What does it mean to live a sacred story?

    Do you see yourself as living a story for the Lord that has great value in His eyes? Sometimes the plot of my story feels mundane or not as signficant as others.  It can also seem like my story is moving in slow motion.  I think, Come on God. You sure are writing a long chapter with this situation or stage!

     And yet, God works behind the scenes in the circumstances of our lives as we devote our stories to Him.  We may feel like we've messed up our story or other people and events beyond our control have ruined parts of the plot through wounding us.  Amazingly, God takes the scribble and composes a beautiful narrative of His faithfulness and restoration.  The Lord shines through as the Hero who saves the day!

     Hour by hour. Day by day.  Whether we feel small, confused, delighted, disillusioned, determined.  The Lord beckons us to offer the minutes of our lives by faith to Him as a "sacred story" that makes a difference in His grand epic. Based on this reality that we all have a "story to live and a story to give", God recently begun a fresh chapter in my life with the launch of SACRED STORY MINISTRIES.  I will share more with you as I have opportunity as I'm really jazzed about this new chapter! 

Latitude of Gratitude: Pain and Mundane

What does it mean to lengthen our latitude of gratitude?  I've been thinking about being thankful and what that looks like in daily life.  Sometimes my heart is more easily drawn to tell God about what I am grateful for and then there are days when it seems like annoying inconveniences, unmet longings and false expectations about how life should unfold muffle my voice of gratitude.

Let's soak in a fresh perspective on I Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  I've heard this before and perhaps you have also but I think it bears repeating.  The Scripture does say to give thanks "in" all circumstances and not necessarily "for" all circumstances.  This is a big relief to me.

Suffering and loss created by our circumstances can cause our hearts be in pain.  The reality is that God grieves also over brokenness in our lives and the affects on us and those around us.  At the same time, He calls us as His daughters to a higher hope and joy beyond what we are experiencing around us.

I am learning to ask God what it is that He wants me to know about His friendship with me through my circumstances.  I am also learning to say that I will embrace all circumstances He has in my life as an opportunity to know His love and purposes more deeply even when they don't seem to make sense.

Beyond the pain, there is also a reminder to give thanks for what we might think of as the mundane. Were we able to get out of bed this morning?  Did air conditioning and/or heat keep us cool/warm in our homes?  Do we have consistent access to the internet?  Do we have nail files, wardrobes, and blow dryers?  What simple interactions with others will bring a smile to our faces this week?

We can thank God by faith for the ways He is working: restoring the brokenness, providing for us, conforming our character to become more like Jesus, inviting us in to a deeper knowledge of Himself and protecting us from the evil one.  I am SO GRATEFUL to share the journey with YOU.   

TURN OFF YOUR BRIGHTS!

This is the thought that ran through my mind as the car following me obnoxiously blinded me with their brights.  We are driving on a major freeway after all with lamps providing light.  It's not like we're on a two lane country road with no sign of life. I turned my mirror up so that the reflection was not so piercing.

I am even more annoyed that the car had the audacity to take the same exit I did!  And then to proceed to stay behind me to get in the same turn lane.  All the while intruding my driving vision with those blasted brights.  To top it off, the driver turned at the light and stayed behind me.  Of all the routes to be taken in a major city! My annoyance alarms were definitely sounding.  This inconsiderate driver was clearly out to get me.

Then I had a heart check. Ok, maybe a little paranoid. I talked myself "down" a bit~ the driver is simply wanting to get to and fro and happens to be on my route.  Maybe there's a good reason for the brights to be on although I cannot for the life of me think of what that may be.  Perhaps he or she doesn't realize the serious driving transgression that the brights are turned on.

My anger level over the bright light driver skyrocketed out of proportion.  I had to think to myself, why am I so frustrated?  What or who in my life is bringing up the same feelings~ helplessness, inconvenienced, intentionally making things harder?  Emotions are a mirror in to the heart.

I'm asking God for answers since He's the One who truly understands me.  I am not sure of all the reasons for my heightened frustration level. I am trusting He will shine His bright lights on my heart so that I can grasp how my  freedom in Christ is being threatened.  I'm so grateful that God is out to get me with His bright lights.    

How do you spell relief? R-A-I-N

What's that stuff coming from the sky? Could it be? Rain. Big drops falling from the sky. A sight for sore eyes. Months of intense heat without a drop of rain left Houston beyond parched. Wildfires consumed homes and threatened to take over the city. My mom mentioned doing a rain dance. From pulpits to bedside altars, prayers for rain have been on the lips of Houstonians.

I don't normally think too much of the weather or the yearly rain totals until this severe drought settled in for an extended stay. It seemed that there was no end and no sign of a moisture rich cloud in the sky. Hot, hotter and hottest. And I wish I were talking about men. My skin dried out. I never thought I'd be so eager to feel humidity again.

Yesterday the drops came pelting to the ground. A hefty afternoon thunderstorm with puddle making fervor. As God would have it, I was not alone during this storm but thankfully was visiting my sister, bro-in-law and nephews. Leave it to a kid to know how to make the most of life's simple pleasures.

My five year old nephew devised a plan when cats and dogs started falling from the sky. We watched it on the porch of their apartment and then he had had enough of the watching. The little guy rallied his dad and the next thing we know, they are out runnin, splashin, and kickin in the rain. Of course, the three and a half year old joined the rain celebration ritual.

It was only a matter of time when my sister and I jumped in to splish splash. Tongue stuck out, I modeled for my nephew what catching rain drops looks like. I have a new understanding of what it means for a city to go through a long period of time without. In this case, it's without rain. Stories in the Old Testament talk about famines. A long period of time where the source of food is dwindling.

I think about how droughts and famines can propel us to seek God's presence. No matter what we are without for a long period of time, it is an open door to pursue the Lord. It may seem like God is silent. Take heart, He is working in unseen ways. "So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, like the springs rain watering the earth." Hosea 6:3

Did you say celebration? I'm all there.

Celebrating is one of my favorites things in life. I figure there's a lot of mundane, pain, and just plain mystery to our days that when it comes to celebrating, I want to kick off my heels and boogie! Not that I wear heels. I admire those who are able to sustain stilettos. Anyway, back to celebrating even if it means kicking off my flats.

Recently I was talking with a group of women about a chapter in the book of John and we all went around to share ways we were going to apply what we learned. There's just something to saying it out loud that makes it more real. When it came to my turn, I mentioned that my lease was expiring soon and I would go through the ritual of signing for another year. I lamented how it can feel like a defeat to sign the lease because I am reminded that my life is the same in some areas.

Although I know God is constantly changing my heart. I just wish He would change my season of life. So after I sign the lease I usually go back to my apartment and lay on the couch, trying to recover. As I was processing with this group of lovely ladies, I vowed that this year would be different. I would not lament the lease but instead celebrate the signing of the lease. I created a "sign the lease" celebration in the midst of processing this new vision.

I would celebrate something that normally felt like a sting. I wanted to affirm that God's presence, His ways and timing are worth celebrating and that He was going to come through for me. I grew more excited about turning something that might cause me to doubt the goodness of God in to something that would be an opportunity to exercise faith. Take that, enemy.

My dear sister in Christ who was with me at the group said she was "in" on being part of the party. Celebrations are so much better with kindred friends. She came over to my space, bearing decorations, sweet stuff and prayers that we would be bubbling over with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

We ended the time of sweet fellowship by pouring out our hearts in prayer and acknowledging to the Lord that He is a "Abba, Father", Daddy, who cares deeply about His daughters. What a precious time with a faith filled sister in Christ! My faith was strengthened and my anticipation for God's activity, however He continues to give me His "lease" on life, is ignited.

I'M JUST SAYIN!

"Evening and morning and noon, I will complain and murmur, and He will hear my voice." Psalm 55:17

I was living life with the psalmist the other day as we both were lamenting why the world is so broken, wondering where God is, down on people who are obstacles to God's purposes and our peace, making our way back to praise, believing in the unseen. A typical day with my friend guiding me by his thoughts in the Psalms.

I am so thankful to walk with this brother through his unedited prayers to God that have consoled me on many an occasion. Suddenly, I heard a statement that I couldn't believe my friend had the nerve to utter. I rose up and chastised him for making such a bold claim.

"Have you not read Philippians 2:14 where it says to do all things without grumbling or complaining? [of course, he hasn't because he lived before the New Testament was written, but never mind history] Why are you condoning murmuring and complaining? You are saying you will do so, not just once but THREE TIMES A DAY? What are you thinking?"

I thought my friend might cower and slink away, saying I was right and that he wished he wouldn't have put that part in there because God doesn't like complainers. But no. He stood his ground about his words in Psalm 55:17, looking me in the eye and taunting me to dig deeper.

So what does this schooled seminary grad do in such a theological pickle and panic? That's right. Consult the Bible software. Upon doing so, I learned that the word complain in this context means to "rehearse", "repent", "go over a matter in one's mind" with the added insight that, "this meditation may be done inwardly or outwardly." The word murmur is quite colorful with descriptions like, "roar, mourn, be disturbed, be a loud drunk."

I was a bit relieved when I read this because secretly I have quite a few things to complain and murmur about and am glad to have permission to do so. My complaints can be anywhere from the way people treat me, the fact that I have pimples at my age, the timing of my life, the paint job on my car that is oxidizing. Taking a closer look, that's not exactly what my friend has in mind.

It seems that my brother the psalmist is giving full on license to "get loud with God" [as a friend of mine who is a pastor's wife has been known to quote] by calling out to him fervently and consistently about how things are not right in this world. When a friend turns their back on us. When we run in to another dead end. When evil decisions and people rock our security either personally or as a nation. He exhorts the listener to consider and meditate on God's character in the midst of experiencing stress, betrayal and confusion about God's ways. Finally, there is a call to "cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you."

"To cast our burden upon God is to stay ourselves on his providence and promise, and to be very easy in the assurance that all shall work for good. If we do so, it is promised that he will sustain us, both support and supply us, will himself carry us in the arms of his power, as the nurse carries the sucking-child, will strengthen our spirits so by his Spirit as that they shall sustain the infirmity. He has not promised to free us immediately from that trouble which gives rise to our cares and fears; but he will provide that we be not tempted above what we are able, and that we shall be able according as we are tempted." Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible

Let's go coconuts!

I have been learning about how great coconut milk, coconut water, coconut oil are for our bodies. Coconut contains what is called medium-chain fatty acids that are supposed to boost the immune system as well as be anti viral, anti fungal, anti bacterial, basically, anti any pathogen that would cross its path. I decided I needed to go check it out for myself so I went to Roatan, Honduras to take a sip of the real deal. Ok, I also was beyond blessed with the opportunity to join a dear friend for some fun in the sun. We decided it was like being on a honeymoon with Jesus. However, I can't help but think that if I were on a honeymoon with my husband, that Jesus would be there too. I'd like to try that variety. Sometimes I just don't get timing and I'm not sure I ever will. Speaking of godly couples, a very generous family allowed us to stay in their condo. The cool thing is that while they enjoy the destination for fun, this couple and their daughter also comes alongside a local orphanage and is helping to build a school on a nearby island. What an amazing example of how the Lord weaves adventure, relaxation and significance in to our lives.


For those of you who want to take a stab at a recipe with coconut milk, here's a tasty one!

Creamy Chicken Curry in a Hurry

1 ½ Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 med. onion, diced
Salt
2 tsp. curry powder
1 (12 – 14 oz.) can unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup canned diced tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes)
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 packed cups fresh baby spinach

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and ¼ tsp. of salt. Cook the onion, stirring often, until soft (about 7 minutes). Add the curry powder and continue stirring for 1 minute more. Stir in the coconut milk, tomatoes, and tomato paste. Continue cooking the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly.
Add the chicken, stir well, and cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until the meat is cooked through. Add the spinach and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 3 minutes. Add more salt to taste. Makes 4 servings. Serve over rice.

I can be over for dinner any time!

Out of the Pit

The Chilean miners rescue has captured the attention of the world over the past couple of months. It is an amazing story of how inviting God's presence and power into a tragedy can strengthen and sustain people under the most trying circumstances. When I read the account below by a Campus Crusade for Christ staff member in Chile, I was moved to thank the Lord for coming to deliver those who cry out to Him, no matter how dark the pit, physically or emotionally.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Hello team and friends! I want to share with you about the last 2 very intense weeks as we have worked on the project to take the Word of God and the JESUS audio version to the mine, but it has really be worth the effort as it is food for the soul. This long history of the miners that is now passing 2 months has been without doubt the longest survival experience for people trapped underground.

This all started on the August 5, when the San Jose mine collapsed because of the exploration in the mine. The news was not good as it was only 6 months after we had experience the very large earthquake and tsunami. With a population less than other countries in the world, problems like this seem much closer to you and much more like it is part of your own family.

After 2 weeks without news from the miners we could only think the worst. The government had made every effort, but it was reasonable to think that the miners were lost, above all considering the distance where they were located, some 700 meters (2,000 feet) deep with a difficult future to be rescued. But God had other plans and 2 days later (the 17th day), contact with them was made. Obviously we were all very happy and we celebrated the miracle that all were alive.

As Campus Crusade, God guided us to think about how we could help these men and this was how we took the initiative to contact some churches in the north, leaders and authorities about sending the JESUS audio into the mine. It wasn't easy in the beginning because of some apathy in the Christian leadership and a lack of a sense of urgency, together with the restrictive control of the rescue team but, God in His sovereignty provided that we were able to gain contact with the daughter and the brother of 1 of the 3 Christians that were trapped there.

During several weeks, I was in contact with them and I explored the possibility of sending them audio material. Finally, I traveled to the mine with 33 MP3's containing the JESUS audio version and an ample portion of the Bible. I was there for 2 days and we sent the MP3's through each family members that were there.

Jose Samuel, my contact in the mine (father of Hettiz and brother of Gaston) is an extraordinary man who has really surprised me. The psychologists that are giving help from the surface have recognized that he has been a tremendous emotional and spiritual support for the rest of his co-workers.

He sent me a letter that grabbed my attention for his incredible clarity of thought. For example, some parts of the letter are:

"I want to express my appreciation for this great blessing for me and my co-workers, it will be very good our edification" (He is talking about the MP3's)
"I am well because Christ lives in me"
"We have prayer services at 12 a.m. and 6 p.m."
"I ask all of you for pray not only for us here, but for all the lost people in the world"
At the end of the letter he signed off with Psalm 95:4, "In his hand are the depths of the earth, and mountain peaks belong to him."
This is a very motivating story, let's continue to pray for the salvation of these souls. Thanks for being part of this.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I'm so grateful for God's faithful servants who reach out in times of need to offer hope in the Lord Jesus.

Posture of the Heart

The church I attend recently moved in to a beautiful, new facility. What a great day to celebrate God's faithfulness to provide after 14 years of waiting for a permanent home. This is my first time to experience such a move and it is delightful to watch God's fingerprints all over the details.

One feature I particularly like is the kneelers on the chairs. As our pastor mentioned, sometimes the position of the body can reflect our spiritual posture. It is interesting to me how the physical and spiritual are intertwined. I think of the Psalms where I like to camp out for encouragement on how to pour out my heart.

On a number of occasions the Psalmist talks about his physical posture as he seeks God. For instance, he bows down toward God's holy temple (Ps 138), and he lifts his hands (Ps 141) to the Lord. I think of David who danced before the Lord (II Samuel 6). It seems that a natural part of worshipping the Lord is found in physical expression.

The kneelers remind me of this. I think sometimes I don't feel like my heart is in the posture of humility or reverence whether I'm alone or in public. However, by faith at times I want to move toward a physical expression, asking God to help my heart catch up. A popular Bible teacher once commented that sometimes, "We get to the next place [in our realtionship with God], by coming before the Lord on our face."

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95:6

This is The Day

I used to be an ER groupie. I know I'm dating myself a bit by saying so. In my mid to late 20's when I lived in Fort Worth, a couple of girlfriends and I would pow wow on Thursdays to faithfully watch George Clooney (AKA Dr. Ross), Dr. Lewis, Dr. Carter and Carol Hathaway live out their medical dramas. Did I mention we watched George Clooney?

When you have most of your life ahead of you, it's normal to envision how it might turn out. Whether intended or not, it seems that the human heart is wired for expectations. I know my friends and me presumed that life might have its maladies but that God would come through to save the day like the doctors on ER did on many occasions.

The longer I live, the more I experience the reality that misplaced expectation is the root of disappointment in my relationship with God and people. I think of my friends and me. We've had our griefs that none of us would have ever chosen, like family members who have yet to turn to Christ, miscarriages, a debilitating stroke, untimely deaths of loved ones, singleness, moving out of a dream home to down size, divorce, children with learning disabilities, and chronic pain.

To be sure, there have been many celebrations in life if I were to add them up for my friends and me like 10 years and counting of a godly marriage, children who are thriving, publishing a Bible study, family members who love well, recovery from physical struggles, friendships that are rich, travel adventures, and more.

Because life and God are unpredictable, it does all come back to the good deposit of wholeness that God is making in our hearts as we know Him through the ups and downs of living in a broken world. One expectation our hearts can know for certain is that unlike the ER docs who may or may not save a life, God saves THE DAY. I realized recently that Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." isn't just saying, as I have often thought, that we can simply find joy in each day. Sometimes the difficulties of a day seem to stink when expectations are dashed by disappointment or a painful turn of events.

I discovered that when I looked at the two verses preceding verse 24, I had a different take on it. "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice in it and be glad." God has saved THE DAY by pouring out His beloved Son on our behalf. No matter what happens on our journeys, this reality brings healing to our hearts including the tendency to misplace expectations. It is also the source of our rejoicing and gladness as we experience God's restoration personally and pour out on behalf of the hearts of others.

Bigger and Better, Greater and Grander

Hola! I recently went on a vacation or might I say "on holiday" if I was from England (that phrase is just lovely!). I hit a wall early this year and asked God to give me an adventure to look forward to. After multiple attempts at rallying friends and trying to figure out an oh so fun tropical spot, the getaway puzzle pieces came together when a kindred friend and me ended up at an all inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya.

We reveled in the idea of spending a number of days at a place where the hardest decisions of the day were what tropical fruit to taste and which lounge chair to choose at the beach. I haven't been on a vacation in many moons where relaxing, reading and refreshing were the daily "to do's".

I had been to Playa del Carmen about 8 years ago. If you've been, you know the drill. If not, here is how it goes, for those traveling on a budget. You fly into Cancun and a shuttle picks you up along with other passengers to drop you off at your resort. In the process, you see a parade of the resorts that the other vacationers are going to enjoy. We loved our resort. Check out these fun pics.

The funny part to this vacation adventure is that I had seen this resort during the "drop off" 8 years ago and coveted the idea of staying there. I remember thinking next time I'd like to stay at that bigger and better resort. I didn't intentionally seek it out as I was researching this trip but sure enough it is the one. As my other friend who was with me 8 years ago confirmed when I mentioned the name as I had an idea it might be the long ago sought after spot.

Through this detail, God reminded me that He remembers the desires of my heart, not just on a big scale but on a small one also. He hears my thoughts. He likes to show off that He is personally orchestrating my times.

I am also reminded of the human heart's tendency to want the bigger and the better, the greater and the grander. I looked at one resort on the way back to the airport as we picked up sun burned vacationers, thinking, "I wonder what that one is like?" Many times we might get down on ourselves or feel guilty for having such a bent. However, I think we can also think of it as part of how God has wired us, wanting something more. A longing for a beautiful, perfect place where the world is right and all of our desires are fulfilled. Bigger and better, grander and greater can nudge us toward our heavenly hope if we stop to reflect on what is behind the desire. Taking in the character of God in all of life including vacations is one of the beauties of belonging to Him.

What's in Numbers? Grumbling

On personality tests, I come out as optimistic and easy going (for the most part). I do have some "lion" in me from the tests with animal names as the categories which means I like being boss at times. For those melancholy/beaver types, I admire your temperments and need your strengths but truly am not wired to relate. Inspite of my natural sunny side, I am tempted to grumble.

The car in front of me is not driving sanely, my friend is not able to find a job and I wonder if God hears, the season of my life causes me to question God as I have multiple weddings to attend this spring without being able to fill in the "and guest" category.

Grrrrumble is the sound we hear from the majority of the Israelites in the book of Numbers. As I mentioned before, there are a number of incidents. The Hebrew word for grumblings means, "murmuring, speaking words of complaint, expressing dissatisfaction, implying a failure of proper relationship and possibly faith" (Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains)

The murmuring comes to a head in chapter 20. The Israelites approach Aaron and Moses with accusations, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord!", "Why then have you brought the Lord's assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here?"

Like the Israelites, my spirit of grumbling begins with giving in to the temptation to think that "if only" this or that would happen or would not have happened, I'd be able to flourish in the Lord. The other temptation is to give in to fear that God does not have good intentions toward me and that the people around me have the ability to drive my destiny when their choices seem to be causing negative affects.

In stark contrast to the others, Joshua and Caleb are commended in the book of Numbers for their faith in God's purposes and promise in the midst of removing enemies from the Promised Land. I want to be counted among the ranks of those who believe God is constantly in motion and at work in all circumstances for my good and His glory.

What's in Numbers? Guidance

When you think of the Israelites entering the promised land, there are a number of heroes who come to mind- Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Caleb. But whoever recalls Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite? As I resumed digging for treasure in the book of Numbers, I stumbled upon an introduction to this guy Hobab in Chapter 10.

Hobab is Moses' brother-in-law. You may remember that in Exodus 3, after Moses killed the Egyptian, he fled from Pharoah to Midian where he showed kindness to Reuel's daughters. In turn, Reuel invited Moses to live with his family and gave his daughter Zipporah as his wife.

As the account goes, Moses asks Hobab in Numbers 10 to come with the Israelites into the Promised Land. It seems that he had skill in navigating through the wildnerness, knowing where to camp and having the eyes to be on the look out for enemies.

When Moses first asks Hobab, he declines going with them so that he can return to his own relatives. But Moses persuades his bro-in-law to guide them, promising that whatever good the Lord shows Israel will also be shown to Hobab.

I think Hobab is a hero in his own right. He set out on a journey to claim the land even though he was not an Israelite. Hobab exercised faith in the promises of God through Moses. He left behind his relatives and was willing to brave the uncertainty of what might transpire before the land was secured. I had to ask myself, "Am I exercising faith and surrender in the circumstances God has me in today?" More on this in my next posting which is about belief and grumbling. There are a number of incidents in Numbers to choose from.

I also think, as one scholar observes, that God's guidance in our lives does include asking for human help at times. The help may come from a person who is already in our lives or may be someone we seek out because he or she has skill in an area where we need guidance.

I felt prompted to write a note to a friend this week. I have not talked to this person in 13 years. We were friends for a fairly short period of time and then our lives went separate ways. However, I remembered that she has experience in an area where I may need help. I can't say for sure that God is pointing her "to go with me" on my current stretch in the journey of faith. I am praying that God will guide my note to her and her response.

What's in Numbers? Blessing

Here goes my first reflection on treasures from the book of Numbers. After walking through the first 5 chapters about the census, the role of the Levites in worship, how to deal with jealousy on the part of a husband who thinks his wife has potentially been unfaithful (this is serious "summoned to the priest" intervention), and the Nazarite consecration to the Lord, I found myself staring at a small, beautiful clearing on my journey.

That would be Numbers 6:24-27. It's a blessing that God told Moses to relay to Aaron and his sons to speak over Israel. I looked up the word "bless" in my handy Logos software and it offered the following, "speak words invoking divine favor, with the intent that the object will have favorable circumstances or state at a future time". Swanson, James: Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament).

I have read this blessing before and also had it spoken over our congregation by the pastor. It caught my attention more than usual because God had impressed on my heart a few months ago through a message I heard to pray this blessing over my loved ones.

I have been calling out to God to add to the favor already on the lives of my loved ones. I love how the Scripture says in Numbers 6:27 to invoke the name of the Lord on the people and that He will bless them. So I have been invoking and believing that God is answering although my faith is tested when circumstances and relationships are tough.

The blessing in Numbers 6:24-26 is written below in the New Living Translation. I am asking the Lord to make Himself known in bold and bodacious ways as we seek Him and His presence. I encourage you to ponder for a moment who you might pray these words over.

May the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.

What's in Numbers?

When I think about obtaining a seminary degree, I think of having a mind full of grandiose theological conclusions. It's funny though. That's not the way it worked for me when I attended Dallas Theological Seminary. I will say I did learn a lot of very helpful perspective and input on the Bible. However, the most powerful things I learned that I apply on a consistent basis are the most simple and practical. For instance, I had this awesome mentor who taught me how to think about what God is doing in my emotional life through circumstances. I will forever be changed by her friendship and counsel.

One of my professors, prof Hendricks, taught us to use a 5 year Bible study plan so that at the end of it, we have studied all the books of the Bible. So the idea is that you dive in to one book per month (and doubling up for a few months on the smaller ones to make it 60 months or 5 years). Mind you, I don't always make it through the whole book~ think about Deuteronomy or Isaiah.

This is fun because as a new month rolls around, I sneek a peak at my chart to get an idea of where God and I are going for that month. Every now and then, I switch it around because the place where we're going doesn't feel quite right. I don't mean to imply that God's Word is dull, it's just that I feel a need to change to what feels like a more enticing and easier to navigate lane. Anyway, as I turned to my chart for the month of April, it was the book of NUMBERS. Who gets excited about studying Numbers?

One of the first things I did was look at the number of chapters. 36. I am also thinking that there's going to be a lot of going on about geneaologies, details about Israelite guidelines for life, roaming around in the dessert, and so forth. To give you an idea, you may remember that the book begins by the Lord asking Moses to complete a census and then details those clans who were accounted for. Hmmm. . .how to apply this to my life? Well, I do have to say that it did remind me to complete my own census form. But beyond that, I am looking for some personal application and have found a number of them. Pun intended! So I am going to blog a few times on reflections and devotions from the book of Numbers in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

Gluten Free Me

I have been recovering from a number of health issues. About 6 weeks ago, I decided to give up gluten and sugar for Lent. I usually don't give up anything during Lent but it seemed fitting since I wanted to try 6 weeks of eating this way which is about 40 days. Plus I figured that perhaps I would draw strength from knowing that others are abstaining from this or that.

Soooo. . .here are some reflections from gluten free me. Brown rice takes 45 minutes to cook. Brown rice chips are tasty. Brown rice bread has an interesting texture and is expensive. Brown rice pasta is better than wheat in my opinion. So you probably get the picture that I've been eating a lot of brown rice products. Beans and corn are my gluten free friends. Eating out can be a pain unless it's tex mex which I really dig anyway. Thai and Indian food are also really good picks. I miss pizza.

I miss brownies and chocolate. I have noticed that once I gave up sugar and in my case including fruit, it tastes incredibly sweet when I have a nibble. Yes, I've had a few but I must say that there are quite tiny. The taste is so sweet that I don't really want a lot of it. So that's a bonus. It does seem possible to train our tastes.

A friend and I did go to one of my favorite restaurants in Dallas called Bread Winner's this past week. Just the name of it should scream, "Making provision for the flesh". I knew I would eat the bread when I sat down and yet my portion was much less than usual. However, did this momentary relapse affect me? I confess that I ate a portion of my sister's delicious banana bread today. It is a helpful analogy of letting sin in~ we open the door a tiny bit and then get used to the taste so that pretty soon we indulge more frequently, forgetting the consequences will come.

I haven't seen all the results I was hoping for and yet I am experiencing progress. I think this means I will need to remain on this eating plan for longer than 40 days. uggh. I have to remind myself that my health is worth the delayed gratification. That's on my good days. On my bad days, I think, "Why do I have to eat this way when most of humanity is partaking of dessert, fried foods and Diet Coke?" I am going on vacation mid May so my new goal is to see further results in the next 6 weeks so I can relax my eating. Please pray for this sister's full recovery. By the way, my hat goes off to those of you who eat consistently gluten and/or sugar free.

The Mysterious Side of Life

Jane Austen is a personal heroine of mine. A friend of mine gave me a plastic figurine of Jane which I placed in a strategic spot as I wrote the study Capture My Heart, Lord. It seemed fitting to have such a great author watching over me as I worked. One of the best elements of Jane's stories is the mystery of the character of the suitors toward the leading lady. You don't quite know who is really being true to themselves or putting up a front. In the end, the true colors are displayed along with a dose of humility on the part of both romantic parties.

Life is full of mystery~ there are just things I don't get like why The Bachelor turns out the way it does. OK, I'm a little embarassed but do admit that I got sucked in this season and may have to post my thoughts. The show is a fascinating study in relating albeit not healthy in the way it can escalate the insecurites of women. On the deeper side of life, I think about the mystery of the human body, the universe, the existence of God.

When life takes a turn we didn't anticipate, we are faced with the element of mystery as God writes our stories. Merriam Webster defines mystery as "something not understood or beyond understanding". In our humanity, we attempt to offer ourselves or one another some explanation for what has transpired so that there can be a more defined "why" behind it. I'm not sure why we do this except to make ourselves feel in control since perhaps we want to keep God's ways within certain limits or to make others feel better by providing an answer.

However, the very nature of a mystery is that it is beyond our understanding. Why a friend suffers physically, why another one goes through a painful divorce, why a loved one passes away at a certain time, and the questions remain unanswered. God's ways are mysterious and many times the best approach is "I hurt with you. I don't know why this is happening."

Even though the unraveling of our stories involves mystery that in many cases we may not have answers for in this lifetime, the mystery has been solved about God's character since He says so much about who He is in His word. God doesn't always explain the "whys" behind what He does although He does give us a heads up that the element of mystery will be part of our journeys by expressing that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not ours. A mentor of mine in seminary encouraged me to ask the question "What does God want me to know about Him?" through every experience I encounter. This question has helped me as I learn to embrace mystery.

Reflections on Valentine's Day

SEND CAPTURE MY HEART, LORD AS A VALENTINE'S GIFT. FREE SHIPPING AND HANDLING IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY IN HONOR OF THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOOK RELEASE! CLICK ON THE STUDY TO THE RIGHT AND FOLLOW THE LINK.

February 14th is on its way! Whether you are married, divorced, dating or can't remember the definition for the word "date" because it's been so long, the mention of the day seems to elicit a variety of responses. I love pink, roses and hearts so the ambiance behind Valentine's is really appealing but the reminder that I'm without a "romantic pursuer" much less husband is not so attractive. However, I do know that many women who are married or have been in a marriage relationship would readily remind us single gals that marriage is many times a tool of sanctification (God's spiritual sandpaper hurts!).

Soooo. . .I've been thinking about what is behind all the hype. In my mind, it seems to come down to the reality of love. We experience love through people whether it's a kind word, affection, thoughtful gift or heartfelt prayer. There is a longing to know love at the deepest level and people are part of that knowing. God defines Himself as love so the longing is truly to experience Him at the very core of our being. I believe God uses romantic love with a man as a way to reveal more of Himself~ even when a man fails to show the love of God or there is not a man to do so, it is a loss and should be grieved as so. As Dr. Henry Cloud says, "grieve your losses daily". This means have Kleenex and waterproof mascara on hand.

Losses and longings can cause us women to look to the Author of Love. I was reminded of this last year when we celebrated the publishing of Capture My Heart, Lord on Valentine's Day. I had tried to plan the book launch party multiple times before it became apparent that God wanted to put His fingerprints on Valentine's Day. He reminded me that even our best attempts at human love pale in comparison to His perfect, restoring love which heals our hearts. I had invited a godly gentleman to join me at the celebration who ended up not being able to make it. Throughout the weekend, I was blown away by the kindred friends who came to celebrate and the reality that God's abundant expression of love or my worthiness to receive it is not limited by what we can or cannot do for eachother.

I pray there are many godly men out there who will depend on the Holy Spirit to unconditionally and sacrificially love the woman in their lives. I pray that a florist knocks on my door oh so soon (I'm not picky about the day) to deliver a beautiful arrangement of hot pink roses by a romantic interest. I would have delight at this moment in the expression of love. I also know that if this gesture doesn't happen that by faith in Jesus' life and sacrifice my experience of the love of God will remain rich, creative and all encompassing.

Chili for chilly weather

Hi friends, it's that time of year when Mr. Winter visits with cold temperatures, making blankets, heaters and "warm comfort food" necessities. For those of you who are visiting Face to Face from those "ohh so cold" places, you may be thinking, "What do you know about cold weather living in Texas?" Point well taken. However, having gone through a number of days with the wind chill in the teens recently, I know enough that I am not made to live in consistently cold climates. It is a jolt to our southern, coastal city when freezing temps arrive. I myself am cold natured in an apt. with not a ton of insulation and high ceilings in the living room so I found myself in my robe with my blanket and fuzzy shoes. I felt quite cozy until I realized that I could not keep my nose from being cold. I decided to make a big pot of chili and wanted to share this tasty and quick recipe taken from Allrecipes.com.

INGREDIENTS: 1.5 lbs ground beef, 3 stalks celery (chopped), 1 green bell pepper (chopped), 1 onion (chopped), 1 tsp. crushed garlic, 1 (28 oz.) can stewed tomatoes, 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste, 1 TBSP. white sugar, 1 cup cold water, 2 (15 oz.) cans kidney beans (undrained), 1 TBSP. chili powder, salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS: In a large pot over medium heat, cook beef until brown. Stir in celery, bell pepper, onion, garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, water, and beans. Season with chili powder, salt and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour.

Enjoy a bowl full of warm comfort food.

The Gift of Gratitude

After Elizabeth gave birth to John, the day of circumcision arrived and the new parents' were asked about the name of the child, assuming it would be Zacharias after his father since this was tradition to name children after family members. Zacharias had been mute during Elizabeth's entire pregnancy because of his unbelief when the angel Gabriel pronounced the upcoming birth so Elizabeth was left to explain for both of them that the baby's name is John . Those in attendance were perplexed and looked to Zacharias to confirm. He wrote out the name on a tablet and all were astonished. At that moment, Zacharias regained his ability to speak. The first words out of his mouth were words of praise and thanksgiving. I bet he had a whole new appreciation for the fact that he could form sounds from his mouth~ no doubt he had many months of frustration in being unable to utter a word! Let's consider the words that come out of our mouths today. Think about good gifts that God has poured out in your life~ some may be by faith because they may not seem good in and of themselves but they are helping you know and experience His love on a deeper level. Offer to God today the gift of gratitude by acknowledging the good gifts He has given you.