Not Deployed From Our Hearts

Last week my cousin's husband was deployed with an Army unit for a year stint oversees.

Seeing the pictures and hearing the words from my cousin over this deployment and her new separation from her husband, well, it just breaks my heart.

I could only imagine what it would be like to kiss my own husband goodbye to go serve for a year in a war torn area.

And my cousin is not alone.

This story unfolds thousands of times per year in our country.

I have read countless blogs and endured several conversations on how "romantic" deployments are for couples. The perfect storybook tale of the tough warrior leaving his sadden family for war, his little wife keeping house and awaiting his return with all of his love letters in hand, and then the most joyful  and beatiful reunion at the end of it all.

Shame on them!

Deployment is not romantic. It's scary and dangerous and without faith it simply is not doable.

On Oprah last Thursday, First Lady Obama spoke on her new campaign on fostering military families. During her interview it was reported that only 1% of our country's roster makes up our armed forces. Only one percent!

But what an impact that one percent makes.

They show the rest of us how we all should live our daily lives by never taking a moment for granted, for defending what is right, for protecting what we love the most, and for keeping the faith. 

I offer my gratitude to those who serve and to their families for their brave efforts. Without them this great country that I love so much would not be.

But, to live in a world without war, where the military wasn't necessary and where families didn't have to part, now that is something worth fighting for.

Thank you for joining with me in praying for our soldiers oversees and their families fighting the good fight back at home -

O Almighty and most merciful God,
uphold and keep our soldiers from all things that may hurt them;
that they, being ready both in body and soul,
may cheerfully accomplish those things which you control;
that you Lord guide the way for our beloved defenders of our enemies,
and strengthen and nurture their families back home until they are united once again,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Barks of Sacrifice

This last weekend my husband and I decided to take advantage of the warmer weather and dusted off our to-do list and headed outside.

It wasn't too long into our raking and digging that we discovered a broken sprinkler. Story of our lives, right?

So we put everything back in the garage and got in the car to go to our favorite home repair store.

Not two blocks down the road we noticed a large male pit bull on the side of the road.

My husband gets the pit into our car and we head back to our place.

After getting the rather friendly guy into the backyard for some food and water we headed back to our car to try again for the store.

And guess what?

Even before getting in, we spotted another one.

This time it was a red golden retriever. Actually, we have picked this one up before. I remember because the poor pup had such a terrible coat back then, and it didn't have seemed to have gotten any better since.

Ok.

In the backyard this new one went. 

And only by God's amazing grace did both the young pit bull and the old retriever get along just fine enough for me to think it was okay to leave them alone together.

Off to the store with our eyes peeled for a possible third overnight guest.  

Seeing that our local animal shelter closes early Saturdays and not even opened on Sundays, we knew our new guests were going to be with us for awhile.

Now, we have had strays stay the entire weekend with us before, but not two of them, and not ones that really liked to bark!

These poor dogs really were crying for attention - day and night.

I was getting really embarrassed of having these two bark so much and so often. I woke up at least seven times last night from their barking and knew that I couldn't have been the only one. Our poor neighbors. My poor husband. The poor dogs.

I got up earlier than normal this morning and took the two their breakfast. After playing with them for a bit I realized that serving, whether it be to people or dogs, is not always how we expect it go.

To serve is to sacrifice.

I have never really viewed serving as such before. My service in the past has always been so uplifting and inspirational. Not embarrassing or harboring feelings of shame.

But it is true. Serving often means sacrificing.

I was sacrificing a good nights sleep to serve these strays. And it just so happened that probably others had to sacrifice that as well.

Hoarders of a Third Kind

There is a new show on Animal Planet called Animal Hoarders which looks at people who “hoard” animals in their homes. The episodes I have seen have more than thirty-five animals in a single household. Most have cats and dogs, but some even have chickens, other farm animals, and small rodents or reptiles.

I in no way think that our five pets equal hoarding, but I can easily see how someone can fall into that trap. Especially if the pets aren’t spayed or neutered in those households and then there is just an endless cycle of multiplication.

In every hoarding episode the pet owners say that they don’t see themselves as hoards (I refer you back to the last paragraph, AAHH!). They continue to say that they see it as their duty to help these animals and no one can care or love for these animals more than the owners. The phrase, “They need me,” usually is heard.

They need me?

I have a friend who is looking to possibly put his child into preschool in the coming months. She believes that his child would love and even excel in preschool, and I agree with her. But the mom feels that he isn’t ready for her child to go to preschool even though he felt that the child was ready.

I’m not ready?

Another person I know is searching for a career at the present time. This person thinks that s/he is being called into ministry and even has had people comment on what a great pastor this person would make. However, according to this person, due to a condition that limits recognition of people’s faces and names, this calling will not become a reality.

I can’t do it?

The great Apostle Paul wrote from his jail cell in Rome that we should “Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord.” (Romans 12:11)

Easier said than done Paul.

But looking at these three very different circumstances, looking from the outside in, I see hope not obstacles.

Of course those pet hoarders can be freed from their addition. Of course my friend can find the strength to let the child grow. Of course a calling from God should be actively seeked out.

In the movie The Blind Side the children all attended a private Christian school. I am reminded here of what the entrance to that school said. It read:

With our help, this is possible. With God’s help, all things are possible.  

How true that is!

If there are obstacles that you have in life, seek out the help of our Heavenly Father before making your decision.

With him, even above the sky is your limit.

*I try my best to keep the people in my life confidential. Thank you for bearing with me as I try to mask their identities by intertwining both genders in explanations.

Poor Paws

Last week my husband and I were blessed by adopting a golden retriever mix dog from our local animal shelter. Now, call me crazy, but this adoption marks the fifth animal that calls our residence home. She is now a sister to another dog, a very energetic labrador retriever and three spunky cats.

Call me a sucker for the lowly, but I knew this golden mix would fit right into our household. You see, this pooch has only three legs – two in the back and one in front. Instead of walking like a normal dog, she hops along from place to place.

I don’t know what it is, but I have such a soft place in my heart for disabled and in-danger pets. I just knew that I had to apply to adopt her.

Last summer I attended a presentation that was held by two local church missionaries that went to Guatemala to serve the people who live in the dumps there. During their presentation, one missionary told a story regarding a talk she had with a native. After talking a bit, the native was amazed that in America we have hospitals that serve only animals – and not a working animal like a cow that offers milk for selling, but instead pets like dogs and cats. Amazed, because where this native lived, there weren’t even hospitals for humans.

That really touched me.

How right that native was.

 I wouldn’t think twice about taking any of my pets to the vet if they were sick, and wouldn’t think twice about the cost (well, ok, to a point). But, in comparison, how often do I even think just once about people who are in pain and in need of medical attention? Not very often I am ashamed to say.

I took a long time to reflect on that and my choice to serve animals more frequently than I serve people.

Am I really doing God’s work by seeking out lowly animals and caring for strays until their owners are found?

Should I be putting forth this energy toward God’s children instead of God’s creatures?

The Lord and I went back and forth with this for a few days. And of course the Lord’s answer was the same from the beginning it was really me who was going back and forth.

But what I came to the conclusion with the Lord’s support was that, indeed I needed to change my approach to caring for people like the people in the Guatemala dumps, but not to stray from the strays I find roaming my neighborhood.

A four-folded answer was then born from that.

The first and most powerful was that I felt called to use my spiritual gift of teaching to start offering classes to people concerning caring for the poor. God helped me find just the right study for that in Hope Lives. I offered this study to the youth and young adults that I serve at work with great response. And I look forward to offering more studies on this in the future.

And the second was not to be ashamed of helping animals. They too are part of God’s awesome creation. And in most cases the animals that I find as strays are animals of abuse and cruelty and deserve love and care just like people.

The third is that God has given me a great opportunity to meet people that I probably would never meet when I do find a lost dog’s owner. And from those meetings I have the chance to introduce them to God’s love (maybe for the first time) and learn more about their circumstances and am given a chance to pray for them. This hasn’t happened but twice thus far, but those two times I will never ever forget.

And finally, rescuing strays and caring for animals is something that my husband and I can share together. We rarely get the chance to serve together for the same goal. But every time we bring in a stray for a night, or a weekend, we work together to ensure the animal’s safety, health and welfare. So in a big way, helping animals strengthens my marriage.

 I hope you all are given every opportunity to serve where you feel needed.

And in return for your efforts, you will be blessed.

Just as I am.

Shades of Hope

You ever have those moments when everything you touch breaks?

Last night was the kick-off of my Wednesday night Christian study and I thought I was totally prepared for this session.

I mean, I did everything by the book.

I had the room set-up prior to the participants arrival, I had the nursery workers in the play room awaiting the kids, I had time for silent prayer before people showed up, my check list was complete. And if the Monday night session was a clue on how this night was going to go, I was golden.

Then just moments before the session was to start, everything started becoming unraveled.  

When my husband and I got into the car to go home, I exploded. How could this first impression session be ran this way? Why did this happen this way? This is not how this first session was to be ran!

I wanted to cry. I wanted to yell. I wanted to hurt someone!!

(Not my best moment, yes, I so confess.)

And to be honest with you, I was ready to let that evil recolor my heart.

But you know. After taking a few breathers with my husband and my parents, I had a God moment.

God was still in control. As He always is.

And the session didn't turn out the way I planned - but, hey, what rarely does?

God knew that this first session was going to be this way. And I believe that nothing is done in vain in His name. This situation will prove plentiful fruit, some how, some way. And that's what I can look forward to.

This morning as I look back at last night in all of my disappointment, I am grateful. I know God has a miracle up His sleeve concerning this.

And in the meantime, I will be offering up the Serenity Prayer -

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.    --Reinhold Niebuhr

Working Title

The other day, I read of a lady who just purchased a new Mercedes. The news cast wasn’t that she got the Mercedes, it was actually because she crashed it and held up rush-hour traffic . She was later quoted to say that, “her life was ruined because her car was totaled.” Worry over her car, not the fact that she made lots of people miss family dinner that night, leaves me to believe that that car made her feel larger than life.

I am sure other people will say that they feel larger than life after completing something great, something very challenging, like getting a diploma, or maybe something they were given, like an award or had a child. Getting things.

Larger than life.

Have you ever felt larger than life?

Listen to this quote, “People, can’t you see, how your life affects my reality? Every time I’m down, you can make it right, and that makes you larger than life.”

Those lyrics are of course courtesy of one of my very favorite bands, don’t laugh too hard, but the group is the Backstreet Boys. Yes, yes, yes, one of those “boy bands” from the late 90’s.

Anyway, the Backstreet Boys are genius, no doubt, and they got something going on with those lyrics, wouldn’t you say?

Now, true, you could say that Christians are naturally “larger than life” in that we outsmarted life, and death, through the power of Jesus Christ and are then restored to eternal life with our Heavenly Father. And, true, God is of course larger than life, as He is the ruler of all life.

“Can’t you see how YOUR life affects my life/my reality?”

Actor Leonardo Dicaprio is  most known for playing Jack in the 1999 James Cameron film, Titanic. But more recently, Dicaprio did a film called Blood Diamond, one I caution viewers to watch due to its graphic nature, but in brief, Blood Diamond brings the very real life dangers of diamond mining in terrorist run regions in Africa to the spot light. Young boys, as young as six years old, are stolen from their families and forced into slavery by working and killing for War Lords in search of raw diamonds to be processed and sold right here in America.

“Can’t you see how YOUR life affects my reality?”

Taking the extra care to make sure that your “rock” that you so glamorously wear, came from a conflict-free environment – you my friend, are making sure that your life, your actions, positively affect the lives of others. And in this particular case, saves lives too.

Have you heard the latest "Christian" trend? Some "Christian" circles are not referring to themselves as Christians anymore, but as Christ Followers.  "Oh, no, man, I am not a Christian, I am a Christ follower." The reason for this impromptu name-change is because of course, that recruiting people into the Christian faith is becoming more difficult. Why? Because Christians give Christianity a bad name.

Imagine that.

In the book, I am Fine with God, It’s Christians I Can’t Stand the authors take a look into why some people are turned off to Jesus by the current examples of His church. You all know the reasons, which include hypocrisy amongst believers, pressures of financial giving, and on and on.

Remember those lyrics again?

“People, can’t you see, how your life affects my reality? Every time I’m down, you can make it right, and that makes you larger than life.”

It doesn’t say that you will make it right, it says what?, you CAN make it right. If you choose to.

One of my friends introduced me to a blogsite written by a stay-at-home mom (www.mycharmingkids.com), and every Monday she blogs on the topic of, NOT ME Mondays. NOT ME Mondays gives moms a chance to let other people in on their more “eccentric” side by confessing to things that they probably wouldn’t of otherwise.

For example, one mom wrote, “I’m am NOT one of those moms always trying to make homemade food, to the point where last week I tried to make homemade fish sticks, and come dinnertime that night, had my husband go pick-up a pizza, but not before taking out the trash. NO, NOT ME!”

See how it works?

Well, here is my contribution to MckMama’s NOT ME Mondays, (granted, I am not a mom, and it’s not Monday): 

I am NOT one of those people who think that they can change the whole world by myself, where I work tirelessly to the point of exhaustion where I would actually consider going to get those thrown-out fish sticks just so I wouldn’t have to decide what was for dinner. NO, NOT ME!

Fhew! That does feel better!

I look forward to the day when those so-called “Christ Followers” blog their own NOT ME Monday: maybe something like, “No, it wasn’t us who thought we should turn our backs on our fellow Christian brothers and sisters when things got hard, and outsiders misunderstood our mission. NO, NOT US!”

If you choose to hang in there and make things right, you will become larger than life.

However, spoiler alert! There is no “quick” fix for this. You can’t be an unconscious consumer by thinking that cheaper products are always better. But, instead, you have to think, "better for who?"

And have you ever considered that Starbuck’s coffee costs so much more than other coffee, because Starbucks is committed to buying only “fair-trade” items for their stores? Believe it or not, they aren’t in the business of ripping people off.  Brings the phrase, “You get what you pay for,” to a whole new meaning, doesn’t it? In this case, you are paying for reasonable working wages in places where that is almost unheard of.

I will confess to you that lots of times, I am left with a “what’s the point” attitude? What’s the point guys? Nothing I do seems to be working. Nothing I try seems to stick. No one would notice if I stopped doing what I was doing.

Poor me. Right?

Thankfully, I am in good company of my woes. Jesus was misunderstood. Jesus was always called out.

And, because of Him, my motto has become, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Why? Because that’s what Christ did, and Christians, like the name, follow Christ.

You know, I may tire from doing God’s work from time to time, and think that I am achieving nothing out of it, but just think of how God feels!

Don’t give up. Be the change. Live the change. Remember Christ’s change. Keep choosing to do things right and to do right things.

Have you ever felt larger than life?

I do, knowing that I am apart of the Body of Christ.

The Potato Heart

Growing up I was referred to as “the potato heart” child. Nothing seemed to rattle my chains. I withheld compassion to others. I wouldn’t get misty eyed at lost dog movies. I was tough. I didn’t care enough to listen to other’s woes. And the only thing that seemed to get into my potato heart was divine intervention, if you know what I mean.

Knowing that I was this way, got me off the hook for a lot of things. I would hurt my brother and when my parents said, “Now Amy Rebecca, say you’re sorry like you mean it.” I would reply, “Sorrrryy.” And, that seemed to be sufficed, because hey, I have a potato heart. It’s the most you’re going to get out of me. So forget it.

 If you know my older brother Bryan you know that he and I are complete opposites. He chose politics for his life’s career and I chose religion. The two things you are not allowed to mix during polite conversation. And, yes you guessed it, Bryan is the “marshmallow heart” child. The complete opposite of the potato. The marshmallow is like a sponge soaking in everything around it, it can change shapes, be smooshed and pulled. And it’s of course delicate, so don’t try any of those too hard or too much or it will break. 

For the longest time I was proud of my potato heart reputation. I would see marshmallow hearts all over the place crying in shadows, holding grudges, and trying to mend their broken hearts. And let me tell you, I was glad that my potato heart and I didn’t have to deal with those things.

Then along came the fireworks. No, literally, fireworks up in the desert sky, on the 4^th of July, the day I married my best friend. My husband and I started out like most newlyweds, where our biggest concern was what colors to paint the walls in our new home. My potato heart was content because my honey wanted nothing more than to make me happy. And then about a month later, yup, reality sunk in, the bills started pouring in, home repairs seemed endless, and our work schedules never met eye-to-eye. You can guess what happens next… The “potato peeler” phase as I like to call it. 

In 2010 I was honored to host a study on John Wesley’s Three Simple Rules for Christian Living. In brief, the founder of Methodism believed that in order to live a successful Christian life, you need to follow three rules: to do no harm, to do good, and to obtain upon all the ordinances of the Lord, or the modern translation, to stay in love with God by attending church, praying, taking communion and so on.

Out of these three rules, the one that I think stuck out the most was the first rule of “do no harm.” There are so many things that are considered “harmful” or “evil” most of which, we don’t even acknowledge as being. My tough potato heart for instance.   

One day I was reading God’s Word for strength in hopes of not becoming mashed potatoes, and He led me to Psalm 66:18 which says, "If I regard evil in my heart, the LORD will not hear me.” How true that is! So many times I went to the Lord in prayer begging Him to change the ways of the people who have done me wrong. And it took a while, the better part of twenty years, but I heard God tell me that, “You got it all wrong sister. You need to first soften your heart, and change your ways, before you could ask for that in others.”

Have you been missing what God is trying to tell you lately? Have you been praying for financial stability, but didn’t bother to go after that higher paying job you are more than qualified for? God answers prayers. God opens doors. But, do you trust Him enough to walk through them?

Now, let me ask you this, Do you consider yourself approachable? Do you truly believe that other people can see your softened heart and feel comfortable enough to approach you? If not, then how do you ever expect to spread the love that you have for Jesus Christ to others? If you are known to keep more to your busy schedule and your own agenda than you keep to God’s Word, then here’s your divine intervention!

You know, if these words are speaking to you right now. Go ahead. Find a way to soften your own heart to whatever it is you have built a wall around. Put that pressure of that brick wall on God’s shoulders, not your own. Go ahead. God can handle it.

Our time here at church is our practice field for real life. If we can’t get our relationships right here at church, then there’s little luck for success out there in the real world. God has placed all these fellow like-minded Christians around you on Sundays and during week night committee meetings and Bible studies, and just sits back and watches. How are you measuring up during practice?

If we fellow Christians can’t manage to have meaningfully and healthy relationships with one another, then there is no hope for the rest of ‘em. Our hearts need to mimic that of Christ’s heart. It’s not a potato, it’s not a marshmallow, it’s just right.

The rest of Psalm 66 says that, “Surely God has listened and heard my prayers. Praise be to God, who has never rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!”

Praise be to God!

Humble Pie - The Key To Leadership

Leadership.

One word that holds a lot of responsibility and a lot of possibility for failure.

Being a leader is more than just holding a position at the church.

Leadership is a lifestyle. And that's why it's so tough!

Every action that we make as leaders is watched. Our relationships with people. The way we handle conflict. The way we worship. Everything.

And one slip up can change the way someone views us from that point on.

Some things that I have been dealing with lately are that of pride. My pride. Others pride. Your pride.

Pride gets in the way sometimes, doesn't it?

I remember reading a confession last year from a faceless church member who asked God to be freed from stubbornness.

Amen to that. 

Sometimes it feels like my ego is controlled by someone else other than myself. It just grows wild. And I end up doing unintentional harm.

Is it not true that we are simply vessels here on this earth to continue on with God's Kingdom?

Can't get much more humbled than that, right? My efforts during my lifetime should be that of God and not that of myself. I was put here to serve. To serve as a leader. Not as a self-indulgent power-seeking idiot.

I am not a vessel for my self betterment. I am a vessel for God's betterment. Period.

I have been noticing within my own world that the leaders around me are falling short of my expectations. But then again, don't we all far short of God's expectations?

Reading God's Word has led me to Titus 1 where a leader is defined-

 ^5-9Appoint leaders in every town according to my instructions. As you select them, ask, "Is this man well-thought-of? Is he committed to his wife? Are his children believers? Do they respect him and stay out of trouble?" It's important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God's house, be looked up to—not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry. He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.

It always seems easiest for people to say "don't do this" and "don't do that." Well, I really like in the last part of that scripture how it also tells us what we should do. We should welcome people, be helpful and wise and fair and reverent, we should know who we ourselves are and we should know God's word, and how to inspire people who seek the truth.

Now, that's a leader!

I do not benefit as a leader by nurturing self pride or holding onto stubbornness. Instead I must continue to seek out humility in Christ and pray for other leaders to also follow Christ in this way. 

Everything else - well - it will always fall short.