Almost There...

Brooke and the team sailed through checking luggage and security in Jackson and Atlanta. They have been flying all night, making their way to Johannesburg. Apparently there were no issues with the weight of their luggage. Praise Jesus!!
I want to be sure to thank God for the big things and the small things, because with God they're really ALL big things!!
At the Jackson airport, after driving around and around the parking garage, we finally found a spot near the back, but conveniently placed there was a luggage cart! Thanks, LORD!
Then on the flight from Jackson to Atlanta, the flight attendant gave Brooke a double portion of snacks, because she was wearing a Texas Rangers shirt!  ; )
Praying continued favor on this team for the rest of their journey.
Amy was quick to remind everyone yesterday that the mission trip begins now, not when they reach their destination. They are carriers of the glory of God...in the airports...on the planes...in the restaurants...in the bathrooms...in the hotel...in the tent...in the dirt...EVERYWHERE!
So yes, while they are almost THERE, THERE is not the mission...NOW is the mission!
NOW is when they love The One and love the one...

PRECIOUS CARGO

AMY GIVES LAST MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE TEAM

PART OF THE TEAM (PLUS MY FRIEND'S KIDS!)

ONE LAST HUG FROM MOM BEFORE LEAVING

Equipped

Brooke is returning to Mozambique in 3 days.
Today we have been wrapping up and carefully packing a hodge podge of items for her to take to dearly loved missionaries serving there. 
One, an artist, teaches widows and abandoned women to make jewelry, which they sell to support themselves and their children...which means they don't have to sell themselves...
Jewelry-making requires the proper equipment...some of which seems strange, 'til you realize it is being used to cut coconuts and such. You see, the idea is to teach these precious women to utilize the natural resources so readily available to them for their benefit.
Another, a musician, loves to worship and lead others in worship with her special gifts. Her equipment? A violin. This particular violin already has a story, and now it will travel across the globe with Brooke, awaiting its next chapter (or song) to be written.
Still another missionary will be equipped with something very practical - comfy shoes for walking.
Brooke is taking equipment she will need herself...sleeping bag, clothes, toiletries, etc...
While all these material items are certainly useful for the tasks at hand, yesterday Brooke received the most important piece of equipment she will need...she was equipped spiritually with prayer and laying on of hands at both our church and at Iris Nashville. 
God has called each of these missionaries and He always, always equips the called.
Just as Brooke and I have prayed over each piece of equipment we have packed, and have prayed favor over the weight limit on the suitcase, trusting God to get it all there safely, we have prayed over Brooke, trusting God to get her where she needs to be safely.
Just as each piece serves a specific purpose, God has called Brooke to specific purposes on this trip, and for each purpose, He has equipped her. Her most important piece of equipment? She has been clothed with Holy Spirit power! She has received power when the Holy Spirit came upon her and she will go and tell all about Him in Franklin, in Tennessee, in Mozambique, and all around the world!
Loving The One Who equips the called and loving the ones to whom she is called...

I Want to See You...

This morning at church we sang the song Open the Eyes of My Heart...
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shining in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing Holy Holy Holy...
We have a little girl with Downs Syndrome who goes to our church. She loves to worship! And she loves this song in particular. From the first note, she recognized it and excitedly shouted out "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord!" She moved to the center of the room and sang every word of this song at the top of her lungs, occasionally pausing to shout for us to open our eyes!
Usually when I worship, I keep my eyes closed, but for some reason I opened them just as I sang the words "I want to see You".  As soon as I opened them, Natalie looked at me. For a brief moment her eyes were locked with my eyes and I thought, "Here I am singing 'I want to see You' and I AM seeing You, Lord! I am seeing You in the eyes of the least of these...I am seeing You in her pure heart...I am seeing You in the way she worships with abandon...
Natalie is a special girl. Sometimes at church while we are worshiping, she will walk around the room, going from person to person, touching each one, whispering a word or two to each one. I get so excited when I see her coming my way, because I know I'm about to receive a touch from Jesus Himself! 
You should see her minister when we go to the nursing home for our monthly visit after church. She gives love so freely and gently to each person there. And if ever she can't come for some reason, she is deeply missed! Each resident wants to know where the little red-headed girl is!
Natalie is such a beautiful example of Matthew 5:8, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
She is pure in heart.
She sees God.
She loves The One.
She loves the one.
And I have seen Jesus in her eyes.

So Long, Sparrow!

Hi there! Remember me???
Sorry so long since my last post, but life has been...well...challenging lately...
Without going into detail, our family has been going through the most difficult season of life we've ever experienced...big stuff like illnesses, injuries, financial issues; and little stuff like the inconveniences of a household appliance on the fritz or some other minor thing, which doesn't really matter at all in the grand scheme of things, but the moment it happens feels like someone rubbing salt in an open wound...physical afflictions, emotional stress, depression, anxiety, guilt, shame, fear, conflict...we've experienced it all over the last few months.
We recognize the source of all these flaming arrows being flung our direction - it's the devil and all his evil little minions.  God's Word calls them the "spiritual forces of wickedness" in Ephesians 6.
Of course, we know the only way to fight this war is on our knees, spiritual armor firmly in place. We take it all to the One Who has already won the victory. We remind the evil one that He will soon crush him underneath our feet. We declare TRUTH out loud. I am so very thankful that my Father has not left me helpless against the enemy and his evil schemes. He has given me authority to take back the ground the enemy has stolen.
He reminded me of this as I sat out on the patio sipping my coffee and spending time with Him this morning. 
Mr. Ed, the Bluebird Man, built us a bluebird box last spring, but every time bluebirds try to move in, a naughty little house sparrow chases them out and attempts to take up residence. Now, this sparrow is cute and all, but the house was meant for bluebirds, not sparrows. In talking with Mr. Ed and researching it myself, I have discovered that sparrows are very territorial. They build messy nests and despite what we typically might think, their song is anything but pleasant. It's downright obnoxious, especially when one is trying to enjoy a nice, hot cup of coffee and some quiet time with her Lord!
My twelve year old and I have foiled every stubborn attempt of this annoying little guy to take up residence, but despite stringing fishing line across the top (which was a trick we read online), placing a cup upside down inside the box (so there's no room to build a nest), and placing a flowerpot on top (so there's no place to perch), he is still at this moment, as I glare at him with disdain, taunting me, precariously perched on the wobbly edge of the pot! 
I am not a violent person. I like animals. But the Texas-born girl inside came out and I found myself wishing I had a gun to take care of this nuisance once and for all.
Then it struck me. The only way this critter is going to leave is to do so dead. Because you see, as long as we keep trying to politely, humanely "ask" him to leave by putting up barriers, not only are we keeping him from building a nest, but we are also keeping OUT the very ones we wish to have in there - the sweet bluebirds.
I am reminded of the Bible story of Jesus casting out the legion of demons from the man who lived in the tombs of the Garasenes (Luke 8). However, Jesus didn't just cast them OUT OF  the man, He cast them INTO  some nearby pigs, who went crazy and jumped off a cliff to their deaths.
The bluebird box represents my own house. I have built my nest and fed my baby birds with the Word of God. They are preparing to fly from this nest and be used mightily in the Kingdom. I have always prayed that my ceiling would be my children's floor. They will preach the Kingdom, they will heal the sick, they will raise the dead, cleanse the leper, and cast out demons (Matthew 10:7), they will love The One and love the one, and the enemy obviously isn't happy about that. He has stubbornly tried to take up residence, and while we have been fighting back, the time has come to not only cast him OUT of our home, but to cast him INTO the pit of hell where he belongs.
One of the songs that I have sung a lot over the last few months is John Waller's Our God Reigns Here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6T6ZtODMSI
It names various evil spirits, commanding them to leave in Jesus' name. It is very powerful! I recommend you listen to it by going to the link above.
Today the line that stands out most to me says, Go back from whence you came, 'cause our God reigns here...
And so, I sing that over my home again today, but with renewed determination. I am taking back the ground the enemy has stolen. I am rebuilding my nest and reminding my baby birds (regardless of their ages or attitudes) of their greater purpose now and when they fly away: Love The One and love the one...

Putting the Green-Eyed Monster in its Place

I'm about to get very real here. I've been experiencing some emotions that I was having a hard time defining, until last night when I came face to face with a really ugly label to put on these feelings. It's almost too ugly to even type out, but here it is in all its nasty glory...
JEALOUSY
Ouch!

It seems like such a petty thing, reserved for junior high girls and their ever fickle friendships, yet as a middle-aged woman, I found myself smack-dab in the middle of this (let's call it what it is) sin, and let's face it, there's a reason it's called the green-eyed monster. It can quickly devour rational thought and obliterate emotions. It's crazy how craftily it can sneak into a relationship without my even being aware of its presence until it has reeked all kinds of havoc.


This morning I realized that I had been feeling like the workers in the vineyard who who had worked all day for the same pay as those who only worked an hour. As I re-read this familiar Bible story, it was pretty clear to me that Jesus is represented by the landowner. Only He doesn't just own the vineyard, He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Just as a vineyard owner plants the grape seeds and tends his crops, I asked Jesus to plant His truth deep in my heart and tend to the growth process until I eventually bear the fruit of the spirit. I imagined the landowner's response to the workers as if Jesus were speaking to me. 
"Friend".........
Yes, that's about as far as I got for several seconds, because it just blows me away that Jesus calls ME friend! Once that truth sank in, I continued reading, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous? So the last shall be first, and the first last." 

Immediately following this parable in Matthew 20, the next scene is when Mrs. Zebedee asked Jesus if her sons could sit next to Him in heaven. His response? 
"You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?...My cup you shall drink; but to sit on my right and on my left, this is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father...whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."


The very next account recorded is when Jesus stopped for the blind beggars and asked them what they wanted Him to do, then He proceeded to heal them. In other words, He served them.


Now I could spend all day writing a lengthy Bible study on all the many truths hidden in these verses, but here is what God showed me this morning and how I prayed to Him concerning what I was experiencing.


Oh, sweet and patient Lord, I want my eyes to be so fixed on You and the work You call me to do that I don't even notice when I'm not included or when someone else gets the recognition. Thank You, Savior that jealousy is one of those ugly sins You took upon Your unblemished body and crucified. I now confess this sin to You in humble gratitude that You are faithful and just to cleanse me from ALL unrighteousness. I bring my spirit back into alignment with the finished work of the cross. This sin is covered by Your precious blood. The only reason it will ever rear its ugly head is if I agree with the lies the enemy whispers in my ear. Holy Spirit, make me so aware in the very beginning stages of those lies, what the devil is up to, so I can say with the authority given to me as a daughter of The King, "Get thee behind me, Satan!"


The landowner said, "Take what is yours and go."
What is mine is my inheritance as my Father's child. Psalm 103 lists some of the benefits that come with that inheritance: salvation from sin, healing of diseases, rescue from the pit, a crown of steadfast love and mercy, ETC! One denarius is worth A LOT in the Kingdom! 


The next thing He says to do is "Go". I need to take my inheritance and go preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. I received freely. I must give freely. No strings attached. No accolades. No earning favor. Just serving the One Who so readily serves me. Fixing my eyes on Him at all times. 


When my eyes are fixed on Him, how could there be room for jealousy? No friendship, no fame, no earthly treasure can satisfy like The Bread of Life. I taste and see that He is good. And that is enough.

Endings & Beginnings

canyouimaginetryingtoreadabookorevenasentenceforthatmatterwithoutpunctuationmarks
Translation:
Can you imagine trying to read a book (or a sentence, for that matter) without punctuation marks?
For many, the year 2011 simply ends with a period and quietly segues into 2012, but for others the year ends with a question mark or exclamation point.
Perhaps you've had "one of those years" where you just don't understand what in the world is going on and you wrap up 2011 with a big fat question mark. Or you sit and shake your head in wonder that the year is already over, having flown by and you still haven't reached certain goals you've set for yourself.
Still others may be more than ready to grab a permanent marker - one of those gigantic poster-making kinds - and with great gusto, put an end to a year of difficulty, frustration, or heartache with a great big exclamation point.
Whichever punctuation we choose to end 2011, we all get to begin 2012 the same way, with a beautiful, hope-filled capital letter...a new beginning...a fresh start.
And if we choose to do so, we can start our year with the same capital letter - A - as in Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Jesus said, "It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End..." (Revelation 21:6).
We've all heard the acrostic, JOY, as an example of how we should live our lives - Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last. But shouldn't it really be Jesus, Jesus & Others, Jesus & Yourself? He's not just the Alpha, He's not just the Omega, He's all and everything!
What if we choose to end 2011 by focusing on all Jesus is and did for, in, and through us, with a heart full of thankfulness, instead of focusing on all the enemy attempted to steal from, kill in, and destroy though us? What if we choose to begin 2012 by focusing on all Jesus will do for, in, and through us, instead of focusing on all the enemy wants to steal from, kill in, and destroy through us?
Greater is HE Who is in us...He Who is the ALPHA, the OMEGA, and EVERYTHING else in-between.
So whatever punctuation mark you end 2011 with, I encourage you to begin 2012 with Jesus and all the hope He gives. 

Have a Strong & Valiant Festival of The Anointed One!

I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything, but at last I am on Christmas vacation and have a few moments to spare.
As I was writing our family advent devotionals the other day, God led me to the song God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. I must confess I've never given its lyrics much thought and simply passed them off as outdated, singing them by rote, as yet another holiday tradition. What I discovered was a rich treasure, which was anything but outdated.
First of all, did you know that in the old English, the word merry didn't mean happy?  Me neither! It meant strong or valiant. So we don't know if Robin Hood's men were happy or not, but we do know they were described as strong or valiant. So, if sung in more familiar terms to us, the lyrics would be, "God rest you, strong & valiant gentlemen...". But wait, there's more!
What about the word rest? Interestingly, this word didn't mean rest as we think of it - personally a nap on the couch sounds pretty good to me! But this word meant to make. God make you strong & valiant, gentlemen. Let nothing you dismay (There's no need to worry). Remember...
Christ (The Anointed One) was born on Christmas Day. The suffix mas means festival or feast day.
So Jesus Christ, The Anointed One, The Messiah makes us strong if we rest in Him. His yoke is easy, His burden light. Greater is He Who is in us than He Who is in the world. He has overcome the world. In our weakness, He is strong. We can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us.
Cool!
So when we wish one another a Merry Christmas, we are really blessing one another with the heavenly strength of the Anointed One, Jesus Christ. Sounds like a wonderful Christmas gift to give someone, doesn't it? 
And a wonderful way to love The One and love the one...