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Saturday, September 29, 2007
"Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand." ~ Emily Kimbrough ~  Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh," he whispered. "yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, I just wanted to be sure of you." I stumbled across this postcard years ago and it has made its way around the house from my bed stand, to the girls desk when they began to share a room. Now it sits in front of me on my desk where I type....When I read this quote, it reminded me that they both say the same thing. All any of us really want, from the day we are born, is to know that there is someone out there that we can be sure of... We are so blessed as Christians to know that there is one hand that is always extended, waiting for us to reach out for it. We have the Lord's hand any time we stumble....and how amazing, wonderful and full of grace, our God is that HE so often will allow us to sidle up to someone on earth and as we stumble, they hold our hand. As we make our way through the challenges and struggles of this life, what a wonderful feeling to KNOW that God has so perfectly placed those people in our life who hold our hand at the exact time we need it, just to reassure us that we can be "sure." God sends us those images of Himself in those people in our lives who hold our hand...He reminds us through those friends, the kind of friend HE is, always has been and always will be. This week, I found myself struggling as another school year begins, with the questions we all ask ourselves, am I doing the best thing for my family, and as a home schooler, there are times when I find myself questioning what I know is right. A dear friend read my blog and sent an email that just lifted me up. It truly was as if the Lord Himself were speaking, and I believe HE was, through her. She allowed me to sidle up beside her, and as we stumble, and we all will....We need to be ever grateful that God places people in our lives to walk hand in hand with...they make the journey easier, they lighten our load and there is nothing more comforting than knowing that you have someone "you are sure of." As we make our way through this maze of life, we need to remember that we all stumble, big and small, young and old...just as Our Father always has a hand extended for us, we must walk ready to extend our hand to others....He requires only that we "Love," and when we are the one that someone can be sure of, HE smiles. "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow...a threefold cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9 - 12 In Him,   I would love it if you would visit me...(originally posted aug 7, 2006 for CWO In Other Words) Labels: Encouragement, Friendship, Lori M.'s articles Leave a comment... 6 Comments Links to this post “Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” Proverbs 27:9 Each year we take a vacation to the beach. Everyday is spent enjoying the sun, splashing in the salt water, riding the waves, and playing in the sand. We soak up this fun from the time the sun comes up in the morning until it sets beyond the horizon in the evening, and even then we are usually taking nightly walks on the beach looking for crabs with flashlights. By the end of the vacation, we have all usually gotten a little too much sun. Now for those of you that are already thinking, “Why wouldn’t you wear sunscreen”, let me assure you, we do. However, it wears off, and we all tend to forget to reapply it fast enough and then the damage is already done. Most of you can probably mentally take yourself to a place where you were exhausted, sticky from salt water, and stinging from the combination of salt and sand rubbing against your skin. It isn’t until you get cleaned up and are able to apply what we call “the green goop”, but is commonly called Aloe Vera, that you begin to feel relief. This green slimy stuff (that we keep in the refrigerator) can actually be some of the most refreshing gel in the world after a long day on the beach. It soothes, heals, and even sometimes anesthetizes your skin. This week, I was reminded how friendships can often be the lotion God uses to heal the sunburns of our hearts. There are times when the heat and irritants of our world can really get to us. We can find ourselves feeling exhausted emotionally, mentally irritated, and our spirits can often have a painful sting. I can think of so many times in my own life where I’ve felt this way and God would use a friend to come alongside and refresh me. Sometimes it happens through a phone call, an email, or perhaps a letter in my mailbox. Whatever it may be, it always comes at just the right time (after a long hard day) and it has a way of bringing comfort and even invigorating me to keep going in this journey of life. Does someone come to your mind that’s been a refresher in your life recently? Did you take the time to thank them and communicate just how God used them to bless you? What about you? Are you consciously being a refresher to others? Can you think of someone this week that you called, emailed, wrote a letter to, or text with the sole purpose of encouraging them? We all have moments where life just seems too “hot” to handle and the irritations seem to be rubbing in every direction. Let’s be conscious this week to not only thank those who are used by God to rejuvenate us, but to also take the time to reach out and be that soothing lotion to another parched and weary soul! Lord, thank you for sending people in my life at just the right time to remind me that you love me and care for me. Thank you for the gift of friendship and for the way you use it to energize and refresh every part of our lives. I praise you that you are The Friend that sticks closer than a brother, and no matter how scorched my soul may feel, you are always there waiting to be my Ultimate Refresher. In Him~ Tammy… You can read more from Tammy by visiting her personal blog at Steps in Our Journey Labels: Friendship, Tammy Leave a comment... 5 Comments Links to this post My brother joined the LA National Guard just months after his high school graduation. He graduated from boot camp and was only home for 2 days when he received the news that he was going to Iraq. His orders were to report to Ft. Hood in Texas where he would begin training with the rest of his unit. He would then go to Ft. Irwin for additional training before he deployed. He would be serving a one year tour in Baghdad. My brother gave His life to the Lord at the tender age of 12. He began faithfully seeking God and attending church with us. Then, at a weekend retreat, he had a very bad experience. He never stopped loving God or seeking Him but he didn’t want to go to church anymore either. We never stopped praying for Him and he never stopped seeing the hand of God in things. One of the most profound events to take place in our lives happened while he was in uniform. He called me to say “hi” and “I’m OK” but I heard something else in his voice. I knew something was weighing heavily on his mind and I began to question him. “How was your day?” I asked, only to hear him reply with “fine”. I knew he wasn't telling me everything so I asked how he was feeling. Again he said that he was fine. I then tried one more time. “Did anything interesting happen today?” There was silence. The only noise I heard was the static caused by the bad connection. I urged him to speak with an ever enticing “hmmm?” “Well,” he said, “I don’t exactly know how to explain it.” “Just tell me what happened” I pleaded. “Well, today we were in a gun fight and my battle buddy starting making some bad moves. I motioned for him to change position and get out of the line of fire. The dude didn’t budge. I started yelling at him. I saw him trying to shoot but he had the safety on and nothing was happening. He wouldn't keep his head down, he didn't go for another weapon, and he wouldn't listen to me! They were moving in on us and I knew what was about to happen but he wouldn’t listen. I kept yelling at him but he wouldn’t listen!” “Awe gosh sweetie, I’m so sorry. What happened to him?” I questioned. “Well he got killed. I didn’t protect him. It was my job to keep him alive and I didn’t! I was too busy pointing out what he was doing wrong. Now I have to write a letter to his parents explaining why their son is dead. It’s my fault, how am I supposed to explain this to them?” I could hear the hurt and panic in his voice. I wasn’t really prepared when I heard this so honestly I had no idea what to say. I wanted to comfort him but all I could do is buy time till I thought of something appropriate to say. So I asked him why he thought it was his fault. His reply was like a word from God. In a distraught tone of voice he answered, “It’s my fault because instead of protecting my brother I was pointing the finger at him. I should have just shot the enemy myself instead of yelling at him to do it. I was in range. I had the authority to do it but I didn’t. I just kept pushing him to do it. He was in a vulnerable situation. He was confused and unsure of himself and I made it worse by what I did. I should have just shot the enemy and talked to him about his mistakes after the fact. But nooooo, I was too busy being Mr. Know It All.” That is what he said. But you know how God is… here is what I heard: We should never point fingers at our brothers and sisters when they are in a weak frame of mind. We must lift them up, protect them, intercede for them, and rebuke the enemy on their behalf. When they are stronger, then we can discuss how they could have better handled the situation. We are in this together. We are to be united in the body of Christ. When one falls we must lift him up. I don’t ever want to have to explain to God why one of his children fell away and all I did was continued to point the finger at him. We must choose not to be self righteous. “Hello?” he said. “Uh, are you still there?” “I’m sorry. Yes, I’m here.” I replied in an almost confused sort of way. “What’s wrong? You know it was just a training exercise. He didn’t really die. I mean, I really do have to write a letter to his parents as part of the exercise and that more than anything has me thinking. Only the Sgt. will read it but it just really bothers me because it could have been real. It could have really happened. I don’t want to be that way in an actual war zone. I never want to have to explain that to someone's father, you know?” “Yes. Yes, I know. I just really got a revelation from God from what you told me. It was quite the eye opener.” I explained it to him and he too received the revelation immediately. It’s a good thing we did too. He carried this with him to Iraq. His unit prayed before every mission. His team was just that… a team. They stood together. They prayed together. They watched each other’s back. They all came home alive. Months later I too had this revelation brought back to memory at a time when I needed it most. A friend of mine was in a tough situation. He had fingers pointed at him in all directions. What he was being accused of was something that I wholeheartedly detested but I remembered what God showed me. I prayed for my friend and stood by him when others cast him out of their lives and out of their church. I fought the enemy on his behalf. I loved him and stood by him when his own family wouldn’t. Today God is using him in a mighty way to reach the lost and hurting. This world is not perfect now and it never will be. People will make mistakes. We are all in this together. We are the body of Christ. We can’t expect others to meet expectations that we can’t meet ourselves. In order to conquer the enemy for the sake of the people we must fight the war with love, selflessness, and integrity.
Labels: Amy's Articles, Encouragement, Friendship Leave a comment... 6 Comments Links to this post A few months ago a friend asked me, "have you ever experienced loneliness?" Without hesitation I immediately responded, "yes". I know my response surprised her, in fact at times with five kids and a busy ministry life it even surprises me, but only in the last several years have I been able to recognize it or even understand how it creeps into my life. I have yet to meet a woman who doesn't desire "alone" time. But this wasn't what my friend was referring to. She was talking about what Harold Rupp quotes in the book, "A Woman in her Home", "loneliness is not so much a matter of isolation as of insulation." There are many circumstances in which I have found myself insulated from others. I have felt the deep loneliness of location - often separated from family. I have felt the loneliness of being alone - in a strange land, pressed on every side by many people. I have felt the loneliness of wife hood - when my husband's tasks took him away, often and long. I have felt the loneliness of motherhood - when no one understood or could lend a helping hand or just the sheer demands with young kids. I have felt the loneliness of friendship - when the phone doesn't ring and my inbox is empty. I have felt the loneliness of standing up for what is right - while others mocked, laughed, and looked on with pity. I have felt the loneliness of deeply involved decisions - which no one else could solve. At times I still experience loneliness. The hardest thing to do during intense struggles, change, disappointments, pain, weariness, all of which can take place in the day to day life of a wife, mother, employee etc. is to continually reach out to others. It is during these times that we sometimes insulate our hearts in a defensive nature assuming that we will be protected. When in actuality we are allowing the disease of loneliness to have its perfect breeding ground. One of the distinct characteristics I noticed in experiencing loneliness in my own life was my focus had slowly shifted from pleasing God to looking at myself and allowing my circumstances to dictate how I felt rather than God and His word. I needed more than ever to reach out to others, stay committed to regular church attendance (yes, I am a Pastor's wife, but you would be surprised how easily it would be to have an excuse to miss a church service or two in an effort to insulate myself from others), attend a weekly bible study, mom's fellowship group or invite someone over for coffee or tea and yet during these times I have every excuse in the world not to go, not to reach out, not to risk the possibility of feeling worse. Dee Brestin in her book, "The Friendships of Women" states, "Intimacy is risky. No doubt about it. If I reach out to a woman to whom I am drawn, she may reject me. If I tell a woman that I love her, that I cherish her as a friend, she may respond little (or not at all). If I open my soul to another, trusting her with my dark side of failure, she may draw back in shocked silence (or she may tell others). If I love out of the overflow of my heart, promise another unfailing love until the day I die, then I have bound myself before God( and I bring upon myself His wrath if I break my vow) Risky. Risky. Risky." It is risky, but as I shared with my friend, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deut. 31:6 I encouraged her to begin attending the ladies bible study in her church. I told her, "It will take courage to fight through the walls that have been built up in her heart, but God will be waiting at the door." I prayed with her and reminded her that "she is not alone!" Today is Sunday. It is my prayer that each of you will attend or have attended a worship service wherever you are and reached out your arms to another and bring forth an encouraging word. We never know when our hands and feet will be what ministers to the heart of a lonely person. Go now, get dressed and deliver the promise that "He will never leave us or forsake us." In Him...Chris Labels: Chris's Articles, Friendship, Loneliness Leave a comment... 11 Comments Links to this post Is it possible to have an entire week of bad hair days? I mean seven consecutive days of follicle revolt? Last week the part in my hair crossed over to the dark side. Literally. The top of my head looked like a dark river ran through it. Even my geriatric Dalmatian with cataracts could see I needed color. He barked at me as an unrecognized intruder last Thursday. But this story is not about my bad hair week. This story is about what happened during my color weave at the salon. For those of you who have never experienced a foil color weave, let me just share this. You pray a thunder storm is not brewing overhead for fear of a lighting strike. --- A warm greeting, a hug and into the chair I go. For the next 45 minutes my stylist colors and weaves foil through my hair while we talk incessantly. We cover all the hot topics such as Dancing with the Stars, the book The Secret (don’t get me going on this. Fodder for another post), husbands, marriage and finally we move to matters of faith. We chat about her children and her husband’s faith. She pronounces me ready for the dryer. I rise from the chair, the black cape swirling around my ankles, head full of foil and walk to the hair dryer. Color works faster under heat. She shoves a magazine in my hand, turns on the dryer and walks away. I read, glance around at the other patrons. I love to watch people. Just two minutes pass when she returns wearing a serious look on her face. She sits close to me in the adjacent chair, apprehension oozing. I could tell something is burning in her mind. I hold up the magazine to shield our whispered conversation. “What is it?” She stares seriously at me, hesitates then whispers quickly, “Is it true that when you sneeze you breathe in Satan.” My eyebrows shoot up. I cannot fathom why she would believe such a thing. I smile warmly and gently shake my head, “No, it is not true.” I can see her shoulders relax; her serious look is replaced with relief. She jumps up and walks into the other room leaving me puzzling under the dryer. Because of her covert questioning I realize this odd rumor is currently circulating among the stylists in the shop. I am amazed to think these intelligent, adult women believe such nonsense. That is when it happens. I am struck by lightning. Not because of the foil in my hair. A spiritual lightning bolt hits home. I hear God whisper, “These women are greatly deceived about many things. They need salt and light.” Shake, shake, shake.  We are the salt shakers. He is the salt. Only through shaking out truth can we bring light to a dark world. So many people live in fear, believing half-truths or outright lies. They desperately don’t want to be afraid but they are. Christ’s followers know the truth and can set men and women free. Free from fear!I am thankful I had the courage to discuss my faith over the last several months with my stylist. It opened a door for light to shine on deception….. Satan in a sneeze for crying-out-loud! Jesus is salt and light. He illuminates deception. We need only be available, He will do the rest. Amazing!
 Labels: Faith, fear, Friendship, Lynn's Articles Leave a comment... 15 Comments Links to this post I got the email yesterday. A member of my prayer group was inviting us over for a "girls night" at her place. Food and fun. Which aren't always two different things. I said, "Yes." Of course. They're my friends, the ladies in the prayer group. And it's been a while since we got together for anything besides, well, prayer. When last night rolled around, however, I decided to blow it off. I was tired, not feeling well, and in pain. I didn't even call her. I told my husband I wasn't going, went into the master and starting running bath water. The plan was a long, candle-light soak, a cup of hot tea, and the next chapter of my current book. I don't know about you, but, to me, that sounds like the perfect way to end a really crazy week. That's when my cell phone rang. The "Where are you?" call. I made my excuses, hung up, and started lighting candles. Then the land line rang. It was another friend, the Militant Mama in our group. She's from up north and very persuasive. She was a high-level sales person for Yellow Pages in a previous life and I can never tell her no. Ten minutes later she was in my driveway honking for me. Ten minutes after that, I was in my friend's kitchen laughing with the ladies I have committed to praying with and for. The ones who hold me accountable and don't let me withdraw to pout when I step into one of life's valleys. The ones who cheer me as I approach my mountain tops. The ones God placed in my life to encourage me and to spur me on. The ones I can always be myself with and say exactly what I'm thinking and exactly how I'm feeling without worrying about them throwing brimstone at me for being a sinner because they realize they're sinners, too. Those friends. It's so incredibly easy to say, "I'm too tired." Too tired to be with them. Too tired to invite them over. Too tired to go out with them or meet with them or call them or drop them a note. It's just so easy to blow them off. Except for the Militant Mama. She's on me like a flea on a dog, you know? God puts people into our lives that He intends to encourage us, to hold us accountable, to be there for us, to laugh with us and hug us and pray with us and fuss at us when we get out of line. That's what He intended when he said, Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father,Because that neighbor nearby is there to be in our lives - to speak into our lives. Do we submit to His will for us in these relationships? Do we acknowledge that those people are not in our lives by accident? That there's a reason? That He set it all up because He wants us to be in fellowship with these people, to grow with and learn from them? To be there for them? Even when we'd rather just stay home? It is good for us make time every once in a while to get goofy with the girls. To be sisters that gather just to laugh and share stories and find out more about each other. You know, I've been praying with these women for almost five years and they didn't know I was Cajun? Maybe that's why He had me go last night - so they could know I'm Cajun. The looks on their faces were priceless. I loved our crawfish discussion. And the way they pronounced Tchoupitoulas! I thought I was going to bust a gut laughing. Seriously, when we have relationships that keep Jesus at the center, we grow closer to Him as we grow closer to each other. If you don't have the type of relationships in your life that bring you closer to God, please stop right now and pray that He changes that for you. But just know that He may insist Jesus become your best friend, first. He had a much better time planned for me last evening than I had planned for myself.  Labels: Carol's Articles, Friendship Leave a comment... 14 Comments Links to this post
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