Where's My Crystal Ball?

Do you ever wish that you had a crystal ball that would allow you to see into the future? I know that I do. I’m a planner, and I hate “not knowing” what’s coming next. I like to be prepared. I don’t like surprises. But, unfortunately, life doesn’t come with a crystal ball. We aren’t given the whole blueprint at the beginning of the process. Instead, like a puzzle being slowly put together, we are given one piece at a time.

I remember, as a college student, spending hours of frustrated prayer asking God to please show me His plan for my life. And, I wasn’t just asking about what I should do next week or next semester. I wanted to know His long term plans for my career and my family – my whole future. I knew what I had planned, and I was honestly afraid that His plan wouldn’t line up very well with my plan. Somewhere along the way, I had gotten the idea that God’s plan would be hard and that it wouldn’t be fun.

As I’ve grown older and (hopefully) more mature, I’ve come to understand that God’s plan for my life is a good plan – it’s the best plan – it’s the plan that will lead me into joy and fulfillment and peace and contentment – IF (and that’s a big if) I can learn to submit to it – to give up control – to stop fighting against it. I’m also learning that God’s plan and my plan don’t have to be in opposition to each other. In fact, they should line up quite nicely together if I’m spending time with Him on a regular basis. Psalms 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

In spite of all of that, sometimes I still feel like that college girl who is stomping her feet and yelling at God and asking Him to just show me. As I sit here reflecting on the past year, I know that next year will be a year of change and transition for my family. Because of some of the events that have already been set into motion, I know that there will be some big challenges ahead of us. But, I also know that there will be some big opportunities. I have so many questions, and I’d really love to have some concrete answers.

But, here’s the thing – If God did give me the answers to my questions right now, what would I do with that information? Would I file it away in the back of my mind and wait on God to work, or would I start planning for what I needed to do to make those things happen? What if I didn’t like all of the answers? Would I walk out the plan anyway, or would I try to figure out a way to change the parts that I didn’t like? Either way, I can guarantee you that at some point I would try to take over and I would totally screw it up.

So, my prayer for the New Year is that I would learn to let go of control and to follow even when I’m not quite sure where I’m going – to trust in the Father who is leading me and to find contentment in the journey rather than straining to see what lies up ahead. Because, I know that He has good plans for me – plans to prosper me and not to harm me – plans to give me hope and a future – and, really, that knowledge should be enough – no more details required.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Marriage

In honor of my thirteenth wedding anniversary, I wanted to write something about the blessing of marriage. But, as I sit here, thinking about marriage, here’s what keeps going through my head:

“Mawage. Mawage is what brings us together today. Mawage, that bwessed awangement, that dweam wifin a dweam… and wuv, twu wuv, will fowow you foweva. So tweasure your wuv…”

If you don’t recognize that quote, check out this clip from the movie “The Princess Bride” and then you’ll understand. Thinking about those words always makes me laugh, but I realized as I was writing them down that there’s actually some truth there.

1. Marriage is a blessed arrangement. God ordained it from the beginning when he created Eve as a helpmate for Adam.

2. Marriage requires you to treasure your love. Treasure here is a verb. It means “to keep or regard as precious; to value highly; appreciate; cherish.” The covenant love between a husband and wife is something that must be protected at all cost. It takes work. It doesn’t just happen.

3. Marriage is a dream come true. I had almost given up on that dream, but God had a crazy plan for my life that ultimately led me to my one true love. After thirteen years, I’m still amazed that I’ve been given the privilege of living the dream.

In preparation for this great adventure called marriage, we spent a lot of time thinking about the words that would be spoken at our wedding ceremony. I have the words written down in a scrapbook so that I can remind myself of what we promised to each other and what is required to maintain a strong marriage.

The following words from our ceremony still serve both to challenge me and to encourage me in the journey:

Christian marriage is not living merely for each other; it is two individuals uniting and joining hands to serve God. Let me charge you both to remember that your future happiness is to be found in mutual consideration, patience, kindness, confidence, and affection. It is the duty of each to find the greatest joy in the company of the other and to remember that in interest as in affection you are to be henceforth one and undivided. When life is done, may you be found then as now, hand in hand, still thanking God for each other. May you ever serve Him happily and faithfully together until you return to glory or until at last one shall lay the other into His arms.

So, today, I am thankful for the blessed arrangement of marriage. I am thankful for my wonderful husband whom I adore. I am thankful that God brought us together. And, I am thankful that I truly do find my greatest joy in the company of my husband. I am thankful for the past thirteen years and I look forward to many more wonderful years to come.

I love you, honey! Happy Anniversary!

"Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away..." - Song of Solomon 8:7

A Thankful Heart at Christmas

Being a parent is hard. There are days when you wonder if your children even hear what you’re saying to them. There are days when all you can do is pray and hope for the best. But, then, there are those rare and beautiful days when you get a glimpse into the heart of your child and you realize that somewhere along the way, you must have been doing something right.

I had one of those moments this week. My youngest daughter had been working diligently on something for a good part of the evening, and when she handed it to me, I saw that it was her annual Christmas letter to Santa. This is what it said:

Dear Santa Claus,

I love you. You are great. I would like a password journal and the Mary Grace American girl doll, book, and accessories. You are my favorite person that gives presents.

I love what you do for everyone around the world. Thank you, Santa Claus!

In this consumer-driven world that we live in, it made my heart glad to see that she spent more time in this letter thanking and praising Santa than she did asking for more stuff.

Praying that the spirit of love and giving will fill our hearts and our homes during this Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

Social Justice is not enough... We need a miracle

Social Justice. It’s a hot topic right now. Everyone from celebrities to missionaries seems to be hopping on the social justice bandwagon. At first glance, that seems like a good thing. I mean, the heart of the social justice movement is to help ease the plight of the poor and needy. However, I’m not sure it’s such a good thing.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve repaired and painted buildings in the slums of Mexico. I’ve spent my Sunday afternoons feeding and caring for the homeless men and women in Moore square. I’ve sat in an orphanage in China and loved on the precious children who were abandoned by their parents due to some perceived imperfection.

I believe James 1:27 which says “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.” I get it. And, I try my best to live it out.

But, here’s my concern. I believe that the heavy focus on social justice may be distracting the church from a greater purpose. Social justice puts the focus on the physical need, and for that reason, meeting that need becomes an end in and of itself. For example, if children don’t have shoes, then the social justice movement would compel us to collect shoes and give them to the children. That’s a good and worthy thing to do. But, as Christians, if we stop there, how are we any different from any other governmental or social agency? As Christians, we have something more to bring to the table.

I do believe that we have to start by meeting the physical need – by providing the shoes. But, we need to do more than that. In a sense, the shoes should be a means to an end rather than an end in and of themselves. The shoes should open the door for us to then connect the felt need of the people with the power of God.

Look at Peter’s example in Acts 3-4. When Peter and John encountered the lame man at the temple, they could have taken the approach that many would have taken today. They could have taken him to a soup kitchen to get some food. They could have connected him with an agency that would provide him with braces for his legs so that he could be more mobile. But, Peter and John looked at the man and saw his condition and they said:

"Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Wow! What an amazing way to meet the need of this poor beggar! And, if you continue to read Acts 3-4, you’ll see that this event impacted not only the man himself but the entire community.

Some people say that miracles like that aren’t for today, but I disagree. God hasn’t changed. His power is still the same. However, I do believe that we’ve changed. We have become so reliant on ourselves and our affluence and our abilities to meet the needs of others that we forget to call on the one who has the power to TRULY meet the needs in a miraculous and life-changing way.

I’m not knocking the social justice movement, but for me – it’s not enough. I want to see the lame walk and the sick healed and the captive set free. I want to see the power of God displayed in miraculous ways. I want to see lives changed and nations transformed. And, I want to see God glorified in our church, in our community, in our nation, and in the world.

“(Jesus said) Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” -- John 14:12-14

The Impact Zone

I am not a surfer – never have been – never even played one on TV. But, I AM amazed and inspired by the story of a young surfer named Bethany Hamilton. My tween-age daughters have fallen in love with her story, and we just finished watching her movie, Soul Surfer, for the third time.

Each time I’ve watched the movie, I’ve been struck by different aspects of her story, but this time, the quote at the end of the movie really caught my attention. Bethany says:

“Life is a lot like surfing. When you get caught in the impact zone, you need to get right back up because you never know what’s over the next wave. And if you have faith, anything is possible….anything at all.”

Again, I’m not a surfer, but as I understand it, the impact zone is the place where the waves break or flip over and crash back into the ocean. It’s not a place where you want to be. If you get caught there, chances are, you’re going to get tossed around and pretty banged up. The waves just keep coming, and if you don’t get out, you’ll use up all your energy just trying to stay above water and end up too exhausted to keep going.

As I see it, you have three choices when you’re in the impact zone:

(1) You can stay where you are and hope for the best. Given the potential consequences, this doesn’t seem like a very good plan.

(2) You can turn around and try to make it back to shore. On the surface, this seems like a pretty good idea. Just get out of there and get back to safety. However, if you’ve ever been in the ocean, you know that it’s hard to out-run the waves. They have a way of catching up with you and knocking you down again. So, you may make it back to shore, but when you get there, you haven’t really accomplished much and you may actually be in worse shape than you were before you headed out.

(3) You can dive under and swim out a little further. This may seem like a dangerous option since it’s taking you away from the seeming safety of the shore, but once you get past those breakers and into the open water, you can see what’s on the horizon, and you’ll be ready to catch that perfect wave and ride it all the way in to shore.

Sometimes life can throw us into the impact zone. But, that’s not the time to quit. It’s not the time to give up, turn around, and walk away. Everything in you might be screaming, “I can’t take it anymore! I can’t deal with all the things that are coming my way right now. It’s just too much!” Take a lesson from the surfers... Don’t give up - keep pressing forward. Go a little deeper. Dive in, kick for all you're worth, and head for the open water. You can do it. And, there’s sure to be a promise waiting for you out there just beyond the horizon. As Bethany said, “… you never know what’s over the next wave. And, if you have faith, anything is possible… anything at all.”

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4: 12-13

Steve Jobs, were you ready?

Steve Jobs. Creative genius. Technology innovator. Gone much too soon at the age of 56.

It’s amazing to look at what he accomplished during his life. And, it’s sad to think of what else he might have done had he been given the privilege of living another 20 – 30 years.

As a technology product manager, I’m amazed and inspired by Steve Jobs. He was able to find that sweet spot where every product that he created delighted its user. We all strive for that, but few of us ever get there.

By all accounts, he was a happy man. He loved his job. He had a wonderful family. He had overcome obstacles that enabled him to enjoy his success even more. He seemed to have it all. And, his loss has been felt deeply around the world by people who never knew the man but were touched by his technology.

By his own admission, Steve believed in himself and followed his own intuition – religiously. That belief was at the core of his success. But, the question that has haunted me since his death is whether or not he believed in something bigger than himself – an Almighty Creator – the God of the universe.

Steve believed that death was the great “reset” button – clearing out the old and making way for the new. But, did Steve understand that death is not the end? It’s only the beginning. His 56 years here on the earth were just a blip when compared to eternity.

As I listen to all of the tributes, I can’t help but wonder whether he had the important things in order. There’s a cartoon making its way around cyberspace showing Steve Jobs at the pearly gates waiting for St. Peter to find his name and telling him that there’s an app for that. It’s a funny cartoon, but it made me wonder... When Steve stepped out of this life and into eternity - when he heard God’s voice - how did he respond? Did it go something like this?

Steve, did you know me?
I created the iPhone and the iPad.

But, did you know me?
I changed the way the world interacts with technology.

That’s great – but, did you know me? Really know me?
I was a good man – just ask anyone…

But, did you know me?

I don’t know how Steve answered. I hope and pray that it was yes.

What will your answer be?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” - Matthew 7:21-23

The Tip of the Spear

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Powerful words - made even more powerful when you realize that they were spoken by a man who was later martyred for his faith – a man who lost his life at the end of a spear wielded by the very ones that he was trying to help.

Jim Elliot is one of my heroes. His journals (referenced in the book Shadow of the Almighty) give insight into the heart of a man who was completely committed to a cause. He knew the task would not be easy and he knew that there would be opposition. But, he was willing to face the battle in order to fulfill his part in the Great Commission. He was sure of God’s leading and protection even in those last moments when he lay dying on a beach deep in the heart of the Amazon jungle.

You see, we are all engaged in a battle. It’s usually not a physical battle like Jim faced (although it can be). Instead, it’s a spiritual battle being fought in the heavenlies. It’s a battle between good and evil – a fight for the souls of the peoples of the earth. It’s a movement to see God’s kingdom established here as it is in Heaven. And, when we push into new territory, the enemy doesn’t like it, and he pulls out the big guns to try to protect his stronghold.

Missionaries like Jim are at the frontline of this battle. They are the scouts sent out ahead to blaze the trail and break new ground. They live their lives at the tip of the spear. Not everyone is called to lead the charge, but everyone IS called to take part in the battle. We can pray – for God’s protection and for the success of their mission. We can give – to insure that they have the provision that is needed to complete their task. And, we can go – to come alongside them, even for a short time, to provide help and encouragement and to help sustain them in the fight.

Are you ready to take your place in the battle?

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms… Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." – Ephesians 6:11-12, 19-20

The following video provides some powerful commentary around what happened when Jim Elliot and his four colleagues (Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and Nate Saint) met the Waodani people.

Now I See It Well - God's Leading and Protection