Live in the Valley

Let us make here three tabernacles.

Matthew 17:4

Even Jesus did not stay on the mountain. He left to come back to every day, ordinary living. There were ordinary people in need, ordinary tasks to perform, ordinary things to do, and ordinary duties to take care of over and over and over again.

Every time we have an exciting, extraordinary spiritual experience we want it repeated again and again. We want to relive it, feel it, and talk about it. We want to stay in it. We forget that God is the God of the day-to-day as well as the mountain top.

We want to shout again, see the vision again, and be touched again. Every mountain experience creates a desire to stay, to linger, never to leave. Our usefulness lies in what happens to us on the mountain: what we see on the mountain, hear on the mountain, learn on the mountain, but we can not be useful if we make our abode there.

We must bring it down.

The mundane can never compare to the spectacular. God will let us experience His transforming glory, but He does not intend for us to make our lives in it.

We are to bring the change He makes in us to the needs of the people he changed us to meet.

Embrace the ordinary routine aspects of your life. Don’t wish them away. Every moment can not be filled with excitement, but you can make sure everyone you meet touches the mountain in you.

When you come down from the mountain – when you come out of service, out of prayer, away from the revelation and the conversations of the righteous – when you come back, don’t look for more of the spectacular. Rather, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

When you come back, go to the market, change a diaper, do your job, teach a class, spend time with your family. Then when the sick and the possessed and the lame come before you, release your faith and help them.

Don’t seek to make your abode in the extraordinary. Live in the ordinary every day. You can’t long for the mountain and be fully present in the valley.

Use It or Lose It!

I was watching America's Got Talent yesterday and one of the acts, The Miami All Stars, could not get clearance to use a piece of music that they had been rehearsing to all week. They found out at the last minute - hours before the live show was to begin - and were initially devastated.

But the leader of the group took control, found new music, would not let the group give up, rehearsed them and gave a fantastic performance just hours after they received what could have been crushing news.

When asked about it by the judges, the leader said, "You must get through with what life gives you. No excuses!"

So many times we make excuses for what we cannot do, what we do not have, and for what can't possibly be done. We develop mind sets that say it can't be done. It will fail. There is not hope. Just give up.

But to follow the outlook of The Miami All Stars is to keep moving forward with what you've got - no matter what. And don't make any excuses.

The Miami All Stars used the music available to them - even at the last minute - and did not lose. They advanced to the semi-finals in the talent competition. If they had adopted a defeatist mind-set, they would have gone home.

The Word of God says, in whatever state you find yourself, be content. I could also add, wherever you find yourself, take a look around, see what you've got to work with, figure out how to use it and keep moving forward!

With God - all things are possible.

There Is No Option

When the cloud tarried long…then the children of Israel…journeyed not.

Numbers 9:19

When the cloud stopped, the children of Israel did not move. There was no option.

When we are tested for obedience, there is only one right answer. Do what God says to do. There is no option.

When we walk in obedience, faith determines our movement. We move when God says move. We remain where we are when God says stop. There is no option.

We stay where God puts us until He puts us somewhere else.

This is the hard part: staying. Staying past boredom. Staying past disinterest. Staying past failure. Staying past discouragement. Staying when everyone else is going. Staying as the years advance. Staying past impatience. Staying is the hard part.

To stay is to obey. With God there is no option.

Trust God to move you. Trust God to lead you. If He is not leading – you should not be moving. If He is leading, pack it up and make haste to follow.

God often keeps us waiting. Waiting past the point of personal defeat. Waiting past the point of ruin. Waiting past the point of weariness. Waiting past the point of surrender. Waiting past the point of endurance. Waiting past hope.

We wait questioning. We wait wondering. We wait expecting the call to come any day. We wait when expectations die.

But wait we must. Remain we must. Tarry we must. Until the cloud clearly moves. Until the call comes – Move! There is no option.

Don't Forget to Ask

I was reminded by the heavenly host the other day that I have not because I ask not. WOW!
I realized it was true. I had forgotten the asking part of my prayer life - particularly for myself.

I had become so entrenched in gratitude that I had forgotten that Jesus says what ever I ask in His name, He will do it. I had forgotten that I have needs.

 People everywhere are suffering, some so badly I cannot fathom being in their shoes. Every day it seems I read or hear about another tragedy, another family facing unemployment, eviction, fatal sickness and disease, and a host of other calamities that just are overwhelming. Every time I heard or read about something, I would just feel so grateful for my life in comparison.

Not that I don't have my trials. I do. Several. Big ones. Very big ones. But I'm grateful that I am alive and healthy and in my right mind.

Things can change in an instant. I'm reminded of this every time I think about my father-in-law. Pop Pop was a healthy 70-something with a life full of family, hobbies, interests and studies. He went into the hospital for routine cataract surgery. During the pre-op examinations it was discovered that he has lung cancer. Now he can't have the eye surgery because he has to have surgery on his lungs. Doctors removed half of one lung and determined a chemo therapy treatment for him. He recovered quickly and easily from the lung operation and came home in good spirits. A few days later my mother-on-law found him on his knees in another room unable to get up. Rushed back to the hospital he learns he now has Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Now he's paralyzed and on a respirator.

He never came home again. Two years later he is still on a respirator and bed-ridden.

In the face of that, I believe that I have a lot to be thankful for. But still God reminds me that I have needs. God reminds me to ask.

I force myself everyday to think about what I need and to ask God to meet them. I'm still grateful, but I now see God in a different light.

He is not just the good God I have come to know and love. He is also Provider. He can take care of me. I can release myself into His hands. And I have.

You can too. Don't forget to ask.

Happy New Year!

I'm not much of a night person. So, New Year's Eve has always been a challenge for me. You know, finding something to do, staying up until midnight, the whole bit. It's just overwhelming to me.

I used to go to Watch Night Service. Even that had its drawbacks. It was exciting for a while, but then even that became a challenge. Night falls heavy on me.

So I decided to drop the expectations this year. I imposed no expectations on myself for the entire holiday season. No planning what I was going to do on my time off. No agonizing over what to give for Christmas gifts. No cringing when my daughter urged me to go the the New Year's party my husband and I were invited to. I simply determined I would do what I felt like doing.

It didn't help that Bill and I came down with colds (me the week before Christmas - him the week after) and just did not physically feel like doing much. The difference was this year I didn't beat myself up about it, nor did I wake up on New Year's Day feeling regrets about falling asleep before midnight.

No, I feel great! Today is our 28th wedding anniversary and I really don't care what we do as long as we're together. No expectations seems like a good theme to carry into the New Year.

I have goals I plan to carry out. I have my prayer lists like everybody else. But I'm just not going to weigh myself down with a whole lot of unnecessary expectations. I'll do what I can, push my way through what I must and enjoy life 100%.

I mean, really...what's a new year for but to continue moving things along and trying to get it right. All this starting over and brand new this and that was getting on my nerves. Let's just keep going. Keep living...keep loving...keep praying...keep learning...keep sharing... keep giving...

So, have a happy new year. Enjoy the day best you can. And remember there are 364 more to live. Don't try to do it all in one.

God bless, trim the expectations and get some rest.

This Christmas Will Be Different

I am giving everyone joy this Christmas. I'm passing it on like I used to pass out cards and gifts. Material things don't impress me anymore. They are just items that you have to find some place to put. But joy...now, that's another matter.

Joy will be with you when the wrapping paper from your gifts hits the trash can. Joy never fails. You can pass it like you pass the peace.

Joy will keep giving to you when your wallet empties and your credit cards are maxed out.

Joy is simple yet profound. Joy gets down deep on the inside of you and won't let you stay down. It's like a well of water, springing up from within. Once it gets moving around in you and around you, it can't be stopped.

I won't be in a mall this Christmas. I will be on my knees sending joy your way.

I give you joy. Joy is coming your way.

A Christmas Message

As we move through this special time of the year and revel in this holy season, we think about what is important and what is not important and the things that matter most. I especially hold you all near and dear to my heart as co-sojourners in the Way and as colleagues in His Service here at BCCC.

Many people are hurting and have been chosen to fellowship in the sufferings of Christ. Conversely, many people are experiencing increase and are living in the power of His resurrection in myriad ways. Nonetheless, all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. We have learned, above all else, in whatsoever state we are, to be content.

In this moment we are alive and that in itself is a great gift. In contrast to this great gift of life that God has given us, money pales.

 If I can give you anything for Christmas I give you joy. For the joy of the Lord shall be your strength. It will keep you going in strained and stressful times. It will sustain you in the weary hour. It will lift your spirits when it seems like you’ll never look up again.

This holy season remember that laughter is a great medicine. Laugh a lot even though you may not have a lot.  Share with others. Love yourselves and those around you. Forgive quickly and for good. Release bad memories like you take off old clothes. Leave the past behind and walk into the newness of your life. It is waiting for you to recognize it for what it is: a gift. Take it.

Have a wonderful holiday. I hope that you enjoy your time away from the routine but remain grateful to be employed and in the position to serve. Remember your neighbors, friends, family and colleagues who have experienced loss and disappointment this year. Pray for their rejuvenation. Lift them in your prayers and support them any way you can.

Joy is coming your way.

Take care.