Ever feel disappointed in God?
Or let down by people and situations that don’t go your way and that translates to “really God’s fault” cuz, you know, He’s God and everything, so the buck stops with Him.
Yeah, me too.
Page 87 of 99
For those of you just joining us, on Fridays I try to share practices or resources that God can use to form us. Maggie named it “Spirit Stretch Fridays”.
Anyway, this summer a group of us (some in person, and some online) are trying a spiritual experiment using the book 7, an Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, by Jen Hatmaker. Buy it and jump in with us if you haven’t already! You can read about our experiences here, and here.
The other night our merry little band gathered around the table on my patio. It was the perfect, warm summer evening with a breeze that kept the mosquitos away, and Molly made it even better by introducing us to dark chocolate covered almonds with sea salt from Trader Joes. We can’t decide whether we should write her into our wills or shun her for sucking us into this vortex of deliciousity.
Probably once a week I get THE question, “What do you do?”
I don’t have a business card or a title or a clear-cut job description so I stutter a lot when answering. Some of you can relate. Others are reading this and feeling huge relief that they can’t relate.
Monday I wrote about how sometimes we can feel reduced to “names” and “numbers”, and other times we cling to our names and numbers like a life jacket that’s the only thing keeping us safe.
As much as we try to major on living out of our identity in Christ, that can be about as easy as feeling comfortable on a blind date. So I’ve been thinking about others who may have struggled with this issue.
Our daughter, Maggie, and her boyfriend, Austin, have been visiting for this hot 4th of July week. Woohoo! It’s been wonderful time of bikes and boats and barbecues.
For Austin, who’s never been in Minnesota before that’s meant one-thousand-four-hundred-and-ninety-eight “first” conversations getting to know new people. Fortunately he’s patient and gracious and delightful.
But those “good-to-meet-ya” conversations aren’t easy for all of us. Because of THE question.
You know how it goes…You meet someone new and practically before you can say your name is Rumplestiltskin, the next question is, “So, what do you do?”
Rephrased: Just how important are you?
I love the story of Teddy Roosevelt who used to take his friends outside at night, look up at the stars and recite the wonders of God’s creation.
Marveling at the Milky Way, the searching out the spiral Galaxy of Andromeda…
After awhile he would say, “Now I think we’re small enough. Let’s go to bed!”
Seven years ago I hiked the spectacular Beehive Basin trail in Montana.
This past weekend I hiked it again with some friends.
My experience was crazy different.
The difference? Expectations.
“Our legacy is the trail of bread crumbs we leave leading toward Jesus. Make it look like you lived in a bakery.” Bob Goff
Reflecting on my “crumbs” from yesterday…Where did they lead people?
Were they crumbs of grace? Inclusion? Value? Encouragement?
What about you?
Ever have God just show up and startle the bejesus out of you? (and where did that word, bejesus come from?)
First a little background…
Did you know that Minneapolis is the number one biking city in the country? Yeah! Even more than any of the twig-and-bark-eater cities out west! We have more bike paths than any of them.
And there are a heck-of-a-lot-of bikers out there. I know because most of them pass me on their slick road bikes.
When you pass someone the unspoken rule is that you say “On your left.” so they’re not startled and don’t swerve and end up causing a 10-bike pile-up with blood and need for super-hero bandaids.
The problem comes when people (and by people, I mean me) have earbuds in and are listening to other stuff. I get startled a lot. And the other day I got startled when I was listening to a message about hearing God’s voice.
Want to shake up your life (in a good way)? Join us for the Summer of 7! Be sure to check out the comments from Friday and add your own today and as we go along!
I told you last week about Jen Hatfied’s book and how it’s messed with me and how a group of us are experimenting with a radical reduction of excess in our lives this summer. Like I said before, if you haven’t read it, go get it (or borrow it). Now!
So the area where we’re currently reducing is clothing. Trying to wear just 7 pieces of clothing for a week. Jen did it for a month, but we’re clearly not spiritual or committed enough for that. We just plan on being quick learners. 🙂
So awhile ago I told you about a flip-me-on-my-butt book I read called 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker. Anyone read it?? What are you waiting for? Go get it!
I said I was going to do a book group this summer and we’d try our own experiments. So last week five of the craziest, most adventurous-for-Jesus bunch of women came to our house to launch the Summer of 7. Molly, Cara, Cathy, Heather, and Theresa.
I can’t imagine a funner (“funner”?) group to be deprived with!
The idea is this…We’re concerned that we may be trapped in a culture of excess where we’re so enmeshed that we can’t see clearly how out of sync our lifestyle is with the kingdom priorities of Jesus.
Hi, I’m Laura – a Jesus-follower who gets it wrong a lot, but is still beloved just like you.
