78 Visits.

{It has been a privilege to be a small part of so many people's stories over the last several years.   I am honored to tell this one.}

Almost 10 years ago; I was shopping at Lifeway, in our new town.  I spotted a young lady with great hair.  Now--if you know me at all...you know, finding the right person to do my hair would be top on the list of things to accomplish quickly after a move...right up there with family doctor, dentist, grocery store, etc.  The young lady with great hair gave me the name of her stylist.  Here’s the rest of the story.  

I called the stylist and found that she had a quaint little place in her house.  I LOVED her.  And so began the relationship.  What I didn’t know then was that because of a series of events, she would become unable to continue her business. However; she introduced me to her daughter, who had just completed her training to take over the business. 

The young lady was fantastic.  If I loved her mother, I ADORED my new girl and very soon, she became my friend.  She was very young and had a lot of things going on in her personal life....but she confided in me and I began to pray for her.  Her mom and I had developed a trusting relationship...she even called me “the she-preacher!” 

Soon, my young friend became a single mom.  She would tell you this was NOT the direction she would have taken for her life.  She had other plans, but her life’s choices took her on a detour.

Over the next couple of years, she dated a few different guys and then decided to focus on herself and her little man.   She is a great mom and has really put his interests first; but there was something missing.  She was going to church; but she would say at that time, she wasn’t fully committed to a relationship with Jesus or to a life of faith.

About 2 years ago, a young man she had known for a long time came back into her life.  He was a single dad and a friendship began.  I was so incredibly proud of the way she handled dating this guy. Friendship was their priority, neither of them wanting to rush things; yet both wanting their families to spend time together.   The two of them began to read the Word together. They prayed together and attended church together.  What was missing was found, in a life of faith.  

This young couple has blended their family in marriage and for more than a year now; have been living the life of faith.  They are expecting a 3rd addition to the family in the spring.  I am beyond excited to tell you, they are doing well walking in faith together.

All the while; I have been praying, speaking words of truth, even though at times, they have been hard to hear.   I’m sure she had other people helping her lean to faith in Jesus....but she calls me her spiritual mother.  What an honor for me to have had the privilege of sitting in her chair for 78 visits. 
She told me today, “I’m ever so grateful.”

78 visits of loving a young lady.
78 visits of quietly speaking truth into a life.
78 visits of building a relationship that will last for eternity.  

I tell you her story today to encourage you.  No matter where God has you in life...you can tell HIStory in love with your life and believe me...there are plenty of people who need to hear it.  

It may take 78 visits; but it is worth a lifetime.

m

“Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-8 MSG

Hold Up!

{This post is dedicated to my friends, Maury & Dana, who encouraged me to keep writing.....as it turns out....they read the blog!}

Exodus 17 tells the story of Moses leading the Israelites into battle against their enemies.  While Moses was on the mountain holding up the staff; the Israelites began to win against the enemy. When Moses’ arms became tired and they fell to his side-the enemy would overtake the Israelites and begin to defeat them.  Along came Aaron and Hur-- fellow leaders of the Israelites tribes.  Each of these men raised an arm; so that Moses’ arms and staff would once again be lifted high, defeating the enemy.

While we are certainly not Moses defeating a literal army against the enemy, we most definitely need your prayer support to hold us up.  This enemy we fight seeks to prowl and devour the souls of a nation with sickness, disease, and death.  There is no better ‘arm holder’ than a prayer partner.

Over these years in ministry, we have been so grateful for those prayer partners who remember us to the Father.  We often tell our church family as some have transitioned from one church and town to another; we will cover you in prayer until you get settled into a church that will take over that prayer cover. Not to say that we wouldn’t continue to pray for them-but I think you get the idea. 

Will you hold us up?  We are now about a month away from this new adventure.  Our time of traveling to raise our funds, finish selling our ‘stuff’ and packing up the rest is rapidly coming to a close.  We have received countless emails, facebook messages and words of encouragement.  We are so grateful for your support.

Here are a few things that can top the prayer list for the Schmelzenbachs in Swaziland:

• The smooth transition out of our house and safe travels on the road and in the air
• Wisdom, discernment and teachable spirits when we arrive and as we adjust to our new life and culture, as well as following the Lord’s leading for our place in ministry
• That we would draw close to one another on the tough days of feeling out of place and homesick
• Continued support as we raise our own salary; whether monthly or one-time gifts
• Katie and Peyton as they find their place of service and continue homeschooling (me too!)
• Pray for all The Luke Commission staff as we all land next month and begin the work of compassionate medicine--seeking to save lives by meeting a physical need and bringing the Word of God and the love of Jesus to Swaziland.

Siyabonga.  (Thank you.)

m

96 Days to GO!

We are moving.  I have been fielding facebook messages and emails asking what is going on; so here we go.....

Our family is moving to Swaziland, Africa. We will be working in partnership with Nazarene Compassionate Ministry Partner, The Luke Commission.  TLC is a compassionate medicine organization that takes a mobile medical clinic to remote and underserved areas of Swaziland.  No-we do not have any medical experience to offer.  We will be ministering along side them in the areas of pastoral and discipleship ministries; as well as administrative support--among other things that we do not even know yet!

We will be serving as Mission Corps missionaries with our denomination, The Church of the Nazarene-which means that we are raising our own salary and partnering with many friends, family and extended family to GO and make disciples in the nation of Swaziland.  We are grateful, blessed and humbled beyond words at how God is answering prayer on our behalf.  Here are just a few ways He has answered:

• Our children are excited and getting more excited as the count goes down.
• The church we currently serve has been incredibly gracious in allowing us to stay, 5 months after our ‘resignation.’
• Our house is being sold--without a sign in the yard or a realtor. Wow.
• We have all our prospective dates for speaking in churches before we go booked and have more on stand-by.
• At 96 days to go, we are at approximately 65% funded.
• Provisions are being made now for a home when we arrive in Manzini, Swaziland.

This list is just what is coming to mind now...He is blessing us in unbelievable ways. 

Some frequently asked questions--

“How do we get a care package to you?” 

• The answer is--hand carry!  We are not assured to receive a package that would come in the mail, so the system would be to send us an email mkschmelz@lukecommission.org or brianschmelz@lukecommission.org,  then-we would send back an email with the addresses of upcoming Work and Witness teams that would be coming over to us.  The package would be sent to them to hand carry or pack in their suitcases to bring to us.....so hand carried from home.  This will be a treat and we welcome packages anytime!

“How can I help? What can we do for you while you are there?”

Prayer is our greatest request.  There are many, many things that we don’t even know yet to ask you to pray for; but here are a few things we can ask:

• Pray that we stay focused on Christ and our relationship to Him above all
• Pray specifically for Brian as he continues to lead our current church-that the Lord would anoint his study time and strongly speak through Brian in our final days here--as well as the church leadership team as they search for the next pastor
• Pray for endurance and strength we continue to pack and prepare our house
• Pray for our health and safety
• Pray that even in the excitement of a new place that we would continue to sense God’s presence and His touch; especially in times that may seem lonely and homesick
• Pray that we will continue to see His Hand of provision as we close in on our final days of fundraising 

One of the memories of this time of preparation will be etched in my mind forever.   My all-time favorite part of the worship services in which we have had the privilege of sharing our story is the close of the service.  Without fail, at the close of every gathering; the pastor has asked us to come forward and kneel at the altar and then we have been surrounded by these loving, wonderful, praying people.  

This, this is how I KNOW we go, covered in prayer by the believers, interceding on our behalf; raising us up to Heaven, and as He hears, He provides. 

Pray.  It’s the most important answer.

We are grateful.

Ephesians 6:18-20a (MSG)

Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.  And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time.

m

Today.

As I sit writing this today, a precious friend of mine is going through something no parent should have to go through, planning a funeral for her son.  Heart wrenching and just totally wrong.  There are no words at a time like this to comfort or heal.  Yes, Jesus cares, yes, He is present, yes, God heals and all of those spiritual things; but let’s face it, the physical and emotional hurt is bad and it just sucks (sorry Mom, sometimes we have to use sub-standard words). 

Many have faced losses recently, whether tragic and sudden or slow and painful, yet losses none the less.  It’s grief. Denial. Anger. Hurt. Bitterness. Memories. Celebrating a life.  Repeat.  We think about conversations we have had with our lost loved one, places we went, things we did, plans for the future...then sadness that those plans will not be fulfilled how we expected.  We reflect on the life, what we have learned from the one we lost and we laugh and share all the stories that make us giggle remembering good times.

One thing I believe we can take away from these experiences is this, don’t wait. Say what you need to say!  Love people. Make a difference.  Share Jesus. Don’t wait to tell everyone who means anything to you how you feel about them.

As we laid to rest a dear sweet saint years ago; I remember very vividly the story that was told about her and her family.  It was something they lived, making sure that every word counted.  Whenever any one of them was parting from the other, whether just heading home from church or traveling to a country a world away, they would always say to one another, “See you at the house.”  The sentence was far more than 5 little words.  It meant, ‘I love you, you mean the world to me and even if this is the last time I see you on this earth; I will see you on the other side.’

Call your loved ones.  Maybe you need to make amends with someone, forgive, or be forgiven.  Do it, don’t wait.

My love and prayers to you, Teresa.

See you at the house, Josh.

The Lord is my shepherd;

I have everything I need.

He lets me rest in green pastures.

He leads me to calm water.

He gives me new strength.

He leads me on paths that are right

for the good of his name.

Even if I walk through a very dark valley,

I will not be afraid,

because you are with me.

Your rod and your shepherd’s staff comfort me.

You prepare a meal for me

in front of my enemies.

You pour oil of blessing on my head; 

you fill my cup to overflowing.

Surely your goodness and love will be with me

all my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23 NCV

m

Clutter

Clutter.

We all have it.  

As we begin to clear out closets, drawers, rooms and the garage, we realize how much 'stuff' we have accumulated in the 9 years we have lived in one place.

Having everything we need is a comfort most of us afford; for even more of us, having everything we want is a luxury.

It begs the question, why do we keep so much stuff?  Sometimes even hoarding things...like paperwork, books, 'sentimental' items...just to name a few.  Maybe it's because we don't want to deal with it when it enters our home, maybe the clutter belongs to another family member and we are waiting for them to take care of it.

I have to admit, the clutter is totally overwhelming.  If not for a very good friend who is gifted at seeing a task and knowing where to begin; I may be inclined to just walk away from this mess and wait until it's crunch time to deal with it.

Clutter can be spiritual as well.  How many times do we feel that twinge of the Holy Spirit to do something or take care of a situation, and we put it off until later?  Often times, we know what it is we need to do, we know what is right, but we ignore what we know and do what we want anyway.

When we pile on the spiritual 'stuff,' it can become overwhelming to even know how to get out from under it.  Many times, we may just walk away from the spiritual things (i.e. the church, Christian friends or even God) because we just do not want to deal with our own stuff.

I love the word picture here in Matthew 3:12: 

'He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.'

He is where you start.  You see, what happens when you come to Him, you allow HIM to be the organizer and the detailer.  He will do the de-cluttering.  When you let Him; He will take care of the junk.  The old things that you deemed so important don't seem so earth shattering anymore.  He will change your 'want to.' 


2 Corinthians 5:17
'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.'

De-clutter.  Not just your home, but most importantly, bring your spiritual clutter to the One who is the Master of the mess.

m

First Reaction

We are experiencing some very interesting and unique times in our lives.  Preparing to go to the mission field full-time invokes quite a range of questions from friends, family and even acquaintances.  It is kind of funny to me what the first reactions are.  I wonder if any of the disciples went through similar situations, well, except the hair color!

What?
You are going where?
Where will you live?
What do the kids think about this?
How long will you be gone?
When will you move?
What will you do with Ellie?
How will you get paid?

And a popular one:
What will you do about your hair?

My absolute all-time favorite first reaction to the news of our accepting a mission call comes from a child, well, a tween.  We have a sweet friend who wrote us a letter asking if she can set up a table at our church to have a bake sale.  She intends to sell cookies and cinnamon rolls (which she specified she will make from scratch) in order to help us raise financial support.

Wow.  Now that is a reaction I'd love to duplicate.  Her first response was, 'I see a need.' This is a kid who gets being part of the solution and wants to do her part.  I love it!

Don't get me wrong,  the curiosity from others is well-meaning and we feel blessed to have people in our lives that fully support following God's call wholeheartedly.  I just cannot help but learn a lesson from our little friend.  Why do I sometimes call into question a motive, when I should be asking 'how can I help?'

The truth is this about our missions call.  We have been praying and asking God for wisdom and guidance for years.  If you know us at all, you KNOW that we would not make this kind of decision overnight.  We have sought God and His guidance alone.

Our prayer is that our first reaction to His plan would always be, 'I see a need' and 'how can I help?' Whether the idea is popular or not was not the question.  How will it all come about, we don't know.  God guides, He provides.  He has proven faithful to His followers for centuries, to our family for more than 100 years, to Brian and myself as a couple for 20 years.   We trust He will continue.  We covet your prayers and your first reaction.

Below, I'm answering the above questions.....just for the curious.

What?  Yes, we are moving to Africa.
You are going where? Yes, Africa, Swaziland, to be specific.
Where will you live?
In a home, not a mud hut or tent with a thatch roof.
What do the kids think about this?
They have been part of the process, and while they will be giving up luxuries, they understand they will gain plenty.
How long will you be gone?
Currently planning on 3 years. (Jan-Oct-Swaziland, Nov-Dec-US)
When will you move? We plan on leaving in January 2013
What will you do with Ellie? We have arrangements with a close family friend to care for this 4-legged family member.
How will you get paid?
We are currently seeking monthly supporters and speaking at a few churches to raise our prayer and financial support.

And a popular one:
What will you do about your hair?
This is a good one.  My very special salon girl (Misty) has been on alert and she is helping me by getting my hair color to take with me AND teaching Brian the basics of trimming my hair ;) Love her!

Most importantly, will you pray?

If you would like to know more or learn how you can be involved in joining hands in ministry with us, visit:
missionswazi.org

1 Corinthians 1:4-9
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus,  for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you,  so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by Him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

m

Pound, Pry, Pull

[Confirmation the Lord is moving both of our hearts in the same direction, when Brian and I write similar thoughts.  

I have asked him to be my guest blogger today. ]

There have been times as I worked on a project that I have reached into my tool box and in that moment the tool I needed was not available. I am a son, and have a son, so I am well aware of who likely saw that tool last. Yes, I could complain about not having the right tool, I could even stop the project and go searching for the right tool, maybe even buy or borrow a new one. There have been times though that I have actually used a wrench to pound a nail into a board or a screw driver to pry something apart; even a set of pliers to pull out the bent nail my wrench just hit. I will admit,  I have used tools to accomplish a task for which they were not designed. Pound, pry, pull; the bottom line was, I got the job done even if it took a little longer because I used a different tool than was intended.

As the owner of the tools I can choose to use any of my tools as I see fit. If the right tool is unavailable for the job at hand and I need to get the job done, then I can choose to use the next best tool available. In that project, it is not the tool that decides if or how it is used. It is the owner of the tool that makes the decision.

I often wonder how God’s kingdom would be impacted for eternity if we chose to understand these truths. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I have submitted my life to be His tool and He can choose to use me anyway He sees fit.

If God had a tool He intended to use for a kingdom task and it was not available, can he choose to use a different tool? Maybe it would help me in my journey to ask myself which tool am I choosing to be? The one that is available or unavailable? Do I bristle up when the Lord reaches for me, slipping out of His grasp with my own self-will refusing to be used. Do I yield to His will? And if I happen to be the next best tool, can God still do amazing things for the Kingdom with and through me? 

I have been asked on more than one occasion why in the world would I choose to leave a ministry position I love... serving a church family that loves me and my family? Why would I leave a place so close to the ocean, right on the Gulf of Mexico with all of its outside activities on or near the water?  Why would I choose to part with most of my earthly possessions and move my family halfway around the world to live in a third world area that has the highest HIV/AIDS rate of any country on the globe? 

In those moments with those questions I can only reply that as the Lord’s tool He has the authority to use me anyway He chooses.  At this time, for this task, He has chosen to use us in this way. I believe that He knows the end result and I am only a part of the project. A tool in His hand to pound, pry and pull with as He sees fit.

Brian

Paddle Partner

{I am not a canoe-er, kayaker or any kind of paddle boater, whatsoever. So when I say, 'we took the youth group canoeing,' I mean, I sat in the boat and ducked, dodged and did my best to help steer our canoe away from branches.}

Many lessons can be learned on a canoe trip down the river.  For instance, who you choose as a partner is critical.  Does your partner have the same goal as you or does your partner's goal for the day look more like a bumper boat party?

So step 1- choose a good partner. Enough said.

Step 2- get a game plan.   Exactly which side of the boat do you paddle on?!! You might want to know that paddling left takes you right, and vice versa.  Good knowledge to have when you are heading in the direction of a tree trunk.

Step 3- COMMUNICATE with your paddle partner.  The two of you will have a smoother ride down this river if you anticipate the obstacles together, or even better, trust the front rider to shout out which direction is best...after all, she has the best view on that canoe!

Step 4- don't panic....well, ok, scream a little if you need to (I sure do), but don't rock the boat!  You can do this!

Step 5- when you do hit the obstacles in the water, and you WILL hit them, paddle together to get yourself turned around and headed in the right direction.

Step 6- enjoy the ride.  Really.  It can be both leisurely and stressful, but the best strategy for canoeing is ride the current.  Over-paddling can get you in worse trouble, you could end up going around in circles or flipped backwards or upside down!

I'm sure you've got the point of this illustration by now.  Many lessons.  Christian living.  Marriage. Friendship.  Mentoring. Teamwork.  Really good stuff for life.

During one point in the trip, one set of youth 'paddle partners' said to the adult chaperones, 'Hey, can you go ahead of us, so we can see how you do this and know what route to take?'  Seriously good advice for the generation following us.  Let us help you map the river.  We know at what points you will need to make adjustments, duck or dodge obstacles that are in your way.

This is what we do as followers of Christ.  Follow Him.  Some further down the 'river' than others, but ultimately, all rowing in the same direction.

m

Change of Direction

I grew up in a glass house. You know, the ministry kind? People looking in, your family is watched....good example or not! As a teenager, I made my decision. I was NOT going to marry a minister and my life would NOT be dictated by glass walls.

Hhhmmmph.

Little did I know, God was preparing me all that time to do just that, live life with people looking in.

When Brian and I married, almost 20 years ago, we had great plans. Business opportunities, great sales training and skills, on our way to acquiring wealth.

God's plan; however, turned out to include wealth of a totally different kind. Brian had been working in management with a company who decided to eliminate his position. (There is a much longer version of this story, if you ever want to know it!) Following losing his job, many long nights of prayer and counsel, we took a position in full time ministry....right where I said I would NEVER be. BUT GOD prepared our hearts and He directed our path.

A church in Pensacola took a chance on an inexperienced pastor more than 9 years ago. Our family has grown, not only physically, but a tremendous growth spiritually as we have led the faithful people of our church. We love the people and we are blessed to be loved in return.

Once again, here we are, a change in the direction of our path.

Several years ago we met a couple, Harry and Echo VanderWal, who were doing mobile medical mission work in Swaziland, South Africa. We were intrigued. We spent time with them and had annual visits upon their return to the US. In God's providence, we had the opportunity to serve along side them when in 2010 we took our family to Swaziland for a month long mission trip as well as the celebration of the centennial of the Church of the Nazarene. One night, while staying with the VanderWals in Manzini, Swaziland, they shared with us their miracle campus dream concept. Their desire was (and still is) to have a clinic, a home for themselves, a commercial size kitchen and eating area, small cottages where work and witness teams would stay when they came to serve and finally, they pointed out a small home, possibly for 4, that they would like to have a pastor living there on staff. I though my heart would beat out of my chest or I might throw up. I thought then, 'this is a place we can serve.' I had no idea that God was planting the seed in me to return 2 years later.

Our hearts have been drawn to the work Harry and Echo are doing with their organization, The Luke Commission. And so, after years prayerfully considering the timing, we now have been asked to pastor with The Luke Commission. How humbled and honored we feel to be serving in such a capacity.

I could not have prepared for what God continues to teach me in this glass house life. These God lessons and blessings have been far more valuable than the world's definition of riches. Obedience is the real wealth.

We covet your prayer and support as we prepare to go in January 2013.

This blog will begin to be linked to a website my family is creating. It will turn into more of a journal of God's stories. I look forward to writing them.

As was written on the fly leaf of Brian's great-grandfather, Harmon's bible:

“Lay any burden upon me; only sustain me. Send me anywhere; only go with me. Sever any tie, but that one which binds me to Thy service and to Thy Heart.” ― David Livingstone

Matthew 28:18-20 MSG
“God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 NRSV
"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.' "

Go as He commanded.

m

Be Our Guest

Our church is all abuzz, our home is flittering with activity. We are preparing for guests. Our local church celebrates 50 years of God's faithfulness this coming weekend. We have invited those who have been part of our church family to worship and fellowship with us, thanking God for all the lives that have been touched throughout the ministry of the church.

You know the feeling of anticipation and excitement when company is coming; cleaning, shopping for supplies and getting meals prepared...waiting for your special guests to arrive. It is such a joy to experience fellowship with each other.

I wish we felt like this every weekend. We have an opportunity at every gathering to make a difference in people's lives.

Think about it from the guest's perspective. Don't you love it when you go to visit someone and they have made provisions for your stay? Don't you feel special? I know I do. When you see that beds have been prepared, towels laid out, coffee or your favorite drink purchased, it makes you feel like your host or hostess was anticipating your arrival!

Our home and church are extensions of one another in a way. As Christians, we are extensions of Christ. Loving people and being hospitable should flow naturally from us because of our love for Him.

And so it goes with our spiritual lives. Ready yourself for worship. Prepare your attitude and spirit to meet with Him, more than Sundays! We worship Him with how we live our lives. When you are in the right spirit, anticipating His arrival, surely you will feel His presence and sense His touch. He's the most distinguished Guest you will ever host, and He wants an Everlasting stay!

Let me encourage you today, if you don't know Him, invite Jesus to be your Guest. If you are already a believer, welcome others to know Him too.

Hebrews 13:2 MSG
Be ready with a meal or a bed when it’s needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!

Philemon 4-7 NASB
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

m

Listening for The Voice

Early June has been our daughter Katie-Beth's favorite time of year since she was two, it's dance recital time! She loves all types of dance; but ballet, pointe and lyrical rank among her favorites. We have the awesome privilege of being involved in a Christian dance studio, with a goal of praising God and declaring the message of Jesus.

During recital week, rehearsal is intense. Last minute run thrus polishing each choreographed move is vital to each dancer. One day, I was watching one large group as they finished up their rehearsal. Several teachers were involved and it seemed as if some dancers didn't quite know whose voice to listen to. Each giving instruction just as important as the others, yet many voices were speaking all at once. Don't get me wrong, I didn't see this as a negative sight. You guessed it, I saw this as a spiritual application!

Sometimes, our lives become overrun with the voices all around us. Some voices very good and worth listening to. Some, not so good. People in your life are always going to have something to say. It's up to you to decide who to listen to. You can evaluate the opinion of those who speak into your life by asking yourself a few questions like this:

How's their walk with God? Is this a person you would call to pray?
Do they live what they say they believe? How are their personal relationships?
Do you value this person and their opinion in your life? Are they trustworthy?
How are they raising their kids? (especially in light of giving me parenting advice...would I want my kids to turn out the way theirs have?)

I could probably go on with this list, but you get the idea. If the voices in your life do not meet your criteria, you might want to consider making some changes.

Most importantly, listen to The Voice. His is the One that matters most. This world makes A LOT of noise. We've got to get still and get familiar with the sound of the Savior. Knowing His voice will guide our life's direction. You can start with the Word. This is His Voice written down for us.

John 10:1-5 Message
Jesus tells of the shepherd and the sheep
“Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.”

Be encouraged.
Jesus cares for us just as the shepherd cares for the sheep. He knows us, just as we should know Him, and recognize the sound of His voice.

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A 5 Dollar Bill

My son, Peyton, loves money, what teenager doesn't!?? He likes to earn cash. He does yardwork at our house, occasionally at his grandparents and their neighbor's homes as well. To my surprise today, he came in with a 5 dollar bill and asked me what it was worth. (In my head, I'm thinking, where is this going? He's good at coming up with a plan to make more dough.)

I answered, "It's worth 5 dollars."

He kept going.

Peyton, "Mom, what if I crumpled it up?"
Me, "Still 5 dollars."
"How about if I stomp on it and roll it in dirt?"
"Still 5 dollars."

Then he gets to his point. "Ok, see even if your life is crumpled up, rolled in the dirt of sin, you still have value to Jesus. You are still worth something to Him."

Awesome. And I thought this was going to be a 'make a buck' scam. I'm impressed.

He's absolutely right on. You have worth, you are loved and valued. Don't let the stink and dirt of sin in this world tell you different.

John3:16-17 MSG
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help , to put the world right again."

Simple reminder, you are loved.

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Stop Blowing Your Horn!

Picture this:

I’m driving to school one morning (in my big suburban-type vehicle) and I approach a green light; just ahead of that green light is another traffic light that is red.  Traffic is backed up into the intersection, so I slow down upon the green light approach.  The young lady in the small sedan behind me blares the horn.  What she cannot see in front of me, is all the traffic stacked up from the red light ahead.  For all she knows, I am just stopping at a green light.  Immediately, I think, “Really, you’re going to blow your horn when you don’t even know what is happening in front of me?” As the light ahead turns green and the gridlock eases, I begin to spiritualize this scenario.

How many times have we laid on the horn to try and speed up the plans God may have?  He drives the large vehicle in front of us and His view is greater than ours.  We cannot see what is ahead, but He knows. Many times in my life, I have blasted the horn at God, trying to move things along more quickly.  His timing is not our own.  Perhaps He sees the gridlock and is trying to protect us from it. 

How many times will it take for me to learn this lesson?   Maybe you needed a reminder too.  Allow Him to drive ahead of you…sometimes even rolling out the pavement before you.  Be encouraged.  He is the Master of Road.

Isaiah 40:31

“But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind. “

Lay off your horn and wait on Him!

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Build or Bulldoze?

For the past several months, our church has watched as a new building has gone up. What an exciting process and looking back it seems to have gone quickly, although the truth is we anticipated, planned and prayed for years. Within a couple of months after occupying our new facility (kids worship auditorium and Sunday school classrooms), the old building was scheduled to be demolished.

We received a phone call that the demolition company would be in our property and the whole process would take about a week. Wow, they were not kidding. Within 1 week, the entire building was taken down, including the foundation!

I could literally find dozens of spiritual applications to make in this scenario, but I have chosen one today that has been on my heart.

We build relationships, and good ones that are Christ-centered take years to forge. We usually don't just allow people to know our inner selves immediately. As Christians, our common denominator of friendship is that relationship with Christ. Really, it's more than a common denominator, it is the way we conduct ourselves in every part of our life. We build these brick, by brick, so to speak.

Likewise, we have the ability to tear one another apart. Like it or not, sometimes even Christians do not behave in Christlike ways. It takes seconds to tear down or demolish a relationship. Harsh words and actions are like a bulldozer over the foundation of relationships. Re-building and repairing these damages takes time, sometimes a lifetime.

I could go launch into a lesson on forgiveness and Christian love here, but that'll have to be another week. My encouragement to you is this...what will you be? Brick layer, foundation builder or bulldozer, demolition crew?

1 Thessalonians 5:11
'So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind.'


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Be Real!

I received a call today from a high school friend. We have been in touch a few times over the years, but the first time Rob called was probably 10 years ago or more. I was extremely surprised to hear from him back then. The last contact we had prior to this first phone call was while I was in college. Rob was not really doing well at that time and looking back, I now know that our meeting that day was divinely inspired. I remember we talked for a long time and I drove him to his mom's house, where he was staying. I don't remember very many details about that day, but I do remember I did not really feel comfortable leaving him there, and I also recall telling him that he needed Jesus to be his personal Savior. It would be several years from that day that I received the first call. You know that feeling, 'this cannot be happening,' that's kind of how I felt when Rob called. He told me so many things. Come to find out, he remembered very well my attempt to lead him to Jesus the day I drove him home. He admitted he wasn't ready. After that day, he ended up spending some time incarcerated. During his time in jail, he became ready and gave his life to Christ! I was very excited to hear this. Rob went on to tell me that he is now married, has children and is a Pastor! He told me he had told many stories about the girl in high school who was salt and light, the girl who was Jesus to him before he knew Jesus for himself. I am completely humbled and overwhelmingly honored that my friend, Rob, would think so highly of me. I was just being me, a little nerdy Jesus girl who did the right thing even though it wasn't cool. I am definitely not perfect, just ask my kids! I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to now share this story with my kids, showing them how you live your life CAN make a difference.

Something Rob said the last time we talked struck me, 'You reached out to me when no one else did. You represented the Kingdom of God correctly.'

Wow, represented the Kingdom correctly.

I wrote all of this to encourage you. Love God, love others, and serve Him. You never know the impact you will have on someone, and then they will have on someone.
Be the real deal.

Rob has spoken to crowds of thousands, pastors 2 churches and has traveled the world sharing the Message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His testimony includes many people who planted the seeds, watered them and God gave the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:7-8
"It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving."

Plant seeds, water them, be part of the process of bringing someone to Jesus. God will orchestrate the rest. Do your part, He will do His.

Humbled. Honored. Totally blessed.

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Raise Your Hand to Walk or Talk

As a first grade teacher, I feel like I spend most of the day repeating directions. I am constantly saying, 'stay in your seat' and 'raise your hand.' The rules of the classroom are 'raise your hand to walk or talk.' Seems like after 100 or more days of school, one would think the students would start to get into the routine. But, at the ages of 6 and 7, some children are not quite ready to accept this responsibility. Most kids point the finger and get 'someone else' in trouble instead of dealing with themselves. It is a daily, more like hourly, battle to follow instructions and listen to the teacher. This results in disciplinary action, with the hope that students learn to follow the rules.

The more I ponder this quandary regarding the first graders, the more I think of the spiritual illustration in this scenario. For a teacher, the goal is to help students learn and grow to become independent responsible reading, writing, mathematical individuals. I can only imagine the frustration of a Holy God. At times, we behave like an irresponsible, intolerant, self-centered 6 year old! This can be expected from young children, they have to be taught. As a new Christian, I was similar to an infant learning to drink milk from a bottle and crawl. But, as an adult, we should be learning and growing by praying, reading God's Word, and becoming involved in a Bible study. As we mature in our relationship with God, we are learning to drink from a cup, eat with a fork and walk, so to speak. Eventually, with maturity comes serving, teaching and discipling others to grow in their relationship with God as well.

As you can imagine, students raise their hand and wave it in the air, trying not to make any noise, but letting out squeals and anxious noises, still trying their best to get the attention of the teacher any way they can. Impatiently, they wait and wiggle.

Can you see it? We do the same. We moan and groan, crying out to God, begging for His attention. What results, if we do not wait for Him, can be messy consequences.

God, the Teacher, has the ultimate patience with us. Raise your hand to walk or talk seems obvious to me now. We should be raising our hands and asking for Him to be in our every move. He is the One who knows what the future holds, the ultimate keeper of the classroom of life.

Even though it seems as though your hand has been in the air forever and you're tired of holding it up; even propping it up by the elbow with your other hand, the Teacher sees you. You will have to exercise patience, but He will not leave your request unanswered.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NAS
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.


Keep reaching for the Teacher and be encouraged, His ways are good!
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You are Worth It!

I read a story in a magazine that made me so sad. It told of a celebrity and how her downward spiral with drugs and a scarcely thin body had landed her in the hospital. One of her close friends reported that the thing that scared this celebrity the most as she aged was fear of not being worth loving. My heart grieves.

On the flip side, this week, I overheard 2 volunteers at school talking as they worked in the workroom. One was telling the other about her son and his academic achievements. She was proud to share about her son! She wasn't being overly braggadocios, simply telling how well he had done for the purpose of encouraging the other mom to hang in there. I thought to myself, everyone should have someone who is that proud of them. If only we all had a cheerleader, or a proud parent to lift us up and tell others about our talents, we would all be more confident and have more self-worth.

Good news!! God is the One. He is so proud of His children, that He stretched out His arms to show us how much. No matter what your human upbringing, whether churched or unchurched, Christlike family or not, lovingly adored or just tolerated as a kid, God loves you. No place is too far for you to be out of His reach. You may have had wonderfully godly parents who filled you with value and confidence. Maybe you struggle daily with valuing yourself because you did not receive that affirmation during your growing up years.

I am telling you today, no matter the road you have come, God sent His One and only Son to die on a cross for you. You are worth it! Your life has meaning and purpose. If you had been the only one on earth, Jesus would have come and died for you. Don't let those negative words or lack of affirmations be the fuel for a downward spiral. Be filled with God's love and find your worth in HIM! He wants to be the Heavenly Father saying, 'I'm so proud of you! You are worth it!'

Love the words of the song...'Someone Worth Dying For' by Mikeschair

'You might be the wife, waiting up at night
You might be the man, struggling to provide feeling like it's hopeless
Maybe you're the son who chose a broken road
Maybe you're the girl thinking you'll end up alone
Praying God can you hear me? Oh, God are you listening?
Am I more than flesh and bone?
Am I really something beautiful?
Yeah, I want to believe, I want to believe that
I'm not just some wandering soul
That you don't see and you don't know
Yeah, I want to believe, Jesus help me believe
That I am someone worth dying for

I know you've heard the truth that God has set you free
But you think you're the one that grace could never reach
So you just keep asking, Oh, what everybody's asking
You're worth it, you can't earn it
Yeah, the cross has proven,
That you're sacred and blameless.
Your life has purpose'

The Message 'This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His One and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him , anyone can have a whole and lasting life.'

Amen.
Be encouraged, you are loved.

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Interrupted!

Wednesday, race home from school, getting ready to go to church for a rehearsal, and the doorbell rings.
This has happened to you, I'm sure.
Solicitor, an interruption!
I'm thinking, 'Oh, good grief, I do not have time for this.'
As I open the door the very polite, well-dressed young man begins his spiel. In a split second, I stop him and ask what he is selling. In his best salesman's voice, he assures me this is not some kind of gimmick. He proceeds to tell me about his family in Detroit, Michigan and how the book and magazines sales help him support them.
Well, now I feel like a jerk.
So I start asking a few questions and listening to him.
Again, politely I say no thank you to what he is selling, only this time I ask his name. He introduces himself as Patrick and I ask if I can pray for him. He steps forward and his whole demeanor changes. He asks if I am a Christian. When I acknowledged that I was, he was very excited to tell me he was a Christian too. I prayed for Patrick, offered to fill his cup with a cold drink and he went on his way, thanking me and asking for continued prayer.

It's not really earth shattering. I didn't make him a bunch of money that day, but I offered encouragement and hope to a weary young man who is just trying to make a living. In the midst of my busy day, the interruption was worth it.

Anyone can be curt and rude. In a split second, a kind word can change that. It can happen for you, in the grocery store, bank drive-thru, restaurant or at your front door. Offer an encouraging word or even a prayer. Everyone needs a positive, hopeful word.

Choose kind words. An interruption to you, may turn someone else's day around.

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Proverbs 15:1-4 MSG
A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense. God doesn’t miss a thing—He's alert to good and evil alike.
Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.