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Emily, just be the jar.

12/13/2014

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It's much easier to just read it. Just gloss over it and move on. However, sometimes God's Spirit beckons in relentless pursuit with a divine drawing. He's drawing me into something that feels way bigger than me, way harder than I can handle, way different from how I am used to living.

I like my life. I like my family's way of doing things. It feels good. It feels like "home". But as often is the case with God, He likes to shake things up, do it different – and not just slightly different. His different reminds me of upside down and backwards to my understanding.

So I sit, bible open, with 2 Corinthians 4 not letting me go. I sit with phrases weaving in and out of my thinking the past few days as I wash dishes, drive to appointments, parent my kiddo, consider our future. Whispering in my mind are phrases like, "...always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." The verses that follow that are echoing too: "We who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you."

It's been screaming at me in the book I am reading, woven into sermons or podcasts I have been listening to, and, ironically, I've rediscovered it in some verses I had taped to my wall. Yes, interestingly, I've read these verses before.

Actually, I've read them plenty of times, but never really thought about them. Ever since God radically changed my husband's and my heart a couple of years ago, everything reads different. Lots of scripture which read poetically and inspirational before has started to feel more... hm, applicable and shall we say instructional. (And by instructional, I mean explicitly clear what I am to do.)

I don't know how I rerouted the old testament precedent of life requiring death into sorting clothes for the needy and serving the occasional meal. I mean, gheez, there's, Jesus' death which produced life, the death of all the disciples - save one - for the expansion of the life-saving gospel, and the daily dying Paul seems to refer to frequently. There are so many who do sort clothes and are honoring Christ, doing it from a beautiful motivation of love; it's just that I simply wasn't. A couple of years ago, any interaction I had with those in true, deep needs in hard places somehow made me feel good about myself and my few minutes of service. There you go - you're welcome, World! (Cue that clanging cymbal from 1 Corinthians 13.)

Having said that, we have changed our lives in response to what God has spoken to us. We live less for ourselves than we ever did before, but self still exists. Don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to persuade myself that I shouldn't take time to myself or rest with my family – absolutely not. However, I am putting my current wonderings into print: Am I giving my best to God?

The question that caused Brad and I to sell our home and move into town (from all Christian neighbors to a place where I have yet to find more than one) was: How do we give Jesus more? That question burned in our hearts and minds as we worked and slept and ate until we could work and sleep and eat no longer in that particular place – because, for us, giving Jesus more meant being in a different place. It meant leaving the house we had known, loved, remodeled, repainted, loved our baby, hosted parties, hugged precious neighbors, and, by the way, had a small garden with a compost bin and everything. I think maybe it was because that in it we had blocked out some of the most needy in our community. It meant coming to a small apartment surrounded by people who don't know Jesus and sometimes want very little to do with us. I am not touting our move and commending myself to you as some great Jesus follower. Because anew, He is drawing me to His Word and suggesting surrender. Basically showing me that not only do I not have it all together, but any little shred of "together" I seem to hold is really just Him shinning out of this jar of clay. (And we're back to 2 Corinthians 4.)

The invitation seems to be the surrender of dying in order to bring life. Paul's life models this truth - that in the laying down of my life, maybe God would give life to somebody else.

As my family moves into a new season of rearranging our lives to love others (and consequently Jesus) better, I'm a little scared. Some of the things we are moving towards are out of my comfort zone. But, what a sweet reminder of my great need of Him. Sometimes, believe it or not, I think I can do it on my own. O, I would never say that. I've got enough scripture memorized to know that I can't say that.... but I do it with my life without conscience thought. This next season in our lives, this invitation into the bigger, harder, different life than ours from Jesus is an invitation to not do it on my own, but trust completely and die daily. Just to be the jar.

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STILL like it - my crazy, I mean

11/11/2014

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I know you haven't been counting, but I have - at least roughly.  I have been without Internet connection (excepting VERY limited data for phone) for something like 146 days.  Approximately.

And I love it.

There's something about that disconnect that works for me.  Maybe it is that the nagging guilt is gone from spending way too long googling which puppet is the best price for some future gift for my girl.  Or it could be the complete satisfaction in NOT watching stupid YouTube videos that are only mildly entertaining. 

I can see on the horizon that we will need it again as archaic methods of communication (which do not make me readily accessible 5 different ways) is a trickier life in today's highly connected society.  We are considering the world of foster care; and I can imagine that email (full screen with a keyboard for typing and all) would be most handy.

So there's that.

I don't know that I am cured from my entertainment/news addiction, (Can 146 days do that?), but I do feel the relief away from it. 

So my big take away, and I know you are waiting with baited breath: just do it.  No, not to disconnect your Internet and breathe the depth of real world connection - unless you need to; however, whatever is eating your time and keeping you from living and from being - get rid of that.  There's always stuff to distract us from the things that are important to us.  So, knock off that one - the one that is bugging you lately.  It's an amazing freedom.,  I promise.

"I concur with Annie Dillard, who once said 'How we live our days is … how we live our lives.'  We need to discover for ourselves how to live this day in faithful surrender to God as we 'continue to work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling' (Philippians 2:12)."  -Francis Chan

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For the record, I like my crazy.

7/31/2014

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We  did it.

Disconnected the Internet at home.   (Gasp!)  Yes, it's  true. 

No longer do I read daily  news source headlines.  Nor do I regularly check my email.  I do not watch YouTube videos when I am bored.  I do very little immediate question-answer Internet searching!  (WHAT?! I'm a complete research-aholic!) Furthermore, I watch NO shows! (Coming from a practical entertainment junkie, I still am shocking myself with that
one!)
 
Before you assume that I am a total hermit of sorts, let me say: I do check weather and scan Facebook feed daily. And when I say “scan” I mean a less than 5 minute scan.  (Maybe, in today's society, that does a hermit make?  Hmmm....)
 
Oddly enough, it took all out begging on my part. I mean practically on my knees begging
my how-do-I-turn-on-the-computer-again husband that we could do without it.  People, it pains me to watch this guy google anything.  (And, Babe, “google” means “search”.)  I
literally have to press my lips and sit on my hands, or else I just beg to take over.  (Which is what usually happens after I try the aforementioned.)  
 
So, here we are.  Internetless.  It's been maybe four weeks and probably  12 visits to the library for internet.  HOWEVER, before you scoff, week one was probably eight visits... and every week has decreased in number to this week.  

This is my first visit, and it's already Wednesday.  Though, if I don't print the documents I need within the next 45 minutes, it will have to be two.   :)
 
I  feel completely out of my element.  I am having to be more responsible and plan my trips so as to maximize my time (while the 7-year-old still interrupts regularly), actually having to balance my checkbook again hardcore, having to painfully tell my daughter “no”
to all her favorite web sites.

I am convinced most of the world will think I am crazy.  (Gheez, I think I'm crazy!)  But I have to say, it's a crazy that's working for me.  Without limitless internet access, I find a pastime I love, reading, to be frequented.  I am learning to knit – FROM A BOOK!  (Yes, the library has multiple uses!  Additionally, hopefully soon I'll have a live person to learn from.  A sweet little lady I met in the park.  Wow.  Random human interaction versus my beloved DIY videos.)
 
I am finding that I can catch a news story or two on the FB feed... (So, if the stock market ever disintegrates, I will know, folks)... the radio still does headlines (when I am not listening to my daughter's silly songs or the like).... and my incredibly limited data plan for my phone is perfect for necessary connection to the rest of the internet dependent world.

And, I feel more satisfied.  Take it from a recovering Internet junkie, learning to breathe air again feels good.  My husband and I just sat on the couch and TALKED two nights in a row after saying good night to the 3-foot girl who lives with us.  We have a great relationship; BUT, this week I feel we have a better one.

I don't know if we will get the Internet again.  I can't imagine that I can deny the kiddo access to all the information in the world as we grow up together learning. But, I am not ready yet.  I don't trust myself to make the good decisions - the quality decisions.  I will chase headlines and watch shows and media-medicate myself right out of quality talks with my amazing guy, and fall asleep missing moments in the Bible searching out God, and be completely oblivious to moments of pretend with my repair-woman daughter (who started to take apart our stool with an Allen wrench today apparently).

Would she have even tried that before? Probably.  But still, I have to wonder.

My life seems richer today and not just because I'm saving the money from the price-hiked Internet plan we were paying.... but, because I lived my life.  

And you know what? 

I loved it.

                             So teach us to number our days
                that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  Psalm 90:12


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wobbly

7/16/2014

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It was a wobbly start even though my six-year-old looked confident as she
picked up her bike.  A breeze whipped her hair across her face as she looked
over her shoulder to throw me a smile and to make sure I was there, watching. 
She had protestingly donned jeans, ever my skirt wearer.  Last year, she had
finished the best part of bike season fairly proficient.  We had even biked
together, though a little precariously, in the addition where we live.  Now, at
her first attempt this year, she expected the best.  However, the bike wobbled
under her as her muscle memory geared up for the first time in months.  She fell
over several times.  It actually took a couple of days for her, but soon she was
riding confidently and feeling rather happy, I would say.

My bike wobbled too as my friend told me they were headed back to the
hospital with her little girl.  I was walking along just fine when God asked me
to start riding again.  I too glanced over my shoulder to make sure He was
there.  I got out my bible and let truth sink into my heart from passages that
had sustained my life more than once in storms.  A couple of the pages seemed to
fall open to these deep, life-preserving verses.  Others stayed hidden deep in
my own rusty "muscle memory".  A slightly easier season of life had allowed my
muscles to weaken a bit as I focused on other things.  Now my heart demanded
them to do their job.  I found myself reminded of my desperate need of
Jesus.

So with It is Well playing in the background, I got on my
bike.  I flexed my memory, "Is it first Corinthians four or second Corinthians?" 
I checked both and reread, "Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly
we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far  outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is  unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."


I climbed back up on the bike and unsteadily rode toward Jesus.  The process
of surrender and trust is a wobbly one at times, at least for me.  The drive for
me to encourage my friend with life-giving truth and not just kind words makes
me get back up when I fall. 

However, I gained strength and momentum in the riding.

Paul reminded me of my aim in Philippians 3, "that I may know Him and the
power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in  his death."
  The courage God gave to the early disciples in Acts 14 gave courage
to me, "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue  in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the  kingdom of God."  Jesus' life itself begets strength in Hebrews 5, "Although He  (Jesus) was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered."  

I continued reading reminding myself of our sovereign God, our great
treasure.  As I focus my mind willfully on who He is, my heart fills with love,
adoration, and gratefulness.  When the God of the universe promises Himself as
Abraham's very own shield (Genesis 15), when He guarantees the priestly tribe of
the Levites the inheritance of Himself (Deuteronomy 18), I find myself saying,
"Lord, I want You as my shield and inheritance!"  

"You are my portion and my cup...indeed I have a beautiful inheritance,"
Psalm 16 declares.  "May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You! May those  who love Your salvation say evermore, 'God is great!'" Psalm 70:4 sings.  "You  are good and do good; teach me Your statutes," Psalm 119:68 reminds.

I am biking hard now in hot pursuit of God instead of my own understanding,
and there is indeed the fullness of joy in His presence.
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my very present help

2/7/2014

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Seeking out a quiet moment, a quiet corner in the bustling hotel lobby for  reflection.  Desiring not only quiet for my ears, but a quiet for my heart as  well.  The past month has seemed in many ways like a bad dream.  Trouble upon trouble seemed to be heaped upon those we love.

Sorrows.  Trials.  Troubles.  The Word is full of them.  Life is full of  them.  Thankfully, God is our refuge.  God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble.  Psalm 46:1  Aw.... I breathe deep and feel
relieved.  He is my help in trouble.  Although, when I continue reading the next  two verses they do not seem at first to comfort.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the
mountains tremble at its swelling.


No promises of the trouble-free life I want there.  In fact its an extreme  situation - a calamity - the psalmist offers in illustration.  Though the earth give way...

There's been more than once when I felt like the earth of my life was giving  way: husband's years of illness and hospital visits, the crushing diagnosis of  infertility, parents' divorce, death of a dear friend.  Some bad theology and a little bit of life can swallow you up in the giving way of life's earth.

However, what I found as I sifted through the Word  in the midst of my complete sense of loss as hardships collided - there was God.  There He was not leaving.  There He was not forsaking.  There He was giving purpose to my pain.  There He was promising that He indeed was enough.  

It felt strange to me as I began to find comfort in His promise of troubles.  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the  world, you will have tribulation.  But take heart, I have overcome the world.  (John 16:33) His promise of goodness (followed by a list of hardships) gave me hope.  He who did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all, how
will he not also with him graciously give us all things?( Romans 8:32)
  His instructions to look toward eternity started to take root and grow in my heart. 
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of  glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen  For the things that are seen are transient, but the  things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17,18)  

It was amazing to me that after years of worry, anger, sadness over our own continued troubles, I began to experience real freedom by focusing on Him and
trusting in Him.  As He worked miracle after miracle in my heart, my life exploded; and I began to experience what I would call an abundant life.

The kind of life where the rivers of living water flow freely from "your  belly" and not from simple head knowledge.  The kind of life where the belief that ALL things being created for Him sustains a trust in Him that defies natural human inclination.   

The kind of life where troubles are a key to a door to God.  The gift of understanding my dependence on God coupled with His sustaining grace has been invaluable as His answer continues to be a painful "wait" in areas of our lives.  I know Him better and long for Him more than ever before.  The trials remind me  that this life is not my home and that the promise of eternity holds the promise  of a pain-free life.  

Reading the rest of that Psalm with this wholehearted trust in Him is then  very reassuring. Now I can see the whole of it, "Let the worst come, and I will be your refuge and your very present help in that trouble." 

And that, indeed,  is comforting. 

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untitled

12/5/2013

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Sometimes words just don't suffice.

My heart is heavy and even the most carefully chosen, thoughtfully descriptive words cannot convey the its emotion today.

I've many times thought about narratives from the Bible - how much unrecorded agony (and joy) are left to be imagined by the readers.  Years passed with Joseph in prison, long agonizing hours of Christ on the cross, hundreds of years as slaves in Egypt - summed up in mere sentences.

As several dear families in our life live through their own valleys, I carry a burden for them.  A burden to be heard and understood, to not be forgotten.  To not have their sorrows be a short sentence in our life at present.

I remember an amazing moment years ago when I was sharing with a dear friend some of the struggles that we were going through with Brad's health at the time.  She stopped and asked me to wait as she imagined what it was like to be me.  She validated the gravity of my emotions, the stress of my life, and attempted to put herself in my place.

That was a monumental moment.  Many people offered sympathies or encouraging words at appropriate times.  But, she tried to walk with me.

And in a time when I was convinced I needed to be strong, it felt good to be weak and needy.

She wept with one who was weeping inside.

I would ask you to pray for my nephew, my cousin, my dear friend's daughter, my tornado victim friends if God reminds you.... but I also know that you have your own friends with their own needs.

Church, our brothers and sisters around us are in desperate need for support. 
Body of Christ, the lost and dying world is in desperate need of love and hope.

As hard as we may look for the perfect Christmas gift this month, let us look even more dedicated for those in need and then lay our lives down to love.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18

Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15
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 你好

8/10/2013

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the day that china came to us felt special, but i didn't know how special.

i picked our exchange student up at the airport in great excitement.  she was sweet and kind.  i am mesmerized by her culture.   i am intrigued by her family and her life a world away. 

but what floored me was my american.  my little american gave up her bed, her room, access to some of her very most important toys without complaint.  i watched her as she walked unknowingly in Christ's footsteps, and i marveled.

while i've been trying to prepare my american for the losing of "life" that finds true life, i was not expecting to see the beautiful reflection of truth in my young daughter's eyes yet.

while there's lots of sad news - hard news in the world, i look at my daughter and see hope.  i see good news - The Good News. 

welcome, our china doll. 

welcome, Jesus.

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."  Matthew 16:25
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feed jesus

5/31/2013

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Picture
the bowl was more of a manifestation of my lack of talent than anything.

i had stared at the blank, chalky bowl for far too long.  brad was offering endless suggestions that were all limited by my perceived inability.

so i got up and got the stencils after his recommendation about using a scripture.  i was looking at a great soup bowl perhaps... what scripture goes in a soup bowl?

matthew 25, of course.

the limited room afforded me the following two word phrase: feed jesus.  this morning, as i ate my oatmeal, it did what i had intended it to do.

it reminded me that caring for others IS how i care for jesus.

so do i care for him? 

as i ate, i thought about hungry bellies in my town and around the world.  i thought about thirsty babies and mommas.  i thought about those in prison, forgotten.  i thought about the flood victims i've met in their attempt to rebuild their lives.

it's easier to not think about the needy.  life gets busy. 

my life gets busy.

unknowingly, unintentionally, inadvertently, i can quickly forget about the very people jesus cares for so very much.  please, Lord, help me to remember the hurting.

"speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,  for the rights of all who are destitute. speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”  proverbs 31:8,9

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when nothing in particular is something very specific

2/8/2013

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nobody knows exactly how long joseph was in prison.  it's something like more than 2 years and less than 13.  i recently googled the history of joseph and found that it is contained in about 23 chapters in genesis.  however, the actual account of his time is jail is a little less than 2 and a half chapters and that hits very specific highlights. 

i look at that and think to myself, even only 2 years of prison time deserves more space.  what was going on in those years?  that intrigues me about reading history.  lapsed years are indicated by a few words.

we've lived here for almost 3 months.  sometimes i feel i need to justify that we are not starting some sort of ministry yet or giving more at established ministries.  and you know, maybe nobody puts that expectation on us, but i have.

until recently.

somehow my heart has begun to really embrace what we are called to at this season.  i want to trust in God's timing, not in my expectations or what i think others are expecting of me.  i want to embrace this deep and meaningful work that God is indeed doing in me.  i want to rejoice and enjoy the changes i watch in brad daily.  

i want to embrace the passage of time in our lives when someone else would look in and maybe record little in our biography, but we would know.  because we experience the calling to the Word.  we see the passions stirring in us.  we encounter the lesson that only God can suffice in today's need.  we learn the value in the process of patiently cultivating relationships.

we dream often about reaching out to our world in ways we haven't yet.  but it seems to be God's desire for us to wait and grow in us patience, hunger for Him, dependence on Him.

and that is deep, meaningful, important work that i don't want to rush through for the sake of answering my own or others' expectations.  that would be idolatry.

my soul, wait silently for God alone,
       for my expectation is from Him.  
                        psalm 62:5



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18

12/8/2012

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as i look around our new space, i smile.  i like it.  it's simple.  it's easy to care for.  i LOVE that because i don't love cleaning but want things clean.

the temptation of early morning entertainment of FB, email, TV shows and news headlines has been eliminated by the placement of our computer.  i LOVE that because i enjoy entertaining myself (uninterrupted while munchkin sleeps) but tend to overindulge.

it's small.  we got rid of lots of stuff so we could fit in this space and not rent a storage unit.  i LOVE that because i always thought i could get by on less, and now i know i can.

and yet, to be perfectly honest, there's a temptation to take my eyes off Jesus and compare myself to cultural norms.  there is a pull inside of me to give amia certain things, portray myself in a certain way, relate to my friends in a particular habit.  

i have the shameful ability to attempt to honor myself instead my Lord.  it's sneaky - often completely indiscernible to me.  i miss the skewed motivation in my heart.  my head convinces me that all is well.  it's the dilemma of those infamous 18 inches.

moving knowledge from my head into my heart is assuredly astronomically above my natural ability.  that is supernatural work for my supernatural God.  as i struggle in the discipline of seeking Him in His Word, i find the miracle of my heart creeping towards Him.  

whom i look at (Jesus) from which position (head or heart) matters.

God, please make these 18 inches on the short side, i just want more of You.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and who is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1,2

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