Mary - The Third Wise Woman of Christmas

We conclude the three wise women with Mary, the mother of Jesus. Obviously the most important of the three women and by far the youngest. But both Anna and Elizabeth had an important role to play as well. Elizabeth was the mother of John who prepared the way for Jesus as well as being Mary’s confidante and mentor. Anna was the messenger who proclaimed the birth of the Messiah to all who would hear.

We meet Mary for the first time in Luke 1:26-28. In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Who is this girl that is highly favored? A young teenager somewhere between the ages of 13 and 15 since that was the average marrying age of a girl in that time and that place. From the obscure town of Nazareth in the district of Galilee. A poor, uneducated girl who could not afford to sacrifice a lamb at the temple but instead offered 2 doves.

Luke 1:29 – 31 goes on to say, Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. Verses 32-37 explain how she will conceive as a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Mary’s reply in Luke 1:38 is an example of complete submission and surrender to the will of God. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. With her answer Mary became the first person to accept Jesus on His own terms regardless of the cost. A cost that was high from the very beginning. As an unwed mother her reputation was ruined. She would have endured ridicule, scorn and judgement. A Jewish betrothal was much more binding than an engagement in modern times and could be broken only by divorce. Joseph had the right to accuse her of adultery, a crime punishable by death. By saying yes to God she was literally risking her life.

“Mary lived to see her Son mocked and ridiculed, spat upon, beaten with fists – and with whips. She saw His back ripped to ribbons, His brow bruised and bloody from the crown of thorns pressed into His flesh. She was there when a sword pierced His side – when He was nailed to a cross and condemned to a most brutal and humiliating death. She stood at the foot of the cross in total shock and utter disbelief. She watched Him die. Mary was also there three days later when the tomb was found empty, the stone rolled away.” Christin Ditchfield – The 3 Wise Women: A Christmas Reflection.

But as someone who was highly favored by God Mary trusted that God would meet her needs. The angel Gabriel tells her in Luke 1:36 – 37, Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God. Scripture tells us that Mary hurried to Elizabeth. The only other person who could understand a miraculous pregnancy and divine intervention. To the one person who filled with the Holy Spirit would proclaim and confirm for Mary that she was pregnant with Jesus. In verse 45 Elizabeth ends her proclamation by saying, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

Mary gives us an example of someone who accepts Jesus on his own terms regardless of the cost. Someone who puts her complete trust in God and as a result was the chosen vessel to bear God’s holy Son. Someone who truly believed that nothing is impossible with God.

Lord, give us the courage of Mary to accept your Son no matter what. May we put our complete trust in you knowing that nothing is impossible for God. And may we live a life that is pleasing in your eyes. Amen

Elizabeth - The Second Wise Woman of Christmas

The second of the three wise women brings us to Elizabeth. Luke 1:5-7 says, 5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

There is a lot to unpack in these few verses. As descendants of Aaron they came from a long and prestigious line of priests. Considered righteous in the sight of God only two other people in scripture are described in this same way – Simeon who held the baby Jesus in the temple and Joseph, Jesus earthly father.  To Jews righteous meant faithful and serious in keeping all of God’s laws.

However, the next verse (they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive) tells us that they were not considered blameless and righteous to the people around them. In that culture at that time people believed that if you were barren it meant you were under divine punishment for some great sin. So Elizabeth would have lived a life filled with the suspicions and judgments of others. Not only that, but being barren was also considered grounds for divorce. If the husband chose to stay with his barren wife he could legally take another wife with which to have children.

And since “they were both very old” the hope of having a child had long since passed. Scholars place Elizabeth’s age somewhere between 71 and 99. For the sake of brevity I will sum up verses 8-23 since they are mostly about Zechariah and my focus is on Elizabeth. Zechariah had an encounter in the temple with an angel that literally left him speechless for about 9 months. Gabriel told him his prayers had been heard and that Elizabeth would bear him a son.

Luke 1:24-25 says, 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” In God’s perfect timing Elizabeth could not have become pregnant any sooner. Luke 1:17 tells us John was needed to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

In God’s great providence and care he brought together the only 2 women who could truly understand, comfort, and support each other. Luke 1: 39-44 unites Mary and Elizabeth at a key time in their pregnancies. One at the beginning still reeling from the shock, the other 6 months along.  39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. With these words Elizabeth became the first New Testament person to speak a prophetic word. What an amazing confirmation for Mary of all that the angel Gabriel had told her!

Verse 56 tells us Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. During those three months a much older Elizabeth had the opportunity to pour into Mary’s life, to affirm Mary, to encourage her, to mentor her and to confirm the word of the Lord to Mary. And I have to believe that Mary was huge help to a pregnant mother of a very old age.

The last we hear of Elizabeth is in Luke 1:57-58, 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

Elizabeth shows us the power of hope and waiting on the Lord, the value of a patient heart, and the importance of obedience to God.  She models a pouring out of one’s self into another’s life.

Lord, may we, like Elizabeth put our hope in you. May we be patient as we wait on your perfect timing. Help us to pour into a younger person’s life. And may we be obedient Lord to your commandments. Amen

Anna - The First Wise Woman of Christmas

Over the three weeks leading up to Christmas I am going to be taking my annual look at the Three Wise Women of Christmas – Anna, Elizabeth and Mary. So much time and attention has been given to the wisemen over the years that we have overlooked a part of the Christmas story that has so much more to teach us about wisdom and bowing down to King Jesus.

To really look at the story we are going to go back 84 years before Jesus birth.  (Or by some accounts 106 years – 15 average marrying age + 7 years married + 84 years widowed.) That was when Anna, the prophetess, was born. She joins an elite group of women who are mentioned as prophets in scripture – Miriam, Deborah, Huldah and the daughters of Philip. Anna appears in only 3 verses of Luke’s telling of the birth of Jesus, and not at all in Matthew, but there is much we can learn from her.

Luke 2:36-38 says, “There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.  She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”

A widow in biblical times was particularly vulnerable and had no means of support. No children are mentioned so we can assume she had no one to care for her in her old age. To be a widow for so many years made her position even more precarious. Verse 37 tells us that she never left the temple. Herod’s temple had various rooms built into the outer walls and many believe that is where she lived, in a room built into the wall of the Courts of Women.

Verse 37 goes on to say that Anna worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. This is a women with a serious relationship with her Lord. A wise women who would have been allowed no farther than the Court of Women and who would have been well known to all of the younger women around her. One of the first biblical examples of a Titus 2 woman who would have trained the younger women in the ways of the Lord.

Anna had spent her entire life waiting for the birth of the Messiah. God’s timing had brought Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus into the temple and into Anna’s path. And when prompted by the Holy Spirit she did not hesitate “coming up to them at that very moment.” How different our lives would be if we, too, responded in immediate obedience!

It goes on to say that “she gave thanks to God.” Liz Curtis Higgs in her wonderful book The Women of Christmas says, “If we did this one thing – this one thing – it would change our lives and the lives of those around us forever. If we blessed God openly and regularly, if we gave him credit instead of taking it for ourselves, if the first thing that came to mind and mouth was glorifying his name, we too might catch a glimpse of the Christ, as Anna did when she broke into an anthem of praise to God.”

Verse 38 concludes by saying Anna “spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” The great good news of the birth of our Savior was too good to be kept to herself. Anna had spent 84 years of her life serving, worshiping, praying and fasting. She had built a reputation that would have put weight behind her words and caused all who heard to listen.

What an amazing example Anna is to all of us! She gives us an example of a person who is steadfast, totally devoted to God, obedient when he calls, thanking God in all things. A person who did not let age or circumstances sidetrack her from God’s call on her life.

Lord, may we be more like Anna. May we be prompt in our obedience and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. May we give thanks and praise to you in all things. And may we be a living testimony of your love and power to those around us. Amen

Graduating

Our oldest daughter graduated from college this weekend after 4 years at a Christian Liberal Arts college. It feels like it was yesterday that we drove away after leaving her in her dorm room for the start of her freshman year. My tender-hearted husband pulled over a few blocks later so we could both cry before we started the 6-hour drive home.

Watching your child grow and mature, letting go and learning how to “parent” adult children, maintaining long-distance relationships, figuring out when to step in and when to step away. Hard stuff. No one really tells you how hard it is when your children move out. Logically you know it is right and good. That independence and a functioning adult who gives back is the end goal.

Still . . . it is hard to watch them and feel them moving farther and farther away. Sometimes geographically. Sometimes from the values you have tried to instill. Sometimes emotionally as other people become more important in their life. Again, right and good, but still challenging.

So you sit at a graduation be it kindergarten, or 8th grade, or high school, or college, and you marvel at the changes. Your wonder where on earth the time has gone. You celebrate the child (who in this case is no longer a child but a full-grown woman) and the accomplishment. You see the changes – both visible and invisible. You remember the triumph and the tears. And you thank God with your whole heart for getting you to this day. Because you know that all of this would not have happened without Him.

Proverbs 22:6 tells us to, “Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.” As parents, we do the best that we can. Sometimes that seems to be enough and sometimes it is woefully inadequate. Either way I believe that God will fill in the gaps. My job as a parent is to help my child find a saving relationship with Christ that keeps their moral compass always pointing at Him.

One of things God impressed upon my heart was the need to write my daughter an old-fashioned letter every week for the duration of her college career. The verse that came to mind most frequently as I wrote to her was Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.”

That verse is a prayer that I will continue to pray over my daughter. As she moves onto another dig in Israel this summer I am praying. As she moves onto 7 more years of college as she works on her PhD 2036 miles away (not that I am counting or anything!) I am praying. As she navigates a strange city and new school. I am praying. And those letters? I have committed to 7 more years of writing them each week.

Precious Father, thank you for your Word and for your promises. May we keep our eyes on you Lord. And may we release our children, at whatever age or stage, to you. Amen.

Hard

We have been living in temporary corporate housing in Chicago for 6 weeks. It has been a hard 6 weeks. Not the hard that I thought it would be – it has been so much harder than I could possibly have imagined. I thought the hard would be living in a strange city where I do not know anyone and grieving the loss of the home and life that we had spent 23 years building in Minneapolis.

Missing my brother, my Bible study ladies, our church community, my ministry partners, my neighbors, and my friends. I felt like that was more than enough and that I would have to dig deep to find enough courage to make this move. But, because I believed that God was calling us to Chicago, I was willing to do the hard thing and leave all that was familiar to build a new life in a new city.

Then my Dad was hospitalized and died. After 10 days in Iowa I returned to Chicago where no one knew me and no one knew I had lost one of the most important people in life. In the middle of the most intense grief I have ever felt was mixed a whole lot of anger at God. For the timing and for the complete and total lack of support and comfort I would receive in Chicago.

In response, I took to walking at least 2 hours each day exploring my new city. Praying, noticing a city coming alive after its winter slumber, praying some more.  It helped immeasurably. Then I tore my calf muscle. End of my walks for now. As I stood on the corner of Michigan & Huron last week, holding onto the corner of a building, waiting for 20 minutes for my husband to rescue me, tears streaming down my face because of the pain, I cried out to God over and over. “Seriously God! Do you see me? Why does everything have to be so stinking hard right now? Do you see me?!”

The answer, of course, is yes. He sees me and he sees you. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” I know that with His help I will be able to survive all that is hard in my life right now – the move, my Dad’s death, the calf injury. The reality is - everybody has stuff and varying degrees of hardness in their life right now. The key is in what we do with it.

There have been times where I have gotten stuck asking, “Why?” There is nothing wrong with asking that question unless we are unable to move beyond it. I am learning instead to change that to, “What do you want to teach me Lord through this situation?” or “Lord, what can I learn from this hard thing in my life?” And in the end what I most want when I come through the hard places is to use my experiences to come alongside someone else.

Precious Father. Thank you that you see us. Thank you that in your economy none of our experiences are wasted. Amen.

Thankful

A very wise friend texted me the following when my Dad was in the ICU. “I can’t imagine what you are going through but am so glad your arms aren’t in casts (because of the move I had postponed 2 upcoming surgeries that will immobilize each arm from the shoulder down for 6 weeks), that you have the house decision made (we had found and made an offer on a condo in Chicago the previous week), and that you can be there with your parents (because of the move I had nothing on my calendar and could be in Iowa for 10 days). I am praying for you (what a comfort when things are tough).”

And suddenly what felt like the worse possible timing for all of this to happen took on a completely new perspective. I was in a place where I was overwhelmed and could only see the negative in all the hard things that were happening around me. Her words helped me gain a new perspective when I could not find one myself.

Looking back, I can see God at work in so many ways through those difficult days leading up to and following my Dad’s death, and I am thankful. For reliable cars that drove us the 85 miles back and forth to my parent’s home. For $20 hospital rooms that we could rent when we needed to stay overnight. For a cousin who sat and read a Western one night to my Dad when he did not want to be alone. For a nephew and his wife who brought a meal to the hospital and gave me a break and some much-needed hugs. For friends who called, and texted, and prayed and then prayed some more.

For an especially lucid moment for my Dad where he could clearly tell his medical team that he wanted to move from aggressive care (keeping him alive) to comfort care (passing peacefully). To the chaplain who visited us in the middle of the night to pray with us and for my Dad. He wanted to make sure we understood the final gift Dad had given us in clearly making his wishes known. As a hospital chaplain he told us he has witnessed too many families torn apart when they have to make that decision for a loved one themselves.

I am thankful for the care that my Dad received not just during this hospital stay but for all the hospital stays before this one (and there were many) that allowed him to live to the age of 76. I am thankful that he was conscious this time and able to do a little communicating with us up until the day before his death.

And thankful seems too small a word to describe how it felt to be able to be there with him when he died.

I am thankful for so many things following my Dad’s death. A united front as a family making the arrangements. The funeral home, the flowers, the service, the military honors, the beautiful spring day, the burial. And the people, so many people, who drove from Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Oklahoma to pay their respects. For the people who brought meals and sent cards and dropped by the house. And right now, for the people who continue to love on my family and myself as we continue to grieve our loss.

Precious Father – Thank you for all that I have written and so much more. Amen.

Comfort

After my Dad’s funeral I wanted so badly to return to my own bed in my own house with my books and things around me. There is comfort in familiar things. I wanted so badly to be physically near my friends and my neighbors and my brother. There is comfort in having those you love physically near you. But my things are in storage somewhere in Illinois and my friends and family are two states away.

So through one of the most difficult seasons of my life I am learning to find comfort in other ways. First and foremost, from the God of all comfort and then through things like modern technology. The phone calls, the texts, Face Timing, a kind comment on Facebook offer comfort. The written words that come in the mail offer comfort. Reaching out to total strangers with whom I share a mutual acquaintance also offers comfort.  

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”

Take a minute to really pause and reflect on these words. Whatever hard places, hard things or hard people you are struggling with right now our God is the God of all comfort. In the middle of the night when you cannot sleep – He is there. When you feel like you cannot make it through the next day, hour, or minute – He is there. When you feel like the pain may literally tear you apart – He is there. When you feel submerged by grief – He is there.

God created us to comfort others in the way that we have been comforted. My Dad’s death was the first major loss of someone in my immediate family. Prior to this I could sympathize with someone who endured the significant loss of a loved one but realize now that I did not truly understand because I had not experienced it myself. I can pray for, love on, and support a friend who has suffered through the pain of divorce or infertility but there is a difference when the person who has experienced it themselves comes alongside you.

And when you need “God with skin” He planned for that too. He created us to be in relationship with Him and with those around us. He purposed the hard things to be used for his glory and for the good of others. It takes courage to be real. It takes courage to expose the hard stuff, the ugly stuff, the areas where we feel defeated. Sometimes it just takes courage to let others see our tears or how very much we are hurting.

It is in that place of vulnerability that we can truly offer comfort to someone else out of the pain that we ourselves have experienced. Doing this takes time. Time to slow down and really see the people around us. Time to come alongside them. Time to look them in the eye and tell them that you truly understand because you have been there yourself. Trust me when I say this is time well spent!

Precious Father. Thank you that you are the God of all comfort. Thank you that you have created us to comfort others in the way that we ourselves have been comforted. Give us courage to share our own hurts and come alongside the hurting people around us. Amen.

Grief

Grief is a funny thing. It lays low for a short while when you are busy, or distracted, or trying to resume your “normal” life. Then something triggers it and it rears up with a sharp and sudden pain that leaves you gasping for breath. You find yourself trying to swallow the huge lump of tears in your throat because you know if you let them rise to the surface they will come out as a river of tears.

I awoke the night my Dad died at 4am. Slowly when I was not quite conscious of reality. My first thought was, “I can’t believe my friends are going to drive 5 hours to attend the funeral”. My second thought was, “I can’t wait to tell my Dad. He will love this!” And my third thought as I became fully conscious was, “I will never be able to tell my Dad anything again.” Needless to say, lots and lots of tears followed this thought.

I remember during that endless night saying over and over to myself a snatch of scripture that was stuck in my mind. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

Psalm 34:18 in full reads, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” A reminder, yet again, that I need to study, memorize and internalize God’s Word so that it is my automatic default in all situations.

Throughout the Psalms we find verses that remind us that God is near. Psalm 119:151 - You are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true. Psalm 145:18 - The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth. Psalm 147:3-5 – He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

I do not know if you have lost a loved one with whom you were very close. It gives you a whole new appreciation of the importance of showing up. Physically if possible. By phone and by text if not. Cards and the written word matter. A meal dropped off matters. A hug really, really matters. Staying the course with the one who is grieving – not just the day of or week after but through the ongoing process – it matters.

And as for triggers that make the grief fresh all I can say is beware. For my brother it was Bush’s Baked Beans. For my mom working in the yard. For me a bottle of ketchup (or lack there-of).

Precious Father – Thank you that you are near to the brokenhearted. May they feel your presence in a mighty way today Lord. Thank you for the assurance that my Dad is in heaven with you today and the comfort that fact brings to those who remain.  Amen.

My Dad's Eulogy

My dad was a mighty man of God who had clearly defined priorities and opinions. He loved God. He loved my Mom. He loved his family and friends and he loved this country.

He came to know Christ personally when he was a young man with a young family. Growing up we knew where my dad stood. I do not remember a lot of conversations about God, but he set quite an example of growth through Bible study, relationships with other Christian men, and through service in the local church.

Retirement from the public sector just meant more opportunity for ministry to my dad. He often said he was busier in retirement than when he worked a full-time job.

He was not an idle man. In fact, he was always in motion. Even if he was sitting in a chair reading one of his Westerns his foot would usually be moving. If he saw something that needed done, he did it. If he saw a friend or a neighbor in need, he helped them. If the need was too great for him to do alone, he organized a group.

Next to God, our mom was definitely the most important person in his life. I cannot tell you the example this set or the security this gave my brother and I. They would have been married 56 years this May. Some of my oldest memories include witnessing the open affection displayed between my parents. They laughed together, a lot, and teased each other and just enjoyed each other’s company. My dad demanded that we respect our mom and treat her with every courtesy. We knew he would accept no less.

The four of us – my dad, my mom, Jeff and I - have always been a small but mighty family unit. Dad made sure to tell us he loved us every day. He was an encouraging and proud father who expected us to do our best. Teaching us to be self-sufficient was also important to my dad. One of the slides showed mom, Jeff and I being victorious because he taught us how to change a tire, check our oil and refill the windshield wiper fluid.

He was also a man with a tender side who was not ashamed to show his emotions. I was his “punkin” and the morning I got married is an example of this. He had gotten up early and went out to his office to type up the prayer that he would give at our wedding brunch. I awoke to find him sitting at the end of my bed, watching me sleep with tears on his face.

Dad welcomed my husband David to the family and not just because he gave him his only grandchildren Emilie and Abigail. I have always enjoyed watching my husband and my dad interact. They respected each other, worked well together and shared similar values.  

As a grandpa my dad was pure putty from the moment he held his first granddaughter. There were few boundaries where my girls were concerned. He even allowed them to dress him up and fill his hair with endless barrettes when they were younger – we have photographic proof. They loved to visit my parents in Tingley. Grandpa was great at finding fun things to do – pick up rides in the country, running on hay bales, going fishing, riding in the wagon behind the lawnmower, swinging in the tire swing.

My dad was a man who connected people, who thrived on lasting friendships, who was willing to invest in and encourage other people until the end. Even as he lay dying he would ask a nurse if she was a “praying person.” Or thank the person who did the ultrasound. Or find a weary smile for the person who cleaned his room in the ICU each day.

I had just graduated from high school when my dad had his first heart attack in 1986. He was to suffer many health issues and many health setbacks over the decades leading up to this final battle. In the end he was just ready to finally to go Home. And I know beyond a doubt that he heard God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Moving Forward

I needed to take a break from my blog for a few months as we finished getting our house ready for market, sold our house and moved to Chicago. Sometimes this blog flows quickly and easily and sometimes it takes all day. I needed to let go of some things during that crazy, stressful, chaotic period and my blog was one of them.

I am writing this from the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building in Chicago. I can honestly say those are words I never expected to write. It is amazing the places God will take us if we just let Him. I couldn’t have made it this far if I did not believe this was a clear call from God to move to Chicago.

The last 3 months – harder than I possibly could have imagined. A life lived 23.5 years in one place – painful to pull out by the roots and transplant somewhere else. I have a choice in all this. To stay stuck on what was and can no longer be or to run the race that God has set before me.

I choose to rest on and breath in Joshua 1:9 and Deuteronomy 31:6 which in part tell me that the Lord will be with me wherever I go and that he will never leave me nor forsake me. These are not just idle words on a page. They are the truth on which I stand.

I will be open to the lessons God is trying to teach me. That He goes before me and has prepared a way. That my identity needs to be in Christ – not my job, my kids, my husband or my house/things. That a house is just a building, but a home is wherever my loved ones gather. That true friends follow you because it really is just geography.

That you can get by with a lot less shoes and clothes and books and possessions than you think. That there is always something new to see and to learn and to discover is you just open your eyes. That God sometimes creates pockets in our life that allow us to slow down and seek Him in a whole new way.

That sometimes you do it even when it is scary or uncomfortable or different than what you are used to – the wonky parking ramp where you store your car, the downtown Chicago traffic, the public transportation (below, on, and above ground), the condo search, the grocery shopping, the church hunting, the getting lost and then learning your way around.

 I choose to embrace all of this because it is just part of the process of building a new life in a new place. And when the days are hard, and I feel lonely, I will remember that God has set this two months of temp housing aside just for me to prepare me for what is ahead.

Precious Father, please help me to trust in you with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways, may I acknowledge you so that you will direct my paths. Amen.

Mary - The Third Wise Woman of Christmas

We conclude the three wise women with Mary, the mother of Jesus. Obviously the most important of the three women and by far the youngest. But both Anna and Elizabeth had an important role to play as well. Elizabeth was the mother of John who prepared the way for Jesus as well as being Mary’s confidante and mentor. Anna was the messenger who proclaimed the birth of the Messiah to all who would hear.

We meet Mary for the first time in Luke 1:26-28. In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Who is this girl that is highly favored? A young teenager somewhere between the ages of 13 and 15 since that was the average marrying age of a girl in that time and that place. From the obscure town of Nazareth in the district of Galilee. A poor, uneducated girl who could not afford to sacrifice a lamb at the temple but instead offered 2 doves.

Luke 1:29 – 31 goes on to say, Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. Verses 32-37 explain how she will conceive as a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Mary’s reply in Luke 1:38 is an example of complete submission and surrender to the will of God. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. With her answer Mary became the first person to accept Jesus on His own terms regardless of the cost. A cost that was high from the very beginning. As an unwed mother her reputation was ruined. She would have endured ridicule, scorn and judgement. A Jewish betrothal was much more binding than an engagement in modern times and could be broken only by divorce. Joseph had the right to accuse her of adultery, a crime punishable by death. By saying yes to God she was literally risking her life.

“Mary lived to see her Son mocked and ridiculed, spat upon, beaten with fists – and with whips. She saw His back ripped to ribbons, His brow bruised and bloody from the crown of thorns pressed into His flesh. She was there when a sword pierced His side – when He was nailed to a cross and condemned to a most brutal and humiliating death. She stood at the foot of the cross in total shock and utter disbelief. She watched Him die. Mary was also there three days later when the tomb was found empty, the stone rolled away.” Christin Ditchfield – The 3 Wise Women: A Christmas Reflection.

But as someone who was highly favored by God Mary trusted that God would meet her needs. The angel Gabriel tells her in Luke 1:36 – 37, Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God. Scripture tells us that Mary hurried to Elizabeth. The only other person who could understand a miraculous pregnancy and divine intervention. To the one person who filled with the Holy Spirit would proclaim and confirm for Mary that she was pregnant with Jesus. In verse 45 Elizabeth ends her proclamation by saying, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

Mary gives us an example of someone who accepts Jesus on his own terms regardless of the cost. Someone who puts her complete trust in God and as a result was the chosen vessel to bear God’s holy Son. Someone who truly believed that nothing is impossible with God.

Lord, give us the courage of Mary to accept your Son no matter what. May we put our complete trust in you knowing that nothing is impossible for God. And may we live a life that is pleasing in your eyes. Amen

Elizabeth - The Second Wise Woman of Christmas

The second of the three wise women brings us to Elizabeth. Luke 1:5-7 says, 5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

There is a lot to unpack in these few verses. As descendants of Aaron they came from a long and prestigious line of priests. Considered righteous in the sight of God only two other people in scripture are described in this same way – Simeon who held the baby Jesus in the temple and Joseph, Jesus earthly father.  To Jews righteous meant faithful and serious in keeping all of God’s laws.

However, the next verse (they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive) tells us that they were not considered blameless and righteous to the people around them. In that culture at that time people believed that if you were barren it meant you were under divine punishment for some great sin. So Elizabeth would have lived a life filled with the suspicions and judgments of others. Not only that, but being barren was also considered grounds for divorce. If the husband chose to stay with his barren wife he could legally take another wife with which to have children.

And since “they were both very old” the hope of having a child had long since passed. Scholars place Elizabeth’s age somewhere between 71 and 99. For the sake of brevity I will sum up verses 8-23 since they are mostly about Zechariah and my focus is on Elizabeth. Zechariah had an encounter in the temple with an angel that literally left him speechless for about 9 months. Gabriel told him his prayers had been heard and that Elizabeth would bear him a son.

Luke 1:24-25 says, 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” In God’s perfect timing Elizabeth could not have become pregnant any sooner. Luke 1:17 tells us John was needed to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

In God’s great providence and care he brought together the only 2 women who could truly understand, comfort, and support each other. Luke 1: 39-44 unites Mary and Elizabeth at a key time in their pregnancies. One at the beginning still reeling from the shock, the other 6 months along.  39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. With these words Elizabeth became the first New Testament person to speak a prophetic word. What an amazing confirmation for Mary of all that the angel Gabriel had told her!

Verse 56 tells us Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. During those three months a much older Elizabeth had the opportunity to pour into Mary’s life, to affirm Mary, to encourage her, to mentor her and to confirm the word of the Lord to Mary. And I have to believe that Mary was huge help to a pregnant mother of a very old age.

The last we hear of Elizabeth is in Luke 1:57-58, 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

Elizabeth shows us the power of hope and waiting on the Lord, the value of a patient heart, and the importance of obedience to God.  She models a pouring out of one’s self into another’s life.

Lord, may we, like Elizabeth put our hope in you. May we be patient as we wait on your perfect timing. Help us to pour into a younger person’s life. And may we be obedient Lord to your commandments. Amen

Anna - The First Wise Woman of Christmas

Over the three weeks leading up to Christmas I am going to be take my annual look at the Three Wise Women of Christmas – Anna, Elizabeth and Mary. So much time and attention has been given to the wisemen over the years that we have overlooked a part of the Christmas story that has so much more to teach us about wisdom and bowing down to King Jesus.

To really look at the story we are going to go back 84 years before Jesus birth.  (Or by some accounts 106 years – 15 average marrying age + 7 years married + 84 years widowed.) That was when Anna, the prophetess, was born. She joins an elite group of women who are mentioned as prophets in scripture – Miriam, Deborah, Huldah and the daughters of Philip. Anna appears in only 3 verses of Luke’s telling of the birth of Jesus, and not at all in Matthew, but there is much we can learn from her.

Luke 2:36-38 says, “There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.  She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”

A widow in biblical times was particularly vulnerable and had no means of support. No children are mentioned so we can assume she had no one to care for her in her old age. To be a widow for so many years made her position even more precarious. Verse 37 tells us that she never left the temple. Herod’s temple had various rooms built into the outer walls and many believe that is where she lived, in a room built into the wall of the Courts of Women.

Verse 37 goes on to say that Anna worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. This is a women with a serious relationship with her Lord. A wise women who would have been allowed no farther than the Court of Women and who would have been well known to all of the younger women around her. One of the first biblical examples of a Titus 2 woman who would have trained the younger women in the ways of the Lord.

Anna had spent her entire life waiting for the birth of the Messiah. God’s timing had brought Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus into the temple and into Anna’s path. And when prompted by the Holy Spirit she did not hesitate “coming up to them at that very moment.” How different our lives would be if we, too, responded in immediate obedience!

It goes on to say that “she gave thanks to God.” Liz Curtis Higgs in her wonderful book The Women of Christmas says, “If we did this one thing – this one thing – it would change our lives and the lives of those around us forever. If we blessed God openly and regularly, if we gave him credit instead of taking it for ourselves, if the first thing that came to mind and mouth was glorifying his name, we too might catch a glimpse of the Christ, as Anna did when she broke into an anthem of praise to God.”

Verse 38 concludes by saying Anna “spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” The great good news of the birth of our Savior was too good to be kept to herself. Anna had spent 84 years of her life serving, worshiping, praying and fasting. She had built a reputation that would have put weight behind her words and caused all who heard to listen.

What an amazing example Anna is to all of us! She gives us an example of a person who is steadfast, totally devoted to God, obedient when he calls, thanking God in all things. A person who did not let age or circumstances sidetrack her from God’s call on her life.

Lord, may we be more like Anna. May we be prompt in our obedience and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. May we give thanks and praise to you in all things. And may we be a living testimony of your love and power to those around us. Amen

His Mighty Word & His Powerful Presence

During this time of transition and unknowns I am trying to rest in the knowledge that God goes before me and He is with me wherever I go. I am looking to scripture as a reminder to be strong and courageous. I am memorizing and repeating to myself the much-needed comfort of God’s Word when I start to feel scared and anxious about the unknown – which happens more often than I’d like.

Sometimes God brings a specific verse or phrase to mind that I then type into Biblehub.com to dig into more deeply. Sometimes I do a Google search to get started by typing in something like “Bible verses about God going before me” or “Bible verses about overcoming fear.” After a Google search I move on to my NIV Study Bible and the accompanying notes or Biblehub.com. The website provides the same verse in several different translations, corresponding verses and commentary from several different sources.

Whatever is causing fear or anxiety to creep into your life right now – God and his Word can give you comfort. Whatever leaves you awake and worried in the middle of the night – God and prayer can be a balm to your soul. Whatever seems too big or too scary in your life – can look smaller when you keep your focus on God instead of the obstacle or problem in front of you.

Here are some of the verses I am repeating, writing and keeping in front of me right now. For the reminder that God is with me: JOSHUA 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. DEUTERONOMY 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

When I am feeling anxious, I dwell on: PROVERBS 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

And when I need a reminder that God hears me: PSALM 138:3 - When I called you answered me; you made me bold and stout-hearted (NIV). Or as the ESV says – On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

Precious Father – May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14). May I remember that worry and fear are weapons that the enemy uses to bind me up and make my life and my witness less effective. May I fight them with your mighty Word and Your powerful presence Lord. Amen.  

Thankful Through the Tears

I spent much of the last 5 days in tears at a Camp that is near and dear to my heart. A place where I have gone at least 2 times a year for over 20 years. A place that is truly my “Meeting Place with God.” A place where you reserve your spot months in advance, and where, year after year and time after time, (in God’s perfect timing) I landed the exact weekend I most needed to get away.

This time, however, did not feel like the right time.  I was leaving a house full of plaster dust, wet paint and workmen as we prepared to put our house on the market and move to Chicago.  I was leaving a “to do” list a mile long and a packed schedule. I was leaving a too full life that left me very little time to think about or process the changes behind or ahead of me or to grieve the loss of the life I have left and am leaving.

With some encouragement from my husband I went. And suddenly the whirlwind of my crazy busy life stilled and I had nothing to do but think. And in that stillness, it felt like a tsunami of grief washed over me. Grief brought on by the letting go of so many things that are near and dear to my heart.

As I testified to the work that God has been doing in my life to the dear friends around me. As I literally felt a physical pain in my heart for the losses and take-aways over the last year. As the tears streamed down my face, I made a choice while I was at Camp.

I will thank God for the hard stuff. I will thank Him for the tearing away of all that is comfortable and known and safe and easy for me. I will thank Him for the tears and the pain and the discomfort. I will thank him for the plowing up of my life knowing that he will grow new things in the turned-up soil. I will thank Him for all that He has provided and all that He will provide in the future.

I will thank Him for the hard questions of who I truly am. Questions of what my life looks like defined by my identity in Christ and not defined by the people, places and things in my life.

I will thank Him knowing, trusting, believing that when I trust the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding and in all my ways acknowledge Him - He will direct my path. (Proverbs 3:5-6). Claiming the truth of Romans 8:28 - And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Precious Father – Thank you for all that is hard and painful in my life right now. Thank you that you are doing a new work in me and that your blessings are new every day.  Amen.

We are Moving to Chicago

After 23 years in Minneapolis – years and a life that we have dearly loved - we are moving to Chicago. Not because my husband was offered a great career opportunity (which he was) but because we truly feel that God is calling us to Chicago. If we didn’t believe this to be true, we would have happily declined the offer and stayed here with the friends, family, house and life that we have built since 1995.

If you have been reading my blog, you know that in the last year God has gently but firmly shown me and then removed the idols in my life. Idols meaning things in my life that have at various points been more important than total obedience and surrender to God – my children, my career, my house/comfortable life.

Last fall our youngest left for college and I was suddenly faced with a day no longer framed by 17 years of car pools, play dates, student activities, and who got the car on Saturday night. The house was suddenly empty of our teenage daughters and their friends.

So, I filled the empty house, the silence and my sad heart by adding more nights of work to my 18-year career. And more activities and volunteer opportunities to my calendar. One of those activities was reading the book “Anything” by Jennie Allen while on a retreat. As a result, in March of this year, I started praying a prayer of total surrender to God.

60 days later I was retired from an 18-year career to pursue seminary and ministry full time. 60 days after that my husband was told that he was a lead candidate for a position in Chicago. 60 days after that we accepted. I think it will take longer than 60 days, however, to sell our 1927 bungalow in Minneapolis and find a new home in Chicago.

We received the job offer 2 hours before we left for the airport and a 2-week trip to England, Scotland & Wales. A trip that had been planned way before there was even a whisper of a possible job offer and move to Chicago. Honestly, I was so irritated by the timing, afraid that it would be a dark cloud hanging over our entire vacation.

Instead, it was a precious gift from God in his perfect timing. Because it turned out we needed the entire 2 weeks (just the two of us) to unplug and pray and walk and talk and WRESTLE with God over this decision. Again, in God’s perfect timing, we accepted the offer from London on a Friday night, were able to tell our oldest daughter face-to-face who was studying in Oxford on Saturday, and our youngest daughter who “happened” to be home in Minneapolis for fall break on Sunday.

We are at peace with our decision knowing that God goes before us and that he is clearly calling us to Chicago. I remind myself of this frequently especially when the tears come (as they did most of Saturday) and fear of the unknown grabs hold. I will dwell on his Word when I am overwhelmed with the details of getting this house ready for sale, going through 23 years of accumulation, and leaving all that is familiar and dear.

I will take one day at a time and keep repeating to myself the words of Deuteronomy 31:8 – “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” These are promises that I can count on all the way to Chicago and beyond.

Give Thanks

It is often the little words in a verse that can contain a big part of the meaning. This certainly holds true in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 - “Be joyful (always), pray (continually), give thanks (in) all circumstances.”

In verse 18 Paul is not saying to be thankful FOR all circumstance but rather to be thankful IN all circumstances.  Like joy, our thankfulness needs to be based on our relationship with Christ rather than the external circumstances of our life.

For example: We are not thankful for a job loss. But in that circumstance, we can be thankful that God continues to provide and meet our needs. Someone diagnosed with cancer would not be thankful for the illness. But they can be thankful for accessible health care and the support of family and friends.

Regardless of our circumstance we can gives thanks that God loved us so much that he sent his son to die for us (John 3:16-17), that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39), and that God will give us the strength we need for whatever comes our way (Isaiah 41:10).

No one promised us that life would be easy. In John 16:33 Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” That is the perspective that will help us learn to find a reason to give thanks in every situation. Ephesians 5:20 says, “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Verse 18 finishes with FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS Joy, prayers and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings. We lack joy because we lose sight of God’s love, power and work in our lives. We lack prayer because we get too busy to keep up a running conversation with God. We lack thankfulness because we focus on life’s circumstances instead of the almighty God who created us.  

These three commands are interwoven and dependent on each other to help us know what the will of God is for our life. If you work on one the others will naturally follow:

When we find our joy in the Lord we will want to be in conversation/prayer with him and we will be thankful. When we practice an attitude of gratitude we will find ourselves sending up a litany of thanks and we will be filled with joy.

When we are in continual conversation with God the joy of our relationship with him will overshadow the difficulties we face and it will give us a grateful heart.

Simple commands – be joyful, pray, give thanks. With complicated qualifiers - always, continually, in all circumstances. However, if we want to know what God’s will is, this is the place to start.  Working on these areas will lead to a deeper relationship with Christ, an attitude of gratitude and a life filled with joy rooted in the constancy of Christ.

Pray Continually

Think of the three exhortations in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – be joyful, pray continually, give thanks - as the three poles that hold up an old-fashioned canvas tent. If one pole breaks the tent can no longer stand upright. Paul positions the strong center pole of the three verses as the need to “pray continually.” Without a continual conversation with God it would be very hard to always be joyful or to give thanks in all circumstances.

Verse 17 says to PRAY CONTINUALLY. This verse is about the importance of relationship and communication. A healthy relationship has regular communication. Without it the relationship would wither and die.  If I do not give time and attention to my husband our marriage will struggle. Communicating with my husband has to be so much more than what’s for dinner and, “how was your day dear?”

Paul encourages us to be in constant conversation with God so that we can align our hearts and minds with the heart and mind of God. Think of prayer as the breath of our spiritual life. To keep our earthly body alive we must keep breathing. To keep our spiritual life alive we must keep praying. To pray continually means so much more than an ongoing litany of requests and petitions. It also means times of confession, adoration, worship, praise and thanksgiving throughout the day.

Brother Lawrence in the Christian classic of the same title called it “Practicing the Presence of God.” We need to get in the habit of referring everything to God moment by moment in our day. Including him in each circumstance that comes our way. Instead of posting it on Facebook, or calling a friend or complaining to a co-worker, a roommate or a spouse.

Think of prayer not just as a structured time but as a deliberate choice to be in touch with the Father, feeling that he is all around you. It really is a constant conversation with God that invites him into every part of your life.

We see this modeled throughout the New Testament. A few examples (emphasis mine) include Ephesians 6:18, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” 1 Thessalonians 1:2 says, “We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.” Romans 1:9-10 says, “God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers all the time.”

If praying continually is already a part of your daily life – good for you! If not, here are a couple of suggestions to get you started. Pray before you even get out of bed in the morning. Invite God into every meeting, situation and circumstance of your day. Turn off the radio in your car or the music in your ears and pray on your way to and from work. Make a point to notice God’s beauty all around you. Thank him for the changing leaves, a smile on a very young or very old face, a bird soaring overhead. And then look forward to a deepening faith and relationship with God as you strive to pray continually.  

Be Joyful Always

Over the next 3 weeks I will be writing on 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

God revealed these verses to me at a time when I was paralyzed by my inability to see what God’s will was for my life. In reading this passage I realized the key to knowing and understanding God’s will for my life lay in understanding what it meant to be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. As I have studied these verses over the years, I have come to realize that God’s will is not so much what we do as who we are in Christ.

Verse 16 says to BE JOYFUL ALWAYS. Let’s start by taking a look at the difference between happiness and joy. The Christian’s joy is not dependent on circumstances. It comes from what Christ has done and is constant. Happiness is dependent upon external forces. Joy goes deeper than happiness and is anchored in our personal relationship with Christ.

In Philippians 4:4 Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” We cannot always control our emotions but we can strive to control our focus. Our focus needs to be on the constant and stable character of Christ. Without that relationship and focus we will live a life of continual turmoil tossed about by the currents of external circumstances.

In John MacArthur’s commentary on 1 Thessalonians he made a list of the nature, character and promises of God that should be our constant. These include God’s righteous character and Christ’s redemptive work because in Luke 10:20 Jesus says “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” This list also highlights the Holy Spirit’s ministry on our behalf and the Spiritual blessings we possess. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” And in Philippians 4:19 it says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

We can rejoice in God’s providence as it orchestrates everything for our benefit. Romans 8:28, “And we know in all things God works for the good for those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Joy comes in the promise of future glory - Jude 1:24 says, “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy” And in answered prayer- Jesus says in John 16:23, “I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

As Christians we rejoice in the gift of God’s Word. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 it says, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

And finally joy comes from deep & sincere relationships in the body of Christ (Proverbs 27:17) and the privilege of being able to share the life-changing message of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8).

None of the things on this list of the nature, character and promises of God are about our talents, abilities, income, house, spouse or children giving us joy. Because let’s face it we can lose a job, or a house or a spouse – often in circumstances beyond our control. They are, however, about experiencing a joy that only comes from having a deep and abiding personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Sometimes You Just Do it Scared!

I rode my first zip line on Saturday. A significant statement for me since I am quite literally terrified of heights. I am very glad I did it. I just won’t – EVER – be doing it again. But I have to say that one ride taught me a lot about myself and about others.

COVER WHATEVER YOU ARE AFRAID OF IN PRAYER. The last time I did something like this was when I was flown in a small helicopter to a glacier in Alaska. This involved heights and enclosed spaces which are my two most irrational fears. In the weeks before we left I had a group of friends and family praying that I would have the courage to do it and would even enjoy the experience. Because of this I was able to do it calmly and enjoy it. If only I had thought to do this with the zip line!

GOD’S WORD IS THE BEST HOW-TO MANUAL WE HAVE! For Alaska I dug into God’s word for encouragement that would help me overcome my fears. I wrote verses on index cards and kept them with me. A few of my favorites are Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Isaiah 41:10. - So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

FACE YOUR FEARS WITH A FRIEND. The helicopter in Alaska fit four people and a pilot. My husband and I were able to take that ride with two very dear friends who (along with my husband) supported, encouraged and cheered me on the entire time. For the zip line I had amazing staff getting me set up at both ends who were patient and encouraging as I struggled to move forward and actually ride the zip line. And more importantly I also had a friend who hooked arms with me, who was scared too and who literally prayed us off the edge. Without her there I honestly don’t think I could have done it.

I screamed myself hoarse all the way down. It was the longest 45 seconds of my life! I had my eyes shut so tightly I never saw the lake, the forest or my friend during the ride across the ravine and to the bottom of the hill. When I landed I was shaking so hard I had trouble holding onto the ladder to climb down. And, as is my way, when under extreme stress I started to cry when it was over. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t graceful but I did it. Riding the zip line is something I am proud of that I will always carry with me.

Lord, please help us to remember to face our fears (whatever they may be) with prayer, your Word and a friend. Amen.