Why the Wilderness?

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the
main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was
the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, "If the people are
faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." Exodus 13:17

Why the wilderness? Because God knew the Israelites would be faced with a distraction had they gone the "normal" route; the way that made "sense"; the way of the world. V18 says they would have faced battle and would have turned in fear and run back to Egypt. The only way to the P. Land was to go through the wilderness.

Me too. If I had followed my way into the P. Land I would have never reached the true Canaan. I would have been distracted by worldly things--job, money, success, prestige. But because God took me through the wilderness, I learned to look at and listen to Him. I learned how to do things His way. And I made it all the way to Canaan.

Priscilla Shriver said, "Wilderness isn't distraction; wandering the wilderness is a distraction." (See Bible study). Feel lost in the wilderness? Stop wondering. Follow God and He'll lead you through the wilderness to your place of abundance.

Be a Blessing

August 7, 2012


"I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others." Genesis 12:2

I love the blessing of Abram, don't you? God says to Abram in Genesis 12:2-3, " I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I
will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with
contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

I want that.

I want God to make me into a great nation . . . or at least allow me to live in one. I want God to lead me into a place of abundance, a place where all my needs are met, a place where I have rest from my enemies (Deuteronomy 6:11, 12:10). I want God to bless me and curse those who curse me. I want God to fill my life with good things.

But did you notice WHY God said He would bless Abram?

God didn't plan to bless Abram so that Abram could keep God's goodness to himself. God blessed Abram so that he could be a blessing to others, so that, "all the families on earth could be blessed through him" (Genesis 12:3).

The blessing of God comes with a high price. Luke 12:48 reads, "When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and
when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required."

I've glimpsed the two-thirds world, and I can say fervently--God has blessed America. I realize I am about to hit a hot button. But I believe God blessed America because of the values on which the forefathers founded this country--values which placed God first, principles which recognized that all we had came from Him. Our founding fathers did not lead perfect lives. But I believe they founded our country with hearts that sought to please God. And because they placed God first, God blessed our country. Since then God has used that blessing to bless the families who live in this country--including you and me.

What have we done with our blessing?

I know I sound as if I'm jumping on the bandwagon, and in many areas of my life I fail miserably . . . but we have SO much. We have homes, electricity, running water, more food than most can dream of (live on rice and beans for three weeks and you gain a renewed appreciation for variety). We play sports, drive cars, we have driveways for cryin' out loud (something the two-thirds world doesn't need since they do not have cars). These things in themselves do not prove evil . . . unless we pursue these things at the expense of blessing another.

While in Africa one of my teammates used the phrase, "The ball is in your court." Receiving only blank stares from our audience, we both quickly realized the ladies were unfamiliar with the game of tennis. I realize different countries practice different sports but I began to think about the game of tennis in America. I wondered how much money we as Americans spend on tennis--on court fees, memberships, training and cute outfits (tennis-skirts are the one reason I considered playing!). I wondered how much money we as Americans--better yet, we as believers--spend on sports in general. (It's okay, I'm prepared to receive disgust-mail for this!) I am not against organized sports! But I am against spending resources (time, money, etc.) on luxuries while millions live in poverty.

I am against spending energy asking what size Keurig I should buy when millions go daily without water. I am against over-scheduling my children in extra-curricular activities when thousands of children will die today for lack of food. I am against stocking my closet full of the latest styles (I'm sure that doesn't come as much of a shock to those of you who see me often) when women in Africa simply wrap themselves in a piece of material taken straight from a bolt of fabric.

I know it sounds harsh. I stand guilty in MANY areas of my life. But God has blessed us so that we may be a blessing to others. "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring
for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world
corrupt you." (James 1:27)

Rather than turning a deaf ear or a hardened heart, will you join me in asking God to break our hearts for what breaks His? Will you petition the throne of heaven with me as I ask God to show me how He intends to use my family and me to bless others? May He bless you even more for doing so.

Too Hungry for Words

August 2, 2012


"People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

People often ask me, "What kind of food did you eat in Africa?" And I describe to them the menu of the two-thirds world: rice, beans and potatoes. For three weeks our in-country hosts served us more food than we could eat. Unlike many of my national brothers and sisters I had no reason to feel hungry in Africa.

But I did feel hungry. I longed for variety, for seasoning, for a handful of good-for-nothing food, for . . . microwave popcorn and a bag of sour cream and onion flavored potato chips.

Traveling abroad awakened me to the ugly reality of my dependency on food. Our menu covered all the basic food groups but I found myself craving more. Why? Other than fresh fruits (which we couldn't eat for risk of infection) I had all I needed. Still I felt too hungry for words. Until I met my brothers and sisters.

Somehow transition to word of God.

Gifts from a Father

July 30, 2012

"So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him." Matthew 7:11

Late last week my father-in-law called to ask what gift our daughter might like to receive in honor of her birthday. Shamefully prepared for the question I gave my father-in-law several ideas.

For the record I believe every grandmama and grandad should be entitled to purchase whatever gift they like for their grandchild. But do you want to know the truth? I love it when people solicit ideas from me. Why? Because I know my child. I know her likes and dislikes. I know what size she wears, what color she prefers. I know that she likes her clothes to fit loosely, and that for now she's not exactly the girly-girl type. I know that she loves music and that she wants to feel grown-up. I know what my daughter wants even before she asks. More than just her wants, I know what she needs. I know my child. So I love it when others come to me for advice in regards to my daughter.

Do you realize it's the same way between us and God?

God knows everything about me. He knows when I sit or when I rise. He knows my thoughts even when I'm far away. He knows everything I do. He knows what I'm going to say even before I say it. God knit me together in my mother's womb. He knows my anxious thoughts. He knows my heart. (Psalm 139:1-4, 13, 23)

God knows me . . . and He knows you. When we find ourselves in need or in want of something, who better to ask than our Heavenly Father?

When Jesus spoke on effective prayer He said, "Keep on asking, and you
will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep
on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

Keep on asking and I'll receive that for which I ask? Sounds great! However, there's a catch.

God is a good Father. Just as I declined the request my daughter made for a horse (gotta love a seven year old girl's heart!) our Heavenly Father may not always give us exactly what we want. Instead, He gives us what He knows we need.

James writes, "You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are
jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage
war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because
you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong--you want only what will give you pleasure." (James 4:2-3)

God says that sometimes we fail to receive what we ask for because we ask for something He knows we don't need; we ask with selfish motives. When we ask God for something with a pure heart, however, He gives abundantly!

In 1 Kings 3 King Solomon asks God for wisdom to rule His people. Solomon asked God to equip him with something that would benefit others. God replies, "Because you have asked for
wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a
long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—I
will give you what you asked for! And
I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame!" (1 Kings 3:11, 13) Solomon sought God with pure motives and God rewarded him. However, things fared differently for Solomon's father, King David.

In 2 Samuel 11 King David notices a beautiful woman bathing near his palace. Unmoved by the fact that this woman is married to a man named Uriah, King David sleeps with her and she becomes pregnant. In his moment of weakness King David arranges for Uriah to be killed in battle and then takes Uriah's widow as his wife. In 2 Samuel 12:8 God comes to David and says, "I
gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel
and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much,
much more."

Can you hear the grief of a Father's broken heart?

Rather than recognizing that God had given David everything he needed--and would have given him much, much more--David allowed the desires of his flesh to rule his life. And David paid dearly in the loss of his child. But God is a God of compassion and forgiveness. In 2 Samuel 12 David professes his guilt before God and God restores David by blessing him with another son--Solomon, the wisest king to ever live.

James 1:17 reads, "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father." God may not always give us what we want but what He does give is good and perfect.

What is it that you need? What is it that you want? Go to your Father in prayer, to the One who knows you best. Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

Seven

July 27, 2012



"On the seventh day God had finished His work of creation, so He rested from all His work." Genesis 2:2

Today marks the seventh anniversary of the birth of our identical-twin daughters. Seven years ago today we received the unexpected news that our first and second child were gravely ill inside my womb.  Seven years ago today doctors delivered our two babies and whisked them off to neonatal intensive care before we ever had the chance to hug them, kiss them or hold them. Seven years ago today
doctors diagnosed one of our twins with a Grade IV brain hemorrhage, and
told us that our daughter stood little chance for survival. Today marks the beginning of a string of events that would eventually lead to one of the most difficult experiences of my life.

While we REJOICE over the life of our surviving twin daughter our twins' birthday normally proves a difficult day for me to process. One child to celebrate; one child to mourn. It seems unfair. I despise death. I ache to hold two babies in my arms at once. The desires of my flesh quench the Spirit within.

But this year I noticed something different.

Seven represents the number of perfection and completion. God created the world in six days, and on the seventh He rested (Genesis 2:2). David was Jesse's seventh son (1 Chronicles 2:15). Jesus fed 5,000 men plus women and children with seven loaves of bread. When the crowed finished eating the disciples collected seven baskets of leftover food (Matthew 15:34-37). In the book of Revelation John writes a letter to the seven churches in the province of Asia (Revelation 1:4). Many claim seven as God's favorite number.

Seven years ago God used the death of our child to redirect the course of my life. While I sometimes failed to see the beauty of the path on which I traveled, seven years later I realize that He truly works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). In the seven years since the death of our child God has allowed me the privilege of sharing the hope of Christ with others--when I often feel unworthy of even mentioning His name. Seven years later I find myself having just returned from serving the Lord in two different countries. Seven years after the premature birth of our twin daughters my life feels more full and rich than I ever dreamed possible. Though I once felt incomplete without my child, seven years later I realize that my completeness comes from Christ and in living the life He intended for us to live.

The mama in me misses our daughter. But the child of God in me rejoices daily in His presence. What normally proves to be a difficult month faded to a few difficult moments yesterday afternoon. Because
I miss our daughter less? No. Because the hurt fades? Not necessarily.
Because time heals wounds? Not ever. Because the grace of God rescued
me? Absolutely!

I realize the depth to which a parent can plummet following the loss of a child--indeed I've experienced the hopelessness, and would feel blinded by despair now except that I asked God to show me the way out of my pain. And once I asked, "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." (Psalm 40:2)

Happy 7th Birthday my darlings.

The Rocks Speak

July 17, 2012


"He replied, 'If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!'" Luke 19:40

While in Africa I had the pleasure of speaking at local churches on Sunday mornings (did I mention that ONE church service runs three and a half to four hours?!?). The first Sunday I prepared two different messages. Having realized in my own life the importance of building our foundation
of faith on God's Word rather than on hearsay, I based one message on
the passage found in Matthew 7:24-27.

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though
the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat
against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."

As Saturday night drew to a close I remained unsure of which message God intended for me to deliver the next morning. I prayed over and over for wisdom and discretion. Desperate for direction I decided to ask God for a sign.

In all honesty, I'm not sure it pleases God when we ask Him for signs. In Judges 6 Gideon asked God twice for a sign to affirm that he should attack the Midianites. But I also observe in the next chapter of Judges that God seemed to require an increased amount of faith on behalf of Gideon when God decreased Gideon's army from over 30,000 to just 300. God prefers for us to follow Him by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

I'm uncertain of what motivated me to ask God for a sign. Call it weak faith, call it jet-lag but the night before I spoke I asked God to show me a brick. Just one tiny brick. I decided that if I arrived to the church and saw a brick--or anything that even remotely resembled a brick--then I would deliver the message based on the passage in Matthew 7 (do you follow my logic . . . bricks as in building our foundations on the Rock?). No brick meant I would deliver the message I had originally prepared.

Are you sitting down?

Because as we arrived at the church the next day, this is what I saw.

Do you see them? Not just one brick. A whole pile of bricks. Right there, at the bottom right corner of this picture.

The photo is an original; no photo-shop here. Just an image of our powerful God who loves to interact with His children.

In Luke 19 Jesus told the Pharisees that if His followers hadn't shouted praises to Him, the rocks would have rejoiced in their place. To the casual observer, it's just a pile of bricks in my photo. But to me the rocks speak volumes of God's love, presence, awareness and very desire to communicate with me.

Kingdom Work

July 17, 2012


"But on the judgment day,
fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will
show if a person’s work has any value." 1 Corinthians 3:13