A Tribute to the Women

 A Tribute to the Women

I’m going to name names. I know, sometimes that makes people feel uncomfortable, and you run the risk of leaving someone out or forgetting someone important. And to be honest, posting this might make me squirm a bit, too because here it is - all out there, but I believe that life on this earth is short enough and the people God gives you are valuable enough to let them know how much you love them. So I am going to be unashamedly gushy…

On Mother’s Day, we reflect on our relationships with our own mothers, perhaps your role as a mother, and sometimes the other women who have “mothered” us in various ways. Sometimes this day brings with it hurt and pain because of a desired relationship that wasn’t there, or disappointment and shattered dreams. With an empathetic heart toward those feelings too, I want to take a few minutes to thank the women who have largely shaped who I am today.

Thank you, mom. You were there for all the soccer games, (and other sport games), doing a replay on drives home, discussing what I could work on and improve. You worked long hours so you could spend more time with me in between. You made the little things count. You are the greatest example of befriending those who need a friend. You are a loving Grammy to my kids. Oftentimes it was just the two of us, battling some hard days and times. And here we are again, just the two of us… figuring out these next days together.

Thank you, Kim. I am often amazed at the great relationship God has allowed us to have. In the early dating days, having Sunday dinners at  your house, you made me a part of your family from day one. You have been an example in building solid relationships with others, putting God and your family first, mentoring countless young women and being brave in the face of new challenges and changes. I am grateful to have you to talk to about anything and thankful that my kids have you as their Nana.

Thank you, Jessica, for being the big sister I never had. When I look back to the influences I needed most in high school, you were the golden one. Thank you for going a few years ahead in marriage, parenting and ministry and being honest about the difficulties of all three, but making it clear how much they matter too.

Thank you, Rebecca, for being my first official “mentor”. In my junior year of college, when there were some dark days in my family and the struggle of academic stress was real, you walked me through all of those things. You exemplified what being a mentor to someone was: listening, offering, caring, remembering. I think of you often when I have the opportunity to sit down with those younger than I am.

Thank you Rosemary, Sherry, Kelly and Nancy for befriending “little-ol’-me”. I am often humbled that you would invest time to have a meal with me, celebrate life moments, invite me into your home. Thank you for giving me honest counsel and being someone I can be fully myself with, baggage and all. Because you see through the struggles and walk with me toward Christ. 

Thank you to the MOPs Mentor Moms who have always been encouraging, listening hearts. Thank you for laughing alongside the craziness of motherhood, crying with me during the breakdowns and reminding me that His mercies are new every morning. Thank you also for reminding me that I’m not alone. It’s a joy to serve alongside you and to count you as a friend.

Thank you to all the women and friends God has placed in my life. I am beyond blessed and beyond grateful. There are those of you who are in the same stages and I love “doing life” with you. There are those of you who have gone before, and I love learning from you and seeing your example and faithfulness.

On this day, full of differing emotions, I pray that you would find the women who have mattered, cared, walked and poured, and praise our God for the community He gives. Maybe take some time to thank those women who have shaped you. And think about how you can be that friend and mentor to someone else.

I am thankful for you. Happy Mother’s Day.

God Sighting!

   One of the things I loved at Grace when I first came to the church was Dr. Euler’s scheduling of God sightings.  On the designated evenings members were encouraged to share God sightings–specific instances where God had shown up, perhaps had arranged a meeting where they had a chance to be like Jesus.  I loved hearing others’ testimonies.  So let me share with you my recent God sighting.

 

 My daughter Sarah and her family, including her mother-in-law, and I, went eclipse chasing.  We headed for southeastern Illinois where there was to be totality for just over four minutes.  We were tent camping, which is a whole other story.

         

Before we arrived at our campsite we stayed in a hotel in western Kentucky on Saturday night.  Before we went to bed, Daniel emphasized that we had to be up early, ready to leave by just after 7 a.m.  I made a mental note and also set an alarm.  Here is where it got dicey.  My brain was on Eastern time, but we were in the Central time zone.

         

The next morning, I woke early and glanced at the time. I decided my alarm had not gone off and we were late.  I jumped out of bed, turned the light on, and began getting dressed and packing my bag.  Obviously I woke up Jan, Daniel’s mother, who was sharing the room with me.  She also started dressing and packing her bag.  When we were ready we woke up Ruben, my grandson, and got him dressed.  About then we realized there was no light under the door to Sarah and Daniel’s room, so obviously they had also overslept. 

 

We knocked on their door, only to be told that it was only 5:30, and they were going back to sleep. Oops!  I was still on Eastern time. Of course, we were wide awake by now and there was not a chance we would get back to sleep.  

         

We finally wandered out into the lobby, hoping they were serving breakfast early. They were. We got our food and I headed around the corner to get coffee.  Here is where God showed up.  The young man who had worked the night shift came to get coffee just as I did.  We began chatting and the conversation moved quickly to spiritual things.  He didn’t know the Lord, but he wanted to and had been thinking about it a lot.  He didn’t have a Bible, but promised he would get one and start with the book of John.  I showed him how he could download the Bible app onto his phone, and he did it right then. The phone rang at the desk and he had to go back to the desk to answer.  He got off work right after that and disappeared.

         

So why did my brain get mixed up and wake me up early?  I am convinced it was God, just to give me a chance to talk to Devan, that needy young man.  

       

   The first verse that popped into my head about that day was I Peter 3:15, “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”  I am not always ready to speak.  Sometimes I have good excuses (reasons!) why I cannot speak up. Maybe it’s not convenient. Maybe I’m afraid I won’t know what to say. Maybe I'm feeling shy. But my longing is to be used of God, to speak when the Holy Spirit prods me.

         

As I pondered the whole experience, I realized that I had missed an important illustration. In Mark 1:17 Jesus said to Andrew and Peter, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” That was only one of a number of meetings where Jesus said, “Follow me.”  Jesus asked the rich young ruler to follow Him, and he turned away sorrowing. The price was higher than he wanted to pay.

         

So what is a major part of following Jesus?  He looked for opportunities to minister to people. He looked for God sightings. He saw the woman at the well trying to hide her background.  He saw Zacchaeus up in a tree, just trying get a glimpse of Him. He saw Bartimaeus crying out at the edge of the crowd.  He saw the woman with an issue of blood hiding in the crowd, wanting just to touch the hem of His garment. There were hungry hearts then, and there are hungry hearts today. Only today we are the hands and feet and mouths of Jesus.

         

Help me, Lord, to be on the lookout for those who are hungry for You.

                   

                                                                      ~~Faith Himes Lamb

 

Why Yogurt Caused Me to Roll My Eyes

 Earlier this week, I opened some yogurt for breakfast to find a quote printed on the underside of
the foil. It said, “Create a life today that’ll be worth writing about tomorrow,” credited to Nancy
Jooyoun Kim. I’ve heard the sentiment before and get the intention of the statement, but this
week, I rolled my eyes.

As an avid reader with a degree in English Literature, it has been drilled into me that an essential
component of a good story is conflict. Stories without some kind of obstacle to overcome, where
everyone is happy and good with life, are boring. So when I read that quote on my yogurt in the
middle of an incredibly busy work week, I was annoyed.

Over the past year, there has been plenty of conflict in my life, plenty of obstacles to overcome,
and plenty of anything-but-boring days. I’m all for doing hard things and pushing oneself beyond
what you thought you could handle, but I’m tired. A simple, happy, boring-to-read-about day
sounds wonderful right now.

We live in a fast-paced world that values high productivity and pushing beyond our limits. But
we were not designed to function at our highest capacity all the time. Rest is a gift from our
Creator built into who we are as image-bearers and the order of the world (Genesis 2).

The result of always striving for a story-worthy day is high anxiety and burnout. There are
absolutely seasons of life when we need to push ourselves to do the hard thing. But there are also
seasons of life when we need to allow ourselves to take a step back and enjoy a time of rest.

Days of rest may be boring to read about, but they don’t have to be boring to experience. There
can be such simple beauty in taking a step back. There is more time to notice the natural beauty
around us and to connect with those we love on a deeper level. There is room to thrive instead of
merely surviving.

This may be a busy season of life for you as it is for me, but I encourage you to find time to put
aside the busyness in your life and allow yourself to rest.

May my heart be enthralled
By the sacred and simple things
May I find it all holy
May I learn to be content
And know the joy of resting
A place where perfect peace can hold me
So lead me to still waters
And let this be my new prayer
I want...
A little more love, A little less hustle
A little more quiet, A little less noise
A little more wide-eyed wonder
At the simple things I'm holding
Embracing ordinary moments.

“More Love Less Hustle” by Jenny Simmons

--Concetta Swann

His Soldier

In sitting down to write an introduction for this post, there are a lot of things that come to mind, but I am excited to get right to the point, so I'll skip the backstory for now. I hope you have time to do what the next paragraph asks...

This poem comes with an important request: please don't read it by itself! It was written to be lyrics for the Scottish tune most familiar by the song title "Loch Lomond," the melody having first appeared in McGibbons' Scots Tunes Book 1, published in 1742. The second part of my request is that you play the instrumental music while reading the poem, letting the music bring the words to life, so to speak. The link to do that is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvMttq9zBTY&list=RDGMEM8h-ASY4B42jYeBhBnqb3-wVMYvMttq9zBTY&start_radio=1

Thank you, and may His truth stir and encourage your soul as it has mine!

-MaryBeth Hall

His Soldier

The Angel of the LORD (Jesus) sets up His military camp in a circle around those who deeply revere Him and defer to His right to govern their lives, and is intentionally in the process of arming / equipping them for successful war. Good it is, and see - Oh taste it for yourself - how blessed is the warrior who will seek refuge in Him! -Psalm 34:7-8

Jesus, Divine Warrior*, as Scripture proclaims,

Has set up His camp all around me.

He gives me His armor to wear in His name,

And though fierce is the fight, mine's the victory.

The belt is His truth; it holds me together,

Anchors other armor, and it's freeing.

His righteousness, a breastplate my heart shall e'er cover

His untarnished holiness – what a gifting!

Shoes under my feet of a sure foundation:

His gospel of peace knowing, going.

And faith is my shield when the fiery darts fly in,

That I'll take up and hold with His helping.

Salvation's helmet I receive with great joy,

Loving all that it means now and ever.

His Spirit takes His Word in the battle to employ.

His hands o'er mine to wield it; foes tremor.

In prayer always to He Who leads Heaven's host,

For all things at all times for all soldiers,

I call to the One Whom I need the very most.

By His great sacrifice, He has won the war.

"Be strong in the Lord, in the power of His might,

That against Satan's schemes you may stand fast."**

I follow Heaven's Prince Who redeemed me from the night;

And in Glory I'll join Him at long last.

Jesus sets up His camp all around me...***

*Is. 59:14-20, **Eph. 6:10-18, ***Ps. 34:7-8

Intentionality Amidst the Busyness

 

Life is busy. Between teaching both at school and at church, homeschooling my children, grading papers, keeping up with meals and housework, spending Saturday mornings at the soccer fields watching my kids play, and various other things that come up throughout the week, it seems there is nothing else that could be added to my days. Instead, it feels like I need to cut back. Yet a few weeks ago, as I read through 2 Peter, I came across these words, “Make every effort to add...,” followed by a list of things Peter wanted the believers to be adding to their lives. There was no exception given for those who were busy. These were a necessity. As a matter of fact, Peter stressed their importance by saying, “So I will always remind you of these things” and “I think it right to refresh your memory as long as I live” and even, “I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always remember these things” (2 Peter 1: 12, 13, 15). What were these things that Peter felt were so necessary for these believers to add to their lives and not to forget about? Thankfully for those of us with full calendars, these things are not tasks to be written down in our day planners. However, perhaps even more challenging, they are traits to be added to our very being.

            There is an interesting paradox in verses 3 through 10 of 2 Peter. Preceding the verses that tell us what things we need to be diligent to add to our lives (5-7), there is this well-known verse: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life” (3). So the truth here is that God has given me what I need to live rightly, but I also have to actively work at it. In my own strength, I can’t be transformed into the person God wants to mold me into, but that doesn’t mean I sit back and “let go and let God.” Peter explains this is not passive: “Make every effort” (ESV). “Apply all diligence” (NASB). It is work. It is intentional. We work at it precisely because we have His power and have been rescued from the corruption of sin in the world and in our desires (3-4). So, what should we be adding? Before anything gets added, there has to be something already there. This is:

Faith: This is the starting point. There is no relationship with God, and there is no transformation to Christlikeness that doesn’t start with faith that God is who He says He is and that salvation is in His Son alone (Hebrews 11:6, Galatians 2:20).

Now Peter starts his list of what to “make every effort” to add to that faith:

1. Virtue: This word is translated “goodness” in the NIV and “moral excellence” in the NASB. It is a broad term that implies integrity of heart, one who does right.

2. Knowledge: There are two words for knowledge in the Greek; this one can also be translated “doctrine” or “wisdom.” Are we growing in wisdom? This can only come as we get to know the Lord and His Word better.

3. Self-control: Are we growing in controlling our tongue? Our thoughts? Our actions? Are we self-disciplined in how we prioritize our time?

4. Steadfastness: This word can also be translated “perseverance” or “endurance.” It is standing firm in the faith even through hardships, patiently waiting on the Lord.

5. Godliness: Are we devoted to the Lord? Are we pursuing Him and seeking to live in a way that reflects Him to others?

6. Brotherly Affection: This can also be translated “kindness.” Do we care about and show concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ? This should show itself in our interactions within our church body. Are we getting to know people well enough to share both joys and burdens with them? 

7. Love: There are four words in the Greek for “love.” The word used here is “agape;” it is the love that is sacrificial, willing to give of oneself for the benefit of the other.

            These traits are the ones Peter is asking Christ followers to diligently apply to their lives. As all Scripture is inspired by God and useful, this list is ours as well. How can we be intentional? Here are two ideas: One, we choose one of the above virtues that we know we struggle with and focus on adding that with the Lord’s help. Or two, we focus on one a week, going down the list, and asking the Lord to grow us in those areas, looking for opportunities to do just that.

            So, instead of adding one more thing to your “To Do List,” let’s focus on our “To Be List.” And the nice thing is that this “To Be List” can be practiced even as we check off the items on our “To Do List.” Peter gives the following encouragement after listing these traits: “If these qualities are yours and increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (8). Don’t we want that?

 --Amy O'Rear

Ain't None of My Business

 

Ain’t None of My Business 

I don’t remember the exact words, but a friend of mine on Facebook once said, they (people on Facebook) don’t need to know. She was referring to the ins and outs of her daily life. She was saying people don’t need to know everything she is thinking and doing (and eating).

There’s a delicate balance between connecting with others by sharing and knowing where to draw the line. On the other side of things, there’s a delicate balance between trying to help and meddling in others’ business. It’s tricky and might even be different for different people. 

I’m embarrassed to admit that I am a fixer. I’m too quick to offer suggestions for other people’s problems. As I have matured, I now see that people often know the answers to their problems and sometimes they just want someone to listen to them process those answers. Or maybe they just want to complain. It isn’t my business to fix them or correct them. It takes discernment to offer a fitting word when needed and to know when to quietly listen – to draw people to come to their own conclusions. I am particularly tempted to set people straight on social media, especially if I don’t know them or if they have angered me. But it “ain’t none of my business,” most of the time, to correct them. I’ve been trying to “pick my battles” carefully. (For example, I might speak up for the defenseless or oppressed but refuse to argue over which way toilet paper should go on the roll.) The bickering on social media has become ridiculous! 

The Apostle Paul said this, "Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God's family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (I Thessalonians 4:9-12, emphasis mine) 

Boiled down: Lead a quiet life. Mind your own business. Work with your hands.

In my efforts to mind my own business, I have been trying to remember that I don’t know as much as I think I know. And my comments will likely not change anyone’s mind. I do not have to respond to every offensive remark. I can move on quietly, minding my own business, doing my work.

Other Scripture verses point to correcting a brother or sister lovingly and in humility. Which is it? Correct others or not? Yes, to both. It is my opinion that we should seek first to mind our own business, but then carefully offer correction if really necessary after much prayer and with the right motives.

What do you think? Maybe I don’t need to know.

joyce hague

One Whom Jesus Loves

 

I love Easter! Not only is it less stressful and more relaxed than Christmas, Easter celebrates the most important event in Christian history. Several years ago, I put together an extensive Easter playlist. I tweak it a bit every year, but it currently stands at 56 songs with a runtime of 4 hours and 4 minutes. The first half of the playlist is carefully arranged to follow the chronology of Holy Week while the second half celebrates the resurrection before pointing to the Second Coming in the last few songs.

As long as the playlist is, it only begins to scratch the surface of the music that has been written to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection. Thousands of songs have been written about this one event in history. And why not? Jesus loved us so very much that He came to die for us, and then He defeated death itself!

I have enjoyed going through the book of John over the past year, both at church and in my personal reading. One thing that has stood out to me is that the author refers to himself several times as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Growing up, I always heard this talked about in a joking way, as if John was being a bit bold and presumptuous. It wasn’t until last year that I read a different perspective, which I believe is closer to the truth. John was placing his identity in being loved by God. He did not talk about himself as an apostle, evangelist, or author—though he was all of those things. He identified himself as loved by God.

In our world today, there is a lot of talk about identity. What political party do you belong to? What gender do you identify as? What denomination are you a part of? In our personal lives, we can often worry about how others perceive us through what we do, titles we hold, achievements we are proud of, or shortcomings we are ashamed of. But what would happen if you saw yourself first and foremost as one whom Jesus loves?

One of the songs on my Easter playlist is “When Love Sees You” by Mac Powell. It’s from the album Music Inspired by the Story, which I highly recommend. The chorus and bridge speak to how Jesus sees us:

“Tell Me your story, show Me your wounds
And I'll show you what Love sees when Love looks at you
Hand Me the pieces, broken and bruised
And I'll show you what Love sees when Love sees you.

I see what I made in your mother's womb
I see the day I fell in love with you
I see your tomorrows, nothing left to chance
I see My Father's fingerprints

I see your story, I see My name
Written on every beautiful page
You see the struggle, you see the shame
I see the reason I came.

I came for your story, I came for your wounds
To show you what Love sees when I see you.”

God looks at us with the greatest love that has ever been or ever will be. It is immense beyond measure and incomprehensible. As we celebrate on this Easter, I invite you to place your identity in being loved by Jesus.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

 

--Concetta Swann