It’s been one week since I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I’ve been through a lot of emotions in the days since.  I think I was in shock at first.  I didn’t really know what questions to ask my doctor (rheumatologist).  Once my doctor stated the diagnosis and explained her proposed course of action and what my medication options were, it seemed pretty straight forward.  I took the papers she gave me which included an overview of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) as well as information about the two medications we discussed, and left the office.  I went to my car and just sat there for a few minutes.  I called my husband but left a voicemail to return my call.  Then I called my best friend to report the doctor’s findings rather matter-of-factly and with very little drama.  It’s just generally how I do things.

Before I had gone into the doctor’s office that day, I had breathed a prayer that I would have an answer to what was going on in my body.  I have heard so many stories from people who undergo test after test, only to be told their doctor has no idea what is going on.  So, my first reaction upon my diagnosis was a kind of relief just for getting an answer.  With a diagnosis there can be a treatment plan for managing the disease rather than chasing after an undiagnosed phantom.

My next thought was, “Well, okay, so I have rheumatoid arthritis.  Now what?”  It never occurs to me to blame God or ask “Why me?”  I have always known that God loves me but that He also doesn’t play favorites.  The fact that I’m a Christian doesn’t mean that I won’t have hardship or tragedy or challenges or pain.  The Bible says that “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:45

I also believe that God can use situations like this as an opportunity for me to learn and grow in my relationship with Him as well as point others to Him by how I manage this disease. I want to glorify God in everything I do; in how I act and react, in how I handle stress, in how I think, in how I express myself, in how I love.  I believe God can use any situation, however daunting it may be, to reveal Himself and to bring glory to His name.  I pray that I will continue to be moldable and teachable as clay in the Potter’s hands and that He will re-shape me into a vessel for His use and His glory.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord—Isaiah 55:8

My best friend, Rebecca, submitted the following comment in response to my last post.  I asked her if I could quote her and she said, “I guess, if you feel you have to.” I wanted you to see it because it is true and profound. This is godly wisdom at its finest. Thank you, Rebecca, for speaking truth into my life once again.

“I submit this response to you as a grandmother, mother, and wife, to another mother and wife. There is no greater cause than affecting the lives of those under our own roofs. And there is no greater effect for eternity than allowing Christ to live through us to them. When we are being faithful to champion the lives that God has entrusted to us in our own homes, we can also be trusted to expand that sphere of influence to countless others. The people you mentioned did wonderful things in their lifetimes that helped shape the world we now live in and affected lives in ways we may never fully comprehend. God used these people to accomplish history altering events for his purposes. I wonder how often though in our lofty zeal to do something “big” for the Lord and our world, we overlook the lives in our own domicile. Could God be calling us, as moms and wives to look under our own noses for that cause to champion? We may not be remembered for the kind of paramount undertakings that these great individuals were, but in the hearts of the human beings that God placed directly in our care we will be remembered for eternity.”

Since this was written just a few weeks ago, there have been some life altering events in my family which confirm to me that being the best mom I can be (ie. self-sacrificing, nurturing, loving, etc) is my greatest calling…for such a time as this.

I watched Schindler’s List today for the first time.  Oh, I have seen clips and heard the story but today I watched the entire movie from start to finish.  What an incredible story or more accurately, depiction of a true life story.  I am struck by this thought: The incredible impact potential of one person. In this case, Oskar Schindler, initially fueled by greed but later moved by compassion, saves the lives of 1100 Jews who would have otherwise likely been killed.  Oskar was one man and yet because of his efforts during World War II in sparing the lives of a remnant of Jewish people, today there are many descendants given a chance at life.

There have been many others who have taken a stand against a social problem or championed a cause.  When we see the organization after many years of existence, it is easy to forget that it started with one person—one man or woman with a deep conviction and a desire to do something about it.

The Salvation Army began in 1865 when William Booth, a London minister, gave up the comfort of his pulpit and decided to take his message into the streets where it would reach the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute. Today, The Salvation Army is stronger and more powerful than ever. Now, in over 106 nations around the world, The Salvation Army continues to work where the need is greatest, guided by faith in God and love for all people.

Compassion International’s work spans 57 years, from modest beginnings in 1952 when one man, Everett Swanson, felt compelled to help 35 orphaned children in South Korea, to today, where more than 1 million children in 25 countries benefit from that original vision.

Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. Barton first heard of the Swiss-inspired International Red Cross Movement while visiting Europe following the Civil War. Returning home, she campaigned for an American Red Cross society and for ratification of the Geneva Convention protecting the war-injured, which the United States ratified in 1882.

So here’s the question that keeps rolling around in my head: What am I doing? Am I moved by social injustice? Am I championing a cause? Is there anything I am involved in today that will reap positive benefits in the future?  Am I involved in anything with long-lasting or even eternal value?

Enough about me…how about you?

Sources: www.salvationarmy.org; www.ci.org; www.redcross.org

While I was lying awake last night wishing I were fast asleep or at least hoping for a dancing sugar-plum or two, I began to compare Santa Claus and Jesus in my mind.  Both are seen as benevolent, kind individuals. Both are viewed as giving, generous and loving. And both judge character.

Santa keeps a list of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice.  If you make Santa’s nice list you receive a beautiful gift but if you find yourself on his naughty list, the only thing you can expect is a lump of coal.  Santa’s standards are pretty clear-cut and rigid with no room for grace.

Jesus also has pretty clear-cut standards (see Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and Ephesians 4:17 – 5:21). If I find myself on the “naughty list”, so to speak, I can rely on the love and grace of Jesus to restore my relationship with Him. I am so thankful that Jesus, while still holding me accountable for my sin, is ready and eager to forgive me the moment I repent.  I don’t have to worry about the “naughty or nice list” because of His incredible mercy.   Ultimately, through His forgiveness, I am REDEEMED! Hallelujah!

There is a tradition in western Christian churches to observe a season of advent leading up to Christmas.  Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before December 25^th and marks the expectation and preparation for the coming of the Christ—the Messiah.  Christians believe that the season of Advent serves as a reminder both of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for their Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for the second coming of Christ.

The season of Advent reminds me to keep Christ at the center of the Christmas season.  It is so easy to get caught up in the hubbub of shopping and traffic and lights and parties this time of year.  I don’t think there is anything wrong with getting excited about Christmas but I never want to forget or even not give enough attention to Jesus.  Jesus really is the reason for the season.  I heard a phrase the other day that I liked.  Someone said, “There has only been one Christmas.  All the rest are anniversaries.”

I try to remind my children throughout the month of December that Christmas is really about Jesus but what does that look like in our lives?  We still go shopping and buy gifts for each other but we tend to be quite conservative in our spending.  Another thing we like to do is buy gifts for people we don’t know (or don’t know yet).  This year our house church is buying gifts some nursing home residents. We are going to personally deliver the gifts and hang out with them for awhile.  Who knows, maybe this will be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.  That’s what we’re hoping for.

Christmas is about giving–whether it is purchased gifts or homemade gifts, whether it is the gift of your time or your talent.  It’s about giving something of yourself to another…just like Jesus did.

Whatever you do this Advent season, be reminded that Jesus came to earth to dwell among us and show us the way to eternal life through the forgiveness of sin.  He gave His life so that we might truly live.  Merry Christmas!

A few months ago I saw a headline that read: Shuttle Launch. I remember at the time thinking, “So what? That’s no big deal.” But that thought has been rolling around in my head ever since. I’ve been thinking about how it is human nature to trivialize things. I don’t know why we do it but we tend to trivialize awesome events into common place events. The more we are exposed to something, the less in awe we are of it. We have done it with the launching of a space shuttle. I’m talking about sending a multimillion dollar spacecraft with multimillion dollar technology into space to rendezvous with the Hubble Space Telescope to perform some needed maintenance. When you stop to think about this, I mean truly stop and truly think, it is awesome. By definition, awesome means to inspire awe. Think back with me to 1969 when the entire world stopped what they were doing to watch 3 American men land a spacecraft called Apollo 11 on the moon. Talk about awe inspiring! We have gone so much further into space and the technology has continued to expand our universe by leaps and bounds since 1969. We have seen many shuttle launches in these 40 years. Our hearts have been inspired by the enormity of it. And our hearts have been wounded by tragedy while we watched the Challenger disintegrate only 73 seconds into the mission. And yet, in 2009, a space shuttle launch is met with yawns as though it were an everyday event.

So then I start thinking about how we do the same thing with God. We trivialize the world around us, perhaps in an attempt to understand it; to get our minds around it. God is the Creator of this universe with all of its beauty and vastness. He is the Creator of the human eye, the Creator of thousands of species of trees and butterflies, the Creator of oceans and mountains, the Creator of emotions within the human heart. We are surrounded by God’s awe-inspiring creation. We are literally bombarded by it on a daily basis. And yet, we take it all for granted. When is the last time you stopped and thought about that? When is the last time you were inspired by the awesomeness of God?

Psalm 19:1-2 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.”
Lord, may I never grow tired of Your creation. May I never be accused of taking You for granted. May I never cease to be awe-inspired by You.

Romans 11:33-36 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay Him?  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”

A dear friend shared this scripture with me this morning and it really ministered to me.  As I read it, praise was spontaneously building inside me as this truth resonated within my heart.  Our God is awesome and I praise Him! 

I have recently been reminded just how blessed I am to have a life of abundance, to be healthy, to be able to get up and move around as I wish, to jump in my car and drive to the store where I can buy whatever I need from a plethora of choices, to be married to and love the same man for almost 23 years, to be the mother of two wonderful daughters, to be surrounded by family and friends who love and support me, who pray for me and encourage me.

Lord, help me never to take my life for granted even the simple things.  Help me to honor the life You have blessed me with by living to the fullest of my potential and serving You to the best of my ability.

Have you ever seen those e-mails that are “Dear God” notes written by little kids?  Well, I saw one today that touched my heart.  It read like this: “Dear God, I think about you sometimes even when I’m not praying. ~Elliot”  I think that touches God’s heart just like it touched mine.  I believe God wants us to think about Him even when we’re not praying. 

When is the last time you did that–thought about God when you weren’t praying?  Have you ever taken time out of your busy routine to think about God’s love? About His grace and mercy in your life?  About His plan for you? About how He feels about our lost world? About what He wants to do in you and through you?  About His character qualities?

Take a moment or two or ten to think about God today.  I believe it will be a blessing to Him and to you.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” 

Dear God

~Philippians 4:8

A cool clique

My husband just reminded me of a topic we’ve often discussed over the years. It seems we’ve often been on the receiving end of complaints from people (usually churched people) about cliques and how bad they are. The definition of a clique is an exclusive group of people who share interests, views, purposes, patterns of behavior, or ethnicity (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Have you ever noticed how the people who tend to complain about the evils of cliques are usually doing so from the outside?

I think cliques are cool. They are not only cool but a necessary part of any large group or organization. Think about it. If you attend a church of at least 100 people, there is no possible way for you to truly be in relationship with all of the people. Since companionship and intimacy are two of our most basic human needs we tend to gravitate toward people with common interests. In tradional church settings this process is easily aided by how we compartmentalize everyone. We have Men’s ministries, Women’s ministries, choirs and worship teams, Kid’s church, softball teams, Bible study groups, mission groups, youth groups and the list goes on and on.  These groups are designed to help us get connected with people who share our interests so that we can build good relationships and so that we may accomplish more together than might be possible alone.

This not only occurs in churches but in our workplaces as well.  Every business, no matter how large or small, has departments or divisions within the structure of the organization.  We sit in cubicles arranged in clusters or share office space within departments.  This is designed to make things more efficient and to help things run smoothly.  Our offices are arranged and our teams are assigned by departments or divisions that share common traits.  We tend to make our closest work relationships with those with which we work most closely.

And yet, there is so much talk about how cliques are bad; how they exclude people and cause division and hurt feelings.  Well, I disagree.  I think cliques are good.  Some of my closest lifetime friendships have come from so called cliques.  Right now, the house church that meets in my home could be considered a clique.  In fact, I’m sure there are those who refer to it as such.  But to me, it is a group of people who share common interests, who are building close relationships and who are accomplishing more together than we might be able to on our own.  It is a wonderful thing.

What do I have to say to those who don’t approve of cliques?  Cliques are cool! Get over it!!

I grew up in Oregon surrounded by God’s handiwork.  I am a lover of nature having had my senses trained from early on.  Have you ever noticed how many shades of green there are in the world?  Or how many varieties of trees or leaves or flowers or birds or butterflies or rocks?  There is so much water in Oregon and it comes in so many forms.  There are rivers and streams and lakes and natural springs and waterfalls.  Oh, and of course, the RAIN!  The rain that starts in September and doesn’t stop till June.  The rain that keeps the grass green and the wildlife hydrated.  I spent the first 25 years of my life in Oregon but I have lived in many beautiful places since then, including Olympia, WA; Flagstaff, AZ; Colorado Springs, CO; Oakridge, OR; Albuquerque, NM; and now McKinney, TX.  I have come to prefer BLUE SKIES over gray and SUNSHINE over rain, but then I wonder…would I appreciate the blue skies and sunshine if I hadn’t experienced the gray skies and rain so much in my beginnings. 

I do not take the natural beauty around me for granted but instead I notice it and savor it and appreciate it.  I also am very aware of God’s blessings in my life.  I have experienced some gray skies and rain but also abundant blue skies and sunshine.  I notice and savor and appreciate God’s blessings in my life.  I serve an awesome God who has amazed me with His love and changed me with His mercy and grace.  I am eternally grateful and forever His.