I’m a list maker, and couldn’t survive without my calendar or “To Do” list, but I have to be careful not to get tunnel vision; not to get so hung up on THE list that I miss out on what’s happening around me, that I miss out on opportunities to spread God’s message, to be neighborly, to be more like Jesus (Maybe I should add those to my “To Do” list J) What about you? Do you have room on your calendar for what God is calling you to do today?

Upon returning from an out of town trip, I neglected our backyard for a couple of days. I knew it had stormed while we were gone, so I didn’t really worry about the plants needing water immediately. I was wrong. Wow, what a mess it was when I ventured back there today. Dirt, leaves, and pine needles lined the bottom of the pool and the pool deck. The plants were wilting and beginning to dry out. They were surviving but definitely not flourishing. Tonight, after a little time, work, and water they are beginning to perk back up.

Similarly, our souls can begin to wilt and dry up after just a short time of neglect. Fortunately with a little TLC we can bring it back up to par. Sure we can survive and get by with minimal attention, but if we want to flourish we have to treat our spiritual lives with intentional, deliberate care. How is your soul today? Take the time to water it with prayer, study and worship!

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones”

Have you laughed today? Have you taken time to enjoy the blessings that God has provided? So many of us live busy lives, full schedules, and  problems to solve, etc. which cause us to forget to enjoy the wonders he has provided. Now go have some fun!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

That my friends, is what I call a silver bullet. It buzzed right at me, and I felt it!  Life gets crazy here on earth.  Our lives can be like a roller coaster ride, full of ups and downs. Somedays more than others. Sometimes, life just doesn’t seem fair.  In spite of our best efforts, troubles come.  What we can hold onto is the knowledge that in the midst of the good and bad, we can fix our eyes on Jesus, and be reminded that he is beside us, the task he has set before us, and that there is more to come.  Fix your eyes on Jesus, he is our stationary point, when you are wavering, he’s standing solid waiting to return your gaze.

Hebrews 12 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I watched as my friend, nieces and daughter climbed up to the top of a water slide at Wild Adventures, “The Cyclone, it’s a slide where you sit in a huge tube with 3 other people and you are shot out of a tube and then swirled around, like you are being flushed down a huge toilet bowl. I could see the fear on their faces as they stood at the top and looked down, just before they took the plunge. But, they did it together laughing and screaming the whole way down, ready to do it again. Sometimes, it helps to “Take the Plunge” with other people.

Prayer can be scary. I find that the scariest thing for me about prayer is praying with others, especially others whom I’ve prayed with before. Like standing at the top of the water slide and climbing back down the stairs instead of taking the plunge, I’ve let fear stop me.  Maybe I’ll pray for them alone, or in my head, but pray “with” them, that’s the part where I’ve backed off.  Sometimes though, God is calling us to pray that type of prayer, to join hands with others and take the plunge. Last week, before a recent doctor appointment, a relative asked if she could pray about it together with me and other family members. She was a bit nervous about this and had thought it out and written down her words ahead of time. It was powerful prayer, facing fear, stepping out of her comfort zone and boldly taking the plunge as she prayed before our almighty creator. Prayer is not about our eloquent words, it’s about faith, it’s about trust, and it’s about obeying our father. Once you take the plunge, it may be that you come out ready to go again, it’s a beautiful thing!

SPOILER ALERT: If haven’t heard Drew’s now famous “Habanero” sermon…you might want to read this later, or actually, it might not hurt to read on and do a little reading before you hear it, or if you’ve been there a little review of these verses may be of value, I know I found new jewels when I dove back in to these verses: Matthew 7:7-11; John 14:13-14; John 15:7; 1 John 3:21-22; 1 John 5:14-15.  Herein lies the danger, Do we understand the instructions?  Drew focused specifically on Matthew 7:7-11., where the directions clearly tell us what to do:  Ask, Seek, Knock.  If we do those things God will give us anything, right?  (Here is where the understanding part comes in) God’s promise is:  “I will take care of you” He will take care of our needs.  He will take care of us like a father, the perfect father.   Does this means he will give us ANYTHING we ask for?  Sometimes, he takes care of our needs by saying NO! (That explains why I haven’t won the lottery yet…) Maybe he says no because it’s something that is harmful to us, maybe he says no because he has other plans for our life.  A No can lead us closer to God.

Sometimes God says SLOW, he makes us wait. When we wait we realize who’s in charge. When we wait it changes us on the inside. There is value in waiting, and in continuing to ask. Waiting can bring us closer to God.

Sometimes God says GO!  And we are amazed by the miracle that we asked and he gave it right to us, we almost don’t believe it…and our response should be thank you! Receiving what we ask for brings us closer to God.

Prayer is all about relationship.  The purpose is to always bring us nearer to him, He always says GROW. Whatever avenue that looks, like. (no, slow, go…we always grow).   Prayer allows us to love him, be loved by him, to become more like him.

Drew’s Habanero of prayer, the potent promise of God, is one that we should not dilute, or qualify, God will care for us like a father. Thru prayer we press in, get closer, feel his love, and listen and seek to understand his directions, the directions and love of our perfect father.

I realized we had spent time, energy and focus searching for the wrong thing! Which led to this thought…how often do I get off track? How often do I spend time, and energy searching for something that just doesn’t work? Searching for the Wrong thing? That’s where we as Christians have to be careful. Distractions surround us. Satan plans it that way. It’s easy to get off track or to be led astray. How do we maintain focus on the right things? Go straight to the sourcethrough prayer and the Bible. We can also surround ourselves with others who will “watch our back” and let us know when we wander. Proverbs 11:14 advises “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

Have a great week as you continue your journey focusing on the right things!

That’s what happened to me this week.  After being diagnosed with seizures, the doctor told me that I can’t drive for six months. SIX MONTHS. I live forty minutes from the school where I teach, 30 minutes from most grocery stores, 30 minutes from church, and I have an 8 year old with a very active extracurricular schedule. Detour! This detour caused our family to reroute our daily plans. What I’ve found is that although the new route may be a little scary, might take a little longer, and might be very inconvenient; it has offered me a chance to enjoy the scenery. I’m enjoying extra time with my family, the pace of my day has slowed down, and I’ve learned that I am absolutely surrounded by loving people who have offered support, rides, or whatever they can do to help.

Have you run into a road block? Maybe it’s physical. Maybe it’s emotional. Maybe it’s spiritual. Maybe you’ve been detoured and you don’t have a choice. I know that many times the detours send you through rough roads and thunderstorms and not always down a pretty country road or along the palm tree- lined coastline. But, I do know that life’s detours force us to see things in new ways, to look a little deeper, and to broaden our thinking.  Life doesn’t always go as we planned it, but God is with us on every detour, God can use each detour to change us, shape us and mold us. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the detour leads you away from God, instead start by finding God and follow his lead through your new route.

Have you turned on your spiritual GPS lately? How often do you think God says, “Recalculating Route,” as we venture off course?  He’s given us excellent directions, told us exactly how to get there, but somehow we still manage to get lost along the way.  We get distracted, lose sight of the goal, and even lose touch with his voice as redirects us.  He even places guides along the route to help keep us on track, to support us when we break down, and to keep us company on the journey.

In our local church one way to build such a support team is to sign up for a small group. God intends for us to “do life” together. God guides us, speaks to us and loves us through each other.

Most of us are searching for something. (For me, it’s usually the sunglasses that are right on top of my head). Seriously, most of us are searching for something more, something deeper. This search may have been what brought you to The Chapel or what led you to read this article today.Maybe you’ve gotten lost along the way, made a few wrong turns, asked for directions and moved past the popular landmarks. Maybe you’ve already arrived and are trying to decide where to go next or maybe you’re sitting in the parking lot staring right at your destination and you don’t even know it, maybe it’s because you’re looking for a sign that isn’t there, or maybe you just don’t SEE the sign.I don’t know where God is leading you, but I do know the route includes prayer, scripture, and giving yourself to him. We don’t have to be lost; God gave us the guide, the map, and is available to answer the call when we can’t find our way.Jer. 29:13 says “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” and Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.”

Like that small child, do you find yourself asking, “Why?” I do. I especially ask this question in times of tragedies, death, accidents, unfairness, violence, and suffering. There is no answer that seems fully satisfactory, no answer that completely stops the “Why?” Yet, there is a perfect answer. An answer that exceeds my understanding. A simple answer.   God draws near, embraces us and answers, “Why? Because I Love You!”(or when necessary, a stern, but loving, “Because I said so.”)

This answer doesn’t make my tiny little brain understand suffering, hopelessness, or tragedies any better. But, it does provide peace. John 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  We, are but tiny little people, looking up asking “Why?”  and he answers, “Because I love you.”  Lou Giglio, In his book, I am not but I know I AM,  says “I hope you see it clearly today: the cross of Christ is the place where trust in God is born. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is an act of loving kindness from a loving and trustworthy God, an undeniable demonstration of His goodness that we can cling to when our sight and understanding fail to make sense of the circumstances that surround us…..but now because of Christ we can personally know how much He loves us and believe that He is using everything that comes our way for His glory and for our ultimate good.”

This Easter are you looking for an answer. Simply .Draw. Near. and feel his embrace, hear his answer, “Because I Love You.”

Elisabeth

That’s how it is when we sin. Sin separates us from God. That’s exactly why Satan’s goal is to cause us to sin. When we know we’ve done wrong, we want to keep it hidden, keep it in the darkness. I imagine that’s how Peter felt when he denied Christ. But, Christ didn’t let that happen. Right after Peter denied Christ for the third time, in Luke 22:61, “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” Peter’s wrong had been brought out of the darkness and straight into the light; he had to look Jesus straight in the eyes (literally!). Peter’s reaction? Luke 22:62 “And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Flash forward to Mark 16:7 ” But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Did you catch that? And Peter. He specifically wanted Peter to get the message. The resurrection message. We see a man who thought he was in control. A man who thought by his own power, he would not deny Christ. Yet, he fell. And Jesus specifically sought him out. Peter wept, he repented and relinquished control to Christ Jesus. Peter moved on, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and shared the good news with words and actions.

Jesus calls us to bring our wrongs into the light, to come out of hiding and look him straight in the eyes. He is waiting to return the gaze with love, mercy and compassion as we repent. Just like a parent’s forgiving embrace after their child has done wrong, Jesus is waiting to embrace us with unconditional love. It is when we repent, accept his forgiveness and love, that we can move on and live a life worthy of our calling.

Chocolate calling my name? That’s how it is with Satan and temptation. He knows our weaknesses  and moves in when we are most vulnerable to dangle the proverbial carrot right under our nose. He begins to whisper our name.  He can even make us think that giving in to this temptation will get us what we need, make us better in some way.  He can make us doubt what we believe.  His goal? To tempt us into sin.  So what can we do to protect ourselves? We can do what Jesus did.  When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he simply responded with The Word.  Jesus knew the scripture and knew how to use it correctly.

What does this mean for us? Don’t go into battle without your weapon. Draw near to God in peaceful times, pray and get to know the scripture before battle ensues, build a support system, and make choices wisely.  Temptation is certain. Giving in doesn’t have to be. Draw near to God and be prepared.

I wonder if that’s what it was like for Jesus and the disciples during The Last Supper. This night was a time of celebration, of remembering, and of preparation. Although Jesus explained what was going to happen, it wasn’t until after his resurrection that they fully understood. They had been prepared for a task, left with a job to do. After his resurrection, Jesus commissioned them to …”go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

I hope your Lenten journey is preparing you in much the same way. I hope you are experiencing a time of preparation, of drawing near, of remembering, sharing, and reconciling so that we can then go forth and live out the Great Commission.

Isn’t that how it often goes in everyday life? Problems,  Fears  or tragedies send us running straight to God, but then we’re often so caught up in the screaming, complaining, and grief that we can’t hear him, we forget to feel his arms around us, and sink deeper in fear, aloneness, despair. When I was on the roller coaster, I didn’t know the ride was over, because my eyes were shut tight and I was still screaming!

I’m a planner.  Before vacations, I research in books, on the internet, and talk to people who’ve been to my destination. I find out about what activities are available, what the weather will be like, places to stay, and places to eat.  I talk to my family and find out what they want most want to experience on the trip. That way we can be sure to make the most of our vacation.  So, this year, I’ve been planning for Lent in much the same way: reading scripture, reading books, searching articles online, and talking to people about it. I’ve started planning my departure date, “Ash Wednesday,” and planning my agenda.  Rather than starting with what will be on the agenda, I’m looking at what I will leave off so that I will be assured to have time for what is most important. Next, I’m looking at what I’ll add on, what I’ll do differently during this time.

What about you have you started planning? I’m not saying you should plan out every minute of your Lenten Itinerary, but there are some intentional choices you can make. These choices will look different for each of us.  Are you ready to draw near to God? He’s already near; he’s waiting on you to make your move. James 4:8 “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”

Elisabeth Ruff

Spiritual growth also requires nurturing. Next Wednesday, marks the beginning of Lent. This is the perfect time to implement a plan for spiritual growth. When I was a child, Lent meant giving up something like candy, sodas, or chocolate.  There is nothing wrong with giving these things up, but I don’t think that I really understood the reason.  I thought I was just depriving myself of something I really liked.  Now, I understand. Lent is a time to repent, fast and pray; A time for self-examination and reflection;   A time to remove things that distract our attention from prayer. This can serve as a guide when deciding what’s meaningful for you.  During Lent, some people give things up; others choose instead to add things on (like volunteering). What about you? What will Lent mean for you this season?

This week before Lent, would be a great time to examine what it is that stunts your spiritual growth and what it is that causes it to blossom. Maybe even go a step further, what will lead to spiritual growth not only for you individually, but for your family? For our church? Commit yourself to a plan that will put you and yours on the path to spiritual growth, nurturing what has been neglected, so that you may blossom and bear fruit.

I admit it–I’m a facebooker. Some people love facebook and others love to hate it. I love that I can share photos instantly with my family, most of whom live in other states. I love that I can “keep up” with what’s going on in their lives. Yes, there are dangers. Yes, it can be very superficial. Yes, it can be a time drainer. I’m not going to debate the good vs. the pitfalls and dangers of  facebook, that’s a whole other article in itself. But, today I’m focusing on relationships. On facebook, you can classify your relationship status: married, single, engaged, etc. Maybe the best choice is the one that says “It’s complicated,” because really, they are, relationships are complicated.  Relationships look a little easier on facebook. You can quickly catch up with an old friend, and then just kind of let them sit out there in cyberspace. They remain on your friend list, they can see your photos and status updates if you choose, but you don’t really have to interact with them. Thank goodness we have real relationships outside of cyberspace. What would relationships be without hearing a friend’s voice, feeling the touch of their hand, or seeing the look in their eyes? Yea, relationships are complicated, but we were made for this purpose. We were made for fellowship with Christ Jesus and with our neighbors. At the chapel, this has been a month focusing on relationships. I hope you have gained some insight into your relationships, taken away some advice on how to make them better. I know I have. I know I have spent more time this month focusing away from myself, and my busyness, and focusing more on various relationships and what I need to put into them to make them flourish.

Did you know you have a friend request right now? Do you feel the excitement? Someone wants to begin or rekindle a relationship with you. Someone has searched for you, sought you out, and is waiting for your reply.  This request isn’t new. It’s been sitting there waiting for your response. Have you accepted it before? or  Have you quietly ignored it? Did you catch up briefly with this old friend and then, just let the relationship sit out their stagnant? or Are you actively involved in the relationship? Take the time to accept this friend request. This one doesn’t have to be complicated. John 15:13-15 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

I’m writing this on Valentine’s Day, so, of course, my first thoughts on “Staying Together” are of married relationships, though the information really applies to all types of relationships. My husband and I are from families that have been riddled with divorce.  Both sides of our family have experienced multiple divorces that include our parents, and siblings. Scary.  I think seeing so many relationships fail, makes us very aware that we need to treat our relationship with care. Our marriage, even after twenty-one years, is a work in progress. Everyday we make mistakes, and everyday we learn a little bit more about what works and what doesn’t.  I remember sitting beside my grandfather at his fiftieth anniversary, and after all the congratulations, and happy stories I heard him say under his breath, “It hasn’t always been easy, if only you knew!”  Fast forward another twenty years to their seventieth anniversary, when asked to give advice on how to stay together their combined answers were “Patience, tolerance, listening, affection and knowing when to keep your mouth shut.”  Add to that a “sense of humor,” and “talking things out,” ingredients that have served  Dave and Kay Hanson well in their marriage (If you didn’t hear Dave and Kay’s talk on commitment yet, you are in for a treat!)

I asked my husband what he thought attributed to our “staying togetherness” and after his first answer, “My Patience” and a few chuckles as he laughed at his own cleverness, he said, “our ability (willingness) to work together.” I have to agree, with both his answers, he is the most patient man I know. (I think bragging on your husband in writing is good for a relationship too!) I also think that working together– realizing that we are working toward the same goals, even when we butt heads, is what gets us through. Like it or not,  fairy tale relationships don’t exist. Relationships between lovers, between friends, between siblings, between boss/employees, between coworkers, between yourself and God—Every relationship takes work, every relationship requires that you look outside yourself and your own needs, every relationship requires giving, every relationship requires time, every relationship requires commitment, every relationship requires sacrifice, every relationship requires give and take (and not always balanced give and take). Even when you give all those things, unfortunately, regardless of commitment, sometimes relationships still fail. Fortunately,  one of those relationships  comes with a guarantee not to fail, a  lasting guarantee that he will not let go. That is why we need to start with our relationship with Christ.  Get that one relationship right, commit to it and allow your other relationships to flourish out of the resulting love.

Let’s review our advice on staying together:  Pray, Commit, Love, Laugh, Be Patient, Talk it out or keep your mouth shut, work together, learn from your mistakes, and put Christ first. May your relationships be strong, lasting and full of life and love.

Elisabeth Ruff

Last week was “Groupapalooza.”  I hope that you found at least one group to participate in. If you’ve signed up, the next step is to actually show up. I know it can be intimidating if you’re new to small groups. I know, I feel those butterflies every time I go into a new group.  Every time, it’s been worth it. Each group changed me in a different way (all for the better). So, I thought I’d share a few of  my experiences with you:
Financial Peace University.changed. my. life. I have to admit that my husband and I didn’t manage money very well, for the first ummmm…20 years or so of  our marriage. We just didn’t have the knowledge or the know how to manage our money. We took financial peace about two years ago…and we are still following the plan. All of our money is budgeted, we know where we are spending every dollar, how much we are going to give, how much we are going to save. We tithe first, instead of giving out of our left over. We have money in place for emergencies. We are not yet where we want to be financially, but we are well on our way. I also feel equipped to teach my children how to be financially responsible.
P90X Yoga. changed.my.life. (and my body shape) Because of this small group, I started doing the whole p90x program. I got healthier, I got stronger, I got muscles! Working out with the group motivated, inspired and encouraged me to keep going.
Chat Groups I participated in several video chat groups. This type of group is cool because you get to really know “church peeps” that maybe you haven’t had the chance to get to know before. In a small group like this you have time to chat, get to know each other and reflect on real life topics. I also hosted a couple of these groups at work. Hosting a small group changed me…it gave me an opportunity to interact with coworkers in a way I hadn’t before. We got to pray together, pray for each other, hear each others needs and just go beyond the everyday work stuff. It gave me a chance to really get know my coworkers.

Each group contributed to growth for me during different seasons of my life–the groups increased my biblical knowledge and understanding, provided accountability, gave me insights into the thoughts, needs and beliefs of others, and opened the door to new friendships. I have to get real and say, it’s not always easy to make the time in this busy world…excuses to not go are readily available. You have to get past that, just make the effort, just do it. Your life will be changed, and your presence will change lives.

~Elisabeth

What does it take to cultivate a relationship? to keep it strong? to keep it going? I was thinking about this yesterday, when I got a phone call from my best friend from high school. She and I were best friends from 5th grade all the way through High School. After graduation, we went to different colleges, moved away and somehow just lost touch.. How does this happen?   We missed out on two decades of friendship, because we didn’t make the effort or put in the time required to keep the relationship strong. Truth is, it wouldn’t have taken that much— a card, a letter, a phone call, email, texts, and even prayers. But, lazyness, busyness, something took over and well, the relationship fizzled out. The cool thing is that one phone call, put us on track to building that relationship again.

Some relationships fizzle out and others stay strong. About 24 years ago, I was away at college and having a difficult time, feeling kind of isolated and alone,  when I received a Valentine Card from a friend who lived in another state. I didn’t really know this friend very well, but we would write letters to each other occassionally (yes this was before email!)  This friend had taken the time to pick out a card, purchase it,  write an encouraging message, address it and mail it to me. Seemingly a small effort, that made a huge difference. You see, this friend later became my boyfriend, and eventually my husband. He is a husband who understands that relationships take time…whether it’s in the little things like putting a little note in my lunch box, or the mundane things like doing housework together, or the necessary things like caring for me when I’m sick, or the boring things like listening to me complain about work, he gets it. Don’t get me wrong, relationships take alot of work and alot of time, it’s not always easy, but so worth it.

What about our relationship with God? For me, sometimes it’s like that friend from highschool, I could drop him a line, but well, there are really other things I’m focused on, so I put it off a little while, and then a longer while, and then it seems I don’t really know him anymore, he’s a distant memory. Other times, he’s as close as my husband who I want to involve in every part of my life. Why? Because sometimes I do my part and make the effort, put in the time and other times I don’t. God is there doing his part always, but to keep the relationship strong I also have to make the effort. It’s like that one phone call with my high school friend, if I reach out he’s there, ready to help me get back on track.  He wants me to spend time with him. He wants me to spend time praying, listening, and acting. Once I put in the time and effort our relationship becomes stronger, even amazing! But, I have to be willing to Love him fully. Mark 12:30-31 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

Cultivating a relationship, Loving—means taking risks, putting yourself out there. If we are going to follow his commands, than that’s what we must do. We must take the risk, Love him and then take the risk to love others. How?  Taking a meal to someone who is sick, sending a card to a friend, picking up the phone to say hello, inviting a friend to go with you to a small group…I don’t know what God is asking you to do today, but I do know you should be asking him, as should I, God what do you require of me? God, what steps can I take, what effort can I make, what time can I give to build relationships today? Ask him, take the risk, and love—in return you will be loved.

It may be a different week, a different day, different joys, different struggles, but when you strip it down to the baseline, you find him. His love never changes, his message is the same, as the song says “You stay the same through the ages, your love never changes.” God is calling us to move, to take the step, once we take the step changes start to happen. Prayerfully consider what steps you’ll take today.

This Sunday morning, I couldn’t make it to The Chapel, so I watched online. It’s great to be able to watch online, but it’s not the same to watch a party from the outside, to look through the window as to actually be a guest present at the party. That’s right, I said a party, not a “service” but a “party.” I could see they were jammin’ to the music, they were throwing beachballs, it was a good time.  It made me smile to watch from home, but at the same time, I knew I was missing out. Why Party at The Chapel? Because at The Chapel the vision is to become more like Christ.

Jesus loved to party. Today, Jay referred to Luke 15, where Jesus was attending a dinner party with sinners, at the home of a sinner. He was hanging out with tax collectors, prostitutes, the outcast. Not only was he hanging out with them but they seemed at ease with each other. This was the norm for Jesus, he partied with the lost. He didn’t conform to their ways, instead he brought light into the darkness. He sought out the lost. This was the point of attending the party. This was the point of Jesus’ coming. This was the gift that God gave us. Christ came so that we might be made right with the Father. By accepting this gift, we are now able to stand before the Father for the benefit of others. We can party with the lost, we can bring light into the darkness. We now know the point of the party.

At the beginning of this article,  I talked about preparing for the party, the fun of the party— but the taking down of the decorations, the cleaning up after the party is not so fun. I’m looking out the window right now watching my husband and neighbors take down the outside Christmas decorations. It’s a big reminder that Christmas is over, the New Year is here. We prepared, we partied, it’s over. Or is it? We know the point of the party. So, I say, it’s far from over. I say, Let’s get this party started! How? This week, join the prayer party. Commit to pray for specific friends, neighbors, relatives, coworkers…who don’t know Jesus, who haven’t accepted their party invitation yet. Pray, send invitations, and join us next week as the party continues!

Happy New Year!

“He stared down at Who-ville! The Grinch popped his eyes! Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise! Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all! He hadn’t stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same! And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so? It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! Maybe Christmas he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”And what happened then? Well in Whoville they say That the Grinch’s small heart Grew three sizes that day!

Forgive me, but after almost two months of taking my daughter to dance rehearsals and performances of “The Grinch”—that’s exactly what I thought of during Abra’s sermon on Simple Love. As I pause, in this busy season of decorating, cooking, festivities, gift buying, gift giving—I can’t help but wonder, what would it be like if it was all suddenly taken away, would I show the world peace, hope, love and joy—like those legendary who’s in Whoville.  Or more importantly, would I show the love to the one responsible for taking it away? What about the rest of the year? Sure, it’s easy to love those who love me, but what about those who are, well a bit harder to love? How can I love like Christ?  Well, Abra, gave us a jumpstart—first of all we can look in the book (no, not the Grinch, that other important book!) Check out John 3: 16 and  John 4:21.

Abra gave us these main points to reflect on:
*source of love-God
*model of love-Jesus Christ
*the manifestation of Love-Love for others
*the extent of love-sacrifice of life
*the results of love-abiding presence of God and life

May you find love and give love, this holiday season. May you be the one who by reflecting Christ,  causes  hearts to grow in the “Grinches” of this world.
Merry Christmas!

Elisabeth

So, I’ve been focusing on doors a bit this week. Our pastor, Jay Hanson, started his talk on Easter by defining doors. A means of approach or access. Doors are passageways, portals, a means of leaving an old space and entering a new space.

So, the past few days, I’ve been thinking about this. First of all, the adoption agency that helped us adopt our daughter, was named, The Open Door adoption agency. They opened the doors to a precious new life, (a whole other blog topic)

I’m focusing this morning on Actual Doors:

For example, when I leave my kitchen door and step outside of the house onto the back patio of the pool deck (on a sunshiny spring or summer day)…it’s like walking into my own little paradise, the flowers, the sparkling pool, the palms, etc. When I walk out the front door of my house, I’m leaving my safe haven and entering into the world, a bit of uncertainty as to what may lie ahead.

When I walk through the door of the office at school, I’m greeted with smiling faces, bright colors, and lots of busy people rushing around.

When I walk through the door of my mom’s home, I smell sweet fragrances, and feel the love of comforts that only mom’s house can provide.

When I walk through the doors of walmart…well let’s just say it’s the opposite of the paradise of leaving my kitchen door.

I can also create what others will experience as they enter through doors into spaces that I’ve already inhabited…my home, or  my classroom: I can choose to  create an environment where others can thrive, feel safe and welcomed.

Spiritually speaking, Jesus opened the door to his father by giving his life and taking on our sins. We can choose to step through the door, where we will receive mercy and grace. We should go running through and leap across the threshold, and party like never before, rejoicing in his presence.  As a result, living as a changed person we can create environments for others to see him in us, inviting them inside. Inviting them not only with words, but more importantly with our actions, living like we believe.

So begins my journey today. Be it spiritual, symbolic, or maybe just to increase my observance. I’m going to pause before I cross through each doorway this week  and observe what I’m leaving and experience what I’m entering. From the mundane to the spiritual, I’ll journal some of my reflections here. Then, I hope to focus on what I can bring with me to others as I enter doors, or what I offer as others enter doors and come into my presence.

What about you? What doors are open for you? What choices are you making?

The second reading was from Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do.”   We serve an awesome God.  He has provided us with so many joyful opportunites. He delights in our joy! We are commisioned to serve him with a joyful heart. So many people trudge through life, complaining, dreading, moaning and groaning about work, chores, etc. I’ve been there before. I complained about my job, counted the days down til vacation (sometimes I still do    But, What a difference it makes when we treat all that we’ve been given as a GIFT from God.  What difference would it make in your job today, if you got up this morning and sincerely said, “God, thank you for giving me this job, I am so excited to go to work today.”  And then, lived it out. We miss out on so much joy with negative attitudes. Whatever you dread today, whatever you must do, try it out with a joyful, giving heart…enjoying the gifts that we’ve been given.  (For me, I’ll probably enjoy the coffee too, for that gift will help me get through the day on just a few hours sleep.  Did they have coffee back in Jesus’ time?)

What does forgiveness really mean? Is forgiveness about yourself or about the other person?

Check out this website for some thought provoking quotes on forgivesness…

http://www.forgivenessweb.com/RdgRm/Quotationpage.html

Here are a few  of my favorites:

Holmgren

Seeing with better eyes “We can recognize that the offender
is a valuable human being who struggles with the same needs,
pressures, and confusions that we struggle with. We will recognize
that the incident really may not have been about us in the first place.
Instead it was about the wrongdoer’s misguided attempt to meet his
or her own needs.
As we regard offenders from this point of view
(regardless of whether they repent and regardless of what
they have done or suffered),
we will be in a position to forgive them.

Paul Boese

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it
does enlarge the future.

Bishop Desmond Tutu

It is one of the things about forgiveness you have to remember. It is not
spiritual. It is part of real politics.

In forgiving, people are not being asked to forget. On the contrary, it is important to remember, so that we should not let such atrocities happen again. Forgiveness does not mean condoning what has been done. It means taking what happened seriously…drawing out the sting in the memory that threatens our entire existence.

As I face important decisions today I visualize myself standing on a platform with a tightrope in front of me…God reaching out his hand to me. We are high in the air. He is saying “Do you trust me? Hold my hand and step out…walk in faith, for I will guide you.”

So he awaits my answer, for my action. Will I step out, excited about the new adventure, mixed with some fear of falling, but knowing God is my guide and my safety net. OR Will I stand on the platform frozen in fear, unable to take a step.

Father God, I am your child and I trust you. Open my eyes to see where you’re leading and give me the boldness and the heart to follow.