40 Words for 40 Days: Day 13

Tonight, dear friends, we share a phrase, on this 28th day. Our grand-baby illustrates it perfectly:

FEAR ONLY GOD.

    From the minute Karsten met our rambunctious, unpredictable pups, he has adored them. He’s been pounced, sidewalled, licked nearly head to toe, splashed, knocked down and endured their fearsome barks as they bared their teeth, playing fiercely with each other. He has patiently awaited their calm, crawled into their kennel as they’ve eaten and shimmied between them to separate them from fighting. He calls them from far off in the prairie, they halt, steady themselves, then gallop towards him like stallions. He doesn’t even flinch! I’ve watched his joy overflow with giggles as the puppies licked him everywhere, trusting in their faithful companionship.

    On the first day Karsten arrived, he clung to his mommy and daddy, before understanding that they could scoop him up if the situation with the wild pups got too difficult. Line and Gabriel whispered truth into his ear, that he needn’t fear, but was to speak and act in only ‘cozy’ ways that would give the pups needed time to sniff and build trust. They are now inseparable!

    Proverbs 3:5-8 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths. Be not worse in your own eyes, fear the Lord and turn from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”

    God is with us in the center of our struggles, suffering, temptation to fear and worry. He knows what’s ahead and this situation now, filtered through his hands, will be for the glory of the collective good, for those who are called to his purposes. TRUST GOD ALONE. Sit in the center of trust and don’t budge, he’s never lost a battle! He is worthy of our praise, author of our peace and he is with us!

    See you tomorrow, right here!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 12

Why Hello!

    I love the word for today, the 29th day that has already been (any other night owls out there?).

Our word is EMBRACE.

    In the beginning of the pandemic, several prophetic voices spoke of bracing ourselves for what is to come. That’s certainly an appropriate reaction when tumult approaches, but I’ll never forget our close friend Knut’s rendition of “brace yourself!” He misspoke and exclaimed, “Embrace yourself!” He’s a man who leads with exuberance and laughter, so when I remembered his words, instantly the fear of preparing for the worst disapated into the idea that when danger approaches, remember God’s got it! And when we agree with his plans of love and healing, we are in the center of his EMBRACE!

    Who can we EMBRACE today in word and action? What thoughts can we release as poisonous to our souls and others, in order to EMBRACE a life-giving attitude? One thing is for certain, in these confusing days, we need wisdom from God’s Word. Proverbs 4:8 says, “If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. EMBRACE her and she will honor you.”

    Let us be found embracing wisdom and all promises of God in these days, and let us release all thoughts that don’t align with this truth!

    Happy Friday! See you tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 11

 Hello there! On the eve of our 30th day the word I have to offer is TRUTH.

    Jim Fleming and his wife Rochelle taught us so may things in the two years that we lived in Memphis, but one of my favorite thoughts of Jim’s was that Jesus’ way is 100% truth and 100% grace, always. Truth can never be less than it is and grace must cover a multitude of sin, so 100% of each is the only way. Isn’t that beautiful?

    I was challenged today to embrace this mindset in parenting when an urgent call from Malachi (19) came in this afternoon. (He’s given me permission to share this.) He’d been speeding along the highway, coming home, when he’d been snagged by a hidden police car clocking him. Malachi called me immediately, hoping that we could tell Dennis together. You see Dennis had recently felt overwhelmed at the death of a young patient, though not his own, and had called Malachi just to hear his voice. Malachi felt he’d trampled on his dad’s fragile emotions by acting recklessly. Dennis was able to graciously receive the humble apology from Malachi on the phone, because I’d already laid out the consequences! 100% grace from Dennis, and 100% truth from Grace.

    Just before settling in to chat with you, I found the name of the police officer who’d issued the ticket and wrote him a thank you note. What if he’d not seen our young driver and just let him zip home? Maybe he and his passenger, Salomé (16), wouldn’t be with us now!

    Who are the truth-tellers and grace-givers in our lives? Let’s tell them of the essential value they are to us individually and in community. These are the days when the Lord counts on us to encourage the brethren. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

    Good night dear hearts, blessings on your day! See you soon!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 10

 Karsten and I filled our basket with tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini and kale for dinner. We even found fresh rosemary in the beds we’d stripped down to expose the herbs. In the morning he’d noticed the pattern on my dress. “Whoo, Whoo!” he’d continue to express to the slanted owls. (Yes, you’re right, I do dress for my children and grandchildren!)

    Our word today, on this 31st day, is BELONG. From generation to generation, God weaves our lives together and teaches us the art of belonging.

    To whom do we belong? I belong to Christ, to the brethren and to the family of the human race. We are many family trees, filled with branches, but we are created from the same precious dust of the earth, in the image of God.

    One of my very favorite passages, read at our wedding 31 years ago, is from Ephesians 3:14-21. Read it slowly and let the words sink into your spirit.

    “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family on heaven and earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

    We BELONG in the center of God’s will, and when we align ourselves with the truth of his Word, that’s where we find peace. Even through these trials, we see his abundant love when our hearts are in tune with him. Harvest is upon us, and as his children, we can surely find delight in this season, because he is in our midst!

    God bless you and keep you until we meet again tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 9

 Hello Beloveds! On this 32nd day, I have a new word for us to ponder: MULTIPLY

    Our grandson, Karsten, joined me in the kitchen. His faithful companions, our chocolate labs, Beatrice and Huxley, stood ever vigilant hoping for a tasty reward. My earnest little helper followed my directions diligently and in no time at all, the tantalizing aroma of peach crisp filled the house. What began with the simplest of ingredients, became a delicious delight for all to share.

    Do you remember the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000?

The disciples were ready to turn away the hungry crowd on whom Jesus had had compassion, healing their sick and ministering to them. They’d been with the people all day and felt worn out. Instead, Jesus said to his 12 disciples, “You feed them.” The bewildered disciples scrambled then finally found five simple loaves and two fish, shared by a boy from the crowd. Jesus instructed everyone to sit in groups of 50 in the grass. Imagine as the hush of anticipation fell over each person wondering what Jesus might do. He took the fish and loaves into his hands, offered them up to heaven, thanked his Father and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. At the end of the feasting, twelve baskets of broken pieces were gathered, not an ounce of miraculous abundance was wasted. Nothing is ever wasted in God’s economy!

    Imagine if you were the boy with the lunch! He offered his best to Jesus, believing that in Jesus’ hands it could be useful. And oh my, was it ever MULTIPLIED into a feast for all! When I look at this picture of our little boy offering his help to feed our hungry family, my heart melts. He knows that whatever help he offers me, I’ll gladly receive and that his best efforts will always be of greatest value to me. I love this little guy, and when he wishes to work alongside me, my joy abounds.

    In the complicated situations we face today, it’s difficult to imagine what use we might be to those feeling empty, suffering and in need. We, like the disciples, have our own plans before us, turning others away seems most logical. Besides, mounting problems arise daily, tempting us to shrink back in feelings of compassion fatigue. But we mustn’t give up! Jesus calls us to stand strong and stay faithful! Our simple prayers for one another,
push back the evil and invite love to override fear. Praying and believing are vital! Our kindness, listening ears, small acts of service and calm presence are of eternal use when courage is failing and hope seems dim all around us. God MULTIPLIES what the faithful surrender back to him. And as we bless and serve others in Jesus’ name, I imagine His joy might just be MULTIPLIED as well!

Good night, abundant rest and strength for the new day!

I’ll meet you here again tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 8

Hello! It’s the end of our 33rd day, but before I share our word, I have two stories to tell.

    Eight years ago, three little children, who shall remain anonymous, clamored into the kitchen, breathless and wide-eyed talking so fast I could barely understand them. They waved for me to follow. As we dashed out the door, the somewhat compassionate comment of a brother went something like this, “...and we got ours over but sister didn’t...she was trying her best...” In a few seconds we all stopped short in our tracks and stared up. Before my eyes was a massive hole in the neighbor’s floor to ceiling picture window! Our three musketeers had been throwing rocks over the ridge of their house!!! Amazingly, one missed! It was a costly cast.

    Not many months later, I recieved a knock at the door from another neighbor. This time she led me in a silent procession to her yard where we halted to examine the entire side wall of her garage. Dotted, like a modern polka dot blouse, were umpteen splatted plum marks from the ground to the roofline and across the entire wall. How could they have done so much damage in such a short time? I’d been making dinner, thankful for their contentedness in riding their trikes. And to make matters worse, they’d used all the ripe plums from a third neighbor’s tree to accomplish their masterpiece! Oh the hours of holding sudsy buckets, leaning on ladders and scrubbing until our hands ached!

    From the broken window, to the stains and finally for the stolen plums we were given the exact same response from each tender neighbor...

Can you guess what that was? It’s our word for today:

FORGIVENESS

    We can now laugh at those stories because our dear neighbors didn’t harden their hearts to us. By readily offering forgiveness, we saw the true nature of uncondional love in them. A forgiving heart invites ourselves and others to dwell in peace and freedom. Revenge and hatred fan fires of destruction, we’ve seen so much of this, but kind acts rooted in forgiveness are like drenching Living Water on the flames. And furthermore, receiving Jesus’ eternal forgiveness by grace, then sharing it with others, has the power to change the world.

    Goodnight and God bless you. I’ll be here again tomorrow, Lord willing!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 7

 How is it suddenly 1:30 a.m., wasn’t it just midnight? I’ll tell you how. A precious friend, who couldn’t sleep, texted: Awake?

    And in our sorting, even though we spoke of both good and painful things, I left our conversation feeling deeply encouraged. So that must be our word for this 34th day:

AWAKE

    Do you remember when Jesus prayed in Gethsemane? He brought his disciples to watch and pray with him. I believe he wanted their encouragement, but three times they fell asleep. The second time he admonished them saying, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

    Does that declaration resonate with you? It does with me. In these difficult days, I want Jesus’ words to align me. Otherwise, I’m tempted to react in frustration, feel mortified at another’s different mindset or even plow forward with a preconceived idea of what they’re thinking, when I truly have no idea. To be AWAKE, is to engage first with a listening ear, then, before I answer, to be alert to a spirit of condemnation or accusation in me. The only way forward from here, beloved friends, is to think, speak, act and respond in love. It feels as if landmines are everywhere! Therefore, we must be AWAKE to the power and necessity of living as vigilant prayer warriors, for the fight is not against flesh and blood, but against every evil principality of darkness, as Ephesians reminds us. And as we do this, we stand against fear, united in love and abiding in hope.

    Romans 8:37-39 proclaims this truth, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us form the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

    God bless you!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 6

 Hello! On the eve of our 35th day our word is LEAST.

    Pastor Jim Fleming taught Dennis and me a phrase, 22 years ago when we lived in Memphis.

The posture of a follower of Jesus is to be:

~lowest of all

~least of all

~servant of all

    When we approach others, choosing to surrender to Jesus’ humble ways, no matter the response we receive, there is freedom. In these years when five of our eight are in Middle School and High School, my parenting model has changed dramatically. It’s simpler. I seek peace, search for needs, request respect, pray and seek, and endure through huge meltdowns, to come to the real heart of each matter.

    Jesus lay in the stern of the boat while the storm raged around him on the Sea of Galilee. He chose the least of all places to rest his weary head, but at any moment he could calm the storm. As his children, ready to serve, we know that for now he hasn’t calmed the storm in our land. That means we have much more to do, loving people well and praying for mercy and healing. As we bless and serve amidst many who have no hope, now is our opportunity to share the hope upon which we live! When we are less, God is greater.

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 5

 Welcome to this little square of words. Drop your burdens for the moment and breathe. I imagine we’re sitting with our backs against a weathered tree trunk, as old as time. Sun beams stream through it’s branches, spreading across the soft grass on which we sit. There may even be a picnic basket nearby. With this peaceful image before us, let’s settle into this evening’s thoughts.

    CALLED is where we land, on this 36th day. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are CALLED not only to love one another, but to love our enemies. And love is an action word!

    “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

John 3:16

    There is no condemnation in Christ, there must be none in us! A children’s song reminds us of this, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love...” I’ve been reciting this verse to myself lately when I’m tempted to speak death to anyone, especially those with whom I disagree. And finally, this beautiful truth to which my daughter in-law, Line, directed me years ago. Though Jesus models every virtue, there are two traits he specifically asks us to learn.

    “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 11:29

    Amidst the roaring of voices, arguing and seeking to tear people apart, we mustn’t respond with arrows and stings. We stand courageously for truth, but we are CALLED to do so with gentleness and humility. And by living this way, we find rest for our souls. Wouldn’t it be lovely if others found rest in our company as well?

    Good night dear friends, I look forward to catting again tomorrow. Sweet dreams for now.

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 4

 Hello there! Did you find a bit of sabbath rest today? I did, by falling asleep on the couch, sandwiched between Emmaus’ long legs and a cushion. I’d promised Ezra (13) we’d watch Madagascar, with Zion (13) and Emmaus (14). Like Grandpa Nichols used to say, “I was awake, just had to examine the back of my eyelids!”

    Today’s word, on this 37th day, is SONGBIRD. I awakened wondering what ideas this word might bring to our day and first off, the birds serenaded me through the open window. I thought of the geese flying south for the winter, the partridges that flutter and scurry amidst the tall prairie grass and the coos of the morning doves perched on the roof ridge. God provides for each of these precious creatures; we can trust in his love to care for us. Later, we worshiped, with the hymn Amazing Grace on our lips. And in the early evening, when baby Karsten needed comfort, Mama Line’s voice was the song that settled him.  

    As I sit with you now, in the hush of a quiet house, my Bible is open to Psalm 57. I’d had no time to read earlier, and here are the words that greet me from my planned reading: “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge, in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge till the storms of destruction pass by.” Yesterday, my friend Tiffany, spoke of this very idea, of God’s wings quieting the roar of the world, like a soft blanket, sheltering us. I imagine wings and feathers are intricate elements of our songbird idea.

    In this season, let’s lift our voices in praise of our good God, who lifts our spirits as well. Each morning he is with us, having watched over our souls even in the darkest hours of the night. Let us trust in him as our comforter and shelter, just as Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

    I must end with one of my favorite verses, that encourages us to be songbirds of joy in these days. Psalm 61:8, “And I’ll be the poet who sings your glory, and live what I sing every day. As I switch off the lights, though it’s nearing 1 a.m., I hear a bird singing through our window. Instead of focusing on the dark night, I find I’m listening to his song instead.

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 3

 Hello dear hearts, may I tell you about this morning before I share our word? Thank you, I will!

    Our two puppies, now big pawed and lanky adolescents, whimpered from their kennel awakening us early on this grey day. Just as they bounded back inside, after a quick run in the grass, our grandson met them at their fluffy dog pillow, and nestled down between them. (It’d be like you and me plopping down in the center of a pair of wild horses rolling in a pasture!) With morning licks and hearty toddler giggles, those two puppies and baby burst through my weariness. In their company my heart felt light and my mood brightened, just as the sun streamed through the clouds onto the kitchen floor. It’s the image of today’s word, that has stuck with me all day, on this 38th day. 

LIGHT

    These days our loads feel heavier than ever and many claim a rising darkness that speaks of the end of the age. I have contemplated this and felt fear creep up inside me, dousing all joy and tempting me to isolate and prepare for the worst. The truth is, every day is a day closer to eternity. Every day is a gift, given to be filled with what? Well I believe the answer is LIGHT. And where is light most necessary? Where does it shine the brightest? Why, in the darkness, of course. Light pushes back the dark, it slices right through it, illuminating our path.

    These are not days in which we retreat, hide or huddle, wishing for the restoration of a false normal. As our math tutor, Renee, said long ago, “normal” is just a setting on a dryer. These are the days where we stand brightly, as lights on a hill, shining the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that Jesus illuminated for us. Jesus is the light. When we love like he does, darkness must flee!

Be the light dear friends, our world is waiting!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 2

 Hello dear friends,

    My household is quiet, except for the steady rhythm of clothes in the dryer and an occasional whimper from sleeping puppies, dreaming of romping through the prairie. My word for day 39 is SACRED. What a word! All day I’ve been pondering it.

    If we truly believed, as C.S.Lewis declared, that all that truly matters is that which is immortal, how would we live? I wonder, if we paused to look into the eyes of each person with whom we interact, what would we see? We would see a sacred human. What would we hear if we asked the questions that really matter, without preconceived answers clogging our conclusions? We’d hear things that surprise us; beautiful, interesting and maybe even painful things we never knew.

    When my mind is rooted and grounded in God’s Word and I see myself as a sinner saved by grace, I see others through a lens of humility. I’m deeply challenged to follow through with this thought in every aspect of my life. Can I see each person as sacred, created in God’s image? Can I pray for them even if we don't see eye-to-eye? Yikes! Honestly, the roaring of angry voices all around tempts us to believe that those who think differently are our enemies. NO! This is false. We are not each other’s enemies. We are citizens, comrads, stewards of our globe and members of the human race in this time and space. As we interact with one another, let’s decide that our words and attitudes will begin with today’s word, SACRED. We are all sacred because we are created in God’s image. Believe this, as you dig deeply into the reasons for your worldview, and trust others to do the same. In so doing, our hearts will be prepared to love, bless and release one another. With dignity and kindness we speak value into this season of chaos and give weight to the hope within us, that depends only on Christ himself.

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 1

 Why hello there!

    It’s a delight to think of you today, my people, here in this space. As we navigate these choppy waters in America, clinging to the edge of what feels like a very flimsy boat, I invite you to trust—not in the boat, but in Jesus. He calls us out into the storm, not to drown, but to walk, poised and unafriad, upon the tumultuous waters of this life. With our eyes fixed on him, there’s no better place to be, than following his lead.

    For these next 40 days, I’m fasting from my favorite foods and praying for mercy over our land. Will you join me? I asked the Lord to help me make a list of 40 words of encouragement, one per day, to settle into as we pray.

    BELOVED is today’s word. You and I, created in God’s image, are beloved.

God’s love inside us is deeper than anything man can do to us. Believe this. No matter who we are or the difficulties we now face, we are beloved! From the soles of our feet to the dreams in our heads, we are beloved. Our true identity rests in this.

    And in the very center of the word BELOVED stands an O, a circle. If we picture ourselves forming that circle by taking the hand of someone to our right and another to our left, just think of the huge circle of connection we’d make! As we pray for guidance and unity in America, for ourselves and our precious global community, we can honor our brothers and sisters, even if we disagree. Let’s hold that thought before us as we listen and speak to one another in these unique days. Pray that we will see each other in the light of belovedness.