Who vs. Why

For the past five months I've been teaching freshman girls discipleship class at a Christian school.  Some of the girls come from healthy families while others come from homes so dysfunctional I wonder how they make it to school each day.  The children who attend the Christian school are no different from the children who attend public school.  The difference is in the environment.  We, as teachers, are trying to make Christianity contagious.  We have lesson plans, yes, but more than that we hope our own relationship with Jesus is evident and desireable.  It is often said that Christianity is caught more than taught.  This teaching job has rekindled a fire in me to see the next generation put their trust in God and see Him do amazing things in their lives.

While I love my job, I have to admit it can be painful.  At times my girls make choices I know will lead to trouble but I feel powerless to prevent it.  Like a mother, I want to wrap them in my arms and protect them from the dangers of this world.  Having lived longer, I know what's out there and I want to shield them from the darkness.  It's about this time the Lord reminds me He is in control.  It's not my place to keep them locked up in some sort of Christian vault but rather to prepare them for His service to a hurting world.

Pain was not part of God's plan when He created man.  We are responsible for that.  However, God is so amazing He can take pain and turn it into something beautiful.   In the story of Job, when he lost everything - his belongings plus all ten of his children in one day - his friends tried everything they could to explain the 'why' of what happened.  In the end the 'why' didn't matter.  It was the 'who' - or should I say 'Who'. 

Out of the approximately 31,000 verses in the Bible, Job 42:5 is one of my top favorites.  After all of the discussion on why bad things happen, God came to Job and allowed Job to see Him in a powerful way.  Job had never experienced God like he did after his terrible tragedy.  God spoke to Job like He had never done before.  God didn't explain the 'why' but He revealed the 'Who' so well that Job didn't ask any more questions.  He just marveled.  Job's response to God's revelation of Himself was, "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you." (Job 42:5)

We've experienced so much sadness and pain over the past week.  It seems like everyday there is more bad news.  My natural tendency is to ask 'why?'  But what I need to seek is the 'Who'.  My prayer for us in the wake of tragedy is to see God in such a way that the 'why' is no longer the issue.  May God stand before you as He did for Job.  May God's love overshadow our pain. 

It's not coincidence that the book of Psalms follows the story of Job.  "Weeping may last for a night but joy comes in the morning", Psalm 30:5. 

Don't Hand a Blind Man a Map

By Chris Archinal

It must have been 1991.  I was the Assoc Youth Minister at FBC Lubbock while attending Texas Tech University.  FBC was 3 blocks from the campus so it was easy for me to park my Jeep CJ-5 at the church and simply ride my bike to class.  One afternoon, my twin brother, Jason, was running late for class.  Instead of fighting to find a parking place he parked at the church and borrowed my bike.  A few hours later he returned.  He came to my office and when I saw his face I could tell something was wrong.  I asked him what was bothering him and he told me this story.  

After class Jason was unlocking my bike from the rack and I guess the noise he made as he loosened the lock caught the attention of a blind man who was standing nearby with his dog.  The man, looking like a stereotypical blind person, complete with the stick, dark glasses and dog, looked Jason's direction.  He said, "Excuse me, could you help me?  I seemed to have lost my way." As it turns out the man was headed to the library and through a series of wrong turns he was totally lost.  Of course, Jason stopped what he was doing and immediately helped him.  Jason took him by the arm and walked him towards the library until he looked at Jason and said, "Ah, now I know where I am.  Thank you for the help, and have a great day."  Jason double-checked, maybe even triple-checked to make sure he was certain to continue on alone and watched the man as he navigated across the street and down the sidewalk that led to the library.  Jason watched as the man made his way up the library steps and only when he had safely entered in did he go back to the bike rack.  

I'll never forget the expression on Jason's face as he told me this story.  His eyes filled with tears, choking back the frog that seemed to have nestled in his throat.  Then he asked me, "What do you think I am supposed to learn from that?"  We sat and talked about the obvious lesson, which is to be grateful everyday for something we so take for granted...our sight.  But digging deeper God revealed something more.  You see, we encounter spiritually blind people everyday...people that don't know Jesus.  And whether they ask us outright, or just with their actions, many are saying, "Excuse me, could you help me?  I seemed to have lost my way."  So what do we do when we see someone who is lost...someone who has lost their way?  

Draw a map: Jason, knowing the campus layout very well, could have drawn the man a very nice map.  He could have handed the man the map and said, "Here are step by step directions...good luck!"

Point: Jason could have put his hand on the guys shoulder and pointed saying, "Yup...you wanna go that way."

Verbal instructions:  "No, no, you're waaaay off.  If you want to go to the library you need to...." and then proceed to describe to the man exactly what he needed to do.  

 The bottom line (and ridiculously obvious) truth about those options is....they AREN'T options.  You would never do those things for a blind man.  A map is no good to someone who can't see.  Pointing is just as worthless.  And verbal instructions only make him feel more embarrassed.  The ONLY option Jason had was to do what he did.  To take the man by the arm and "lead him" to the library.  

You want to help those who are blind to Christ?  Assist those who have lost their way?  Lead them.  Don't write down a bunch of scripture and tell them to "follow this Roman road to salvation."  Don't just point them to church, telling them that's where they can "find their way," and don't preach at them using churchy terms they won't understand.  Instead, lead them.  Is it wrong to share scripture, point them to church or verbally share your faith?  Of course not.  In fact, those are definitely supplements to sharing your faith.  But the very best thing you can do is walk through life with them, helping them find their way...God's way.  

Oh, and by the way, you won't be so lucky to have someone walk up and say, "I'm a sinner, what must I do to be saved?"  Your blind person will come to you with life questions, real pain, a financial or marital crisis, or the like.  Each hurt, each issue, each cry out is their way of looking to someone they think can help saying, "Excuse me, could you help me?  I seemed to have lost my way." 

 

Pick on Someone Your Own Size

As a child there was a boy on our street who was just a year or two older than me.  He was at least a foot taller but very lanky and didn't weigh much more than I did.  He loved to pick on me and my friends.  He would annoy us when we were playing house.  He threw pebbles at us when we rode our bikes.  He made fun of us at the bus stop.  My friends and I didn't see that there was anything we could do about it.  We felt pretty powerless.

That is until one day when my much older brother saw what was going on.  Now, you need to understand that my brother, Andy, wanted nothing to do with me.  My brother was much meaner to me than this kid.  However, when he was coming home from high school one day, my big brother witnessed this neighbor kid messing with us.

Before I knew what was happening, Andy grabbed this kid by the shirt collar and told him he'd better pick on someone his own size.  Something to the effect of: "There's a new sherriff in town so scram!"  My friends and I just looked at each other, jaws dropped, and let it sink in.  Here was Andy, who had no use for us, coming to our rescue!  We were liberated!  We were free from the tyranny of the neighborhood bully!  Victory!

Now that I am an adult I struggle with other bullies in my life.  Unfortunately, they are not as easy to control as the street bully.  Ephesians 6:12 explains, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."  Friends, we are fighting bullies we cannot see.

Yesterday, a bully tried to pick on me.  My husband, Chris, had something very stressful happen at work that felt threatening to his future and hence, our family.  At first we felt fearful, powerless and defeated.  We were angry with the people who seemed to be causing this problem until we remembered Ephesians 6. 

We immidiately stopped and prayed.  There's only one person more formidable than a big brother - Big Daddy!  Matthew 7:11 explains it best, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"  We cried out to our Heavenly Father to come to our rescue.  Only the Lord can set evil in it's proper place.  As soon as we prayed and confessed our trust in God, we experienced peace.

Later the same day, Chris got a call from someone with knowledge and influence in this situation and gave us some very reassuring words.  The man's encouragement was appreciated and reinforced our faith that God is at work on our behalf. 

What bullies are you facing today? It may look like a person or a circumstance that is threatening you but look a little deeper. We don't have to sit back and let physical or spiritual bullies paralyze us. Call on Big Daddy. Put your hope in God. Keep your focus on Him and watch Him stand up for you. 

Summer School

Sleeping late, sunbathing, movie watching.  These are terms that describe a typical summer at the Archinal house.  School is out - it's time to play!  We believe in maxing out the fun during summer. I crave this time with the kids and they crave time away from a structured school day.  But does this mean their brains have to turn to mush?  Does playing in the pool all summer long mean their little minds have to get watered down too?  I think not!

Summer is my favorite time, in part, because it's MY time to teach what I think is just as important as reading, writing and arithmetic.  It's Mommy Summer School.  Parents can use summer breaks to teach all sorts of important lessons to their kids.

1.  Spiritual -  Have your kids pick out a devotional book and make it a routine to do your devotionals together each morning before turning on the TV.  Pick out a few key scriptures that your kids can memorize - one per week.  You can even tie scripture memory to rewards.  For example, your child is begging you to take him to see the newest movie?  Have him earn the privilege by assigning one household chore and one memory verse.  Use the extra time of being able to stay up late to tell a Bible story and discuss it as a family.  Encourage kids to ask questions and seek applications.

2.  Financial - Have your kids do chores to earn allowance.  Teach them the three parts of income: tithing, saving, and spending.  Our oldest just started babysitting this summer, she's earned enough to open a savings account.  Banks have special accounts for kids which help them establish good financial habits.  Check it out!

3.  Responsibility - Before you play, you must obey!  Establish daily and weekly responsibilities they must finish before doing anything else.  This teaches kids to have integrity in their work and gives them a sense of pride.  They may bark about it at first but if parents are consistent, kids will soon see it as just something they do each day and not as punishment. 

4.  Self-confidence - When children learn new skills it gives them a strong sense of self.  Teach kids how to make their own breakfast and lunch.  Invite your children to help with grocery shopping, planning and preparing meals.  Let kids have one night a week where they help you make dinner.  Use trips to the store to teach them how to checkout and pay for their items.  It's important for them to learn life skills at a young age and kids love it!  Use hotel stays to teach your kids how to check-in and how to call downstairs for extra towels.  This teaches them how to speak to adults and how to take care of themselves.  It gives them a greater sense of self-respect when they can do things on their own while you are there to support and encourage.

5.  Health and wellness - Be sure they aren't spending too much time in front of the TV or technology.  This can sometimes be hard.  Motivate kids to get exercise through family outings.  Get in the pool, take a bike ride, or even go to the neighborhood Y.  Our YMCA allows children as young as 12 to be trained on exercise equipment.  My kids have done this this summer and they love going to the gym and working out with me.  I love it because it's more family time!

All of this is just the tip of the iceberg and I'm sure you've got many more ideas of your own.  The important thing is to take advantage of the summer hours to establish some great learning opportunities.  Who knew summer school could be so fun! 

Lessons from a Lemonade Stand

As a minister's kid, I grew up in the church where I often heard stories of missionaries traveling to far away lands helping the poor.  I remember sitting in a Sunday School room looking at pictures of children my age who lived in Africa.  Their clothes were worn, their faces dirty and their stories were the same - they had no clean water.  As a child I was baffled by this.  Why couldn't the grown ups figure out a way to get water to these children?

Many years later, children in Africa, specifically South Sudan, are still without clean water.  The difference is, now I am the grown up and I am responsible to do something to help.  As a follower of Jesus, I cannot pretend to live in ignorance of those who are hurting, no matter how many miles away they may be.  Jesus taught us to care for the sick and hurting...and he didn't put geographical boundaries around it.

The question was where to start in my efforts to change the world.  The answer was Sister Effect.  Recently, two of my friends established an organization to make a difference in the lives of those living in South Sudan.  They came up with the name Sister Effect (http://www.sistereffect.org/).  The idea being that women and girls will use whatever gifts they have (writing, baking, music, anything) to raise awareness and funds which will result in life-giving change for those in the Sudan.

As a mother of two daughters, I wanted my 'sisters' to learn early that they can make a difference in someone else's life - even someone they have never met.  So, I asked the girls what talents or abilities they have that they could use to help girls in South Sudan.  The result was a bake sale/lemonade stand benefitting Sister Effect.

My own sister and I were holding a garage sale and decided it was the perfect opportunity to help the girls get started.  The girls did all the work.  Mary Catherine baked and baked.  Ellie mixed lemonade.  They made signs and set up their stand.  For two days that sat in the sweltering Houston heat selling their wares.

The result?  They raised a whole $20.  I have to be honest and say that at first I was really disappointed in the small amount of money.  But then I realized I was being short sighted.  There is a much greater effect taking place.  Yes, the money is important.  But more important are the lessons it taught my girls. 

They learned:

• They have special abilities, given by God, that they can use to bless others.
• There is great joy in doing something completely selfless.
• Working together can bring greater results than working alone.
• You don't have to be a grown up to make a difference.

That's a lot of lessons learned just from one little lemonade stand!  I learned something too.  You don't have to have millions of dollars to change the world.  You don't have to move to Africa to help the people that live there.  Sometimes, the best thing you can do is raise awareness in your own little circle of influence - in this case it was influencing my girls.

I have a feeling this won't be their last business venture.  They've caught the Sister Effect bug.  It's amazing what sister's can do together. 

It Could Have Been Worse

I think of myself as a "Pray-er".  I believe in prayer.  I don't always understand how or why God answers as He does but I've lived long enough to see God do amazing things when people pray.  While I pray daily and I've seen God answer many prayers, I am still floored when I see God work!

Yesterday, Chris took the kids to the pool while I stayed home to work on a talk I'm giving at church tomorrow night.  After working for an hour I got sleepy and decided to lay down for a nap.  Just as I was drifting off I had a sudden urge to pray for protection for my kids.  It seemed a little strange that I would feel that way as they are all excellent swimmers, Chris was with them, and they were at a pool with lifeguards.  Nevertheless, I prayed for their safety.

About thirty minutes later I was surprised to hear Chris pulling into the driveway since they had only been gone a short while.  Then I see my son, Jack get out of the car with a large butterfly bandage on his chin.  Apparently he had slipped while getting out of the pool and hit his chin quite hard on the edge.  Chris needed to take him to the emergency room where he ended up getting his chin glued!

You may think my prayer didn't "work" or it was too late.  To the contrary.  I know in my heart that the Lord had me pray for my kids at the exact moment the accident was about to happen and my obedience to pray prevented a much worse accident. 

Moms, we are our children's first line of defense against spiritual as well as physical danger.  Imagine yourself the general in a war.  As you hold your hands up your army has victory but the second you lower them they begin to lose.  This is exactly what happened in Exodus 17 when the Israelites were going to war.  When Moses, their leader, held is hands up the Israelite army advanced.  But, when his arms got tired, he lowered them and the army suffered setbacks.  Two friends had to come and hold Moses' arms up so the Israelites could gain the victory!

This is a physical picture of an equally real spiritual battle.  As we lift our prayers to God on behalf of our children, God will move them forward and give them victory in life.  If we grow weary from praying for them, our children are subject to defeat by forces of darkness that are at work all around us.  (For more on this, check out Ephesians 6).

I'm so grateful that my loving Heavenly Father alerted me to a need for my children.  I am thankful that I recognized it and 'raised my hands'.  I'm also grateful that Jack only busted his chin and scraped up his side.  You moms out there know just as well as I do... it could have been much worse.

Hope in Grief

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with a friend whose family has been rocked by the sudden death of a loved one.  She shared with me how the brother of the deceased is struggling to cope.  He holds his emotions together only to crater under the strain of grief.  My heart breaks as I hear of this family's pain and I feel helpless, wanting more than anything to take it away.

Where can we go when death is standing over us like a dark shadow?  We must turn to Jesus.  He is our Comforter and Hope.  Jesus is well acquainted with grief.  He stood at the tomb of his good friend, Lazarus.  He listened to the cries of Lazarus' sisters, "Jesus, if you had been here, this wouldn't have happened."  Have you ever said that to Jesus? 

What was Jesus' response to this grieving family?  The shortest verse in all of scripture - John 11:35, "Jesus wept."  Jesus loved this family and cried with them.  Was Jesus crying because it was a hopeless situation?  No.  Was he crying because he was helpless to do anything about it?  No.  He cried because death was never in God's plan.  When God created Adam and Eve in the Garden, the world was perfect.  Death didn't exist until man sinned.  It broke God's heart then and it breaks His heart now.

Jesus wept because he loves his people so much.  He hates to see us suffer.  When we cry, he cries.  Shortly after crying with his friends, he went on to raise Lazarus from the dead.  Wow, now that's a pretty good response to grief!  If only Jesus would come and raise all of our loved ones from the dead.  Why doesn't he?

He raised Lazarus from the dead to show that only HE (Jesus) has power over death.  Nothing and no one in all the world is stronger than death - except Jesus!  He gave his life that we could cheat death.  Jesus brings eternal life to those who trust in him. 

Friends, between you and me, when it's my time to go, I don't want to be brought back to this decrepit world.  I want Jesus to raise me up to heaven.  I want to be alive with him for all of eternity in a world without sin. 

I'm happy for Lazarus' sisters that they got to see Lazarus again this side of heaven.  But the point of the story does not end with a resurrection barbeque in Lazarus' backyard.  The real party happens when Jesus welcomes us home to heaven.  He brings life eternal to all of us who will call upon his name. 

Are you grieving today?  Know that Jesus grieves with you.  Are you angry at death?  Jesus is too.  Do you feel helpless?  You are.  But Jesus isn't.  He has conquered death.  Friends, let Jesus comfort us as no one else can.  Let us turn to the only one who can do something about death.  Like Lazarus' sisters, let's call upon Jesus.

The Possum in My Pool - by Chris Archinal

This morning I rescued a baby possum from our pool. He was holding on to a basketball struggling to stay balanced and keep his head above water. He had obviously been holding on all night. To be honest, even though a nasty little creature, it was a sad sight. I carefully took the pool net, picked him and the basketball out of the water, then crushed him with a shovel.

Just kidding! I took the sad soaked critter and carefully set him down over the back fence into the bayou from where he likely came.  With his claws (and even his teeth) he clung to that ball, fearing that he was being dumped into greater peril. When I grazed his back with the grass he reluctantly and suspiciously placed a paw on the ground. Recognizing it was safe, he let the rest of his weary body collapse into the grass.

He didn't lay there long. The kids and I watched as he slowly crawled again to my backyard, this time behind a storage shed...nice. I went to clean out the pool skimmers while the kids stayed glued to the possum's every move.  They tracked him like they were on some Animal Planet reality show.

Sadly, there in the skimmer I found the possum's brother. Bummer. He didn't make it. I could imagine the events of the previous night. One brother struggles to survive on a basketball and watches as the other brother fights for his life; finally succumbing to the depths of the water and eventually sucked into the skimmer. Oh the drama.


You know the sad/interesting thing about this story? In our pool we have what we affectionately call the "Popsicle step". It's an over sized step leading into our pool. Pool companies advertise it as a tanning step. That possum, who I was just informed by my kids is now named Midnight, was 18 inches from that step when we found him. Who knows how close his brother may have been. One little stroke of the paw and he likely would have found himself on the safety of the step.

As I sat on the back patio, finding myself lost in the story of the two brothers' struggle, I began to play out a Disney-type storyline.  Picture it with me: Two possums struggling to stay afloat on an unsteady basketball.  Finally, one brother realizes they'd both die if they both continue to stay on the ball.  The older brother sacrifices himself so the younger can live.

Cheesy, I know.  Welcome to my world. As the movie played out in my head, I began to see the spiritual significance. In fact, I'm wiping tears from my eyes as I type because of the lesson I learned. So many people, me included, find themselves struggling and fighting for their life in this cruel world. So many people trying to stay afloat. Looking for peace.  Looking for answers.  Answers that they hope will "save" them.

Are we much different than this poor little possum?  Fortunately, our salvation is only 18 inches away. That 18 inches is the distance from your head to your heart. You have heard (in your head) about the salvation Jesus offers. You have heard of His forgiveness. You have heard of His obsessive-compulsive tendencies to seek you out. You know in your head what He says is true...BUT you haven't believed it in your heart.

Maybe you haven't received this truth because you think you're not good enough. Maybe it's because you think,  "He couldn't forgive me, I mean, look at me!" So instead of trusting Him in your heart, you just hold on for dear life, trying to balance yourself in this world moments from drowning.

Friends YOU ARE ONLY 18 inches from safety. Trust Him today. Believe in Him today. Whoever you are, whatever you've become...He loves you. He loves you enough to not just leave you there. Reach out for Him.  Your salvation is closer than you think.

Which Way Are You Going?

"This has been a crazy week."  How many times have you heard that line?  How many times have you said it?  I should have it tattooed on my forehead.  Seriously, it seemed everything that could be possibly fall on my calendar for the month of April, fell on last week.  To top it off, as fate would have it, my husband was out of town.  Of course!  Then, just to make things interesting, I had two kids get sick.  So let's just go ahead and throw a few doctors appointments in the mix.  Why not?

My usual mornings with the Lord got pushed out and replaced with meetings, appointments and commitments - none of which were more important but all of which I let take over.  I don't know why we are called "stay-at-home moms."  We're never home! 

I substituted a person for a planner; a relationship for a rat race; a sense of calm for significant chaos.  Ever done that?  Too often we are pre-occupied with doing rather than being.  We've got a serious case of ADD when it comes to sitting before God.  We're not content to focus on Him in worship and prayer.  It's much easier to go and "do" in His name than it is to get to know the One we claim to serve.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."  He IS the way.  He is THE way.  He is the WAY.  Don't miss the impact of this simple statement.  Want to know God's will?  He is the way.  Want to know His plan for your life?  He is the way.  Need wisdom or guidance?  He is the way. 

Walking closely with God each day guarantees you'll be exactly where He wants you.  This is not to say we can't keep busy schedules but the busyness can't take the place of our relationship with Him.  That's when you know you're too busy and that's when we get out of His will.

The disciples didn't need a map of where to go as long as they had Jesus.  They just watched Him and followed!  Are you substituting a road map for a relationship with The Way?  Then you're missing out.

If we want to know God's will, we must carve out time to cultivate our relationship and learn to recognize His voice.  God is anxious to show us the way....are we ready to follow?

Lost in Translation

Recently I had to make a return at a local discount store. I hate making returns. I always feel guilty for some reason, like it's a personal insult to the cashier. I'm afraid they are going to be mad at me. Crazy, I know, and just one of my many hang-ups. The lucky cashier, who got my dysfunctional self as their customer, was friendly enough but apparently had just moved here from 'Couldn't-pronounce-it-if-I-wanted-to-stan' where English is clearly not their primary language.

While I was quite impressed with her ability to understand most of what I was saying and even speak to me in broken English, I had a difficult time understanding everything she said.  I tried hard to listen, not wanting to embarrass her by asking her to repeat herself.  She was trying so hard to communicate but my ears were not catching on.  My uneasiness excalated tenfold as we tried to mime our messages to each other. Awkward!

There is a truth in scripture that is often lost on us.  God is saying something important but we don't always have ears to hear it.  I think we read it in passing without giving pause to it's overwhelming message.  This being the day before Easter Sunday, I want us to stop and really listen to what God is saying. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 is crazy Truth - "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Read that a couple of times and let it sink in.  It ought to give us chills.

A line in Chris Tomlin's song, "Here I Am to Worship", says, "I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that Cross."  He's right.  We could never comprehend what it cost the Creator of the universe or His only son to bear the consequences of our sin.  Isaiah said it best, (Is. 64:6), "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags."  Yep, that pretty much sums us up. 

From the Pope to the hooker on Bourbon Street, we're all destitute!  From Mother Teresa to Lady GaGa, we are all depraved and in desperate need of a Savior.  Even the Apostle Paul, who labored tirelessly and suffered greatly for the gospel, realized his greatest efforts to please God were no more than rubbish compared to the righteousness of Christ.

See Philippians 3:7-8, "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."

We've got to stop and really think about this.  The impact of the resurrection has got to go beyond our head and sink deeply into our heart.  Jesus experienced the wrath of God, which is more painful to endure than anything we will ever experience EVER.  Oh that we would walk not in guilt of this glorious gift but in life.  May we live in the freedom of Christ! May we show our gratitude through obedience, humility and service for this righeousness that we have recieved so undeservingly.

Do you have ears to hear God's message to you this weekend? It's a foreign concept for an innocent man to give his life for a guilty one but that's exactly what He did. No matter what country you are from, no matter what language you speak, ask God to help you truly hear and receive the crazy truth of His limitless love. Happy Easter.

He Goes Before You

There are those we are familiar with in history who have faced great obstacles.  They overcame fear.  They marched forward with courage and left a legacy of bravery and hope.  Moses crossing the Red Sea with the Egyptians on his tail.  Abraham Lincoln abolishing slavery and facing a nation at war with itself.  John Glenn flying into space attempting to be the first man to walk on the moon.  Moms with daughters trying out for cheerleader. 

Okay, if you've ever had a child tryout for something then you agree that last sentence deserves to be included.  I'm not sure facing cheer tryouts is any less stressful than leading a nation to freedom or flying into outer space.  I'll bet there are some of you moms out there that could argue the week of cheer clinics and tryouts has a lot of similarities to a civil war.

This morning I sit on my back patio, relaxed and enjoying praise music and hot coffee, while some of my dearest friends are popping TUMS and praying their guts out while their daughters are at tryouts.  Mary Cate and I were in that boat this time last year and I've got the scars to prove it. 

As the Lord would have it, my devotional this morning was on Mark 14:28, Jesus said, "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."  Jesus was trying to prepare his disciples for his crucifixion and resurrection.  He knew they would be scattered, terrified and confused upon his arrest and death.  He was telling them not to let their eyes fool them.  While they would see him die, that wasn't the end.  They would also see him live again.

Even though Jesus faced terrible torture and death, he was still concerned about his boys.  To comfort and encourage them, he said, "I'll meet you on the other side.  You are going to face fear and uncertainty but I'm going ahead of you.  I'll be there."  Is Jesus cool or what?!

God never sends you into a situation alone.  Just like He went before the Israelites with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, so He goes before you.  God is never caught off guard by a situation that you face.  He's already there preparing the way.  He knows exactly what you need. 

Psalm 139:7-10 speaks the truth, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths,a you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."

Whatever you face today, know that Jesus is already there, in that moment.  He is present with you.  He is fully aware of what you are facing and what you need.  Whether you are facing angry Egyptians or a panel of cheer judges, rest assured God is with you.  He will never leave you.  (Just remember to point your toes and smile!)

How to Lose Your Self-Esteem in Just Three Days - Part III

I had to stop by the market on the way home. I walked in and saw the choice that lay before me. To one side was a wall of wine bottles. To the other was the cookie aisle. Which would be my comfort? I went with the cookies. I grabbed a package of chocolate cream Oreos and checked out. I got to my car, started the engine and ripped open the package. With each bite on the drive home, tears rolled down my cheeks. What was it with me and skiing? I really tried to master this sport which seemed to come so easily to everyone but me.

Pity party anyone? This party was a doozy. Poor me. Poor pitiful me. Poor, poor, sad, pitiful me. I know there are starving children in Africa. But at this point, in this moment, I was all that mattered. Horrible, right? This truth made me feel even worse.

I got home, took a hot shower and went to bed. Rest was what I needed. A deep sleep enveloped me. Two hours later, I was stubbornly awakened by my cell phone ringing over and over again. Who was calling? Why did they need to talk to me so badly? Then I remembered where I was and that my husband and kids were still on that hateful mountain. In my groggy haze, I answered to hear Chris say my son, Jack, had broken his arm. This was unbelievable. If the mountain wants to take me out, fine. But now it was going after my boy.

When I got to him, my sweet Jack, was in terrible pain. The paramedics at the mountain were wonderful. They gave him an IV with some fluids and pain reliever. They ended up having to sedate him and reset his arm. He was so brave.

So what is the moral of this long, painful story? What is the spiritual lesson I always pull from my life experiences? I have to be honest here. I'm not sure yet. Sometimes you have to let a little time pass between you and the painful experience in order to see God in it. I've shared this story with a lot of humor in my voice. I think laughter is a great pain reliever.

I'm writing this morning from the comfort of a recliner in our house in Angel Fire. I've got a cup of hot coffee. I'm still in my pj's. I've got a heating pad on my backside and ice on my knee. My son is drugged up and feeling no pain. In other words, we're okay. We survived the mountain once again. As I sit from the safety of the indoors I can look out on the glorious beauty that is God's handiwork. I tip my hat to the mountain. I reaffirm my pact to never step foot, nor ski, on her again. So to all my crazy friends who find skiing enjoyable I say to you, "Go in good health." If you need me, I'll be in the lodge.

How to Lose Your Self-Esteem in Just Three Days - Part II

Part II:

With my newfound confidence I was standing with my family and friends at the bottom of the run, getting ready to enter the lift line when a teenage snowboarder literally plowed into me at full speed. Had I been a concrete pillar standing there, the boy would have taken quite a hit. As I am not a concrete pillar, I was thrown into the air with his snowboard cutting across the back of my right thigh. I laid in a heap as people gathered around, some to stare at the old woman in a heap, some to offer assistance to the old woman in a heap.

That was day one.

Day Two: I respected the mountain and stayed off.

Day Three: My kids had taken to snowboarding like fish to water. Once again, I was lured by the beauty of the mountain and decided to give it another go, even with the softball size bruise on my hindquarters. My plan was simple. I would stick to the bunny slope for the morning; show my group that I'm a gamer and peacefully retire to the picnic area at the base for the remainder of the afternoon. After one stable run on the bunny, my husband coerced me to take the Chile Express lift and ski a green with his constant protection and supervision. Can you hear the mountain's lure? Can you hear the wicked laughter wafting through the mountain winds?

I started out strong, pizza wedging all the way. The scenery was beautiful. My fear was stabelized for the moment. About halfway down there came a couple of steep turns. This was the beginning of the end of all my self-esteem.

I fell. Chris helped me up. I fell. Chris tried to help me up and we both slid a ways. I fell and twisted my knee. Each time I fell on my bruised back side aggrevating not only the injury but my weary self-respect. Let me say now that I am not a big cryer. I'm pretty sure I've cried more these two ski days than I have in the past year collectively.

When we made it to the bottom of the mountain I was also at the bottom of my hope. I was holding my skiis, Chris had my poles and asked, "What do you want me to do with these?" There was only one appropriate response, "Drive them through my heart.", I said. I gathered my belongings, returned them to the rental place and took my seat on the shuttle back to my car.

How to Lose Your Self-Esteem in Just Three Days

This is a three part story.  I hope you'll stick with me to the bitter end. :-)

Part I:
Let me see if I can explain this story to you in a way that you will understand the depths to which my spirit has sunk.  It all started about six months ago.  My life-long snow skiing husband decided this would be the year to take the kids snow skiing for the first time.  In theory I agreed with this idea.  However, there is a back story that must be told. 

During Christmas break my junior year of  high school I went on a youth ski trip.  This was my first exposure to what would become a sport which I despised, loathed and hated.  After a half day of ski lessons, my dearest and best friend, Marian (yes, Marian, I am calling you out! :-)) , said I didn't need anymore lessons.  She would take me down the mountain.  When we got to the top, the green slope we had planned to take had been closed and we were forced to descend a black diamond.  Three terrifying hours later I made it to the bottom, still alive by the grace of God.  I got on the bus which had been waiting on me and received cheers of applaud from my peers.  Their joy at my still being alive made no dent in my shattered confidence. 

It was then and there that I made an agreement with mountains.  I would not attempt to ski on them and they would not try to kill me.  It is a pact which has served me well these past 30 years.

So here I am actually entertaining the idea of subjecting my children to this vile and dangerous sport.  Nevertheless, as I have many friends who ski often and live to tell about it (their sanity I now call into question), I agreed to the trip.

We arrived in Angel Fire, NM earlier this week.  The weather was warm, the children excited and the snow deceptively beautiful.  As we are traveling with dear friends, who also ski, I gave into my family and friends encouragement to give skiing another try.  I enrolled in lessons.  With acid churning in my stomach, I attended the brief class and went down the bunny slope with my instructor.  Let me just say now that it goes from bad to worse.

I fell getting off the ski lift; I fell going down the first slope (with my instructor and classmates yelling, "pizza wedge! pizza wedge!".  As if this were not enough warning from the mountain, I agreed to go again this time with my kids and husband.  After a couple of runs (still on the bunny slope, mind you) the mountain let me think I was getting the hang of it.  In retrospect I see that it was just toiling with me, luring me into it's web of death.

Lent: It's more than giving up chocolate

Growing up Baptist, I never knew what Lent was. I had always associated Lent with the stuff you cleaned out of the dryer filter or the fuzzy stuff found in a belly button.  My friends at school who were Catholic seemed to talk about eating fish more often around Lent but I could never see what fish and dryer filters had to do with one another.

As an adult I learned that Lent was the forty days leading up to Easter and people gave up something they really liked during this time.  Since joining Facebook a few years ago I see lots of people sharing that they have given up chocolate or wine but the meaning and origin of Lent remained a mystery to me until recently.

Fun Fact: Did you know that Lent comes from an Old English word that means lengthen, signifying that the days are getting longer because Spring is here?  In her book, Treasuring God in Our Traditions, Noel Piper says, "Traditionally Lent is a season of sober, realistic reflection on our own lives and our need for a Savior.  It is a time for turning away from anything that has kept us from God and for turning or returning to him.  It is a time to pray that God renew our love for him and our dependence on him."

In light of this explanation, I've got to tell you, I don't think chocolate keeps me from God.  I think it's a little less to do with cocoa beans and more to do with my sinful and lazy nature.  When we joined a Methodist church a few years ago, Ellie came home from Sunday School and announced that for Lent, she was going to give up asking for a puppy.  Very admirable but still not sure we understood the deeper point.

This year at our Ash Wednesday service, which has become one of my favorite nights of the year, our pastor, Jim Leggett, explained Lent to us this way. What do you want to trust God for over the next 40 days?  What will be different 40 days from now?  What is in our lives that needs to die to Christ (sinful habits, sickness, injustice)?  What is dead in our lives that Christ would want to resurrect (our marriage, intimacy with God, hope)? 

Hear me say that giving something up for Lent can be useful and beautiful but only if we are truly using this fast to intentionally draw closer to God.  Lent is not meant to be a cultural ritual but a conduit to a Holy God.  Too many Easter Sunday's have crept up on me and I find myself in a new dress and shoes but a heart that is utterly unprepared for the greatest holiday of the year.

This time of year is about setting ourselves apart from our everyday routines in order to experience the brevity of what Christ's death and resurrection mean for us personally.

Friends, let us give ourselves truly to God this Lenten season.  Let us ask God to examine our hearts and give him permission to crucify or resurrect those areas of our lives as he sees fit.  Then on Easter Sunday we will come worshipping together in a glorious celebration of all that God has done for us through the Cross.

My Favorite Valentine

I would love to take a survey to see how many love Valentine's Day and how many hate it. Of all holidays, is Valentine's Day not the most polarizing? It either rubs salt in your wounds or you are so obnoxiously happy no one can stand you. (You know I'm right.)

Having been on both sides I can tell you which one I prefer. I was the awkward junior high schooler who never got sent carnations on Valentines' Day. The pretty and popular girls had armfuls while I sheepishly walked the halls empty handed (cue sad violins). In high school, I was accidentally sent a dozen red roses only to find out they were meant for the other Lisa Smith. Yes, I know the meaning of rejection.

Wherever you find yourself on the "love spectrum" this Valentine's Day, I want you to remember the greatest Valentine ever. It's not found at the Hallmark store. It's found in scripture in John 13.

‘It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.’

Get that. No card, no chocolate, not even jewelry has ever measured up to this Valentine. It leaves the recipient speechless. Try to understand that Jesus knew who He was - all Holy and all Powerful. Therefore, how could he do this menial task? How could Holy God touch stinky man feet?

He did it because He loves you. He did it because He was desperate to express to you, in a way so you could understand just how much. What He did was shocking. Only servants washed feet in that day. This night He said "I love you" by washing our feet with water. Shortly thereafter, He would wash our souls with His blood.

Some people say it on the jumbotron, some say it with a poster on the Today Show, some say it with flowers. Not Jesus. He showed the full extent of His love in the most creative, unexpected way. He washed your feet.

Wherever you fall on the "love spectrum" this year, you need to know you are not rejected. Just the opposite. You are loved with a crazy, mysterious, astounding, call your best friend on the phone kind of love. Washing feet or dying on a cross, Jesus reaches out to us over and over and over again to say, "I love you." That's my most favorite valentine of all.

Do Not Poke the Bear!

Encountered a parenting dilemma this week. Shocker, right? Every week seems to bring a new challenge to me in regard to raising my kids. Here's the challenge of the week. My precious boy, Jack, has been experiencing various issues at school making this year a total drag. A good part of it is by his own hand but there is also a good part of it that is out of his control.

As a parent who wants to raise my children to be responsible adults, I'm all about teaching kids to take ownership of their actions. In other words, "Get your act together, son!" I would say I'm a fairly strict disciplinarian. Our children know what we expect of them. This is good.

On the other hand, this week's events have revealed to us some of the circumstances that are not in Jack's control. In some ways, we have seen that Jack has been dealt a bad hand. He's been treated unfairly, in our opinion, and is having to bear the consequences for someone else's actions. Herein lies my dilemma.

There's the part of me that believes in tough love, then there is the part of me that is 'Mother Bear'. Any of you parents out there relate?

Mother Bear hibernates peacefully deep inside my heart until she is provoked. Then there's trouble. Do not poke the Bear! Mother Bear is the part of me that wants to reach across the table to the battle-ax who's been ugly to my baby boy and show her what I think of her! Mother Bear's instinct is to rise up and strike down anyone who dare threaten my sweet, innocent child. Mother Bear wants to wrap the boy in blankets, snuggle him tightly and protect him from a world that is cruel and uncaring. Mother Bear is thirsty for justice, waging a campaign against all those who would cause a moments pain to my little angel.

Lord, help the one who pokes Mother Bear. So, the dilemma is, who will win out in this mommy identity crisis? The level-headed parent who believes in the importance of self-discipline, responsibility, and consequences? Or will it be Mother Bear who sweeps in to save the day leaving a wake of carnage in her path? (Chris says I have a flair for the dramatic but I just don't see it. :-))

In my impassioned state I phoned a friend who helped me find some balance to these contrasting emotions. Her advice was simple, yet powerful. "Say it in love." That was it. That was the truth I needed to tame Mother Bear and empower my more rational side. Bottom line is this, we need to hold our children accountable for their actions. We also need to be their voice when they have none. We are our child's advocate.

When speaking up on behalf of our children we can do more harm than good if our emotions are out of control. I often say, "Where the heart leads, the tongue will follow." The Lord used this friend to help me get my emotions in check and soothe that Mother Bear within. With God's help, whether I'm training my child or tangling a bully, I'll say whatever needs to be said - "in love."

Cravings

Have you ever had a craving? I don't mean a craving for coffee in the morning or chocolate in the afternoon. I mean a serious, hard core, get-out-of-my-way-or-I'll-crush-you type craving.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I wasn't just sick as a dog. I was sick as an old dog after eating a bowl of expired chili. I mean I was sick! I had just started a new job when I found out I was pregnant. Imagine what my new boss and co-workers thought when they couldn't find me in the office as I was curled around the toilet in the staff bathroom. Yep, good times. Good times.

After several weeks of not keeping anything down and multiple trips to the ER, my doctor decided to give me a home I.V. for three weeks. Over time, this helped and low and behold, one day I was actually hungry for something to eat. Not only was I hungry, I was ravenous. There was only one food that would satisfy. I needed pizza, stat.

I called Chris at the office. Fortunately, it was near the end of the day as I insisted he leave at once to get what my gut demanded. 'No problem', Chris thought. He knew exactly what kind of pizza I liked. He went to our favorite pizza place and decided, since I was so hungry, to order a large instead of our usual medium.

Bless his heart, he was trying to help but the large, as it turned out, was this bizarre rectangular deep-dish concoction. Friends, I know some of you are 'deep-dishers' but I am in the thin crust camp. I like a lighter-than-air, crispy crust. When he got home and showed me the freaky pizza I snapped. My craving took over and Chris swears my head spun around on my shoulders. As I went into a mad tirade my husband, very carefully, backed out of the door. (He was afraid to turn his back on me!)

I've been trying to live that down ever since but that craving was so strong. It overpowered me! Our desire for God is much the same. We are born with a God-shaped void in our lives that can only be filled with Him. He created us to crave Him and Him alone!

Here is the evidence:
As the deer pants for streams of water,so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? -Psalm 42:1-2

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. -Psalm 63:1

O taste and see that the Lord is good. -Psalm 34:8

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture said, streams of living water will flow from him.’ -John 7:37

Have you have ever tried (or currently still trying) to satisfy your soul's cravings with someone or something other than God? Money, status, physical appearance, career, relationships, food and dare I say it...shoes, are simply empty calories. You can stuff as many of these things into your life but you'll still be hungry.

The Father's heart breaks as He sees people spiritually starving to death. Their chasing after the world leaves them dehydrated and weak. How He longs to fill all who would have Him. To satisfy your deepest longing you need look no further than our Savior.

Jesus is what you desire. Jesus is what you crave. Whether you're a 'deep-disher' or a 'thin-cruster', Jesus and only Jesus will fill you up and give you peace.

Bend Your Knees

I want you to stand up, knees straight and try to jump as high as you can. How did it go? Not too high, right? Okay, now bend your knees a little bit and jump. Better? Now bend your knees a lot and jump as high as you can. Wow, I think NASA just picked you up on satellite! The lower we bend, the higher we can jump.

I know this is pretty elementary stuff but sometimes that's where we need to start. If we want to have hope in all of life, we must first bow ourselves low before the Father. Listen to one of my favorite Bible stories...

Matthew 17:14-21 - When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” Jesus said to the crowd, “O unbelieving and perverse generation,how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer."

Two quick lessons. First, the dad had tried everything on his own to help his son. You can imagine he had taken him to the village doctor, listened to advice from the neighbors, even asked Jesus' disciples to help but got nothing. Then he turns to Jesus and falls to his knees. He knew this was his last hope. He knelt before Jesus, the only one who could save his son.

Second, the disciples had tried to drive the demon out of the boy but had failed. Guess they thought since they had been hanging around Jesus they could mimic what they'd seen Jesus doing. They left out the most important part - prayer. Prayer is our lifeline to God's power. Prayer is humbling ourselves before God and inviting Him to do the work. It acknowledges that we can't but Jesus can. Prayer is an act of faith.

What are you trying so hard to reach on your own? What are you 'jumping' for? Bend your knees in prayer and watch God lift you up today. With God's help, you'll reach higher than you could ever imagine.

Holding On with Both Hands

Let the record show that on Tuesday, January 25, 2012, my 13-year-old daughter left me a love note. YES! (Picture a football player who scores the winning touchdown.) In a world where teenagers are often characterized as rebellious, secretive, aloof and distant toward their parents, my teen showed evidence of actual connection.

Entering the realm of teen parenting feels a little like Mad Max in Thunderdome or Katniss in The Hunger Games. We're locked in this house together until the teen reaches adulthood. Who will come out alive? Will it be a fight to the death?

Relating to my teen reminds me of the day Chris taught Mary Cate (the aforementioned now 13-year-old) how to ride a bike at the tender age of five. She was excited and anxious at the same time. Chris was nervous but confident she could do it. He held onto her bike with both hands until he was sure she was ready. Even after letting go he watched her closely and helped her up when she fell. In no time at all she was riding on her own.

Too often our loving children transition into distant, angry creatures trying to ride off on their own without any sense of balance or direction. From sheer panic we let go too soon, feeling like all we can do now is watch and hope for the best. Parents find themselves asking:
- Where did my child go?
- What happened to our once close relationship?
- What did I do to make them shut me out?

A mixture of hormones, social pressures, and a growing need to be independent all factor into this mess of the teen/parent relationship (not to mention the parent's issues). What can we do? Lock them away until their 18th birthday? Put them up for auction on eBay? Don't think I haven't considered these options.

Perhaps there is a better way, keeping in mind I am just starting this journey. What if we:
* Listen more than talk
* Be willing to discuss awkward stuff (sex, body changes, dating)
* Remember it's not about you
* Have rules (for both of you!) limiting technology time
* Remain calm
* Pray, pray, pray
* Family vacations, family dinners, family devotionals (see a theme??)

This is far from a comprehensive list but it's a start. Let me be clear. When it comes to my own kids, I strike out more than I hit grandslams. I depend on God's grace with complete, face down, total abandon. While I have done my part to screw them up, I am now and will always be, completely committed to our relationship. I am determined not to lose them. Though it's natural for things to change, I am resolved to maintain close ties through these tumultuous days.

The teen years, I'm thinking, are a lot like the bike lesson. Mary Cate is excited and anxious about becoming an adult. Chris and I are nervous yet confident she is on the right track. When she falls we'll be there to help her up. And at just the right time we will let go, but until then we are holding on with both hands.

Small Bites

I've been stressed about a big decision recently. Wanting desperately to hear from God, I followed the 'recipe': 1)Soaked myself in God's Word. 2)Sought wise counsel. 3)Prayed my guts out.

I wasn't asking for much. Just needed a yes or no on what I saw as a nine year plan for my kids education. I felt God leading us in a certain direction for next year. The problem is, I wanted a guarantee on the next nine, not just one.

Not getting the answers I sought, I felt frustrated, aggrivated, and spiritually wasted. If the good Lord created the heavens and earth in just seven days, how hard could it be to give me a simple yes or no on our long-term plans?

Have you ever been in this place? Have you ever tried to get God to commit to a long-term plan? Ever tried coaxing Him to sign the dotted line? If you have then you probably experienced what I am going through.

Allow me to illustrate. For Ellie's second birthday I had baked a delicious layer cake covered in thick chocolate icing. Sprinkles decorated the top as it sat on our traditional birthday platter. I was a regular Willy Wonka, luring children with my sugary treats. Jack, age four at the time, was in the kitchen eyeing the cake and struggling with one of his first major temptations. I left the room for a few minutes and came back to see a bite taken smack out of the top of that cake! Jack was nowhere to be found. When I finally located him I asked him about the cake. He looked up at me with big blue eyes, chocolate icing outlining his little mouth, and said, "What cake?"

Now moms, you know if I hadn't come back into the kitchen when I did that little critter would've tried to eat the whole thing. Who can blame him, really? What one of us has not, at some point in time, tried to eat an entire cake in one sitting? I came close once and made myself entirely sick. (That's what we in the parenting world call a "natural consequence.")

The point is, we can't digest in one sitting all that God has planned. We're not meant to know all that God is up to all the time. He's got something cookin' and we're supposed to take it in one bite at a time. When God called Abraham to get up and move to a place God would show him. Abraham didn't ask for the nine year plan. Abraham (a brighter guy than me) simply packed a bag and followed - one day at a time.

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Notice God says, "I know the plans." I keep trying to rewrite that so it reads, "LISA knows the plans." God won't have it. He wants me to trust Him.

We can find peace in Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the chic who takes refuge in Him." If we want more of God and more of His plans without the tummy ache, we've got to remember to take it one small bite at a time.

There is a dirty word in our house. It starts with 'M' and ends with 'h'. It's the word 'Math'. My stomach ties up in knots at the mere mention of this word. Sadly, with two parents who talk for a living (Chris in sales, me in Bible teaching) our three children never had a chance to get the math gene. I visualize my kid's teachers shaking their heads and mumbling to themselves as they grade our homework, "Those poor kids."

Living in Katy means we are surrounded by over-achieving parents raising over-achieving children. Do you live in a community like this? Failure to achieve academic excellence and supreme sporting abilities is not an option. We hire tutors, coaches and mentors to sharpen our kids and give them the competitive edge.

This is good, right? I wonder, if in all our training and perfecting of kids, we're not somehow missing the point.

Proverbs 4:7 hits me right in the gut, "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." Did you see it? Read it again.

Some people think having your kid in the GT program is supreme. Some would argue select sports is supreme. Some think Chick-fil-a sandwiches are supreme. (Oops. Can you tell I'm hungry?) God says WISDOM is supreme. Where do you get a tutor for that?

Look in the mirror, parents. We are to be teaching our children how to gain wisdom. Wisdom comes from God. A life marked by peace, joy, and Jesus is evidence of wisdom.

Don't get me wrong, I want my kids to do their best academically, athletically, socially, (and all the other "ly's" out there). But more than anything, I want my children to grow in the wisdom and knowledge of God. I pray my focus would start here. To grow in God's purpose and become all that God created them to be, we, as parents must demonstrate a life of wisdom.

Fortunately, for us God loves to grant wisdom. James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." Do you need wisdom for living? Do you need wisdom for parenting your precious children? Ask God. Seek it with all that you have. Whatever it costs you, pursue wisdom and understanding.

What do you say, let's be known as the community that raises wise young people. Doesn't that sound good? Now, somebody bring me a Chick-fil-a sandwich...and a calculator.

Name Change

When I was in junior high my family spent a few days at a friend's house on Lake Conroe. The house was in a vacation community that included a fun swimming pool. Since my family didn't have our own pool, I was thrilled to get to spend all day swimming and jumping off the diving board. The downside to this otherwise perfect vacation was the fact that my older brother took to calling me "chicken legs" every time I got on that diving board.

You can imagine, at the tender age of 12, how fun it was being called names in front of all the folks at the pool. Needless to say, it didn't go over too well. From that point forward I was rather self-conscious about my skinny legs. That is, until I met my husband. Chris told me he thought my legs were beautiful. He said it was one of his favorite features! Wow! Suddenly I 'strutted' my stuff with a little more confidence. (Get it? 'Strutted', you know, like a chicken? Ha.)

It's amazing what a name change can do. In the book of Isaiah, the Lord God tells His people that He is going to change their name. The Israelites had been beat up by their enemies. They felt rejected, hopeless and downcast. They began to see themselves through the eyes of their enemies.

Hear what God said to them in Isaiah 62:2-4, "The nations will see your righteousness,and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called My Delight."

Wahoo! God is so good. What name has your enemy put on you? Do you see yourself as Rejected? Hopeless? Unforgiven? Afraid? Hear me, friend: THAT IS NOT YOUR NAME! God takes delight in you. “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Your name is Accepted. Your name is Hopeful and Sure. Your name is Bold and Strong. Do you need a name change today? Don't let the enemy label you. His names are lies. God's name for you is true. Now get out there and strut that new name!

I Am Resolved

January 2, 2012. On your mark. Get set. GO! A new year is here and I guess it means we're all doing what we usually do - setting up a diet plan, rejoining the gym, and generally making other resolutions of self-improvement.

I like a new year because it fits my personality. You see, I'm a strong starter. You have a new project that needs leadership? I'm your girl. I'm the horse that bolts out of the gate at the race. The trouble is, I tend to lose steam after the second lap. Yes, I'm good at New Year's. It's year end I'm not so good at.

How did you close out 2011? How did you feel it went over all? I was so grateful for the wonderful memories my family got to make and the generous provision of the Lord. There were too many blessings to count. I have to admit, however, that I had a few regrets as well. Some projects I let fall to the wayside, ill-used words I let slip, bought a few too many pairs of shoes (is that possible?!). You've heard of the One-Year Bible? Well, I'm on the 9-year plan!

Whatever mistakes you made in 2011, remember that Jesus restores the fallen. Jesus doesn't ask us to make a resolution to try harder, instead He asks us to reaffirm our love for Him. Remember Peter? I can relate to Peter. He had a big mouth (but a big heart too). He denied Christ three times. He had to have felt he'd blown it as a disciple. Instead of guilting Peter, Jesus asked him to affirm his love.

Maybe you really blew it with God in 2011. Maybe you feel like it's too late or you've gone too far. Listen to what Jesus said to Peter in John 21:15, "So when they had eaten breakfast Jesus said to Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?" Do you hear Jesus? He's not about humiliation or guilt or condemnation. He's about RESTORATION!

Jesus asks you, "Do you love me?" If your answer (like Peter's) is "Yes, Lord" then you are restored. Jesus longs for relationship with us. He wants us to love him.

As we begin a new year, it's great to set goals. Just remember Jesus is not asking you for resolutions to try harder. Henry Blackaby says, "If your resolve to obey God last year did not help you to be faithful, it will not make you successful this year."

My number one goal for 2012? To love Jesus more. I am resolved to love Him more than my schedule, responsibilities, money, friends, children, or anything else. Will you join me?