Thinking on these things . . .

I heard an idea today that is changing my perceptions. The topic was teens and the expectations their parents have or don’t have for them. The concept was to not think about teens as adolescents, which has an empty feel to it, but to think of them as emerging adults. Hmm… Emerging – promising, up and coming, rising, building, growing, changing, not there yet but on the way… What if we thought of ourselves as the same way? God tells us that all the things that come into our life are to change us to be more like Christ. (Romans 8:28,29) We are not yet what we will someday be. So instead of thinking of ourselves as static and all that happens to us as “just because” what if we view ourselves also as emerging? No parent would expect their child to become a functional responsible adult on their own. Our whole role is to help them become what they will be. Why would we think things are any different with God? He is our Father. He is vested in our growth. He didn’t bring us...

Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ...having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12 ESV What would it be to be without God? What would a day look like, feel like, be like, without God? A day without His Word, or prayer, or an awareness of His presence? I feared it would be too hard. I feared more it would be too easy… Yes, there is God, good for eternal security and panicked emergencies; available for adoration and historical and literary references. But how do I, as one who believes, walk through my ordinary days with or without God? How does He impact a typical 24 hours? I went into a day mindful of this idea – aware of what in me reached for Him throughout a regular day – what would change if I was without God. There’d be no reason to be sitting and reading in this leather bound book, or penning these words. No ongoing conversation through the day. A different radio station drawing my mind to love and loss instead of praise and ...

I've been thinking about what I know. Not in the "The sun is 93 million miles from the sun" type of knowledge but what do I know. What do I believe? What do I hold onto that gets me through the week? What influences how I think, act, and live? So, because this is how I process, I starting making a list. I'd like to suggest that you do the same. Because as I started to write down what I know I was reminded about what I already know, you know? Jesus loves me No matter what I am never alone Never on my own There is plan for my life If I understand it or not Nothing happens to me randomly God is working all things together for the purpose He has in mind I'm not going to give you my whole list as it's still evolving but I will tell you that it is amazingly encouraging to know what you know! Seriously, try it. Write down six things that you know Really know, down in the deepest part of who you are I promise, you'll be encouraged and w...

Are you familiar with the Messiah oratorio? For many years I was part of a community choir that started practicing in October for two performances during the Christmas season. I've also been so lucky to be a part of the Do-It-Yourself Messiah at Orchestra Hall in downtown Chicago - now that is an experience not for the faint of heart especially when you're a soprano sitting in the bass section!! The Messiah begins with a lament of comfort for the people who are longing for the Messiah, it continues on a journey of proclamation of the coming Christ, through his suffering to the end of time when the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised and all will sing worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive honor, and power, and wisdom, and strength until the whole thing comes to a spectacular ending of just one word repeated over and over, ebbing and swelling throughout all the parts until there is a big pause and the final utterance of this word - AMEN. No matter what we...

I went to Starbucks the other day with a gift card and a list of drink requests. I walked out with the drinks but not much left on that card. I had some resources but now, not so much... "My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:19 ESV According to His riches - how different His riches are than ours! It's my gift card compared to the power of Howard Schultz (CEO of Starbucks). While I can buy a few lattes. Howard could give coffee to thousands. I don't have to supply my own needs, or the needs of those around me by my own resources. It is God who is beyond comprehension who has supplies beyond our imagination that will supply what we need. It is the New Testament counterpoint to the beloved Psalms 23:1 " The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" or according to the New Living Translation - "The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need." The most amazing thing is th...

Think about someone you highly respect in a particular field. What would your response be if this person chose you to be their apprentice? Asked you to train with them? Work with them? Offered to help you with your stuff pertaining to what they do? For me it'd be like Robin Jones Gunn helping me on my fiction, Max Lucado imparting to me how he writes about God, and Ann Voskamp  and Holley Gerth  guiding me through their ways of reflecting on a topic.  It'd be like training to sing with Tom McNichols, or to teach with Dr. Dennis Wilhite or learning to express Scripture in letter forms with Timothy Botts . Would I finger such an invitation and say "well... let me see if I really have time for this..."? Are you crazy? I'd be on the next plane to Maui, or Texas or wherever I needed to be! If one I consider a master invited me to study with them, there would  be no hesitation on my part. Would you hesitate? Of course not! I found such an invitation t...

Every now and again my pen wanders into the area of Chick Lit and the results are always sophomoric and clichéd. Boy, Girl, Drama, Happily Ever After. It is just fiction after all...!! I find all my heroes are the same. While some may write them as smart or handsome or rich; my heroes are strong. They have broad chests and strong arms and ride white horses into troubling conditions. I want a capable hero. A powerful hero. I want one who, no doubt about it, is going to come out on top in any fight. Kind of like some of the lyrics from Bonnie Tyler's song "I need a hero" "I need a hero He's gotta be strong He's gotta be sure And he's gotta be larger than life." And this concept has be the inspiration for millions of manuscripts for books, movies, and TV dramas. I was surprised one morning while reading in Psalms to find this very idea... Use your strong right arm to save us, and rescue your beloved people. Psalms 60:5 Hmm, God has str...