Sunday at church our Pastor, Dr. Bob gave a wonderful message on Hail to the King. He spoke of the triumphal entry Jesus and his disciples made into Jerusalem. “Hosanna’s!” were shouted as Jesus came into town riding upon donkey. Jesus knew that the rest of his ministry would be confined to this city, this place called Jerusalem.

With him on this journey were 12 men. Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot…..All ordinary, just like us. Jesus knew their faults and flaws long before he chose them. None of them had any exceptional talents or training as theologians, orators or had supreme intellectual abilities. On the contrary they were all too prone to mistakes, misstatements, wrong attitudes, lapses of faith and bitter failure. They were just like us and the people we know. They were real living characters we can identify with, approachable, endearing and real.

As they came into this city with Jesus they had no idea what was about to take place. Jesus did. He was hoping they would “Have his back” like they had been doing these past few years of ministry but he knew this final step in the journey was his alone. As events unfolded, each stayed a step or two back in order to stay in their comfort zone. It’s scary standing too close to Jesus. It can be uncomfortable standing too close to Jesus. Well, we do know how it unfolded, they either stayed way back, denied him or became a traitor. But Jesus knew who he has chosen and knew that the ultimate success of his ministry was dependent on the Holy Spirit working in the lives of those ordinary men to accomplish His sovereign will and keep His ministry alive.

During this Holy week leading up to Easter I would like to extend Dr. Bob’s challenge, ” How close will you stand to Jesus?” Because just like those ordinary 12, God wants to use us too with all our short comings, flaws and failures. He delights in using the ordinary to do the extraordinary. Jesus knew that his disciples would fail, but he also knew that his church is not built on people’s strength but on God’s ability to use people even after they have failed.

How close will you stand?

(Thanks Dr. Bob, John MaCarthur; Twelve Ordinary Men, My NIV and Jesus for challenging me!)

The other day I was trying to explain to Grace about why her brother Jackson was doing something, she replied…” I know, he was just made that way.” Unconditional love, grace and acceptance out of the mouth of a little sister! Rare, I give you that. Shouldn’t we all practice the art of Extending Grace?  But it can be so hard. Why do we look at others imperfections and see “A Piece of Work” instead of a “Work of Art”? We all have our quirks, likes, styles and personalities! It’s what makes us unique and individually who we were created to be.

Then I had a wonderful session with a 20 year old young man and he commented on how as we talk about someone there is always a first sentence…” You know Merrill.”, and a second sentence….” She’s the one with the crazy red hair.” I LOVED THIS and the more I pondered it I LOVED IT MORE! Indeed we all have a second sentence. I started thinking of some of the people I know. “You know David…..He has the ever changing facial hair.”, “You know Melissa……She has a great laugh and is always sassy.”, “You know Nick……. We call him Hollywood.”, “Davey….. Her smile and heart lead her wherever she goes, pure fun!”

You see the challenge is in the second sentence. It is how we see and accept others. Is it filled with truth but covered by grace? Is it funny but not hurtful? Does it uplift or tear down? Acceptance is a tough thing. Like the Professor in My Fair Lady sang so boldly, “Why can’t a women be more like a man? Why can’t a women be more like me?” Well, Professor Higgins really wouldn’t want it that way and neither would we. If we all were alike how boring that would be. We were created to be different with assorted gifts and talents, personalities and appearances.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins (and personalities, quirks and differences….) Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (in our house we say fussing). Each one should use whatever gift he has received (they might be different than mine) to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, (boy do we) he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised thought Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and power for ever and ever…AMEN!” 1 Peter 4:8-11

It’s great to be different, accepted and loved. Own your differences, embrace them and others. And like Daniel….”You know Daniel…..He’s the one that his humor and thoughts are as deep as his blue eyes.”….. May you use your second sentences to bless, uplift and find joy in those around you!

Today I am letting my soul catch up with my body! What a crazy week last week. You know those times when you are so busy that nothing or no one gets the best of you. Even YOU! We beat ourselves up, knowing we need to slow down but have to ride it out the best we can until we come to an exit. It’s like needing a “Potty” stop on a long deserted highway! Are we there YET?

We all have weeks like that where we are anxiously looking for the next rest stop! Well today I found it. Exit 3/22/2010. I am getting out, stretching my soul, breathing deep, slowing down and allowing God’s Holy Spirit to fill me up!

“Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord. Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of heaven feed me til I want no more, here’s my cup, I lift it up and make me whole…”

Love this song, today I am singing it loudly. We all need days when we are intentional about finding a rest stop and filling up. It helps us to be better parents, spouses, friends and workers. Sure you can steal little moments of mercy and grace within the busy hectic weeks but an extended time of seclusion where you can exhale, no make up, no shower but best of all….. no place to be!

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men (that’s us too girls) For he satisfies the thirsty and fill the hungry with good things!” Psalm 107: 8-9

Just like finding that exit with the Potty! Relief! Nothing feels better! Filler Up Lord and Make me Whole! I will be back on the highway tomorrow and heading in the direction you lead, refreshed and renewed and with a full tank!

One of the girls in my weekly girls group shared a story about how she was in a very difficult place the other day. My friend was emotionally spent and said the only way to describe how she was feeling was that it felt like she was in a car going too fast without a seat-belt to keep her safe. Well, we all know how that would feel. Out of control, scary and nerve racking to say the least. She went on to explain that she was sitting in her car at a light in tears as she desperately called out to God….“Help! What do I do?”

Just as she cried out a truck passed in front of her with a license plate with big letters that spelled out PRAY. She smiled through her tears and prayed…..and God replied, “I am your seat-belt. Strap in and trust me for I will keep you safe.”

At times life can feel too fast, out of control and like you are heading for a collision. The ride can be quite bumby and rough, but just as my friend found out that day, it is important to keep yourself strapped into God’s care, protection and grace. Through prayer and faith we buckle in each day before we head out onto the highways of our life. And even though we might have a few bumps, bruises and fender-benders along the way we know we are safely strapped in, close to a God who loves us and will protect and keep us.

“For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”Psalm 91:11

“Somehow original sin, that inner anguish and brokenness that is beyond our own doing, becomes the place where we touch our original blessing. Somehow our broken fathers, our limited mothers, our neurotic brothers, our confused sisters, and our own inner struggles work to create in us a hunger to move beyond our pain.

“My soul is restless,” as Augustine says, “until it rest in you, O Lord.”

Once we approach intimacy with God dwelling within, and once we accept others and ourselves as we are, we may begin to speak about “happy guilt” or “happy brokenness.” (Sweetly Broken) The inner struggle is no longer such a burden, but a way to truth, to light, and to life. How is it possible to be children of God, embraced by Divine Love, and allowed into intimacy with the Creator of the Universe if God hadn’t already welcomed us, with compassion, just as we are? Through Jesus’ life on earth we come to know about the inner life of God. It is in our fragile and mortal flesh that God’s original blessing, God’s immense love, is revealed to us.” From Fear to Love: Henri Nouwen

This was my Lent Devotion today…..I smiled and thought, I couldn’t say it any better Henri. This is what Sweetly Broken is all about! So many of us are restless and searching, carrying past hurts, disappointments and pain, then left feeling guilty, angry, bitter and lonely. I can almost heat Henri saying………”Stop the madness!”

Today may you, like me, experience your original blessing and find peace, comfort and joy within the brokenness of your life. May you find rest in a love that accepts you just as you are! Now that is SWEET and something to smile about!

Do you ever get a thought going in your mind and you turn it, twist it, mull it, bake it, sit in it and then finally it kinda falls into place. Go with me for a minute (or two) on this one….

The other day someone emailed me about being in a bad place and then finished it with…“I’m sorry to burden you with this on this beautiful day as you are always so upbeat and encouraging.” It kinda made me stop and think. I am encouraging, but it is part of my job as well as one of my gifts. I can be very upbeat but you could also say I have ADHD and my children could testify to other personality traits that are not so upbeat. And burden was an interesting way to put it. It could only be a burden if I picked it up and carried it with me all day. The thoughts started twisting and turning…..

Let’s see if I can make sense of my pondering and why this was stuck in the space between my ears for the last few days. First, as believers we are called to be a part of a community, to support, uplift, pray and encourage one another. It’s a good thing that we don’t all go down at the same time or with the same issues. God has given us each individual gifts to make up this community we are blessed with. One of mine is encouragement, you have some too, we all do. My energy is just good old genetic make up! Second is the Burden part, It can only really become a burden if I take it on. What I have learned over the years is to pray for someone when they reach out then leave it at God’s feet. He can do a whole lot better job than I can and it’s not mine to carry.

And lastly, I guess that over the years people have a tendency to look at me and think “Oh, she is so upbeat and is always happy.” WRONG! Most the time that might be true and again it is somewhat due to the way God made me. But I have had my challenges that seemed too big and too painful that I questioned if I were going to live. I cried for days, have been mad for days, have felt lonely and scared at times. Not very upbeat at all and definitely not happy. I have some star witnesses if needed!

So today as I was getting ready I was still pondering…What is the point here? I pulled out a dress that looks a bit like a WHO. Do you know what a WHO is? They are the quirky, furry creatures that lived in Whoville. You know the Grinch That Stole Christmas……I know what you are thinking, this is a blog not a novel, get to the point! Well, as I put this WHO like dress on it hit me. Remember in the show on Christmas morning when all the WHO’s got up to find they had lost all…..No packages, boxes, ribbons or bows…..everything had been stolen and taken from them?

They still sang!

I giggled and thought, I am a WHO! Because I have felt like I lost everything and have had things taken away.  The only thing that is certain is the unfailing love of my God, who woke up with me on that hard morning and the next morning and the next…….. And together, we sang.

We sing because we are loved, we praise because nothing can take that away. And we love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19) It is a choice. Sure we need days to cry, be mad, sad and pout but in the end we have something to sing about. We are not alone and have a love that can carry us even on the most difficult days when all seems lost and taken. So, if I can use my encouraging gift for you…..in my best WHO way…..Remember you are loved, for no one can take that away!

I am reading this wonderful book by John Ortberg called, The Life You’ve Always Wanted. Each chapter is like a delicious course in living. This book has challenged me, brought delight and stirred me, but this latest chapter sent an arrow into my Type A personality heart! The chapter is called An Unhurried Life.

“Hurry is not of the devil; hurry is the devil.” Jung writes. As I was reading the book I found myself shouting a few “AMENS” knowing that I was the choir and needed to hear this sermon. Ortberg states, “As we pursue our spiritual life, we must battle with hurry. For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of living them.”

This is not only true in our spiritual lives but within the scope of our relationships……Do we slow down and enjoy one another or is it always racing to get the day done, the i’s dotted and the t’s crossed and finally getting all tucked in? Hurry can prevent us from giving love and receiving love. It can steal all gratitude and wonder.

So I ask my self….”Self, What’s the hurry?” Slow yourself as you move through the day with the kids, take time to enjoy a moment of solitude, allow yourself to really hear, see and smell what is wonderful. And most of all create time with your first love, God. Let him settle your heart, quiet your mind and give you strength, direction and deep love that can only be found in this unhurried moment.

One last thought…I was watching Grace at her basketball game and found it delightful that as she ran up and down the court in hot pursuit of the ball she always threw in a few skips withing the run. Run, run, skip, skip, run, skip, run…… She was not in that much of a hurry that she forgot what she loved…skipping. She always got to the net with the team, even made a few baskets but she took her time and enjoyed the trip!
May you find your SKIP within your run today and may it slow you down to enjoy a life without hurry but filled with delight!