Ready, Ladies?

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

I'm down to the final lesson in Jesus, the One and Only—a study of the Gospel of Luke by Beth Moore. I reread the story of the crucifixion and resurrection as I worked on my lesson this morning. Although familiar, this time, I caught some of the drama stirring among the women who followed Jesus. During His ministry, it is recorded that the women looked after his needs. We know the names of some of them; Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James—but there were others who remain nameless. (I would like to think I would have been there with them.) Women enjoy taking care of the needs of those they love and these women played an important part in the end of the story. Picture the morning after the Sabbath rest. They had waited all day Saturday, as required, but used the time to prepare the spices for the body. Can't you hear them chatting among themselves as they scurried down the dusty path just before dawn, wondering how to handle the heavy stone that covered the entrance into the tomb? What a surprise to find it open when they approached the tomb and saw it open! The story the angel told them rocked their world. Excited by their discovery, they suddenly remembered Jesus had told them this was going to happen. Just like women, they hurried back to tell the story to the all of the men. God knew how to get the word out! In the Jewish culture, the men had all the privileges; women were relegated to the basement, so to speak. As Beth describes it, Jesus elevated women by adding a ladder to that basement and bringing them up to join in the work and ministry of the church. His resurrection brought life to all who believe – Jew or Gentile, man or woman, slave or free. We each have a role to play in the Kingdom and hierarchy ended when the veil was torn in two. That day changed the world. We will never be the same. Thanks, ladies, for telling the story.

Anguish

I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
     and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
     out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
     and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
     a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
     They will put their trust in the LORD.
Psalm 40:1-3 (NLT)

Next week I'm leading a seminar entitled Anguish of the Soul at our Women's Retreat. Each attendee received a list with a brief synopsis of the various offerings and chose two. Mine read:

David found himself caught in the darkness of the pit in Psalm 40 with no way out. In his anguish, he cried out to the Lord for help even as despair threatened to overwhelm him. God heard those pleas, pulled him out, and set his feet on firm ground. For some of us, that pit may come in the form of depression; slimy and dark that blots out all light, takes away joy, and leaves an unrelenting hopelessness in its wake. In the midst of the deep pain, loved ones are often confused and frightened as the murky shadows threaten to obscure any normalcy. I know because I've been there. Join me as we journey together from the dark moments of the soul into the light of God's hope and help.

Eight women signed up and I know two. I've spent the week filtering through my notes and compiling my outline and handouts. My heart's desire is to encourage these women and offer hope and knowledge as they walk either in the shadows or are in the pit themselves. It is a lonely place to be, often kept secret due to fear or shame. When I was walking that scary road, I didn't know what was even going on; a name for it would have helped. My goal is to shine the light of God's love and compassion to dispel those fears and help these ladies open up their hearts to His healing. God promises us solid ground and a new song after our time in the pit. My prayer is to get a new singing group going.

Cowgirls All

A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children's children. Proverbs 13:22 (Amplified Bible)

Oh, the excitement of a ten year old. Kate, as my oldest granddaughter, knew the meaning of undivided attention as a little one, but in recent years she assumed the position as "cruise director" for her two sisters and planned all their activities. However, on this trip, life revolved around her and she ate it up. Literally. Whatever she wanted to eat, or do, or see was hers for the asking. We watched more horses in both the parade and the rodeo, ate funnel cake and local barbecue, watched movies from Blockbuster, spent a day doing girl stuff (museum, shopping, lunch), and learned to bake apple dumplings. By the time she was tucked in bed, I was already headed to mine. One of the great pleasures of grandparenting is the ability to lavish love on my girlies without any responsibility for their behavior; that job is up to Mom and Dad. But my heart's desire it to leave an inheritance that is far greater than a sum of money. I want my girls to know my Jesus and with courage and strength from above, to walk in a way that shows them how important it is to follow and obey God. I pray that each grandgirlie will hear me speak kindly, be generous, offer help, show mercy, be a friend, forgive easily, keep short accounts of any wrongs, and know that they can trust God to lead them throughout life's journey. As I watched the plane take off returning its precious cargo, my Kate, to her home, I already missed her. Her love of life filled our house for a few days and brought such joy. She is welcome any time.

Listen Up!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

I was taken by surprise when I exited the Denver airport this past weekend. Out of the corner of my mind's eye, I saw a little girl running on chubby legs, arms up, yelling, "Nana, Nana, Nana," and throwing herself into my outstretched arms. Kate was fifteen months old at the time. Tomorrow, we pick her up at the Phoenix airport, a grown-up young lady of ten, who will travel alone for the second time. She is headed here for the weekend to attend the Tucson Rodeo, a gift for her birthday. How time flies! There is no pretense in Kate – what you see is what you get. She goes all out for whatever strikes her fancy whether it is horses, or books, of cooking, or music, or swimming, or even shopping. Kate believes she can do just about anything, even if she has never tried it before. I remember watching her pitch at her softball game last summer, never having even thrown the ball in practice. She was sure she could do it…until the coach put her in the game. Cold, hard reality hit and I read the consternation on her face. All of a sudden, the old adage, practice, practice, practice, took on new meaning. How many times do we head off over the cliff without checking our egos at the door, assuming success? In need of some time alone, Jesus took three disciples with him up on a mountain to pray. The three fell asleep and when they awoke, they observed Moses, Elijah, and a transformed Jesus talking. Always impetuous and in awe of the men before him, Peter lobbied to build shelters as memorials for the three and wouldn't stop talking about it. Finally, God, Almighty, appeared in a cloud and spoke, " This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." (Luke 9:35) Imagine Peter's reaction. I wonder if he felt foolish? Rather than telling the others, we know from scripture that they kept it all to themselves, probably a good idea. Parents love seeing enthusiasm in their children. I'm sure God shook his head at Peter and chuckled. He would be that kind of kid who threw himself wholeheartedly into any fray. However, God knew that time, circumstances, and training would temper that reckless abandon in Peter and smooth out the rough edges. He had a plan for Peter and his role as leader and spokesman for the Gospel emerged as he learned to listen to the One who had the answers for eternal life. The moral of the story...listen up!

Snow Fun

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrew 12:1-2 (NLT)

Snow in 50 states? Although a dusting of snow covers the Catalina Mountains that surround our home, I'm glad I live in Arizona. Being a California girl, snow was a choice and shoveling, chaining, heavy clothes, and COLD are good for about three days and then I'm done. The weatherman has predicted temperatures in the 70's for the rest of the week. My grandgirlies and family spent a weekend in Lake Tahoe a couple of weeks ago. They emailed pictures and videos and I loved all the smiles and whoops of laughter. Tori, my middle granddaughter, later enthusiastically shared how much fun it had been. She spent the day sliding down the hill in a big purple saucer but added, "It was a lot of work to go back up the hill." I asked her whether the heavy clothes and boots she had to wear might have made the trip harder. She readily agreed that they were a pain but reiterated all the extra effort was worth it. Life often mimics a roller coaster with the ups and downs coming faster than we can handle. Just when we seem to have things under control, the phone rings, the mail arrives, or the doorbell chimes and our world is turned upside down. Paul reminds us that we are not in this rat race alone. However, if we don't let go of those things that bog us down – our failures, worries, and fears – they're going to trip us up. Drop that weight at the foot of the cross and focus on the One who loves you and is your biggest cheerleader. Run!

Bo

God gives, God takes. God's name be ever blessed. Job 1:21 (The Message)

There are times when I want to ask God, "When is enough, enough?" I received an email from my daughter that a very good friend, the principal of my grandgirlies school, suffered a tragic loss today. Her sweet dog, Bo, was killed in a car accident. As devastating as that is all by itself, this dog was the darling of the school. He was only a couple of years old and began "attending" school as a puppy; sitting quietly in his carrier until the bell rang for "recess". All the kids loved him and my grandgirlies even enjoyed play dates at the park with Bo. We're not really a "dog" family but he was given a special dispensation and had the run of the house whenever he stopped by for a visit. So how does a child express sorrow? Because most have little experience with this kind of emotion, it was suggested that they draw a picture or write a note to give to my friend. That's probably a good idea for all of us rather than stuffing emotions that are hard to handle. My prayer is that although tomorrow will be a day of sadness, tears, stories, and hugs, it will also be the beginning of the healing process and a lessening of the pain. One of the lessons I taught my kids is that life is not fair. This latest tragedy seems like the last straw after a very tough week for all of them. There is no explanation, no reasoning. Just the simple fact that God does what He sees as best and we are to bless His name…no matter what. Enjoy doggy heaven, Bo.

Out of Focus

Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. Colossians 3:2 (The Message)

I went to a chick flick with a friend yesterday and saw the movie, Leap Year. It was the classic girl wants to get married but boy is slow to make a move. In some very funny scenes, she takes things into her own hands, suffers the consequences of her decision, and ends up changing her mind. Doesn’t that sound just like a woman? But, why did she change her mind? She was challenged by the antagonist to look at what was most important in her life. He asked her what she would save if her apartment caught on fire. As she thought about it, she realized that the answer was nothing. She had no life and the life she thought she wanted was empty. Doesn't that sound like most of us as we cruise through daily activities? We work, and scrimp and save for the next biggest and greatest only to find that once we have it, there is no satisfaction and we start the process all over. All the to-do's set up on our calendars, the outings with friends and family, the carefully planned vacations, and even our own personal desires can go up in flames in the blink of an eye. So what should we be doing? Where do we put our energy? Paul answers the question…it is in Jesus. Want to be part of the action? Change your focus. Make decisions with the long view of life knowing that His way is really best. He will guide you and satisfy the desires of your heart.

Be Still

Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today...The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV)

In our fast-paced world, "being still" has become an art form. Cable news with 24-hour coverage doesn't help. Neither does the instant access to updates via facebook, twitter, or the iPhone. Information bombards us all the time, whether we want it or not. My daughter, in an effort to protect the girlies, turns the TV off when the news comes on (a challenge for me when visiting...the news junkie). However, I understand. The violence, murder and mayhem, war, and politics that splash across the screen add an undercurrent of fear and instability to their world that they don't need. The enemy seeks ways to destroy us and seems to find our most vulnerable spots. Many years ago, when I was much younger and more naïve, I thought that with enough time, energy, and money, I could solve any problem. Wrong! We can't do it by ourselves. Our marching orders are to stand firm, rejecting the temptations of power, fame, money, or position. We must be patient and unafraid and watch with anticipation as He steps in and fights the battle. Sometimes it takes minutes. Sometimes it takes months or even years, but victory is assured. I encourage you to take time to be still in His presence. Watch and see what He will do.

New Normal

The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. Luke 3:5 (NLT)

My friend, Jan, is a brand new grandmother of a baby girl. She has been hanging around in cold Colorado since Christmas, awaiting the birth of this precious baby rather than enjoying the warmth and sun of Arizona. However, I know the feeling. The expectation and joy are overwhelming and you just need to be there. My daughter was born on January 10th so I can really relate to the timing of this grandbaby. I remember how long the days seemed after the rush of the Christmas holidays ended, before the arrival of this new little one in our home. Then once she was here, I could never seem to catch up. In the back of my mind, I would ask myself if things were ever going to get back to normal. When Mel was about 6 weeks old, I was rocking her after the 2 AM feeding and looking at her sleeping face in the moonlight. I kept thinking of all undone things that stared back at me each day: laundry, shopping, cooking, cleaning…. actually anything. For the thousandth time, I wondered if things were ever going to get back to normal. As I sat there praying, I realized that no, it would never be the same. I felt as if my Heavenly Father said to me, "We are going to now have a 'new' normal around here and the sooner you accept that premise, the more contented you will be." That night was a turning point and the daily demands began to fall into place. I have since found out that we have "new normals" all of our life. Some are easy and fun, some are not and the adjustments can be difficult at any age. But, the glue that holds it all together is the God who gives us strength each day. He is the one who smoothes the rough path and makes it straight. This baby is well loved by all around her. So are we.

A Cup of Cold Water

And whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple—I assure you: He will never lose his reward!" Matthew 10:42 (HCSB)

Nine days before our wedding, Mark suffered his second heart attack. I cancelled all of our California wedding plans and flew out to Memphis, where he lived. From the moment I walked into the hospital room, he began to rally and we did get married on the day we had planned—only in Memphis. For a California girl, from the Bay Area no less, it was a bit of a culture shock to find myself smack dab in the middle of the South for seven weeks as Mark recuperated from not only the heart attack but also a bout of pneumonia. But I enjoyed my time in Memphis and all things southern: the food, BBQ (the noun, not the verb), azaleas, the drawl where one word could have three or four syllables, the ducks at the Peabody, great jazz, and a church on every block. Everyone goes to church on Sunday and lunch reservations are often the hottest ticket in town—or else you better get there early. Today, we finally saw a movie that I have been trying to see for several weeks, The Blind Side. I like Sandra Bullock and I knew it was a heartwarming story about a family from Memphis. Bullock played the part of a southern "mama" to a young black man that she noticed walking along the road one night. After she picked him up, it was obvious that he had no hope and little to offer, but she brought home and gave him a warm bed. I could say it was just that old southern-hospitality thing, but I would rather believe that she was willing to offer a cup of cold water to someone in need. He stayed and the family learned the meaning of love in a way they never expected and that seemed foreign to their family and friends. That young man, Michael Oher, is a testimony to the power of God when we are willing to go the extra mile. His success was not without a lot of personal hard work, but in the process he learned the meaning of both courage and honor, along with love. I encourage you to see the movie. Take a couple of tissues—mine were soggy at the end. And…be on the watch for someone who might be thirsty.