Slightly under seven years ago, my daughter and I had just walked into our local neighborhood grocery store. With only a few things on our list, we opted to shop with the small basket rather than the full-sized grocery buggy. Leaning over to pick up the basket, I quickly grabbed the handle of the one on top and stood to turn around. Immediately, I came face to face with a blast from my past.
"Hi Leah. Do you remember me?" asked the pleasant looking woman. "Do you remember me too?" asked the woman beside her.
Did I remember them? Of COURSE I remembered them! Here was my favorite teacher from 6th grade, and my band teacher from 7th and 8th grades. The bigger question was how in the world did they remember me?
"Of course I remember BOTH of you!" I proceeded to give both of them a hug and introduce them to my daughter, who was grinning from ear to ear over this entire exchange.
Both retired, they brought me quickly up to speed on what they were doing now, and I equally shared where life had taken me in the years since middle school. We discussed a few memories from awkward years, and then I finally got up enough nerve to ask them what I really wanted to know.
"I'm just curious. Out of the thousands of students that you've taught in all your years of teaching, how in the world can you possibly remember me from so long ago."
Mrs. O. was the first to respond, "You were simply one of the unforgettable ones."
Oh...I was unforgettable? WOW! How flattering! Wait a minute...I was unforgettable...uh-oh. That may not be a good thing.
She continued in sharing with my daughter how I was such a good student, always obedient, blah...blah...blah. I'm not going to continue with the remarks, but you get the idea. My kiddo couldn't believe that she actually got to meet some of my teachers and got to hear first-hand what type of student I was back in the "old days". She was tickled.
For me...I was still a little floored. THEY remembered ME? Shocking. Even a little uncanny. Did I really leave that strong of an impression? Apparently so...
An interesting thought came to my mind as I was reliving that grocery store day from a few years back. Unforgettable. That's what I long to be so often. I want to be remembered. I want to make lasting impressions. However, unlike 6th grade, I have a completely different motive now. It's not to make good grades or to be the teacher's pet or to reap special favors as a good girl. It's simply this, I want to be remembered for...making Him known and bringing Him glory! As seriously as I can say this through the keystrokes of my computer, that's what it's all about for me friends.
I want to be unforgettable...so that I went share one of His redemptive stories in my life...those that hear never forget His goodness.
I want to be unforgettable...so that when I teach...those that Hear never forget the words that He speaks directly to their heart.
I want to be unforgettable...so that when I speak about Him...people see my undeniable love for Him and want some of that in their lives.
But honestly...I want Him to be the unforgettable one. Remove me from the scene entirely. Let His glory shine...let His name be praised...let His name become famous...let His Name be exalted.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sound the Trumpets
I remember so vividly the days that I was afraid to pray in public. It was literally a paralyzing fear of mine. I hated to be in groups at church in which there would be even the slighest possibility I could get called on to pray or expected to pray in a "circle prayer". Silly...I know. But, it was very real for me. I had no problem talking to God alone - when it was just my Savior and me. But in front of others...please, no.
I shared this fear with my very closest friend many years ago, only to discover that she, too, had the same fear. After several conversations about this very issue of ours, we decided that it was time to go into battle against this enemy driven fear. The battlefield? My living room floor. On our knees. Praying together. Out loud! We knew we had to face this fear in order to overcome it. We also trusted each other to know that neither of us would ever even attempt to make the other one feel inadequate. There were no "magic prayers". We weren't trying to pray like those eloquent praying Christians at church. We simply wanted to talk to our Heavenly Father...our Abba...and ask Him to change this in us. So we sounded the trumpets.
"When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies." Number 10:9 NIV
The Israelites were instructed long ago by the Lord, via Moses, that certain signals blown on the trumpets meant different things. Often a single blast called out the leaders only to the gathering place, but sometimes the entire assembly would be called out by a second blast. And, the Lord clearly instructed them to blow the trumpets whenever they were in battle against an oppressive enemy in their own land...and, they would be remembered and rescued by God.
Just as my friend and I sounded the trumpet years ago...as we went into "battle in our own land" over this enemy trying to keep us from an effective prayer life...God remembered us and rescued us. Our prayer life took on new strength...new fervency...new life...new passion.
Now, many years later I find myself bathed in prayer a lot during the course of the week. I begin each morning in prayer. I pray frequently throughout the course of a day by myself but often with others as well. I'm the prayer coordinator for a Connect Group at church and spend a lot of time organizing and disseminating their prayers as well as spending time on my knees lifting them up. I participate in a weekly prayer with a small group of ladies. I have cyber friends that I pray for quite often. I have strangers that send me prayer requests that I faithfully lift up. I am on the crisis prayer team and website prayer team of my church, meaning that I pray over every crisis prayer and website prayer that is submitted. Folks...I'm not saying this to receive any kind of accolades. This is simply what God has done through me...through a fear I turned over to Him...and all glory goes to Him.
He took a woman full of fear regarding public prayer and created a woman passionate about prayer that LOVES to pray out loud with others as often as possible. We sounded the trumpets years ago...God remembered...God rescued.
Those same trumpets are being sounded today. Just to give you a glimpse of some of things we're battling in our Connect Group...
---we're praying for provision for two families in the midst of new business start ups
---we're praying for a family that has been trying to sell their house for over two years and dealing with no steady income due to job loss
---we're praying for children to return to the Lord
---we're praying for a family that just said goodbye to their 4-year-old as she went home to be with the Lord following a battle with cancer.
---we're praying for a couple desperate to conceive that are struggling with infertility
---we're praying for couples that have recently adopted that are still transitioning with their new forever children
---we're praying for siblings to come to know the Lord
---we're praying for supernatural financial provision
---we're praying for our short-term mission teams (next trip leaves today to Haiti)
---we're praying for wisdom & discernment as God is asking some to make very tough, leap of faith decisions
---we're praying for wisdom in parenting our children
---we're praying desperately for God's hand to be upon us
Once again, we're sounding the trumpets. We're in a battle in our own land against a very real and oppressive enemy. And...we're crying out to God to remember us and rescue just as He's done over and over and over since the days of the Israelites.
And...so I invite you. When have you last sounded your trumpets and called your "assembly" to prayer? God is ready to meet us on our battleland and rescue us from our enemies. Are we remembering to ask Him to? Can I go to the throne room on your behalf? How can I pray for you?
I shared this fear with my very closest friend many years ago, only to discover that she, too, had the same fear. After several conversations about this very issue of ours, we decided that it was time to go into battle against this enemy driven fear. The battlefield? My living room floor. On our knees. Praying together. Out loud! We knew we had to face this fear in order to overcome it. We also trusted each other to know that neither of us would ever even attempt to make the other one feel inadequate. There were no "magic prayers". We weren't trying to pray like those eloquent praying Christians at church. We simply wanted to talk to our Heavenly Father...our Abba...and ask Him to change this in us. So we sounded the trumpets.
"When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies." Number 10:9 NIV
The Israelites were instructed long ago by the Lord, via Moses, that certain signals blown on the trumpets meant different things. Often a single blast called out the leaders only to the gathering place, but sometimes the entire assembly would be called out by a second blast. And, the Lord clearly instructed them to blow the trumpets whenever they were in battle against an oppressive enemy in their own land...and, they would be remembered and rescued by God.
Just as my friend and I sounded the trumpet years ago...as we went into "battle in our own land" over this enemy trying to keep us from an effective prayer life...God remembered us and rescued us. Our prayer life took on new strength...new fervency...new life...new passion.
Now, many years later I find myself bathed in prayer a lot during the course of the week. I begin each morning in prayer. I pray frequently throughout the course of a day by myself but often with others as well. I'm the prayer coordinator for a Connect Group at church and spend a lot of time organizing and disseminating their prayers as well as spending time on my knees lifting them up. I participate in a weekly prayer with a small group of ladies. I have cyber friends that I pray for quite often. I have strangers that send me prayer requests that I faithfully lift up. I am on the crisis prayer team and website prayer team of my church, meaning that I pray over every crisis prayer and website prayer that is submitted. Folks...I'm not saying this to receive any kind of accolades. This is simply what God has done through me...through a fear I turned over to Him...and all glory goes to Him.
He took a woman full of fear regarding public prayer and created a woman passionate about prayer that LOVES to pray out loud with others as often as possible. We sounded the trumpets years ago...God remembered...God rescued.
Those same trumpets are being sounded today. Just to give you a glimpse of some of things we're battling in our Connect Group...
---we're praying for provision for two families in the midst of new business start ups
---we're praying for a family that has been trying to sell their house for over two years and dealing with no steady income due to job loss
---we're praying for children to return to the Lord
---we're praying for a family that just said goodbye to their 4-year-old as she went home to be with the Lord following a battle with cancer.
---we're praying for a couple desperate to conceive that are struggling with infertility
---we're praying for couples that have recently adopted that are still transitioning with their new forever children
---we're praying for siblings to come to know the Lord
---we're praying for supernatural financial provision
---we're praying for our short-term mission teams (next trip leaves today to Haiti)
---we're praying for wisdom & discernment as God is asking some to make very tough, leap of faith decisions
---we're praying for wisdom in parenting our children
---we're praying desperately for God's hand to be upon us
Once again, we're sounding the trumpets. We're in a battle in our own land against a very real and oppressive enemy. And...we're crying out to God to remember us and rescue just as He's done over and over and over since the days of the Israelites.
And...so I invite you. When have you last sounded your trumpets and called your "assembly" to prayer? God is ready to meet us on our battleland and rescue us from our enemies. Are we remembering to ask Him to? Can I go to the throne room on your behalf? How can I pray for you?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Faith is Now Her Sight
Sitting in the congregation, I stared at the slideshow depicting precious pictures of the brief 4 years of Susana Whittaker's life. What a doll! Tears once again welled up in my eyes, but I quickly worked to suppress them. "Not today!" I thought to myself. "I'm celebrating today!" Instead, I turned my gaze to my friend beside me and struck up a conversation with her, which ultimately led back to sweet Susana and her amazing family. Again...the tears wanted to blind my sight. Once again, I suppressed them.
The funeral home attendants soon asked us to stand, as the family made their way into the sanctuary. The service began, and we worshipped. We worshipped the God of the universe, the One who called Susana home just a few short days ago. We worshipped the One that ordained every single one of her days before even one of them came to be (Psalm 139). We worshipped the One that calls the death of His faithful servants...precious in His sight (Psalm 116).
Beautiful words were spoken. Beautiful praises were sung. Beautiful pictures were displayed.
Susana's dad, Cody, greeted the congregation - first with words bathed in scripture. My tears poured again, but this time - with a smile on my face. God's Word...in action...right before my eyes. Amazing. But, what followed melted my heart. Cody played his guitar and sung Susana's favorite worship song with deep conviction as evidenced by the faith of both of Susana's parents...You Never Let Go. The words of the chorus still ring in my ears..."Still I will praise you. Still I will praise you." Here stands this father...having endured within the last year the tragic Haitian earthquake of 2010, malaria, Susana's cancer diagnosis and treatment, and now the earthly death of his 4-year-old daughter...here he stands, boldly singing, "Still I will praise you. Still I will praise you." To God be all the Glory!
A few more words spoken. Then, we began to sing... the gospel put to song.
At this point, I simply live by faith...faith in the fact that Susana now resides in heaven. Faith in fact that God did heal her of her crippling disease of cancer - just not this side of heaven. And, for me, faith is enough until I reside with the King of Kings in heaven. But, for Susana...her faith is now her sight! Blessed be the name of the LORD!
The funeral home attendants soon asked us to stand, as the family made their way into the sanctuary. The service began, and we worshipped. We worshipped the God of the universe, the One who called Susana home just a few short days ago. We worshipped the One that ordained every single one of her days before even one of them came to be (Psalm 139). We worshipped the One that calls the death of His faithful servants...precious in His sight (Psalm 116).
Beautiful words were spoken. Beautiful praises were sung. Beautiful pictures were displayed.
Susana's dad, Cody, greeted the congregation - first with words bathed in scripture. My tears poured again, but this time - with a smile on my face. God's Word...in action...right before my eyes. Amazing. But, what followed melted my heart. Cody played his guitar and sung Susana's favorite worship song with deep conviction as evidenced by the faith of both of Susana's parents...You Never Let Go. The words of the chorus still ring in my ears..."Still I will praise you. Still I will praise you." Here stands this father...having endured within the last year the tragic Haitian earthquake of 2010, malaria, Susana's cancer diagnosis and treatment, and now the earthly death of his 4-year-old daughter...here he stands, boldly singing, "Still I will praise you. Still I will praise you." To God be all the Glory!
A few more words spoken. Then, we began to sing... the gospel put to song.
At this point, I simply live by faith...faith in the fact that Susana now resides in heaven. Faith in fact that God did heal her of her crippling disease of cancer - just not this side of heaven. And, for me, faith is enough until I reside with the King of Kings in heaven. But, for Susana...her faith is now her sight! Blessed be the name of the LORD!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Scripture Memory Verse 4
Good evening bloggy friends! I've missed you all so much and really miss my daily blog posting. The 40-day journey we traveled together was incredible, and I plan to do it again in the future. However...yes, there's a little "however" tucked away in here...I needed a little bit of a break. And, as you probably have read by now, little Susana went home to be with the Lord the day after my 40-day consecutive blogging challenge ended. My mind has simply been a bit preoccupied since then - trying to process everything. Her Homecoming Celebration this past Monday was simply beautiful, and I hope to share more about that in the days ahead. But, for today...I have a little confession to make...
I'VE THOUGHT IT WAS FEBRUARY 15TH ALL DAY LONG!
And...that means, I'm a day late on my next scripture memory verse! I can't believe I did that. I'm quite embarrassed, to say the least. Little "Miss Calendar" goofed...big time! This has been quite humbling to say the least. OK - enough confession time. Let's move on...time to wield our swords!
God has been teaching me quite a bit lately regarding idol worship. No, I'm talking about the kind of detestable idol worship the Israelites succumbed to repeatedly in their 40 years of wilderness wanderings. Some of those idol names I can't even pronounce. But...you know what? ANYidol we worship...ANY god we bow down to outside of Jehovah Himself is just as detestable to the God of the universe. His name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14). Our idols may look different than the Baal of Peor or the Asherah poles, but they are still idols nonetheless. What do you bow down to? Is it money...food...attention...material possessions...your job...status...your business...successes...family?
The scripture memory verse that I'm working on from now until March 1 has a lot to stay about how God feels about "sharing the stage" with our other idols:
Isaiah 42:8 NASBI am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images.
And...all God's people say...Amen!
I'VE THOUGHT IT WAS FEBRUARY 15TH ALL DAY LONG!
And...that means, I'm a day late on my next scripture memory verse! I can't believe I did that. I'm quite embarrassed, to say the least. Little "Miss Calendar" goofed...big time! This has been quite humbling to say the least. OK - enough confession time. Let's move on...time to wield our swords!
God has been teaching me quite a bit lately regarding idol worship. No, I'm talking about the kind of detestable idol worship the Israelites succumbed to repeatedly in their 40 years of wilderness wanderings. Some of those idol names I can't even pronounce. But...you know what? ANYidol we worship...ANY god we bow down to outside of Jehovah Himself is just as detestable to the God of the universe. His name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14). Our idols may look different than the Baal of Peor or the Asherah poles, but they are still idols nonetheless. What do you bow down to? Is it money...food...attention...material possessions...your job...status...your business...successes...family?
The scripture memory verse that I'm working on from now until March 1 has a lot to stay about how God feels about "sharing the stage" with our other idols:
Isaiah 42:8 NASBI am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images.
And...all God's people say...Amen!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Susana
Hi friends!
Just a quick update for those of you that don't connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. As you know, I've been writing off and on about our sweet friends, The Whittaker family. Specifically, their daughter 4-year-old daughter, Susana - with cancer. Susana is now completely healed - in heaven. She went home to be with her beloved Savior at 12:15 pm today. We will CELEBRATE her life on earth and her eternal life in heaven on Monday. Please pray for her precious family as they ache for their daughter.
Just a quick update for those of you that don't connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. As you know, I've been writing off and on about our sweet friends, The Whittaker family. Specifically, their daughter 4-year-old daughter, Susana - with cancer. Susana is now completely healed - in heaven. She went home to be with her beloved Savior at 12:15 pm today. We will CELEBRATE her life on earth and her eternal life in heaven on Monday. Please pray for her precious family as they ache for their daughter.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Day 40 is Here!
It's here friends. The end to my 40 days of continuous blogging. It has been such a joy sharing this journey with you. I'm not done blogging. Quite the opposite actually. I'm more determined than ever before to share life with you in this amazing electronic format. However, I can't commit to an everyday post anymore. I do hope to be here several times a week, and I pray you continue to follow along. It's so humbling to know that you all actually care to read what I write.
This being the second time that I've done a 40-day blog journey, I knew going in that it would be difficult - from a consistency point - but, extremely rewarding. God has not failed me in the area of reward. If you've studied the Bible for any length of time, then you know that the number 40 is very important to God and very significant to us, His children. Looking at every instance in the Bible relating to the number 40, God has done something transformational.
God cleansed the world of wickedness & sin after a period of 40 days & nights of rain.
God spared the city of Ninevah following a period of 40 days of repentance.
Moses' face shone after 40 days on Mount Sinai with God.
The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years prior to entering the Promised Land.
And...these are just to name a few. Well, my 40 day blog experience may not have led to such great and astonishing things as those I just named. But, God has done some very transformational things indeed. A couple of them are too personal to share in a blog format, but I do want to share two of them with you...
God has transformed me in my weight loss/healthy eating journey I began right after Christmas and continued through Made to Crave. To date, I've lost almost 30 pounds! No longer do I crave weight loss for the purpose of getting compliments, fitting into my skinny clothes, or anything else superficial. I know crave weight loss, because I CRAVE...literally yearn for...God! And...because I crave God, I want to glorify Him through my weight loss!
Secondly, on day 40 of this blog writing journey - yes, today - God restored my husband's job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, friends...my husband will be returning to his job on Monday! We are overcome with emotion, we are overcome with gratitude and thankfulness, and we KNOW that it's because of the prayers of His people. Why He chose to bless us with this type of answered prayer - I'll never know. He could have done something completely different, and we would still be praising Him right now! Like my friend, Susana, whom it appears Jesus is calling home soon, I know that God NEVER LETS GO. Like Susana, one of my favorite songs is Matt Redman's You Never Let Go! That song has taken on significant meaning to me during these last 40 days. I have an idea that this not the end folks...simply the beginning.
You Never Let Go - Matt Redman (song lyrics):
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
(Chorus:)
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth
(Chorus)
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
This being the second time that I've done a 40-day blog journey, I knew going in that it would be difficult - from a consistency point - but, extremely rewarding. God has not failed me in the area of reward. If you've studied the Bible for any length of time, then you know that the number 40 is very important to God and very significant to us, His children. Looking at every instance in the Bible relating to the number 40, God has done something transformational.
God cleansed the world of wickedness & sin after a period of 40 days & nights of rain.
God spared the city of Ninevah following a period of 40 days of repentance.
Moses' face shone after 40 days on Mount Sinai with God.
The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years prior to entering the Promised Land.
And...these are just to name a few. Well, my 40 day blog experience may not have led to such great and astonishing things as those I just named. But, God has done some very transformational things indeed. A couple of them are too personal to share in a blog format, but I do want to share two of them with you...
God has transformed me in my weight loss/healthy eating journey I began right after Christmas and continued through Made to Crave. To date, I've lost almost 30 pounds! No longer do I crave weight loss for the purpose of getting compliments, fitting into my skinny clothes, or anything else superficial. I know crave weight loss, because I CRAVE...literally yearn for...God! And...because I crave God, I want to glorify Him through my weight loss!
Secondly, on day 40 of this blog writing journey - yes, today - God restored my husband's job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, friends...my husband will be returning to his job on Monday! We are overcome with emotion, we are overcome with gratitude and thankfulness, and we KNOW that it's because of the prayers of His people. Why He chose to bless us with this type of answered prayer - I'll never know. He could have done something completely different, and we would still be praising Him right now! Like my friend, Susana, whom it appears Jesus is calling home soon, I know that God NEVER LETS GO. Like Susana, one of my favorite songs is Matt Redman's You Never Let Go! That song has taken on significant meaning to me during these last 40 days. I have an idea that this not the end folks...simply the beginning.
You Never Let Go - Matt Redman (song lyrics):
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
(Chorus:)
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth
(Chorus)
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
30 Beautiful Months
A few weeks before marrying my best friend on August 9, 2008, a dear friend of mine gave me a piece of advice that she had heard from someone else, "Don't just celebrate your anniversary once a year. Celebrate it every month on the day you married." In other words, for us, we would celebrate it on the 9th of every month.We LOVED that idea and vowed to do just that!
We don't do anything lavish. We may give each other a card, or my husband may bring me flowers. But, if nothing else...we snuggle up on the couch and watch our wedding video every month. We often laugh our heads off at the funny things that took place on that day that we were clueless to. We listen again as we recite our vows. We get teary at some of the most tender moments. And...we always recognize how blessed we are that God brought us together.
Today...we celebrate 30 beautiful months together. Today...in the midst of one of the darkest trials we've been through to date, we praise Him who brought us together. We praise Him who has strengthened our love for each other through this recent difficulty. And...we praise Him who teaches us how to love with a love that He first gave us!
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