If One Part Suffers

Several days ago the remains of a boy from our daughter’s high school who had been missing for three weeks, were found.  My daughter is in a different grade than the boy and did not know him on a personal level. However, the impact of such grievous news has affected our daughter, permeated the entire school—and the entire community.

The deep impact and mutual outpouring from the community has slowed each one of us down in our busy worlds to pause and consider the great need we have one for another.  

Many of us have been praying for a positive outcome.  Prayer has become a first resort as both the family and the community have sought God for sustenance and endurance during the long, cold, dark days of  “unknowing” in the midst of unfathomable circumstances.

We read in I Corinthians 12:26, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it…”

Both within the church and within our communities; life is meant to be shared one with another. We each have a role in the scenes surrounding our lives which requires us to give of ourselves to contribute what we can to those who are suffering.

It’s difficult to know what to “do” in times such as these.  Maybe we allow ourselves to feel the loss as we attempt to understand the impact and effect one life taken from us leaves; a marker in our hearts to remind us that no life can ever be replaced. In moving forward with new eyes, perhaps the loss will produce a positive change both individually and in how we relate to others in our community.

As for me, I am doing something that, by all appearances, is so small that one might question the usefulness of the gesture: bringing food items to the school for the Hungry Kid Project.  Although unrelated to the current crises, I feel compelled to bring food.  Maybe it’s my childhood memory of a time when life seemed more simple growing up on a dairy farm, and the feeling of safety and love I associate with food.  I don’t know.  Either way, this is a need the school addresses each week, and I am a part of the school.

If you are struggling right now, limping through life, wondering if anyone cares—please reach out to your community and to a local church.  If you are suffering, we are all suffering.

Romans 12:13 instructs us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”

Today, our community mourns alongside a family who has lost their beloved son. We stand with heavy hearts for what we do not understand. However, we also stand with hope for grace, understanding and faith for what lies ahead.

Stay the Course…

Sheila

Come And See

A recent trip to the west coast of Africa impacted my life. 

The point was made by those who do not call Liberia their homeland, that of all the beautiful places in Africa one might choose to visit—Liberia would not be anyone’s top pick.

After two very messy civil wars and the decimation of a generation, the infrastructure of Liberia faces a very long road (a dirty, bumpy, unpaved road at that!) to becoming a desirous country.  

Although Liberia is one of the top 5 most impoverished countries, I must tell you more about this incredible country. I quote Peter, our Liberian host, who understands something that Google does not understand—the heart of Liberia is strong. Throughout our time with Peter, he urgently pleaded with us to come back to America and ask people to “come and see” what God is doing in Liberia.  Come and see not only with your physical eyes but with your spiritual eyes.

As we study the Word of God, several instances urge us to "come and see."  To hear about a person or place robs us of the gift of sight and physicality.  We read in John chapter one about the day Jesus found Philip and told him to follow him.  Philip, in turn, found Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (Jn. 1:44-45)

Nathaniel, who had not yet seen Jesus with his own eyes, immediately responded, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (vs. 46)

“Come and see,” said Phillip.

We know how the story ends once Nathaniel sees Jesus with his own eyes, “Then Nathaniel declared “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” (vs.49)

Throughout my stay in Liberia, I saw circumstances and situations that broke my heart.  I also saw people with more courage, joy, and genuine love for one another and God than I have ever witnessed with my own eyes.  Can anything good come from Liberia? Yes. A thousand times, YES!

Day after day, I began to understand more clearly why Peter continued to emphasize the message, “Come and see.”  We saw dozens of pastors packed into unconditioned rooms, notepads, and pen in hand, hanging on every word of teaching at conferences jam-packed with practical truths from the Bible.  Understanding God’s Word and desiring to disciple their small village churches, the meeting was not a social gathering but rather a necessity for these men and women. 

Not once did the topic of hungry stomachs surface, nor the fact that some of them had walked for miles in the scorching heat without water to make it to the conference. There was not one mention of personal sacrifice.

All of this I saw with my own eyes.  

What is it that your Father is prompting in your own life to challenge you to “come and see” that which might take you deeper in your faith? I implore you to take your trust to new levels and plunge into deeper waters.  

“Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf!” (Psalm 66:5)

Stay the Course…

Sheila

In Your Presence

In a world where social media has, in many ways, replaced what we once considered real friendship with virtual friends, I am convinced of one thing:

When the well of personal giving, love and friendship runs dry, there is only one place and only one Person where we will find strength and truth—in the presence of our Savior.

True answers to the voids within each one of us are only found in the secret places of our own prayer closets; whether kneeling beside our beds, alone on the side of a mountain, driving in our cars or whatever we do that brings us into communication with God.  Divided hearts, weak faith, and selfish ambitions are laid bare at the feet of the One who pulls us close, even when we believe that we deserve to be pushed away.

The unchanging, unconditional love of our faithful Father meets us in our darkest hours.  In His presence we are held, loved, accepted, encouraged, and filled with His Spirit.  To broadcast such a friendship on social media would sabotage the pure beauty of the holiness of Christ.

In His presence He will “strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of Our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” (I Thess 3:13)

Our questions about life are answered and we are filled with joy: “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” (Acts 2:28)

I have personally been convicted in my own life regarding what it looks like to be a follower of Christ in a world that is virtually out of control.  

Jesus calls us to be salt and light. “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Mt. 5:13-16)

How is it possible to let our lights shine and yet point others to our Father in heaven, and not to our own selves? In His presence.

How do we maintain our saltiness? In His presence.

James tells us that “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)

We are not strong enough, amazing enough, nor talented enough to maintain our saltiness nor keep ourselves from being polluted by the world . 

In the presence of the matchless beauty of the King who is enthroned forever, “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11)

In His presence is where our faith is made firm.  

And in His church, surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ seeking the Kingdom of God, is where we find real friendships with real, messy people.  Fellow sojourner’s who are unwilling to pretend to be anything but who they are: sinners saved by grace.

It is through the vulnerability of the people in our worlds whom we can touch, whom we can look in the eyes when we speak, and whom we can join together with in prayer—that we are also able to stand firm.  Real friendships given to us as a by-product of our time spent alone in His presence.

And in His presence we are made complete--a promise given in the Word of God that may be considered by today’s standards virtually inconceivable.

Stay the Course…

Sheila

“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

Spirit Booster

(Something just happened that I need to write about before too much time elapses and the feelings attached to this moment fade.  Writing in the moment tends to combat the ever-looming need to impress, sound perfect, or have concern for potential judgement.)

There are many industries that have the tendency to kick you in the gut, spin you in circles and then watch as you gasp to catch your breath.  I happen to work in one of those industries.  A short while ago I received a phone call that had every ingredient to ruin this realtor’s day; and at first it did just that.  

Not that I’m “all better” as I pound the keys on my computer a bit harder than necessary; but as I was spinning in circles attempting to wrap my head around my new problem, something beautiful also happened.

I received a letter in the mail from a dear friend.  The meticulously typed envelope held within it a typed letter as well as a cashier’s check.  My husband and I had sent this friend a gift of money not too long ago when she lost her beloved husband. She recently found out that my husband and I are taking a mission’s trip to Liberia next month.  This is how her letter starts:

“I am sending you this money back as a thank you and a spirit booster for your trip to Africa. I understand when you find yourself doing something that is so different and it feels like such a push forward, yet you feel the risk.”  

She goes on to say:

“Your generous gift to me gave me relief that I was going to make it and I was not alone. I have done well and I am continuing to trust God for His provision. I am so proud of you for taking this step. I want you to have the same boost within your spirit. You sowed into my life at a very critical time. I want to return the favor because you are called to do a great thing…to plant the seeds that have come from your personal harvest.  Go to the Harvest!!!”

Upon reading this note, I was torn to pieces. The frustration of my morning became a million miles in the past while the renewed reminder of God’s goodness flooded my heart.

Life will continue to kick each one of us in the gut; that’s not me being negative but rather stating the facts.  Our goal on earth must not be in pursuit of finding the easy button or of obtaining success as defined by the world.  Our goal must instead be to become so full of the Spirit of God that we care more about boosting the spirits of our fellow sojourners than we care about our own personal gain.

There are those around us who need to know that someone cares about them; people who are desperate for a spirit booster and a clear picture of what being a part of the family of God looks like lived out.  I would know. 

Reach out to someone today whom you know could use a boost; you may never know the impact your thoughtfulness invokes.  A sliver of sunshine sown into the life of a person who feels alone and without hope can impact his or her life for eternity.

Caring for and loving one another is the purpose of the church—let’s be the church.

Stay the Course…

Sheila

Stouthearted

The current state of our country might be best described as tentative as we steer closer to elections.  With an uncertain future hovering over us like dark clouds on a rainy day, my prayer this morning brought a word to mind that I needed to look up to confirm its meaning: stouthearted.

Some people speak doom and gloom and others acknowledge a general feeling of helplessness regarding one’s ability to effect positive change regarding the state of our country, yet there remains great hope for those whom endeavor to remain stouthearted before the Lord.

Stouthearted is defined as “brave, determined, courageous, bold, spirited, valiant, fearless.” Merriam-Webster describes the stouthearted as not only brave and determined; but stubborn.

Finally, a positive twist on the word stubborn (I wish I would have known of this word in my teenage years!).

As we look to the countless examples of the early disciples, we see an uncanny depiction of what it looks like to live the life of a stouthearted follower of Christ. In the most peril of conditions, the early persecuted church showed a fearlessness that I, for one, cannot comprehend. 

Hebrews Chapter 11, the faith chapter, gives us an overview of the powerful testimony of our stouthearted brothers and sisters.  We read name after name of  men and women known collectively as the “great cloud of witnesses.” (Hebrews 12:1)  “Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goat skins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.” (Hebrews 11:36-39)

Reading the details of what the early believers endured can stir up fear in our hearts; though that is not the purpose of such stories. Instead, when we consider the persecution and suffering of Jesus and our fellow-believers we are to be encouraged, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:3-4)

If the state of our country has affected the state of your heart, I pray that you are encouraged today. God promises us that if we will ask Him for anything according to His will, He will give to us that which we ask.  Today, let’s ask for stoutheartedness—such a gift can only come from above. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, the cares of the world will grow dim and our light for Christ will burn brighter. 

Let’s determine to remain stouthearted and not shrink back in our walk of faith regardless our circumstances and regardless our personal outcomes in this passing world.

Stay the Course…

Sheila

She Laughs

As a woman, one of the more intimidating chapters in the Bible for me throughout the years has been Proverbs 31: The Wife of Noble Character.

Until now.

I have made a conscious decision to change the way I respond to circumstances or situations that I am afraid of, or which I find intimidating.  Instead of running FROM such things, I am running TOWARD them.  This decision stems from my realization that fear has no hold over one whom is mastered by Love.

We each choose a master: fear or love.  When we allow fear to grip us; we run from everything.  When love is our master; we have freedom to run into the clouds and into the lightening and thunder as we face the raging storms of our lives.  

We don’t need to wait for someone to give us permission to be courageous, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” (vs. 25)  “Laugh” in this particular verse also means, "shall rejoice in time to come,” or “celebrate.”   Perhaps this type of  fearless laughter starts somewhere deep within the soul, bounces off the walls of the inner chambers, and finds its escape from the mouth via passage through the heart—confident, alive, radiant laughter.

What a beautiful depiction of our true identity as daughter’s of the King: facing the future fearless and full of laughter. Because her trust is in God, she has no fear of the future.

Instead of staying locked up in a prison of fear, or feeding our insecurities with lies woven in our heads like a masterful spider web,  we "speak with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on our tongue." (vs 26) “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” (vs. 28)

Clothe yourself with strength and dignity, Woman of God. Run as fast as possible head-first into whatever it is you have been running away from.  Don’t look back and don’t wait for circumstances to change. Choose to release fear. Choose to trust God.  Oh, and grab ahold of laughter. 

Yes, run as fast as possible toward your true self with the dignified grace of a woman clothed in fine linen and purple.

Stay the Course…

Sheila

Bleating Sheep & Lowing Cattle

I have been praying for more understanding regarding what it means to live a “new” life as a follower of Christ. It seems there is only one way to a new life—death.

Bear with me for a moment.

We read in Romans, “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God….therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body…(Romans 6:8-10) 

The book of Romans is brimming with truth on topics related to struggles with sin, being dead to sin, being controlled by sin, being alive in Christ and how to live life in the Spirit.

In Romans 8:8 we read, “Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”

All the dealings of the flesh, our sinful nature, must be crucified and put to death. The mind of the flesh, will of the flesh, wisdom of the flesh, purposes of the flesh, glorying of the flesh all have no value in the sight of God.

We are given a great illustration of the temptation to hold onto parts of our sinful nature that we feel are good and justified.  In I Samuel the Lord told King Saul “Now go, attack the Amalekites and TOTALLY destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.” (I Samuel 15:3)

King Saul sort-of-kind-of obeyed the Lord: “But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.” (I Samuel 15:9)

King Saul felt justified in holding onto what was good rather than fully obeying the Lord.  The following day when approached by Samuel, whether self-deceived or in self denial, King Saul stated, “I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.” 

But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is the lowing of cattle that I hear?” (I Samuel 15:14)

Samuel knew that the Lord had given clear instructions for King Saul to spare nothing—that which is utterly destroyed can neither low nor bleat.

There remains within this new life of mine patches of my old life that are still bleating and lowing.  Areas of sin that at times I justify as good and in rebellion and pride have been unwilling to crucify and put to death. 

Our Lord beckons us to destroy everything that belongs to the flesh. He yearns for each one of us to live the life of the risen Christ; whose sanctification can only be made complete through the nailing of the old man (both the sin that we acknowledge as despised and weak as well as every sin that we treat as good) upon the Cross of Calvary.  

In faith, may our prayers echo the prayer of Paul, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)

Stay the Course…

Sheila

The Secret Process of Developing Hinds' Feet

(I wrote this blog about 6 years ago but never shared it. Though still in the process of developing hinds' feet; I have just recently been able to recognize in my own life that God does not "waste" one minute of time spent alone with Him but instead uses it for His good. In His time. Be encouraged.)

I’ve been thinking about life a lot lately.

Sometimes, when looking at other’s lives, it can appear that things have simply come together by some sort of magic.  This is especially true when we meet or hear of a person who is skilled in an area that is a perfect fit.  Elite athletes make their given sport look easy.  Billy Graham embodies every quality of a genuine evangelist. Beethoven and Mozart are synonymous with the word “prodigy” when thinking of music.  

However, we have not been given the privilege of sharing in the slow, painful, unseen process of training that is accomplished in the secret places years before the world knew their names.

Recently, I became a Certified Personal Trainer.  I studied for hours to learn what I knew would be expected of me if I hoped to pass the final test.  However, learning terminology and body parts did not equip me with the know-how to personal train.  God brought to memory this week the many years (13 to be exact) that I “personal trained” by myself in the basement of my home.  Each week I would discipline my body as I learned proper form and technique, all the while practicing in front of an old dresser mirror I leaned against the wall.   I would read and study, then go to the basement to put into practice what I was learning.  As the weeks turned into months, I began to see the personal benefits of weight-lifting and my routine became a part of my life.  

I had no idea that one day what I had spent years learning in the secret place would become something I would share with others in a public arena.  Without realizing it, I am able to “pull” from the private lessons that happened in the secret place and put those lessons into practice.

In my favorite book, Hinds’ Feet on High Places, an allegory of a fearful, crippled girl named Much-Afraid whom the Good Shepherd (Jesus) promises to take to the high places, I have been able to see that spiritually speaking, something similar is happening in my inner world .  

For several years I have been passionate for prayer, desiring more intimacy with the Good Shepherd.  I have wrestled with the investment of time given over to hours of alone time with Him, with nothing tangible to show as proof that my time has not been spent in vain.  This has challenged every fiber of my being as I was raised to work hard and give of my time to those things that reap a worthy harvest.

As Jesus continues to take me deeper into a relationship with Him, I am realizing that He is indeed taking me to the high places.  Yet at times the journey is painful and unpleasant.  I cannot develop my own hinds’ feet-- only He can develop the hinds’ feet needed to climb what appear to be impassable precipices.  Although unbearable at times, the only way to develop hinds’ feet is to go by the paths which the hinds use.  I am learning that just as my basement was the secret place for my personal training, my alone time with the Good Shepherd is where the secret development of my hinds’ feet is in full process—a process that demands there be no onlookers.

Perhaps you, too, are in the secret process of developing hinds’ feet as you are dangling from a precipice that you fear might claim your very life.  As Much-Afraid was staring up at the impassable precipice she was being asked to climb, the Good Shepherd said, “Why, I don’t know anything more exhilarating and delightful than turning weakness into strength, and fear into faith, and that which has been marred into perfection.” 

I may remain in this secret place for some time as the Good Shepherd continues to transform me from my present marred state into perfection.  

There is no other path to the high places.

Perhaps one day what is being done in the secret place will be revealed in a way that would not be possible had I not been willing to climb the steep precipice in the developmental stage of my hinds’ feet.

Stay the Course…

Sheila

Passion's Fruit

I had an interesting discussion with my husband last night regarding a phone conversation earlier in the day that was still on my mind.  I was struck by the passion the person on the other side of the phone possessed.  Her passion was contagious.

My husband commented that I have always been drawn to passionate people, which is true.  A person with passion, though flawed as we all are, has the innate ability to live through the strength of his or her passion while allowing the flaws barely enough strength to linger in the background.

Passion is defined as “strong and barely controllable emotion.”  Passion is also defined as “the suffering and death of Jesus.” 

We are Christ’s passion. Passion to Jesus was synonymous with “crucifixion, suffering, agony.”

How nearly impossible for us to consider that when Jesus beholds us, He is filled with strong and barely controllable emotion.  So much so, that He gave His very life that we might one day spend eternity with Him.

When the revelation of our fate outside of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is recognized and we choose to accept Christ as our Lord and Savior,  the byproduct of our statement of faith is one of us returning Christ’s passion for us back to Him. The wells of living water that flow within (our gift FROM God) can be poured back out (our gift TO God) as we allow the passion of the Holy Spirit to consume every part of our being. 

The very purpose of Christ’s death was so that we might bear fruit to God.  Paul, the author of Romans reminds us what Christ’s death means for us, “So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.” (Romans 7:4)

Paul goes on to note that there are different kinds of passion, “For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:5&6)

When we give our lives to Christ, our motivations and passions change.  Instead of spending our passion for our own sinful desires, we desire to spend our passions for God’s Kingdom.

What is your passion? Is your passion being poured back out in service to God? 

If your passion is running, then run as to the Lord.  Watch how many lives you will touch when you allow the fruits of your passion to point others to the root of your passion’s fruit.

If preaching, then preach.  If teaching, then teach. If building, then build. If running a team of sled dogs in the Iditarod, then by all means--run the race with passion.

If you are experiencing a season void of passion, I encourage you to go to the Word and read the Passion of Christ.  Then, ask the One who IS Passion to fill you with His passion.  Once passion’s fruit has reached its season of harvest, His joy will be complete and your passion will be contagious.

Stay the Course…

Sheila