Gah! Christmas can be a stressful, breathless, list driven and exhausting time. Or. You can purposefully slow down, reflect and embrace the joy.
Louise Richards’ book A Christmas Story A Day is a thoughtful tool to choose joy this season. This clever book provides a story a day to read through each day in December. It’s a fiction lovers advent! I was drawn in to this treasure trove of believable characters and stories. Each story calls the reader to ponder the meaning of Christmas. Available on amazon for Kindle or print copy this is a fun way to slow down this Christmas season. The best part is I have a copy to give away! And the winner is Reta H. You win!
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That's the Book: 2nd CorinthiansI've spent the last couple weeks procrastinating writing this post. Honestly I have tried. But I haven't had the courage to fully embrace writing about 2nd Corinthians. This is the second letter Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. Paul wrote the letter to encourage the believers to hold it together during some massive hardships. I've struggled writing this post because it's all about suffering. So it hurts. Also I felt it was important not to be flippant or trite. Suffering is a sacred privilege not to be tossed around lightly. So I've spent the last three weekends pretending to write and instead looking at twitter feeds of cute animals and playing with new emojis on my phone. I was especially distracted by the hedgehog. But the verses and the post kept sitting there asking me to show up. To think and pray and write and bleed. Sometimes we avoid people who are hurting for the same reasons. It can be uncomfortable to join. I recently sat on the phone talking with a friend of mine. She was in pain. Needed a friend. I didn't have much to offer - except I love her - and I can stand as a testament that on my hardest days Jesus was enough. I hope the reminder helped. This is the point of 2nd Corinthians. We should carry each other's pain. Use our own as a light to point others towards the hope of Christ. Understand He will be faithful to carry us. He is enough. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:2-5 Two years ago my mother-in-law was suffering from a recent diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer. The whole family was struggling and worried. We were tired. Exhausted really. Overwhelmed with the knowledge of survival rates and heartbroken over the crisis etched in her face. Several weeks later, in the middle of the night, I received a phone call from my father. He said my mom had fallen down the stairs. He said there was a lot of blood. She was being taken by ambulance to the hospital. I should hurry. Would I call my sister and come to the hospital? I hung up. Got out of bed. Could not stay standing. Hit my knees. Gasped. Prayed a two-word prayer. "I can't". And in that very moment I knew. In this painful awful moment at 4:00 am I knew. I knew despite the horror on multiple fronts we were not alone. I knew God's presence would not leave. God provided the strength to stand, to pick up the phone, to call my sister. The verses in 2nd Corinthians are real to me because I've been in these places. My guess is you have as well. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves, we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed, but not despairing, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4: 7-9 How do you keep going when things aren't good? When people lie and break trust? When the diagnosis is elusive? When we can't see beyond this moment? Perspective. A couple of weeks ago I sat in a writer's conference and listed to Andrew Peterson describe how he came to write the song The Dark Before the Dawn. (Listen Here). He wrote it one morning after he woke up to news of a school shooting. You know that sick feeling? The dark is pressing in feeling? He talked about how the only way forward is to remember this is not the end. "Oh, I believe, I believe that the light is gonna come And this is the dark, this is the dark before the dawn." What I learned is God's promises don't make all things joyful - yet. And this yet makes it bearable. For heaven is coming. Glory wins. Despair loses. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For this momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2nd Corinthians 4:16-18 If you are reading this and do not have the same hope; please hear me out. We all face hard times. But you don't have to do it alone. 2nd Corinthians is a beautiful invitation to join the victory. "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us, we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2nd Corinthians 6;29-21 I think the reason my two word prayer, "I can't", was so powerful is because I came to the very end of myself. When I ran out, Jesus showed up. This is one of those upside down truths in the Bible. The weak are strong. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong" 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 I've thought a lot about suffering the past couple of weeks. About what we went through and the ways God made the difference. Sometimes it was simply His presence and strength. Sometimes it looked like a friend pushing a broom, bringing a meal or answering the phone. God showed up when people showed up. I know it was hard to be around me during those days. But I'm grateful people dove in. This post was hard to write. But sharing the truth of God's power in our struggle is an honor. Turn off your phone for a few minutes. Read 2nd Corinthians. If you are in the middle of a crisis - pray a call for help. His grace will prove enough. If your life is currently stable you may have time to lift someone else's load. Call a hurting friend or get take-out for an overwhelmed neighbor. Wrestle with your own memories and look for how God showed up. Share your story. I know it's uncomfortable to do the work to heal or to help someone else. But it's life giving. Worth the courage it takes to see it through. Second Corinthians is important. Hedgehog emoji's are not. ResourcesAndrew Peterson's song The Dark Before the Dawn. Here you go, the next section of the Bible Project's Read Scripture series. 2nd Corinthians. Infographic from New Spring Church. These are helpful.
One of my favorite parts of our whirlwind trip to Nashville was meeting so many talented authors. Jolina Petersheim was a lovely, kind and gentle soul. I was so impressed with her warm smile and matching spirit. Read below for our interview and pick up a of one of her books today. I loved the concept you used to intersect two major genres; namely the Amish/Mennonite fiction with Dystopian literature. Do you plan on a sequel or more mashups?
Unless I see some writing in the sky, The Divide is the conclusion to The Alliance series. I know it doesn’t provide all the answers, and yet I wanted my main characters, Moses and Leora, to find peace even though their future remained uncertain. Peace despite uncertainty is something I’ve personally had to learn. And, if we’re honest with ourselves, all our lives remain uncertain. But trust in our Creator and loving each other deeply—perhaps at an even deeper level because of that uncertainty—is a beautiful way to pass our days. As for more mashups: I’ve been toying around with a new idea for a couple of years, but it’s a little over my head, so I’m giving it time to ruminate. 😊 Your major character faced a crisis of faith. I don’t want to give away the ending – but has your personal faith been through anything similar? God has a way of deepening our faith through trails. In December 2014, my husband had emergency brain surgery for a rare, benign brain tumor. We were living in Wisconsin at the time—on a grid-tie solar-powered farm with a woodstove as our main heat source. We had a two-and-a-half-year-old and a four-month-old. Looking back, I’m honestly kind of floored that we made it, but we had friends and family who helped lessen our burdens by babysitting, bringing loads of firewood and food. I was in the middle of editing The Alliance, and Tyndale (my publisher) gave me time to allow our family to heal. Going through that crisis made me really question God’s plan for our lives. So much of my security—my stability—was stripped away. My husband is such a dependable, larger-than-life individual, and I hadn’t realized how much I relied on his strength until I suddenly became the one he had to rely on. One night—the most pivotal of my spiritual walk thus far—I stared out at the snowy darkness after everyone else had gone to bed. I looked out the window, like I was staring into the face of God, and I said, “You must meet us here; You must meet us here.” It was both plea and command. He did. He met us there. Despite having sick babies, and a sick husband, we all slept through the night for the first time since the surgery, and it was what we needed to get back on our feet. In July of this year, an MRI showed some residual tumor in my husband’s brain. And yet, because I’ve experienced God’s faithfulness, I continue clinging to Him—beseeching Him like I had that winter night in our farmhouse: “You must meet us here; You must meet us here.” And the beauty lies in the fact that I know He will. Where does grace fit in your fiction – and your real life? My characters are such broken people—Rachel, Tobias; Beth, Rhoda; Leora, Moses—because I believe that we’re all broken in one way or another since we live in a world rife with the fallibility of man. I love to take my characters on a journey (or sometimes they take me), and the grace lies in the fact that they usually find healing for their brokenness by The End. God is faithful to take me on a journey along with my characters. Each story I write explores a certain facet of my own grace-filled, stumbling walk. Another area I’ve found grace is in motherhood. I’ve only been a mother for six years, and yet I am fiercely in love with this calling, which I believe is one of the greatest of my life. Three precious souls that I get to lead closer to God as they witness my own walk! It’s an incredibly humbling and challenging experience. Last week my friend Jill and I flew to Nashville for two days of food and books and fun. We booked our flights separately. But I called the airline ahead to make sure we were seated together. Long flights at 4:00AM are better when you are seated by a friend.
We prechecked and went through security. Headed to the gate. Jill handed over her boarding pass and the agent welcomed her onboard. I handed over my ticket. Small pause.Then the following conversation took place. Agent: I'm glad you are here. We have a new boarding pass for you. We had to change your seat. Me: But I'm with my friend. I don't want a new seat. Agent: Oh. You didn't book your flight with anyone so we assumed you were alone. I'm sorry. The plane is full and your seat was needed. Me: But I want my seat back. I don't want to move. I want to sit with my friend. Agent: I am sorry. A handicapped person needed the seat so she could sit by her caregiver. Me: Humph. I even called the airline to make sure we were together. You have GOT to be kidding me. Agent: We can give you airline miles. Me: I don't want airline miles. I just want my seat. The spot between my eyebrows was now seriously creased. Agent: Me: Ok FINE. I took my new boarding pass and stomped down the ramp. Jill comforted and shrugged and honestly probably wished I'd shut up. I took a deep breath and started preaching grace to my heart. Seriously, a handicapped person needed the seat. What was my problem? Breathing. Considered my two boarding passes. My old seat was 27A. My new seat was 26A. I can deal I guess. One row isn't a big deal. Sigh. 26 will be fine. Glanced at Jill's boarding pass. She was seated in 26B. Um. Yes. My new boarding pass put me next to Jill. The old boarding pass which I'd so carefully confirmed with the airline had us one row apart. I had thrown a fit, growled at an agent, ignored grace for someone who needed my seat and generally behaved badly. And God had been blessing me the entire time. For the love. I'm a jerk. I have a sneaky suspicion I do this all the time. Get annoyed when plans change. Growl at people. Frown and Fuss. Throw a fit when God changes my life in big and small ways. But I know His plans are for my good. I know even the painful and heartache things can bring great joy and glory and growth. Sometimes the change means you get what you really wanted the whole time. Row 26 was nice.
John Piper is the sort of man equally comfortable in the middle of a graduate theology debate or a giggle group of preschoolers. His approach to faith is thoughtful, inspiring and memorable. Never boring. I've read lots of Piper and I think of him often. If you are ready to take your faith more seriously and still keep laughing this is the book for you.
Have you read other Piper works? Which ones? Ever felt lost? Out of community? Without a home? This interview with dear friends Renee and Wayne will encourage your heart. Listen in as we chat about grace, the church and finding your way. Check out the links in the YouTube bio for more information about this amazing place. And if any of you are fantastic camera people - I could use a lesson....help!
Liz Curtis Higgs is a bright and honest soul. Her smile shines through the pages of her books. The newest one - 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path has this same quality. Joy overflowing from a commitment to truth.
My small group is spending the year with 31 Proverbs. The book includes discussion questions which are gently forcing us to face tough issues. Gossip, hate, forgiveness, wisdom. Growth isn't easy. Painful process. But worth it. This book is calling us to leave behind the junk and cling to the truth. In classic fashion, Liz Curtis Higgs shares her own growth through the verses. Its like having a big sister take your hand, laugh heartily and bid you to the deep end of the pool. If you want to really break free from the shallow end and swim into all God has for your life - buy a copy of this book. My mom and I went to the Seahawks vs. Texans game last Sunday. If you like football this was a game to watch. In the entire history of the NFL there have only been six games where both teams had four passing touchdowns and over 400 yards gained. Crazy high score. On the Seahawks side of the ball we had some issues. Defense wasn't holding. The offensive line was - um - poor. Our running game was terrible. So terrible in fact all of our running weapons had a combined negative yardage. Except our quarterback. Russell Wilson was quite simply phenomenal. The book of 1st Corinthians was written to a church in division. The believers in Corinth had issues. They were fighting over who to follow, how to worship, what to eat, and all the rules about sex. Sound familiar? The apostle Paul had a message for the church. Get it together. Follow Jesus. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1: 8-9 With only a couple of minutes before the game was over, Seattle was down by 4 points. For you non-football readers this mean we had to score a touchdown or we would lose. No tie was possible. Wilson was scrambling around, making plays, basically saving his team all on his own. Then he threw an interception. Visions of a painful Super Bowl loss bounced around the stadium. People around us hung their heads. Lots of people left. I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. I Corinthians 1:10 Some of the book of Corinthians frustrates me. I'm not crazy about the verses about women's hair or women in church. I've learned something over the years though. When I am most annoyed or angry about a verse that's where I should probably spend some time. Its possible I've got a stubborn heart or a rebellious spirit. No way should God tell me what to do with my hair, my voice, my body. But when I slow down, read the whole story in context I find God whispers truth to my heart. I am greatly beloved. He created me. He saved me. He does in fact have the right to speak into my life. My choices. My body. If you are feeling bitter or angry or hard toward the Bible or your fellow believers- if your temptation is to hang your head and walk away - hang in there. I have the right to do anything, you say, but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything, but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. I Corinthians 10: 23-24 When I was a teenager, every Wednesday night I attended care groups. We'd play a few games and then settle into a circle to talk about our week and pray for each other. Every single week we'd read 1st Corinthians 13. The love chapter. Love is patient. Love is Kind. Without Love you are nothing. On Sundays and other times we studied other parts of the Bible but on Wednesday nights every week we read about Love. I think the point was that Love was the filterer all the rest of it. When you get sideways with God and wonder where your faith fits try circling back to the love. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preservers. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13: 2, 4-7 With two minutes to go, Seattle's defense did what they'd been unable to do all day. They held the line. Three and out. We had the ball again. And Russell Wilson - the leader - he moved the ball 80 years in three plays and under a minute. You should have seen that team hustle. They were out of time outs, out of chances. They pulled together with their quarterback and scored. The stadium erupted. Cheers and high fives. Rocking energy. Down the aisle from where we sat I overheard a phone call. "Hey, we're in the car, we left after that awful interception. What happened". "Oh man! You missed the whole game!! We won!" This guy had given up before the game was over and missed one of the most exciting comebacks ever played. Listen, I tell you a mystery; We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the winkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed...Where O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15: 51,52, 55-57 Here's the deal. Football is fun. Doesn't really matter. But life? Your marriage, your kids, your faith? This game has eternal value. Don't walk out with two minutes to go because you're frustrated with the details. Hold the line. We follow a leader who has already won. His weapon was love. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ResourcesLove! and Weddings! And way more. Check out The Bible Project's walk through in Read Scripture. New Spring Church produces these infographics and Bible studies which go in detail through the book. Great free resource. Free is good. Quality Free is fantastic.
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About MeI love Jesus. I think my two daughters can change the world. I think you can too. Past Posts
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