He Grew into His Name

I had a December baby. And, like a lot of expecting parents, we spent many of the months leading up to his birth trying out names. Actually, for most of those months, we had settled on a boy-name combination that included the middles names of our fathers. Neither name was weird, and all was right with the world. (NOTE: we did end up changing one of the names when my son was born but that doesn’t factor into this story, so I’ll leave that alone except to say I did practice wifely submission in accepting the new name!)

The process of selecting a name appropriate for someone to have their WHOLE life really is a big deal. I won’t get into all the names we had to eliminate with the last name Jackson, just suffice it to say that Andrew and Michael were not ever in the mix! I tried to imagine holding a newborn and calling him the names we were contemplating, and realized that is how some people end up with nicknames. Parents don’t think the grown-up name fits so they use cutesy names like Boo-Boo, Bubba, Lil Bugga, well, you get the idea.

Have you ever thought about how this was for Mary and Joseph? They were told to name their son JESUS, but even without baby books, they knew what this name meant. How did they hold a tiny baby and call him JESUS, knowing that it meant Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Savior, and so much more? I try not to think they might have used the Jewish equivalent of Boo-Boo or Lil Booga. But we do know the end of the story … and the end of the story is that Jesus grew into his name … he grew to be all of these things and so much more.

As you celebrate Jesus this season, consider who He is to you and whether you’ve allowed your childhood perception of Him to grow into who He truly wants to be in your life today! Merry Christmas!

No Matter What

A familiar song came on LifeSongs as I was out running recently. “No Matter What” by Kerrie Roberts struck a chord as I heard these words:

            Before a heartache can ever touch my life,

            It has to go through Your hands…

            No matter what I’m gonna love You

            No matter what I’m gonna need You

            I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain

            But if not, I still trust You

            No matter what, no matter what.

I began reflecting on what that looks like as our loving heavenly Father processes what He will allow to touch our lives and what He shields us from. As a parent, I have a limited understanding of what will help my kids in the long run, even if difficult for a season, and what might crush their spirits.

In the book Trusting God, author Sharon Jaynes tells the story of a woman who asked a silversmith if it was true that he had to sit in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. “Oh yes!” he replied. “I cannot take my eyes off the silver. If it is left in the furnace even a moment too long, it will be destroyed.” The woman suddenly understood the beauty and comfort of Malachi 3:3: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

Jaynes goes on to note “there are times when it seems as if we will be swallowed whole by the fires of hell itself. The pain seems too hard to bear. The fear is paralyzing. The doubt is overwhelming, and the questions flood our hearts and minds... Our trials are not random persecutions. Heaven is not in a panic. Where we are and what we are going through is no surprise to God. We may be knocked down and kicked around by life, but if we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we will not be destroyed.”

I’m not looking for any future opportunities to be tested on my comprehension of this amazing promise. I have enough to look back on and see how it’s worked in the past, even when I questioned His presence in, His purpose of, and His rescue through the difficult parts of the journey. However, even though I’m not looking for them, I know the opportunities will arise … that’s just the way of life outside of heaven.

In the meantime, I’m stockpiling ‘life-preserving’ truth to cling to in the midst of the inevitable storms and sharing them with fellow travelers who may have hit a pothole or mack truck in their current journey. We’ve got to be ready … no matter what.

NOTE: if you're not familiar with the song and can handle a hokey you-tube video presentation of it, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA3MSqufJP4.

No Deductions for Trying!

I don’t know Rachel Evans but I think I’d like to have coffee with her one day. She blogs, and recently reflected on watching the Olympics in awe of the athletes and with disdain for the analysts and judges. She was disillusioned by one commentator during a gymnastics competition that pointed out, “It’s all about the deductions…. In gymnastics, the goal is perfection.” Check out her insights at http://rachelheldevans.com/celebrating-somersaults.

In the meantime, I challenge you to consider your perspective on how you view the people around you, particularly in this first week of school. You’ll sit in class with students who barely scrapped enough money and/or scholarships together to cover tuition, but they did. You’ll walk through the hallways with others who never imagined visiting New Orleans (much less living here), but they are. You’ll wander through the bookstore amid classmates who are overwhelmed by syllabus shock, but they are indeed still standing.

Instead of handing out deductions for less than perfect performances, let’s celebrate with each other for being willing to start something new and different, whether it’s a brand new season of life or just a brand new semester of seminary. For a lot of us, this week feels like a somersault on a four-inch balance beam.

And, since I don’t know how to get in touch with Rachel about having coffee, I’d be just as excited about having coffee with you. Stop by the Dean of Students office, and let’s see if we can work it out!

A friend who coordinates a website for ministry wives asked me to share some of our recent journey with our son in hopes of encouraging one of her readers. Below is my feeble attempt at trying to let another mom know that she is not alone:

Drug addiction found its way into our home several years ago, and we have never been the same. We desperately desired to raise children who loved the Lord with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength; instead, we raised kids who chose to believe the deceiver, and one of them found himself in a place where he couldn't get out.

Even though our journey into drugs and alcohol began when our son was in high school (and thus, a minor), his addiction -- and all the garbage that comes with it -- flourished when he was away at college. After flunking out of school and getting his 2nd DUI, he found himself floundering because he had eliminated many of his more 'attractive' life choices. A sullen, dejected, deceitful addict is a difficult person to live with and love unconditionally. Needless to say, I probably didn't do this very well. But, in God's strength (and His ALONE), I got up every day, remembering that HIS mercies are new every morning, and loved as best I knew how.

So, after years of dreading every phone call (because we had gotten the hospital one, the jail one, and several others related to his poor choices), we got the one telling us our son had passed out at work after using drugs and was being held by a local security force for possible arrest. When it was determined that his physical life was not in danger, we began to deal with the bigger problems. We were told that he would be released to us if we would promise to secure treatment for him in the next day or two. If he was not willing to do this, he would be arrested.

Wow, what a choice! Of course, he wanted to avoid arrest but he was very reluctant -- even at this very low point -- to enter treatment. It seemed that NOW he was concerned about how much it would cost us or what embarrassment it might bring to our family. How crazy is this! We had already endured loss of money and property as a result of his school failures, medical expenses, and even theft. And, by now, we had already dealt with the embarrassment factor: God reminded us this was not about us but about our son.

God opened a door we didn't even know existed: a very affordable, faith-based drug recovery program called Teen Challenge. Our son's journey through this program was everything we had hoped and prayed for, primarily that his spiritual man was revived and he came to agree that he didn't have a drug problem, he had a sin problem, and that falling in love with Jesus and His word was the 'cure.'

Our son worked through each phase of the program for a total of 18 months and, four weeks ago, we attended his Teen Challenge graduation. We're often asked, "Did he go into the program willingly?" Honestly, the answer is no; he begged us not to take him but we knew we didn't have a choice. He had been back home for almost 8 months of 'tough love' before that encounter with the law, and God showed us that we were not going to be the ones to 'fix' the problem. Others ask, "Isn't 12-18 months a long time?" Why, yes, it is, but then again, it's a drop in the bucket of life when you consider we've got our son back. A harder question to grapple with was "Is this his first time in rehab?" I'm not so naive as to think he doesn't continue to struggle with the desire to use drugs. I mean, just because I'm on a diet doesn't mean I don't struggle with the desire to eat cake. But I have had to face this part of our journey with faith, believing -- TRULY believing -- that nothing is impossible with God.

Ok, so maybe I'm rambling, but sincerely hoping that some of this is helping. Find me on the message board if you have more questions and feel like you can share more specifics of your situation. It is our family's prayer that what Satan meant for evil is being redeemed for God's greater glory.

I remember feeling very alone in this struggle. It's not that I didn't have friends who cared; it's just that sympathy only goes so far. Plus, I think loneliness is another tactic of the enemy because it's a key step on the road to hopelessness. We've got to have folks reminding us of God's promises so that we don't get sidetracked by the desperateness of our circumstances.

As much as I can, I'm here to whisper God's truth to you today. One verse that I cling to -- then AND now -- is Psalm 27:13 from the NASB: "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."

Today, my son is alive, and I am seeing that the Lord's goodness looks different that I expected, but oh how good He is!

Reflecting on LCIW Experience

Gatekeeper: July 2012

Earlier this summer, Dr. Rhonda Kelley and I had the privilege of teaching a weeklong workshop for our seminary program at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. As part of the requirements for the course Public Speaking for Women, the ladies had to give several public presentations, including a testimony and a Bible lesson.

One student started a speech referring to the phrase she’s heard tossed around a lot in Christian circles: “doing life together.” She said that this phrase has a different meaning within the fences of LCIW because, indeed, many of the offenders have a life sentence and thus will spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Perhaps the challenge is to not take so lightly the privilege we have to walk alongside other women in our different seasons of life. Experienced student wives can welcome new families on campus, remembering what it was like to make a home out of a matchbook-sized apartment. Women students who have been in school a year or two (or more!) can advise incoming students on negotiating classes and traffic and humidity. Even fulltime staff women and faculty wives can step into the lives of women all around us and find points of commonality and encouragement.

Most of us won’t be on campus forever (it’s not a life sentence, ladies, even if it feels like it at times), but we can make the most of the relationships God has made available to us. This week marks 18 years for the Jackson family being back on the NOBTS campus. Lots of life has happened in those years, and much of it made richer because of the women I have done – and am doing – life with. Thanks!

P.S. The photo of Dr. Rhonda and I was taken at the end of Day 4 of our week at LCIW. Needless to say, we were tired!

It's Friday and my head is spinning because of the amazing week I've just experienced teaching at Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women along with Dr. Rhonda Kelley. I took the photo above to show the beautiful flowers that grace the prison grounds with the barbed wire fences in the background! The flowers are an analogy for the women we encountered . . . beautiful spirits despite the setting they are in. I don't want to forget them; what a privilege we had in teaching them! Table 1: Michelle (Mouse); Sandra (long hair); Joshie (quiet, short talker); Carlene (anthropology?!) Table 2: Melissa (dramatic); Betty (forgiveness); Angel (quiet, ad libber) Table 3: Brenda (Indian); Mary (artist); Edna (patriotic lifer); Angie (Toastmaster) Table 4: Demetricy (sound tech); Sandra (Starr); Stephanie (monotone); D.D. (pony tail!) Table 5: Helen (dreads); Cindi (travels!); Sabrina (Jaycees Pres); Shelia (short hair); Ashley (curly hair) Table 6: Deidre (well-spoken); Erica (short afro); Carolyn (GED tutor); Jeannette (Deli)

This month I’m digging into the book of Malachi. No, I didn’t just choose it randomly; it’s the focal book of my Sunday morning Bible study group. But I am choosing to make it more than a Sunday morning drive-by. Have you ever read Malachi? If yes, then you already know that it’s not your feel-good, don’t-sweat-the-small-stuff kind of book! Instead, it is full of reminders to the Israelites that they needed to shape up or ship out. If you’re looking for a place to land in your Bible reading this month, I’d love to have you join me in Malachi. As the Lord opens your eyes to His truth, feel free to add comments with your insights and encouragements. Here’s a little something to chew on as you get started. In chapter one, the Lord brings up the issue of “blemished sacrifices,” taking offense to the fact that they probably wouldn’t offer crippled or diseased animals to their governor, so why do they offer these animals to Him, the Lord Almighty? Ouch! What am I offering to the Lord that is so much less than the absolute best He deserves and demands? I better process this carefully so that I am not included in the “cursed is the cheat” admonition, directed to those who have better but give less. Now it’s your turn. What’s God teaching you so far this summer, whether it’s in Malachi or one of the other 65 books He’s pulled together in His bestseller?

Starving SteinMart

"Temptation doesn't take kindly to being starved" (Lysa TerKeurst in Made to Crave). Have you experienced what it's like to starve temptation in any area of your life? How did it make you feel? For Lent this year, I gave up Steinmart. For more than 40 days, I willfully chose not to go to my favorite store in the world because I knew it was a place I wasted time and money, a place I went to for ‘retail therapy,’ a place that tickled my fancy and fed my ‘stuff’ habit. I wanted to use the time I typically spent shopping doing something more productive . . . like finding a place for all the stuff I had already bought at Steinmart and beyond. For the most part, it was not a difficult assignment. I found great pleasure in clearing out a couple of cluttered areas – the corner in my bedroom and the spare room on the second floor. The pleasure was not in the decluttering (the process always wears me out mentally and emotionally as I wrestle with what to do with what I thought I needed so badly that I bought it and brought it home). The pleasure was in seeing a clean spot in each of these rooms. But then I’d get a coupon in the mail, an alert on my smartphone, or an email in my inbox. The temptation started as simply as that. The higher the discount, the greater the temptation. But then I’d look at that cleaned out corner and smile. Nope, not going back there today. Can’t say ‘ever’ because I don’t know what tomorrow will bring but that day I didn’t go to Steinmart. As a matter of fact, I threw away the coupon, ignored the alert, and deleted the email. I focused on the end goal rather than the instant gratification. Fast forward to today and relating this to food issues (focus of Made to Crave). I love to eat. It is my sustenance, my comfort, my entertainment, my friend. It is to me all the things I say it shouldn’t be because I know in my head that food is fuel, and I really only need a limited amount of fuel to accomplish the tasks I have before me each day. And yet I eat. Starving physical temptations is difficult for me. I need to stay focused on the end goal and not be so caught up on instant gratification. Stay tuned. I've got a lifetime to work on this!

Damage, Danger, and Deception

A friend recently shared how she had to have some trees removed from her backyard due to damage from Hurricane Gustav. She didn’t have them removed back in 2008 right after Gustav blew through Southeast Louisiana; she had them removed just a few weeks ago.

Why the delay? In her words, “we put the removal process off as long as we could because of the pleasure of beauty and shade the trees brought to our yard.” Sure, if the roots had been exposed like the photo above, it would have been obvious that she needed to do something right away. But instead, it was easy to ignore because the roots were still in the ground. Even though there was always the danger that the damaged roots would give way and the tree could fall and hurt someone or something, it was easier to put it off. Removal required effort and change.

This friend got me thinking as she compared this to the danger of habitual sin in our lives . . . something that brings us pleasure but we forget that this pleasure is a deception and danger (think Genesis 3, Eve, a piece of fruit, and a lying serpent).

What’s the damaged “tree” in your life that needs to be removed? Don’t expect the process to be easy . . . if it was, you would have cut it out already. What you can expect is for the process to be challenging and the results to be rewarding. Sure, things will look different once the damaged “tree” is gone but sometimes – most of the time – different is good. Very good.

Really, God, the Desert Road?

I was doing a study on Moses and the Israelites (think Ex. 13 and Heb. 11) and was struck by Moses' report in verses 17 and 18: "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.' So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea."

Isn't that amazing? When we are faced with what we think is a challenging (maybe even terrifying) situation, we can know that God has weighed the options for us and decided THIS is the road we need to take -- this is the road that stretches our faith but doesn't push us to the point of 'changing our minds'!

The Israelites still struggled with fear, even on this supposedly easier path (see Ex. 14:10-12) but they followed Moses into the Red Sea and experienced the provision of God in a way that they may not have known otherwise.

However, knowing the rest of the Israelites’ story provides a warning: just because we've experienced a God-sized miracle once doesn't guarantee that we won't doubt or fret ever again. But that's the subject of another blog!

Borrowing from my brother-n-law

My brother-in-law James Jackson recently wrote an insightful article for Lifeway's Inside Girls' Ministry blog, and I thought it should be shared.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/girlsministry/2012/03/teaching_girls_not_to_be_the_p.html

One of the rewards of being disciplined about daily Bible reading is that, occasionally you get rewarded with a belly laugh you never saw coming. Several years ago, I got into the habit of reading a chapter of Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 days in most months, and there are 31 chapters of Proverbs, it works. So, on one random 21st day of the month, I came across this little gem:

Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging (“quarrelsome” in other translations) wife. [Proverbs 21:9 HCSB]

This made me laugh. I could imagine King Solomon, author of many of the Proverbs having a bad day with one of his seven hundred wives (1 Kings 11:3), and taking his royal sleeping bag to sleep under the stars. Come to think of it, with seven hundred wives, he may have spent more than a few nights on a corner of the palace. This must be true, because the exact same verse is repeated, word for word, just four chapters later:

Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife. [Proverbs 25:24 HCSB]

Now, since the Bible is God’s inspired Word, nothing gets in there by accident. And for a verse to be there twice means we ought to sit up and pay attention. It can’t just be that Solomon was having a marital spat and decided to make a dig at his 438th wife. There’s more to it.

Much is made in girls’ ministry of “The Proverbs 31 woman.” Proverbs 31:10-31 is a list of some extraordinary virtues a woman can bring into a marriage: strong work ethic, shrewd business sense, generosity and compassion to the poor and needy, wisdom and faithful teaching of her children. These are all good, good things. But is it worth at least one mocha at McDonald’s to talk with your girls about how not to be a Proverbs 21:9 woman?

How do you encourage girls not to be quarrelsome or nagging? Can you build a Bible study around Ephesians 4:29, and help the girls in your small group to hold each other accountable to “letting no unwholesome word come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for the building up of the body of Christ.”? Can you help them understand that “mean girls” who cut each other down in high school or are constantly sniping at even their closest friends are much more likely to become “mean wives” and “mean moms?”

Girls need to know that the personality they bring into a relationship with the opposite gender is, in many ways, the one that is developed in their relationships with their friends of the same gender.

Throw in a healthy dose of Proverbs 21:9 and Proverbs 25:24 in your girls' ministry. It will help your girls see the characters in the Bible as real people, and it will give them something to mull over in their current relationships as well.

What's in your hand?

What's in your hand?

A phone. A book. A pen. A computer. A bill. A fork. A coffee cup.

At any given time of the day, one of these things may be in my hand. What about yours? A child. A steering wheel. A remote control. This and so much more.

When God asked Moses this question, it was in the midst of the burning bush experience. God calling Moses. Moses questioning God's call. God laying out His plan. Moses laying out His doubts.

God offered Moses an object lesson. 'What's in your hand, Moses?' Moses looked at his staff -- the tool of his trade, a symbol of what he had done for 40 years, his comfort zone -- and complied when God said, 'Throw it down.'

God had a plan to take Moses' staff and transform it, not take it away. Consider what represents your comfort zone and, when God says 'Throw it down,' do it. It worked out well for Moses. I imagine it will be even more so for you and me!

Can it be saved?

It broke. As I finished filling the muffin tins, this perfect-sized green mixing bowl slipped out of my hands, onto the ceramic tile floor, and broke in two almost-even pieces.

In the six-and-a-half years I’ve had this bowl, I have used it a lot. It is the perfect size for cake mixes, muffin batter, mashed potatoes, tossed salad, and so much more. And now it is in two pieces on my kitchen counter as I try to decide if it can be saved.

I hate to toss it out. Not because I am a hoarder (contrary to some people’s opinions). Not because I can’t buy another (even though it was a part of a set that I got as a gift when replacing Katrina-lost kitchenware). I hate to toss it out because I wonder if it can be saved. If glued back together with the amazing E-6000, will it still be useable?

I’m so glad God doesn’t deliberate over our salvage-ability this way. From what I can tell from reading Scripture, it seems that God welcomes us in our brokenness and makes us new in His strength, power, and wisdom. He doesn’t worry that we’ve tarnished His reputation, or even that we may mess up again. He just starts the “new creation” process with a little transformation here and a little pruning there, and kingdom usefulness results.

The jury’s still out on whether I’ll try to save the perfect green mixing bowl but I am so thankful today that I’ve been redeemed and rescued by our good and perfect God!

Picasso Would Be Proud!

The Picasso Party was a blast! Thirty-six women spread out across the Creole Room with easels and canvases, doing something many had never done before.

I loved this event on so many levels. One, I love when adults try new things. I remember a bunch of years ago when a friend introduced me to the question: “When’s the last time you did something for the first time?” Adults tend to be scared of trying new things. What if I fail? What if I’m not that good at it? Well, what if you are? What if you find a new hobby or talent or even a new friend while you’re doing it?

Second, I love the idea that when we draw, paint, craft, or whatever you call it, we are imitating the Master Creator, and He loves to be imitated! With a stroke of the brush and splash of colors, we all produced vibrant ‘masterpieces.’ While they may all seem to look alike, a closer glance would reveal that there were a lot of unique canvases. God created beauty and allows us to individualize our expression of His gift.

Third, I didn’t think it was a good idea to have an event on the Thursday night before Spring Break. I figured too many ladies would be packing up and moving on. You proved me wrong. Apparently you were willing to stick around for something fun and different. I was schooled!

My takeaways from Picasso Night:
• Local artist Tonya Mohler is an organizational genius and teaching phenom. We all finished within two hours and were relatively pleased with the results!
• Ladies bond over shared experiences. The seeds of new friendships were planted as ladies painted together.
• Coffee punch is a crowd pleaser!

Weather Blues

Somebody PLEASE remind Mr. Weather Man that it is early March, and we would like some cooler weather! I don’t mean to be picky or not appreciate the blooming azaleas but it’s hard to get excited about breaking records for this time of year with our temps in the 70s and 80s!

It’s really about expectations. I mean, if it were May, I’d be appreciating a forecast of temps in the 70s and 80s. Why? Because that’s when the 90s start debuting, and I know that the 100s are not far behind. I expect it to be cooler in the winter and hot, hot, hot in the summer. What I don’t expect is for summer to show up early and winter to not get its turn to show off.

As you well know, life is full of unfulfilled expectations. I don’t think it’s bad to have expectations or goals or dreams (as a matter of fact, we better have them or we’ll have to tear out a page or two from Scripture), but what we do when God writes a different script tells the true tale of our faith. How do we adjust to the unexpected?

I’ve been praying for a friend whose 29-year-old son was killed recently in a military mission. So unexpected. So difficult. It makes my complaints about the weather seem so trivial and petty because, well, they are.

We need to consider what we’re doing with our unmet expectations. Maybe it’s time to stop whining and start trusting because only God knows when an unexpected and very difficult turn will come our way. We don’t want to be caught worrying about the weather and miss the opportunity to ‘faith’ our loving, all-knowing God!

Excellence vs. Perfectionism

At the QUEST Panel Discussion/Luncheon a couple of weeks ago, we explored the seminary’s core value of Characteristic Excellence. Sharon “Dr. T” Thompson and Beth Masters did a great job challenging us to remember those who have modeled excellence for us and to follow their lead as we guide others.

What I didn’t know when I asked them to participate in this event together is that they both grew up at First Baptist Church of Pensacola, FL, and that Sharon actually attributes Beth’s grandmother with having inspired her toward her love for missions. Wow! That’s a legacy of excellence!

I really appreciated one of the audience questions trying to differentiate between characteristic excellence and unreasonable perfectionism, especially with the scheduling loads so many of us try to balance. The response was a reminder to make sure we are taking care of what’s important in the big picture of our lives, doing what we can to do these things with excellence. Then we can -- and should -- consider what God wants us to add … and only add what will honor Him.

Ouch! It appears that characteristic excellence can collide with our habitual busy-ness, even when what keeps us busy is good. As one student offered, “Just because it’s a good thing doesn’t mean it’s a God thing.”

What did you do with your day off last week? Hopefully, you took advantage of the change of schedule to do one thing with excellence, instead of a million things just to get them done. ME? I did two biggies (at least big for me): I ran the distance of a half-marathon just in case I don't get out there on Sunday for the Mardi Gras Rock-n-Roll Half that I'm signed up for; AND I cleaned out my upstairs office at the seminary so that now it is empty and ready for someone else to fill it up with their important things. Sure, there were a lot of other things I could have done but, on THAT day, I wanted to do these two things with excellence. I hope God smiled.

Giving up Clutter for Lent

Whew! I don’t know about you but I’m glad last week is behind me! While I loved having a day off for Mardi Gras, negotiating the madness in the city left me a bit frazzled.

And here we are, heading into Lent and pondering what this will mean to us Protestants in a great big Catholic city. Sure, it’ll probably be easier to get a seat at Outback over the next five Friday nights. But, then again, the price of crawfish will be at a premium during the same time. Oh, the quandary we find ourselves in!

On a deeper note, the concept of ‘giving up’ something for 40 days seems a little shallow unless, of course, it costs us something. So, what are you giving up for Lent? What is cluttering the quality of your life and relationship with the Lord that you can put aside to give you more time or room to breathe?

I’ve decided to combine Lent and Leap Year. I’ve decided to de-clutter my world of at least 29 things that I value but just don’t need or have a place for. Of course, these words are easier typed than lived but my goal is to live out Hebrews 12:1 and so, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (you!), I am setting out to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for me. To be able to do this, I’ve got to keep going with verse 2: fixing my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith.

So, keep checking the Swap Shop, you might find a Leap Year/Lent treasure you can use!

God's Escorts into Glory

I recently heard a speaker call stressors "God's escorts into glory." If you're like me, you might be imagining quite a company of escorts because you've got a lot of stressors in your life.

Well, here's the good news and the bad news: your escorts are here to stay, at least on this side of heaven. If you're living and breathing, you're going to have stressors. Question is, how are you handling them?

Christian counselor and pastor Steve Pettit presented a list of stressor categories that summarized many of the situations on our lives. A couple that grabbed my attention included "uninvited angels" and "chains."

Pettit described "uninvited angels" as those life-changing interruptions that alter the plans we've so carefully laid for ourselves. What if, instead of allowing these interruptions to frazzle our faith, we embrace them as opportunities to join God in His work and, in turn, to get a glimpse of His glory? What if we surrender?

Then, in explaining his "chains" category, Pettit used the following fill-in-the-blank: if it weren't for ___________, referring to any confining or restraining circumstance we feel holds us back. We get to thinking that we're chained by situations, prisoners of our fate. But what about Paul? He could tell us a thing or two about chains! But he didn't let this dictate his destiny. He claimed to be a prisoner of the Lord, and used His circumstances to share Christ boldly.

So, how are you treating your 'escorts'? As Pettit says, never see these as coming from any hand but the Father's . . . and hasn't the Father shown Himself faithful to you before? I know He has to me!

How are you praying?

How are you praying these days? No, not who are you praying for, but how are you praying for those God has put on your heart and in your life?

I am intrigued by Paul’s directive in Colossians 1, a challenge to get beyond “God bless so-and-so” to praying for specific knowledge and specific evidence of His presence in each life.

So what does this look like? Check out verses 9-13. How about we pray for our friend to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will? And, with this knowledge, that she will live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way?

We then can pray that this will be evidenced by her bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father.

I join Paul in challenging you to pray this over at least one friend for the next week. I expect that you, like me, will be anxious to see how God will impact this person’s life because you have regularly lifted her name up in prayer. And, if you can’t think of anyone specific, then feel free to pray these verses for me … I welcome the coverage.

Let me know if you would like me to pray these verses over you (judiajackson@gmail.com).