, the driving force behind all of their work is a love for God and a passion for Jesus.  They have felt His direct presence in their lives in different ways, some under more difficult circumstances and more intensely than others.  But each gave Him the glory for their individual gifts, talents and successes because in the end, it's all His and for Him.
 

Young Life

Groovy Kelly and her husband hosted a table at last night's Young Life fund raising banquet.  As I sat there listening to teenagers talk about the issues they deal with today, I wanted to cry ~  heavy performance demands in school and sports, broken families from divorce, expectation of participation and acceptance of aberrant sexual lifestyles, readily available illegal and prescription drugs, and more.  Kids of every generation deal with drama and unsettled waters to some degree, but neither my husband nor myself remember dealing with the enormity or intensity of in-your-face issues that today's teens do. 

Angst is practically synonymous with teenager but the number of kids today who are alienated, lonely, desperate, feeling unloved or unwanted is an epidemic.  And it has filtered down to the middle schoolers (junior high).  I am so grateful for an organization like Young Life that slows down and takes valuable time to walk along side these kids; to develop relationships where they have been given permission by kids to speak truth and love into their lives.

We all need to feel loved and valued.  Young Life puts it into action.

http://sites.younglife.org/sites/YoungLifeTriValley/AboutYL.aspx 

Power of Words

I love words.  Written words.  Spoken words.  Singing words.  Words have the power to move our thoughts to outward expression and action.  Words can even be more powerful than swords as an agent of change, acceptance or rejection.  Words can edify, surprise, caress, create, destroy, examine, coax, threaten, demonize, glorify. 

I am compelled to read.  I am compelled to write.  I am compelled to dialog with others.  I have an admitted love affair with words.  And so I often go to the dictionary to discover or reaffirm the meaning of words.  Today I learned some very interesting facts about Noah Webster, the "father" of the American dictionary ~ and so I share ~

 "...the greatest and most widely remembered of his many language-related exploits is the one for which we know him best: his magnum opus, the great American Dictionary of the English Language – a work so profound in its scholarship, so far-reaching in scope, and of such enduring value that the name Webster has now become all but synonymous with the word dictionary. 
 

In its earliest conception, the dictionary was ... a relatively small collection of words designed to reinforce Webster's spelling standardizations and provide a vocabulary for young readers of his school anthology.  But once the seed of the project was planted in his mind, it began to grow of its own accord.  Even before the school dictionary (A Compendious Dictionary of the American Language, 1806) had come off the presses, Webster was already planning to expand this modest volume (408 pages, 40,600 words) into a much larger work. 

He prepared for this massive undertaking by firming up his college Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, perfecting his French and German, and then moving on to tackle Danish, Italian, Anglo-Saxon, Welsh, Old Irish, Chaldaic, Syrian, Arabic, Armoric, and Persian. By the time he was finished, Webster had acquired a knowledge of more than twenty languages and alphabets, exhausted the resources of every library in America, scoured the shelves of the massive Bibliotheque du Roi in Paris, and consulted with the finest linguistic scholars in Oxford and Cambridge. When released in November 1828, his American Dictionary, the fruit of twenty years' labor, contained more than 70,000 words with extensive definitions and etymological origins.  In the preface, Webster, a lifelong Congregationalist and a born again Christian who had experienced a dramatic resurgence of personal faith at a revival meeting in 1808, dedicated the volume to God and offered it as a gift to the American people. 

"No author before or since has ever written a dictionary with so broad a purpose," says biographer Harlow Giles Unger:  It was not just a list of words and definitions. It was a wellspring of truths that promised his countrymen an increase in 'the wealth, learning, moral and religious elevation of character, and glory' of their country – a self-contained educative institution designed to serve as a secular companion to the Bible.

It was also, of course, the last and greatest testimonial to its author's deep faith in the power of words – a power which, according to Webster's biblical worldview, is ultimately rooted in the "divine origin" of language.  For Webster was above all a man who believed that the universe had been spoken into existence by the Word of God, – the same Word that became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ." *

No wonder I'm such an avid fan of words. 

(*quote on Noah Webster from http://www.thetruthproject.org/)

 

Giving Up and Adding On

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the countdown to Easter which is the most important humanitarian event in the history of mankind.  From before the beginning of time, from before creation of all things, God set into motion this act of love that is unfathomable and drenched in mercy and grace.

We are asked during this season to give up something as a symbolic gesture of Christ giving up His life on the cross so that we may live.  I have blown off this act many times before because I saw it as simply a symbolic gesture, nothing more.  But this year, I want to focus on the cross and what it really means to me.  I want to focus on a living God who willing died for me.  I want to wrap my head and heart around this public yet incredibly intimate act of unconditional love.  And so, this year I will give up something but I will add something, too.  I will add prayer and contemplation and Scripture and acts of grace towards others.  Jesus did not fail in his mission.  I pray that I do not fail in mine.

Getting Back to Basics

If there is one sentence I could use to describe a Groovy it would be, "She loves the Lord."  

love (n) - (theology) - (as in God to mankind) - God's benevolence and mercy toward man; (as in person to person) man's devotion to or adoration of God;  (as in person to person) the benevolence, kindness or brotherhood that man should rightfully feel toward others.

Lord (n) - (theology) - the King of kings; Jehovah; God 

"She loves the Lord."  This simple sentence is a life philosophy that touches and affects literally everything a Groovy thinks, says, does, wants, gives.  This simple sentence, however, is not so simple to live.  Oh, if you look at this group of women from the outside it looks like we've got it goin' on.  The world would say we're comely and smart and fun to be around.  They would say we have loving and supportive husbands, solid marriages, kids who are grounded and good, nice homes, strive to serve others, yada, yada, yada.  Yep, from the outside we're doing just fine.

That's all well and good, but we know the truth about the view from the inside.  We know that we struggle daily with conflicts of living in the world from God's perspective, which is often at odds with the world's perspective.  We know that our desires and even actions do not always align with loving the Lord.  It's not that He is unworthy of our devotion; it's that in our human frailty we cannot live up to the standards He has set for us.

These expectations do not make us uncomfortable.  They simply remind us of our need for His never ending mercy and grace.  And they remind us that if it is suitable and right for us to extend benevolence and brotherhood to those around us, then we need Christ within us to reform our thinking, soften our hearts and live outside the boundaries of our selfish selves.

Lord, we praise You for Your daily renewal of our lives.   We thank You for Your love.  We love you back, Lord.  Amen, the Groovies.
 
 

Deliberate Living

To quote Henry David Thoreau – “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and … I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately…”

Finding, knowing and living my passion is to live deliberately, however, living deliberately is not an end in itself.  For me, it's equally important to be guided by the right compass, and that means being plugged into my Creator.  Then, and only then, will I deliberately live a plan that has been perfectly and uniquely designed for me. 

Compass Words

This week the Groovies shared compass words ~ words that will be our focal point for the year.  As Christ followers, it's no surprise that our words were given to us through prayerful reflection with God and are grounded in Scriptural Truth.

joy - 

Muffy and I both received this word but for different reasons with different underlying Scripture.  Read yesterday's post for the definition of the word and for why joy is my compass this year. My verse ~ Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. (James 1:2-4)

As for Muffy, her joy is found in the strength of the Lord. ~ The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. (Psalm 28:7 NLT)  "My word is not simplistic even though I thought it would be....joy is not a feeling, it is a choice.  Consider it....all joy....that is 'counting it' something I make a decision to journey into in attitude and by faith."

trust - 
1) firm reliance on the integrity, ability or character of a person or thing; confident belief; faith  2) custody, care  3) reliance on something in the future; hope
 
Peppermint is still resting in a word God gave her last year.  In her own words ... "It's definitely tough having the rough edges rubbed off through adversities of any kind. It seems if it's not a health issue it's a financial one or problems with our "kids" or grandkids or sometimes several of these at once.  I think that's why I was given the word "Trust" last year. I found that if I continually trusted in God, He was always Faithful in answering my pleas... however not always how I expected. It turned out that His plans and timing were much more creative and a definite improvement over my solutions.
 

rest + quiet = wait -
to wait is 1) to remain inactive until something anticipated occurs 2) to remain or be in readiness or expectation

repentance + transformed = gratitude -
to have gratitude is 1) have an appreciative awareness and thankfulness

Kelley was given not a word but a series of interconnected words. "So in my REST and QUIET, I am to WAIT: God's timing is different than ours--He operates on a completely different scale than we do. It can thus sometimes seem like He is slow to act or to intervene where He's needed. But we are encouraged here to be patient, confident that the Lord will act in His good timing. Psalm 27:14.  And in my REPENTANCE, I am to be TRANSFORMED from having a critical spirit to having GRATITUDE: When we take our eyes off all we are not seeing God do, and begin thanking Him and proclaiming His goodness for all we have seen Him do–our perspective transforms from worry . . . to praise and gratitude!"

speak less, listen more -
to listen is 1) to apply oneself to hearing something  2) to pay attention; to give heed

We all broke out in laughter when Betty Boop shared her words.  It was a laughter of understanding because many of the Groovies sitting around the table have no problem with sharing our words, lots of words.  I can't remember the Scripture she based it on  but I do know there are several times in the Bible where we are reminded of the power of words, for both speaking/giving and listening/receiving.  I think I will stick her compass words in my back pocket for ballast.

choice -
1) the act of choosing; selection  2) the power, right or liberty of choosing; option

Ted's word is choice.  "I can choose how I will allow my circumstances to shape my character.  I have a choice to make every day.  My verse is so simple but so hard at the same time.  It is from Joshua 24:15 ~  choose for yourself this day whom you will serve. Every day I have a choice to make. I can choose to serve God or I can let my circumstance, myself rule my life. Old message but a new revelation for me this year." 

help others -
to help is 1) to give assistance; to aid  2) to contribute to in some way; to further; promote  3) to give relief to those in difficulty or distress  4) to alleviate or cure  5) to improve; benefit  6) to be able to prevent, change or rectify


Cinderella's word(s) carry a responsibility to and for others.  It is born from a year of receiving her own help and wanting to give back.

intention -
1) a plan of action; a design  2) an aim that guides action  


Our newest Groovy doesn't have a nickname yet so I will just call her Light Tower for now. (she'll get the reference).  Her word reflects a determination to live with focus, purpose and a determination to complete what she has begun.  It's about making proactive choices after living too long being blown by circumstances.  Her verse ~ "Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:10


Inspired.  Challenged.  Grateful.  Supportive.  These words come to mind when I read the compass words of my Groovy sisters.  They inspire me and challenge me.  I am grateful for our mutual support.

But even more so, these words come in mind ~ up, love, and faith.  These women look up to God for answers and guidance, are engaged in a loving relationship with Him, and have faith in His good will.  Groovy indeed.