Ok, the title of this post might be a tad misleading. Technically speaking, I do NOT know how to write a perfect note.
And don’t forget one of my life verses: “Where words are many, sin is not absent.” So there’s that…
However, writing notes to people is a powerful ministry. I think we can all learn from each other.
I’m betting you, like me, have a drawer of “keepers” – notes that have been especially timely, impactful, or encouraging.
Like a squirrel with a stash of nuts he saves for the long winter nights, we may treasure and re-read these nuggets when we need a little encouragement, especially in dark, cold seasons.
What is it that gives special notes such value in your mind?
As I read back over my “stash” here are some of the elements I notice about people who write great notes: Continue reading
Halloween is one of my husband’s favorite days of the year. I know, odd for a pastor, right?
The PC answer should be Easter, right? And yes, it IS the most important, but John’s love of Halloween has taught me something about God.
He likes Halloween because it brings him so much joy to welcome kids with enthusiasm, handing out candy and oohing and ahhing over every single costume like they were the one and only.
He looks forward all year to parking his chair by the front door and waitingfor kids to come. Even though he’s terrible at figuring out what the costumes are, he greets each kid as if they were THE most amazing, creative, delightful goblin of the night.
Last night he took it to a new level. He carried his rocking chair outside and our firepit along with a jack-o-lantern and a big basket of candy. As I was watching him it struck me how much his posture towards the kids is like God’s towards us, only we usually miss it. Kind of like the dad waiting and watching for the prodigal son to come home.
How many times do we approach God as if the lights were out and the door locked tight? Like we have to convince Him to care…to show up…to answer us? Instead, the Bible says He stands at the door.
God’s the father, outwatching for His kid to show up.
He’s the party-giver inviting us to a banquet.
He delights in us, sings over us.
The door isn’t locked. The lights aren’t off. He is an incredibly personal God who delights in His kids who show up.
When we moved to Minnesota for John to become the lead pastor at “our” church, it had been “his” church for 34 years. Yep, he had planted the church. He was leaving “his baby” for us to steward for the kingdom.
What if we mucked it up? What if we KILLED it, for Pete’s sake?! Or worse, (gasp!) changed the music???!
And yet, Roger has been our biggest cheerleader. Our most fervent prayer warrior. Our baton-hander.
Leadership is like being in a relay race. Succession is important. We need to pass on the baton to the next generation because our part in the race is not the end, and Roger knew that.Continue reading
Last week I drove down to my hometown in the suburbs of Chicago on Saturday for a run honoring my brother. After the race on Sunday husband John warned me that I needed to get on the road back to Minneapolis early because of my “condition”.
I have “night blindness” which means I have no depth perception when it gets dark. My perspective is flat. Skewed. I can’t tell how far or close things are (You know, like cars, or stoplights, or the shoulder of the road – the little things.) And I can’t anticipate turns in the road. So when I didn’t leave Chicago until after 1:00 and hit bad traffic it meant driving the last two hours in deep darkness.
In the dark my eyes play tricks on me. My emotions play tricks on me. It feels kind of like being on that Disney World roller coaster in the dark that has a name with “Terror” in the title. There are times when I’m sure I’m driving off the road into certain destruction. Really.
For anyone, in the days of loss – loss of person, job, dream – weird shapes loom and threaten in the darkness. It can feel very scary. Nothing is certain. Life feels unpredictable.
As I concentrated hard and prayed, it struck me how all of us have “night blindness” . Whether it’s the dark of discouragement and challenging circumstances, or the illusion of control and self-sufficiency, or a hill on the route of our personal marathon, we don’t see things as they really are – as only God sees them. Continue reading
When I started doing “Soul Food Friday” I didn’t intend for it to just be focused on what happens around the table, but instead about everything that feeds our souls.
But truly, something very special happens when we show up as we are, and amidst half eaten chili or chicken we celebrate or cry or question.
We gather around a table, and when it’s good it’s messy, and real, and a little island of safety where our stories can be shared and God’s faithfulness recognized.
Everyone is welcome. Nobody’s perfect. Anything can happen.
One night recently this fall I had a group of women gathered in my living room. I asked them what character quality of God they need most right now. They were brave and vulnerable and one after another said they long for Peace in the face of anxiety. Almost every one said she was struggling with worry, fear…Feeling out of control.
I’m not usually a big worrier, but I confess there have been a few nights recently where the “what if’s” and “what should I do’s” have swirled around in my brain like the eddy in a fast-moving stream.
In If, Mark Batterson notes that “A ship’s anchor doesn’t just keep it from drifting. An anchor can be thrown in front of a ship and used to help it navigate through treacherous channels. The nautical term is ‘kedging'”.
So here’s what I think. Peace is anchoring ourselves not to our circumstances, but to the character of God.
Experiencing peace is not based on what I feel but on who God is.
We need to participate in the discipline of throwing our anchor out in front of us so that we’re continually filling our mind with the power and provision of God.
When we see God as He really is, we see our worries in perspective.
If I’m anchored to the all-sufficient God I’m not focused on the problems, but the Problem-solver.Continue reading
Last Thanksgiving my brother David and I ran a race together – a 5 mile Turkey Trot.
On his birthday I gave him a turkey costume – a goal to work towards…We would run again, and he would wear the costume this Thanksgiving when he was stronger. I promised him if he couldn’t wear it I would.
This morning I set out driving to my home town where tomorrow there will be another run.
This one is to raise money for Melanoma research. And I’ll wear the turkey costume. Because David isn’t here to run.
David died on July 18th. In my Bible I found this, dated July 16th. Continue reading
Awhile ago I wrote that I read and really liked Jen Hatmaker’s new book, For the Love. Full disclosure, there are a couple of chapters I didn’t care for, but mostly I think Jen’s hysterical and brilliant, and I read anything she writes. So this week when John asked if we could host a working dinner at our house with a consultant from out of town, I said “Sure.” and I decided I’d try THREE new recipes, including Jen’s recipe for Beef Bourguignon included in the book.
Big. Mistake.
I was also trying to squeeze in making soup for a friend with sick kids.
No, I’m not the brightest bulb on the string.
Add to this the fact that I’ve been sick and the number of guests John said were coming kept changing. I set the table three different times.
Let’s just say I was not my usual delightful self on Tuesday.
And then John showed up with these from my FAVORITE flower shop that I’ve ruthlessly trained him to go to gently hinted that I like. 🙂
A picture of GRACE!!! Soul food, sister!
And thena call from daughter #1 in D.C. at the exact moment I couldn’t do anything more. Grace upon Grace! More soul food that filled me up with joy.
These graces made me want to be gracier towards others too. Especially cranky pants who might be having a bad day. The next day I read this in Mark Batterson’s IF:
Goethe said, “Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can be and should be, and he will become as he can be and should be.”
No one modeled that better than Jesus.
The Pharisees treated people as they were. Jesus treated people as they could be.
Anyway, in addition to sharing some pictures of grace I want to share a couple of other things. That Beef Bourguignon from Jen? Well, in addition to being impossible to spell, it was a BUCKETLOAD of work and I really didn’t think it was worth it. I actually think my go-to 4 Hour Stew recipe is better and soooooo much easier! So in case you don’t have it, here you go and you’re welcome!
In a large baking dish (preferably with a tight lid) put:
Add 1 can of peas and spread on can of tomato soup over all.
Cover and bake @250 for 4 hours. Serve over biscuits or potatoes or whatever you want. Ta da! Serves 6
While you’re enjoying your stew, here’s some more soul food for when it seems like peace is elusive and you want to be hopeful, but also honest about your feelings…After hearing them in D.C. last week I downloaded The Brilliance new album, Brother which I love, love, love. The title track,Brother, is powerful, but this is my favorite.
Lastly, one more picture of soul food or grace or whatever you want to call it…Several years ago we got a puppy that we loved, but had to give away because of our travel schedule. The great thing is that she went to an awesome family who asks us to take care of her when they are out of town – WIN-WIN!!
The joy of her this week made me think of an old video that most of you have probably seen, but if you haven’t you need to. Happy Friday! 🙂
Sunday was a beautiful day here in Minnesota. The trees were showing off all fancy. The lakes and bike paths were calling “Come and play!”. God had graciously given us One. More. Day. before “you know what”.
It was a beautiful day and a terrible day. 7 year old little girl in our community died on Lake Minnetonka from carbon monoxide poisoning. One of those No-It can’t be-This-just-can’t-happen-kind-of-things. Continue reading
A few weeks ago a friend asked me to be on a panel of women peace-makers at a conference for peacemakers. These are courageous women who are all in. They are PEACE-MAKERS.
I’m more of a peace-wanter.
My exact text response was “Are you freaking KIDDING me??!” I felt I was totally unqualified to be on the platform with women who are on the front lines in Israel, Palestine, Fergusson…
And I was, but they wanted me anyway and the reason I eventually said “yes” was because I think I’m like many of you who need a little encouragement that we all have a part to play.
We’re the “small things” people , the cheerleaders and the story-tellers and that’s ok, at least for a start.
When I got home, I was listening to a podcast message by Clay Scroggins and heard a phrase that was new to me. It’s really stuck in regard to my role in WORLD PEACE. Continue reading
