November 2, 2009
Stuck in an Indiana sunset

Sometimes I think my contribution the world is inadequate. I think many folks feel that way. We feel stuck in where we live, in our jobs, in our brokenness. We think we need to be traveling to the far reaches of the earth to touch someone’s heart who really needs love.
I took the picture above last evening from my back patio. It was not Photo-shopped, touched-up or changed in any way. This is how it looked at that very moment. I don’t know why God chose to bless the corn fields of Indiana with this spectacular sunset.
Except maybe He was saying–to my heart, anyway–my place in the world is significant.
He put me here on purpose.
He put YOU here on purpose.
He put each of us exactly where we are–and on purpose–because He knows our hearts and stories, our trials and tragedies, our hopes and dreams are a perfect fit for those who need them most . . . and a perfect fit for who we need most.
Indeed, some of us do need to travel to the far reaches of the earth. Some of us are called to bring the world to our front porches, like my friends at World Next Door. (I tell them some of us are called to stay home and pray, and they understand.)
But the next time I start beating myself up for not being able to get on an airplane to California–let alone Africa–without a therapy session, medication, and those cute little bottles of airplane wine . . . I’ll think about this sunset. I’ll think about how I’d miss it if I lived anywhere else. I’ll think about the lives I’m grateful to touch with hope through the ministry of this blog.
And I’ll think about the words to this song we sang at church this weekend. Like the sunset last evening, this song captures my heart’s song for God and the captives He so desires to set free.
Be blessed today, dear readers. Be blessed. Know that God is mighty to save and He is faithful to do it . . . to complete you . . . to exchange your pain for life.
Raise your hands and make a joyful noise
Our God is love, our God is love
He sets the captives free and offers grace
Our God is love, our God is love
Open up our hearts so we can show the world
What You have done for us
And how You change our lives
You are bigger than we let You be
You are strong enough to set us free
By the pain of the cross You bring life to the lost
You are love, You are love
Our God is love
He runs to those who call upon His name
Our God is love, our God is love
He sets the captives free and offers grace
Our God is love, our God is love
Our God so gracious
Our God abounding in love
Our God so gracious
Our God ever faithful
Our God Is Love, by Lee McDerment
November 1, 2009
Get ‘Em While You Can!
Two AMAZING books, Watching the Tree Limbs and Wishing on Dandelions are going out of print.
The books are a two-part, fiction series about a little girl who struggles with and finds hope after suffering childhood sexual abuse.
Beautiful literature from an author with a beautiful heart–Mary DeMuth.
Awhile back, I reviewed Watching the Tree Limbs on this blog.
You can get the books at a great, discounted, price on amazon.com here:
Or by visiting Mary’s website store.
Don’t miss out on adding these to your collection–or buying them for a friend who might benefit from them!
October 20, 2009
If ________, then _________.
Yesterday, my Bible study group (studying Beth Moore’s Esther) watched a video session on fear; or rather, living fearLESS.
Beth’s key point was about how our overwhelming tendency as humans is to walk through life with the constant hum of this phrase going through our heads:
“If ________, then _________.”
If you’re like me, you’ll have no trouble filling in those blanks.
Personally, mine reads something like this: If the worst happens, then I’ll FREAK. I’ll have a meltdown. I’ll eat an entire loaf of white bread. By myself. I’ll max out all my credit cards, then dissolve in a pool of my own sweat.
Oh yeah. I’ve had a bad case of “the what if’s” my entire life.
Beth Moore challenged us to fill in that second blank . . . not with I’LL FREAK, but . . .
. . . with . . .
GOD.
If the worst happens, then God.
Wow.
What a paradigm shift.
Since yesterday, God’s been pressing on my heart, telling me how much I’m (((still))) held captive by fear and dread.
Fear plagues my writing. It plagues my parenting. It plagues my wife-ing.
I don’t want to let my kids down.
My friends down.
My dog down.
I don’t want to let you readers down.
I don’t want to let God down.
And on, and on, and on.
I know these are lies and that fear is a fetter straight from the pit. But it doesn’t make it sting any less. It doesn’t deafen my ears to their overwhelming roar. It doesn’t keep me from feeling dumb and discouraged when I need to be most brave and courageous.’
Which is why, in general, we need each other. Christians need each other. No matter how insignificant our individual battles may seem in light of others’, they are significant to each of us. And we need to ask each other for help . . . for prayers of support . . . for the courage and wisdom to fill in all our “second blanks” with GOD.
“. . . perfect love casts out fear . . . “
I John 4:18
Praying God fills all your second blanks in big and mighty ways today.
Breaking free from our pasts and even present troubles seems so impossible. Unimaginable. Overwhelming.
The other day, someone asked me what I thought about
I’m a thirty-something mama & wife trying--moment-by-moment--to follow hard after Jesus' scent. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and perinatal mood disorders, this site is my gift to you: a celebration of brokenness, hope, healing, life, art, and all the miraculous moments in between.
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