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.
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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.