Remembering

"Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations, that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of a free and undivided Republic." ~John A. Logan

Happy Memorial Day!

What Would Jesus Tweet?

Thanks so much for coming by today! Isn't it amazing how our computers allow us to have this connection? I truly love it.

I love the connection that I can have with you through blogs and Facebook (I'm considering Twitter but am a techie lightweight), but I have been pondering the fulfillment that comes from face time over Facebook time for quite a while. When I was feeling Lonely, I don't think Facebook would have been much help. Here are some thoughts...I'd love your response.

God could have sent Jesus into any time of His choosing. Why didn’t He send Jesus during our day? Surely using television and internet would have been a more effective way to get the Word out. He could have Tweeted the Beatitudes one at a time. He could have done simulcasts to the multitudes without even needing to feed them. His message could have gone viral on YouTube, and Jesus surely would have had to apply for celebrity status on Facebook to “friend” the millions who requested Him. It would have been a highly efficient way to transmit the Light of the World.

Well, I confess that I don’t know exactly why God sent Jesus into a day and age with no telephones, television or internet. But maybe, just maybe, His choice of time sends us a message. Jesus chose deep relationships and creating a place a true belonging for His disciples as the way to transmit His message forward in time until He comes again. He was the one who created us in His own image with an inescapable need for face-to-face, heart-to-heart relationship. Maybe God sent Jesus when He did to show us that a place of true belonging with God and others is the only way to satisfy the longings of our souls.

I remember doing Beth Moore’s study Jesus the One and Only years ago. She explained Jesus’ relationships as an ever expanding set of concentric circles. In the circle closest to him were Peter, James and John. John was described as the disciple that Jesus loved, and the other two were always along on special outings like the Transfiguration. Jesus seemed to have an especially close relationship with these men, and that relationship was reflected in the time that He spent with them.

In the next circle out were the rest of the disciples. Jesus invested 3 years of His life in these men. They ate together, traveled together, healed together and fished together. Jesus taught them while they were “doing life,” and these relationships were the means by which the gospel would be spread world-wide.

Moving outward, the next circle included Jesus’ friends and family. I imagine people like Mary, Martha and Lazarus in this circle. These were people that scriptural accounts show had a special connection to Jesus. He spent time with them, and they knew Him well enough to call immediately when their brother fell ill. Mary, Jesus’ mother, and His brothers might also have been in this circle. The last circle contained the multitudes.

Although I can only strive to love everyone equally in my circles as Jesus did those in His circles, I can certainly use His life as a model. My inner circle contains those that I love, trust and “do life” with. The other circles can be friends and then acquaintances. I don’t have any multitudes following me, but maybe that’s where Facebook naturally falls. My friend list is my “multitude”! They are people that I love and have cultivated relationship with to varying degrees. That picture helps me to keep social networking in a proper perspective. It’s a means to relationship but not the primary means.

What do you think? Do you think social networking eases or increases America's loneliness problem?

Lessons Learned on the Run--Body and Soul

This quote by CS Lewis spoken by Ravi Zacharias this morning strengthened me as I was about to give up:

"You do not have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." --CS Lewis

In a very strange way, this exercise is strengthening my belief of that truth. Wunning is strengthening my soul even more than my body.

Here was the first song after Ravi's sermon. (I love that God hit me with a big truth and then let me jam to it!) Enjoy!!

Scary Noises in the Air

"If Creation was a crime, would not God be the prime suspect?" Robert Brault

I have have to admit something strange. I've been squelching fears of alien invasion recently. There has been this odd, loud sound outside in Holly Springs, and it sounds a lot like that ray with which cartoon aliens shoot their earthling prey. A noise like that gets a girl thinking.

Yesterday, I asked Barry what the noise is, and he guessed correctly. Here's our alien.

The hilarious thing is that there's actually an article written here because of calls from Holly Springs residents to Town Hall, the police department and the fire department.

You've got to follow the link and read the article. Not only will you have something fascinating to teach a child but you will also see that I'm not the only crazy person around. Others suspected a Close Encounter.

As I ran by the woods alive with a primal hum today, I wondered if this was the accompaniment for the angels' singing as the world was created. I'm just fascinated and awed by God--the Creator of wonder and variety.

Just Because

My eyes widened in surprise and pleasure as I recognized my friend's voice on the phone. She's a friend I dearly love, but we live long-distance and don't stay in close touch. "How are you doing?" she asked. "I heard about the death of your grandmother and have been thinking about you."

I told her about my sadness but also my rejoicing over the fullness of my grandmother's life, and we continued to catch up on old friends, kids and church. I started to wonder when we'd get to the reason for her call. Finally, there was a pause, and she explained that she'd need to go back to her work day in a minute.

I was stunned. That was it. There was no other agenda or hidden need. My friend had just carved out the time in her day to call me and check on me.

She's a young widow whose precious husband died suddenly. She is dealing with raising children alone, running a business that they used to manage as a couple and all the other curve-balls that life inevitably generates. Yet she made time in her day just to check in with me.

My friend explained that after her husband's death, worship time at church was the time when the flood-gates of grief opened. She would often stand and cry throughout the service, pouring out her heart to God and receiving healing from Him. There was one woman who often sat by her and silently held her hand.

One woman.

In silence.

Offering the ministry of presence.

A profound gift.

My friend said, "I've learned how much sharing time means. If I can only run by and take a cake, I do it. All of life's busyness can be overwhelming, but I make time for people now. People are the most important thing."

I thought of how my friend reflects Jesus--of how Jesus made people more important than His list. Think of the people for whom He stopped and carved out time:

The woman at the well.

Zacheus.

The woman with the issue of blood.

His disciples.

Mary at His feet.

The list could go on and on. As I write, I glance at the stack of legal pads at my elbow. Each pad is for a different area of my life, and the front page is a list. A long list. Lines and lines of things to do.

Maybe I need to change my lists and leave room at the top--room for names instead of tasks. Here's my new first line on my checklist. "Be more like Jesus. Make people the most important thing today."

Lessons Learned on the Run--Sometimes Slow is Good

I'm having trouble getting back into the wunning routine after my week traveling last week, so this morning my goal was to get out and move.

But I didn't want to.

I REALLY didn't want to.

I yelled downstairs to Barry and asked him if he wanted to walk with me. I was shocked to hear a "yes" float back up the stairs. I smiled, because I know it's just because he loves me.

We walked about 2.5 miles. Although I tried to push the pace, it was such a beautiful morning to admire my neighbors' yards and chat with my hubby.

There are days when slow is good. Days when it's nice just to enjoy. Days when this earth that God created is irresistibly enjoyable.

"For by Him all things were created: thing is heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him." Colossians 1:16 NIV

Broken but Not Alone

Note: Thank you so much to all of you who left notes of encouragement and condolence. It meant the world to me as I traveled home with a heart full of memories of my grandmother. Thank you also for the grace to post late from my Encouragement for Today devotion on Friday.

Broken.

It's a term that carries many negative connotations in our culture. It often is taken to mean weak, unworthy, useless, frail, time-to-throw-away.

But in God's economy that sometimes seems upside down to us, "broken" is a word imbued with honor and blessing.

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51: 17 (NIV)

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matt. 5:3-6 (NIV)

In encouraging the broken today, I believe that God wants you to know above all that you are not alone. I believe that Satan's whisper, "You are all alone" is his greatest ploy to keep God's children in places of despair, hopelessness and darkness.

God is with you.

"...the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners..." Isaiah 61: 1 (NIV)

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

Others are with you.

Even if you don't think that there's another person in the world who is going through what you're going through, you can be assured that there are others.

In her book Permission to Speak Freely, Anne Jackson says, "Other people were out there in the same Valley of Death I was walking in, but we were all surrounded by so much darkness we couldn't see one another. And the darkness told us we couldn't speak up. We were all just waiting to know we weren't alone. We were waiting to be rescued. And it took someone first saying, 'I'm broken,' for the others to hear that voice and realize we were surrounded by others just as broken as we were."

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4: 12 (NIV)

It's healing to call out into the darkness and see who is your companion there.

You may have friends that you need to call out to today. I also want to invite you to use this safe place to call out if you like. Post anonymously if you feel safer.

You may be broken, but you are not alone.

And you are loved.

An Apology and a Promise

For any of you who came to the blog today looking for the content promised on Encouragement for Today, I apologize profusely.

My grandmother died this week, so I've been on the road. Travel combined with Blogger's shut down last night and this morning kept me from posting today.

I have so much on my heart to share on this topic of brokenness, though. Please come back Monday, and I'll have some important things that God has been teaching me along with some scripture that I know will encourage you.

Blessings, sweet friends!

A Quote to Start the Week

"It is the will of God and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life; 'tis rather an embrio state, a preparation for living; a man is not completely born until he be dead: Why then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals?" ~Benjamin Franklin, February 22, 1756

Today is both a day of sadness and rejoicing for me. Last night my grandmother went to be with the Lord. I think it's fitting that a woman known as a sweet and gentle soul and a loving mother went home on Mother's Day.

She is where my soul longs to be--born among the immortals and with Jesus face to face. I celebrate her life today but more than that I celebrate that one day we'll spend eternity together in the place for which we were created.

I hope you have someone that you love and have lost (temporarily)that you'll remember dearly with this quote today.

Tomorrow I'll be on Christian Work at Home Moms radio show hosted by Jill Hart. I hope you'll tune in by clicking here. The show is from 10:00-10:30, and I'll be talking about getting started as a speaker and Next Step Speaker Services.

I also would like to share a blog post that I wrote for Next Step Speaker Services about spiritual battle. Wunning is both a physical and spiritual battle right now. I'll pray for you to hang in if you'll pray for me! :) Click here to read about how to fight the battle.

Last Mr. Rogers Monday

I hope you've enjoyed the quotes from Fred Rogers. I've loved remembering a tender-hearted man who loved Jesus and children.

I'm ready to move on, though, so Mondays will now be reflections on thought provoking quotes from a wide variety of folks.

Enjoy this last quote from sweet Mr. Rogers!

"A high school student wrote to ask, 'What was the greatest event in American history?' I can't say. However, I suspect that like so many 'great' events, it was something very simple and very quiet with little or no fanfare (such as someone forgiving someone else for a deep hurt that eventually changed the course of history). The really great things are never center state of life's dramas; they're always 'in the wings.' That's why it's so essential for us to be mindful of the humble and the deep rather than the flashy and superficial." --Fred Rogers