A Message Worthy of an Encore

Reading through my Message Bible yesterday, this passage stopped my heart. The Lord had some work to do in me.

It was pause-worthy.

1st Peter 4:7-11
"Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless--cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: If words, let it be words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything--encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!"

So many applications jump out at me, and I'm caught off-guard by the depth of them. 

"Stay wide awake in prayer."

This doesn't mean stay up all night. Rather, each situation I face can be one in which to pray through or over. Every person I meet can be one to bathe in prayer. Of course I'm not necessarily going to grab their hand and start praying out loud with him or her, but in my mind, heart & soul, I can pray to the One who knows them intimately.

"Love as if my life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything."

It's intentional. Urgent. Insistent. Christ's love in and through me is miraculous, and it is to be showered on others. This kind of love is really important to the Lord, and it is the kind of love He lavished on me.

"Be generous with the different things God gave me..."

I always want to give my money away and buy people things, but am I generous with my words? With tangible help? With prayer? With His message? Am I generous in love?

All of it is so that "God's bright presence will be evident in everything." 

I pray that I will never feel entitled to someone else's applause or love in return to what I give out. When I'm serving others because I love Christ, then I expect nothing in return. If I'm loving His way, the receiver experiences God's presence. Period.

I pondered:

How many times do I "love" someone until they say something that hurts or offends me? 

How often do I count what others have or have not done for me based on what I've done for them?

Do I hope deep down for applause? An encore even?

Have I grown complacent in praying for others?

Am I sometimes numb to the needs of others?

Even more deeply, I pondered:

There is so much pain. How can I possibly meet all the needs around me? What are the boundaries?

Are there things I spend my time on that are fruitless which could be shoved aside to obey in these areas?

How are these verses lived out practically in my season of life as well as the way He's wired me?

I praise the Lord for helping me come up to answers to these things inside my heart and mind, at least for now.  I'd share them, but His answers may be different for you.

One thing I can tell you for sure is that I pray my hands & feet & mouth & heart & mind would give the Lord the renown He is due...that His light would beam through me, making His sacrificial love evident to all.

May it be so, Lord. I lift my hands in praise, giving You an encore with my everyday living. You are mighty to do so in me as I stay surrendered to You.

How do these verses cause you to ponder in your life? 

He Will Do That...

It's 23-Acre Woods Word-Filled Wednesday!

What has God called you to?
What are the purposes He has laid on your heart?


If He's called you to the mission field,
If He's called you to serve in your church,

If He's called you to be a stay at home mom,
If He's called you to evangelize in your workplace,

If He's called you to availability,
Or mentoring,
Or waiting,
Or praying,
Or taking in the poor,
Or using your gifts and talents,

Surrender.

Listen.

Wait.

Trust.

Because...

Lord Jesus, You are faithful, and You are committed. You love us and have our perfect best in mind. Help us this day to deny whatever distracts us from You and be attentive and faithful to Your call. Whatever it is, Lord, we long to obey. We trust You, for it is in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Would you like to see more Truth-filled Scripture pictures? Then hike on over to:

A Gift To Return Bookmark

Can You Hear Me Now?

Joanne over at An Open Book is hosting a meme called "Monday Manna" today. She has chosen Isaiah 6:8 as the Scripture for discussion, thoughts and insights.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 

"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Isaiah 6:8

Joanne's wisdom on the verse blew me away, and I hope you'll go by and read it and the others too.

For me, this verse is very personal. I can only live out this verse if I can hear God's voice in the first place. Sometimes in the name of ministry or service, I am so busy, that I can't even hear His voice. Distraction is one of the loudest clanging symbols of this believer's life. And where there is distraction, there is very little stillness. And where there is no stillness, there is no understanding. Only wandering and wondering instead.

Another reason it's important that I'm still enough to listen is that many voices beckon for my time and attention. Just because someone asks me to do something ministry-oriented, does not mean I'm necessarily supposed to do it. I've learned this over many years of over-commitment from my younger years. I liken myself back then to the child in the classroom that always raises her hand when the teacher asks for a volunteer for something: "Pick me! Pick me!" But the more often I raise my hand, the teacher begins to call on different people around me to answer the question or come forward to participate.

He wants me to stay in tune with Him so I know which calls are from Him. Sometimes the Lord wants me to allow someone else to raise their hand. He loves it when I am willing and eager, but it doesn't mean He will call on me to do the work.

In recent months, the Lord began to ask this question: "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" (matter of speaking anyway) in a ministry I was involved in for eight years at my church. He asked me to step down for reasons I don't completely understand as of yet. As I began to go deeper with Him about six months ago, asking Him what He wanted for me, I sensed Him leading me to step through the Exit door. And with tears and sadness, I did. I can't wait to see who will answer His call for leadership. I know God is going to do mighty things when the one He sends to do the job answers the call. There is no doubt that He called me to that position for the time I spent there, though. My family served alongside, and it was rich, meaningful, wonderful family service. They've learned the significant value of serving in the local church, and now my kids have learned that the same way God can lead you into a ministry, He can lead you out as well. It's about listening and obeying.

As I've stepped away from that, He's asked me to attend to some calls in my home life. I already homeschool part-time, but I've entered a new season of parenting and family life, and it requires more of me on a daily basis. The Lord has sent me to sit beside the fireplace with my husband and dream with him more. He's sent me to my knees to pray with my teenage son more. He's sent me to the floor in front of the Barbie doll house with my daughters more. He's sent me to scrub the commode and attend the laundry load more. He's sent me back to the gym to attend to some personal neglect (ack!). He's sent me to the pew of the church to worship while the rest of my family serves.

Another church ministry call came recently, and this one is wayyyyyy out of my comfort zone. I'm waiting and listening...making sure it is is His voice calling and that He wants to choose my raised hand out of the crowd (though I don't think there's a long line for this particular call, lol).

"Here am I, Lord. Send me." I'm listening, and I'm willing. No ministry or task You've called me to is insignificant. If You're the One doing the asking, I'll raise my hand. If You're the One leading, I will follow. "Teach me Your ways, Oh Lord, and I will walk in Your Truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name." With tons of voices surrounding me, Father, give me selected hearing, and may Yours be the only voice I obey. In Jesus' name, Amen.

In the Key of HE,

Fragrant Gifts

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany…
Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor…
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume;
she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair.
And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
John 12:1-3

Talk about your extravagant gift. How I would love to be in Mary’s skin during this act of worship to Jesus, to be able to express my love for Him in person so elaborately. I can only daydream!

I wonder, though. Would I really have traded places with her? She poured a perfume worth a year’s wages on His head. Then she proceeded to coat His feet with it in front of all those people...with her hair! Would I have shown Jesus I adore Him with that much abandon?

The most precious thing I have to offer Him is myself. The gifts that came first from His hand--my spiritual gifts--are as valuable as that fine perfume if they are offered from a pure and humble heart. After all, using them is my “spiritual act of worship.”

Yet I miss the point of this more often than not. I’ve been guilty of leaving my “bottle of perfume” on the shelf, afraid of what others will think of its scent. Fear, Insecurity and Laziness are familiar culprits of my flesh that work to give my gifts a long shelf life.

Of course, I am also guilty sometimes of spraying it on only when I can assure it will smell good to others. In the name of peace, I don’t want to offend anyone. Or worse, I might be ridiculed.

The worst mistake of all is when I use my spiritual gifts to my own benefit. I saturate myself in them so that others cannot help but be attracted to the “Good Smell Contest Winner"—ME! “Hi, Mom!”

Each day, I have opportunities to use the gifts God has given me, and each day, I make a choice. When I turn to the Word, it stirs my soul to live the Mary way.

I have no excuse to be lazy when I read, “Do not neglect your gift,” and “fan into flame the gift of God.” Clearly, I am to exercise my spiritual gift muscles in order to strengthen the Body of Christ as a whole.

And how can I use my gifts only when it feels good, knowing that God did not give me “a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline”? Did Mary run away when Judas rebuked her?

Furthermore, when I scream out “Look at me! See how great I am with my precious gift,” have I forgotten Who gave it to me in the first place? Even if I replace the exclamation point with a period or a question mark, I am totally missing the mark that Mary left behind as an example. She showed that gifts are given so that Jesus will smell good to others.

Am I alone in my struggle, or can you relate? The admonishments in Scripture are for each of us as believers. “The end of all things is near,” we are reminded. Shouldn’t that lead us to use our spiritual giftedness for the glory of Jesus Christ?

If the Holy Spirit has gifted us with hospitality, we should do so without prejudice and "without grumbling." Our wide open doors will hopefully lead to wide open hearts for Christ.

If we are led to encourage, instead of crossing the line to flattery, we should do it as “one speaking the very words of God.” Our deliberate words will hopefully lead toward decisions for Christ.

If and when any of us serve with WHATEVER gift He has given us, we “should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

Let’s break open our valuable jars today and fill the room with His aroma--in humility, in authenticity—with no duplicity of heart or mind, fully knowing that it is “Christ in us” who can accomplish great and mighty things according to His will.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.”
2 Corinthians 2:14

To HIM be the glory and the power forever. Amen.

NIV Scripture references: Romans 12, 1st Timothy 4, 2nd Timothy 1, 1st Peter 4


In the Key of HE,

Blind Service

Happy Word-filled Wednesday!

The Lord brought a thought to my heart and mind recently:

Why do I sometimes serve Him without first acknowledging Him?

Then the Holy Spirit brought up a Word hid in my heart (Hosea 6:6):
"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."

The Message says it this way:
"I'm after love that lasts, not more religion.
I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings."

Why do I sometimes serve Him without wholly acknowledging Him?

I have no idea.

How many times does He come to me, and I miss Him entirely?

Praise the Lord for convicting me of this, and praise Him even more for His mercy when I've failed.

He is good! He is God!!!

Father God, You are holy and perfect and the one thing that's fully right in my life. Help me to see You, to thirst for You, to worship You with no duplicity of heart or mind. Forgive me for sometimes serving You or writing about You or counseling others in You without first spending time with You myself. When You appear, Lord, I want to know You and recognize Your voice. I pray You would make my heart long for that more than it longs to serve. I know in doing so, I can serve You in the way You have planned for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.


For more Word-Filled Wednesday and for visual inspiration from Scripture, hike on over to:






And if you have time tomorrow, I'd love for you to hear something close to my heart. I'll be over at the Internet Cafe to share. It was so important to me, I changed my original devo which was going to be on overspending at Christmas. God must have a special purpose for it...

In the Key of HE,

Drama Girls, Giggles & A Prop Named Schnitzel

***Posted for Patty Wysong's Fiction Fridays meme. For more great fiction or to post your own fiction piece, click here:


Drama Girls, Giggles & A Prop Named Schnitzel

The drama girls at the church women’s retreat each year were crazy. A talented group of ladies, I must say, but crazy indeed.

I watched them on stage two years ago—seven different actresses. They were FUNNY! Then last year, there were maybe eleven or twelve of them. Each time they entered a room, the shy people scattered, while others seemed to enjoy their uninhibited demeanors.

Much to my surprise, when I showed up at the retreat again this year, most of those crazy girls were still there, performing away, as well as a few newbies. They seemed kind of close, but I wondered if it was just part of their “act.”

Nonetheless, I was curious about them, so while they were on stage rehearsing, I sneaked to their cabin just to take a peek. I had never seen anything so CRAZY in my life!

Covering the walls were photos--them together at each other’s houses and snapshots of their character parts over the years. Layered throughout the pictures were scriptural reminders of serving the Lord and His joy and such. Bold costumes and strange looking props surrounded the space--wild wigs and the most interesting snacks I’d ever seen.

As I brushed on some bumbleberry blue eye shadow out of a heart-shaped container in the bathroom, I heard laughter just outside the door. Not knowing where else to go, I thrust myself behind their whacky shower curtain as swiftly as I could. I had to spy, though, still curious about those crazy drama girls.

It was a blonde---the new one, and that brunette who always played the off-beat Saturday Night Live character. Oh, she’s funny, I thought.

They began to tiptoe around and giggle. What is that scary looking ragged doll in their hands, and where are they putting it? I asked myself. What did she call it? “Sizzle”? It was a creepy clown with a plastic face, like the old-fashioned freak movie ones.

I was mesmerized beyond belief…Had I become the crazy one?

Moments later, the rest of the girls walked in except for the director lady. (She was always running around busy, busy, as if the skits were the most important part of the whole weekend.)

As I squinted to hear, they were in some sort of discussion about marriage and family and stuff. Huh. I’d never seen them so serious before, especially the REALLY crazy one that was always casted as different bizarre characters with fake eyelashes. Three were on the lower bunk sitting criss-cross, and the rest were on the floor surrounding. Their authenticity surprised me for a bunch of stage people.

Wouldn’t you know, the drama director flew through the door and interrupted that beautiful moment with her own tears? All of them questioned her sympathetically as she spilled out all of her stress. It had finally gotten to her. Then they were all crying. One of them offered up a prayer, and by the “Amen,” the tears had turned to giggles again. All was well among the crazy drama girls. The show could go on!

It was most definitely time for me to get out of there, but I was in a pickle. LITERALLY, the shower curtain had a pickle on it. Go figure.

About that time, the director was getting ready for bed while several of the others were in the corner snacking and hem-hawing away. When she pulled back her fluffy corduroy comforter, out flew a shrill scream that I’m certain was heard across the whole camp.

That ugly clown was posed obnoxiously on her pillow, as if crying out “Na-na-na-na-boo-boo!”

“Schnitzel! Who put Schnitzel in my bed?!?” the director lady shrieked with her palms over her chest. The cackling in the corner erupted into an all out fit of hysterics, and it was the perfect time to make my escape.

As I walked all the way back to my own bunker, I thought I could still hear the laughter roaring. Crazy girls. And a creepy clown. NAMED SCHNITZEL!!!! While letting out my own giggle, I couldn’t help but wish I were a part of that team. Their fellowship was not staged at all: It was real….sweet even.

If by some chance I find myself strolling past that outlandish cabin next year, I’ll definitely have to knock. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find the courage to introduce myself to Schnitzel.

Romans 15:32b
“...so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.”

***************************************************************************

Okay, I have to admit it. This one was a tribute I wrote to a team of drama girls I directed for several years. We were a close-knit bunch, and we had such great times together. (Each one is a part of my Lifesong). I HAVE to show you a few pics of the gals...and even of Schnitzel. Hope you enjoy them. If not, I'll give a cry and a smile over the memories all to myself.


My friend Pattie & my sister in the front row,
doing a dance to "It's Ladies Night!"


Bets and me...funny emcees?


The Stepford Soldiers at Boot Camp


The brilliant sergeant and her "assistant." Guess which one's really in charge?


The whole gang for 2006 Boot Camp theme
(with my big sis takin' the pics and keepin me calm)


Elaine and me with Schnitzel all dolled up
(Elaine's the one in the story who always wears the crazy eyelashes.)


(Evilla Deville...huh? Wonder who this could be? Hint: eyelashes)


Did somebody call for an angel?


Pretty in Pink Woman, Material Girl & Spice Girl
Looking for Happiness behind door #1, #2 or #3?


Ahhhh, time to chill and be for real...


Tickled Pink to serve the Lord...


Sheri, magnificent retreat coordinator who enlisted me as the drama director in the middle of Wal-mart. Who woulda thunk it?

In the Key of HE,

A Gift To Return

A friend of mine helped me mull through some ministry issues today. We got to talking about how much our pride can get in the way of being used by God. We shared openly, honestly, transparently about our "garb"--you know the stuff you can't tell the whole world, lest you be judged by all who are listening.

Then I talked with my sis who spoke more Truth to me. Then a letter came which reminded me why I do what I do. All sorts of stuff began to come together in my heart and soul, and it was my Father at work in me. In His great wisdom, He brought out an old letter and showed it to me. It was a poem He wrote on the tablet of my heart one day...a simple poem that I wrote for the young ones I minister to. Today, he pasted it on my bulletin board and reminded me of its message:

A Gift To Return
By Laura L. Shaw

Your life is precious to our Lord,
“It is very good,” He exclaimed.
Your talent is a gift from Him,
So use it as one unashamed!

Whatever you do with your talent~
Don’t compare, looking around,
or
You’ll find yourself on sinking ground.

Because the Fact is:

Your talent is needed in this world.
It can make a difference, you know,
For when you use it with His strength,
HE is the star of the show.

Whenever you shine with your talent~
It’s by the power of the Spirit,
and
He is the One who is able to steer it.

Because the Truth is:

“…you have received a gift in order to serve others. You should use it faithfully. Then in all things God will be praised through Jesus Christ.
Give Him the glory and the power
for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 4:9b,11b


All of it. All that I do is for His glory...whether it's something I want to do, or something I should do, or something I'm dreading to do. When I use it with His strength and His leading, it is HIM that people will see. It first came from His hands, and that is where I want to return it.

You know, I'm relieved. I think my fear all along is that they would see me instead of Him. That would NOT be a good thing.