Greatness

I think we are all born with a desire for greatness.  That's why kids emulate superheroes, princesses, rock stars, or pro athletes.  There's a seed in us desiring to achieve, to attain, to burst into greatness.  Amazingly, I was thinking on this as I was going to bed last night.  And I'm not sure what happened...but it was something of the Spirit.  Truth washed over me and I lay there crying.  It was a beautiful moment.

Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) says this, "For we are God's own handiwork, recreated in Christ Jesus that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time), that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live).

God does have a destiny for us.  It was planned long before we were born.  Think about Joseph in the Bible.  God told him early in his life through dreams that he would be in authority and his brothers would bow down to him.  David was anointed king many years before he ever became king.  Both of these men had an inkling of their destiny early on.  They were bound for greatness.   But I don't think the greatness was in their positions of authority.  And I don't think they thought that either.  Their greatness was in the process.  Their greatness was in the breaking and remaking of their lives.  And their greatness was in relationships.

God did fulfill what he promised to both men.  Joseph's brothers did bow before him--he was in great authority.  David became king.  But what is the highlight of their stories?  The highlight of Joseph's story is in the restoration of his relationships with his brothers.  The highlight of David's story was his relationship with God--a man after God's own heart.

We may never do great things--at least in the way we've imagined.  But let me ask you--how's the process been?  Has there been a breaking and remaking going on in your life?  Is God restoring relationship or are you building relationship with God?  If the answer is yes to those questions, then you're on the path to greatness.

As that truth washed over me last night, I could do nothing but weep.  God doesn't count greatness as we count greatness.  But He's already planned great destiny for each of us.

Blindspots

Blindspots. We all have them.  We look in the mirror and think we're seeing clearly.  When there's clearly a truck coming--which we can't see without help.  It takes a wide angle mirror or turning around to actually see what is there in truth.

Truth.  We all need it.  I can remember a time in my early 20's when I thought I was always right.  God quickly dispelled that nonsense by giving me a clear and true picture of myself in a dream.  (Wow!  If it hadn't been from God, I would have called it a nightmare.)  But even though I know  that I'm not always right, I can still have an over-inflated view of myself and my position on issues.  I'm learning to approach differences with others with a few questions of myself.  Like...

• What is truth?
• Why do I feel so strongly about this issue?
• Is this issue more important than this relationship?
• Do I press this point because it is truth?
• Am I God's spokesman in this situation...or do I just want to be right?
• Am I extending grace?

God doesn't need me.  Thankfully, He allows me to be a part of His plan at times.  And even though I have a strong sense of justice, right & wrong, and truth...I know it's not enough.  Paul instructed us to grow up, become mature.  And part of that maturity involves speaking the truth in love.  Truth without love is harsh.  Love without truth is weak.  The perfect combination we should all seek is truth in love.

"Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."

Ephesians 4:14-16

A Psalm 23 Prayer for Groom Tonight

Father,
Thank you that you are the Good Shepherd in Groom tonight.  Thank you for loving your sheep, knowing them deeply and personally, and for guarding them.  Thank you that as we sleep tonight, you are laying across the threshold watching diligently and keeping the enemy away.  Thank you for providing for the needs of those you love...the food we need, the refreshment, the rest.  I'm trusting you to give sweet sleep to those who haven't been able to sleep because of tragedy in their lives.  I'm asking you to refresh and restore those who are mourning. Lead us right into the paths of righteousness for your glory, your honor, your good plan.  God, there are those who have walked into that deep cavernous valley of the shadow of death.  It's long, dark, overwhelming and frightening.  It's so easy to feel alone.  Please make your presence known and very real and dispel the darkness and the fear.  Remind us that it's just a shadow...that there's light and life on the other side!  And help us to see you standing there with your staff and your rod---ready to help pick us up or to fight off any enemy who would dare attack us.  Your very presence brings peace, life and light.  Thank you for that.  Thank you that you let our enemy know how loved and special we are.  You adore us and throw us a party--all while that enemy is watching!  And you laugh in your delight of us!  Thank you for your anointing--the holy oil flowing over our heads to bless us because you favor us.  Please fill our hearts as full.  Even (or because) of these hard things, let us know of your delight, your blessing, your nearness, your life.  I know you are with us each hard step.  Your goodness, your mercy follow us...you keep your hand of blessing on us.  Be our dwelling place.  Let us carry your presence everywhere we go.  Let us find our home in you.  Comfort us.  Bless us with peace tonight.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

A One Word Legacy

We had a tragedy in Groom, TX today.  A 14-year-old young man died.  I didn't know Blake Weinheimer...but I'll never forget the one word legacy he's left behind. Blake was a journalist for The Times of the Tiger and this year they took up the challenge from Mike Ashcroft of myoneword.org and chose one word to live by.  Blake chose the word "purpose."  This is what he said:

Purpose 

By Blake Weinheimer 

My word is purpose because I want everything I do this year to have a purpose. And, I want it to be a good purpose, not a bad one. I want to make sure that there’s a reason for everything I do, say and think. If there’s not a good reason for something, then why should I do it? Purpose is the word that I would like to live by for 2014. 

Honestly, I'd never heard of the "my one word" challenge.  But it's affected me.  What word would I choose?  What legacy do I want to pass on?  I believe Blake chose a good word to live by...and one for which he'll long be remembered.  And I believe his friends will take up this legacy and prize it.

Please pray for Blake's family and friends.  Our community is in shock and deep mourning.

Friends

Ronnie & Janet Thorne with their granddaughter

Tonight, we ran into some great friends in Amarillo.  We went to the same church as young married couples...and began having babies at the same time.  How I wish I could put my hands on my old photo albums.  I have some great photos of the Thorne's back in the day!  We were together all the time.  And we were only together about 5 minutes tonight, hugging and talking as fast as we could!  We haven't seen them in ages, but it's like we'd just been together last week. Andy & I talked about it on our way home--they're the kind of friends you pick up right where you left off.

Back in those days, we had a great group of friends--we were together all the time.  We'd have a game night at least once a month (and usually more often!) and the guys would play Rail Baron for hours while we girls would sit and talk and watch our kids.  We'd do potlucks about once a week.  And if there was a snow day, we'd manage to get to one of our houses and spend the day together.  What sweet times!  And that's the way strong bonds are made.

It made me think of my kids--they have some great friends like this.  How I pray that for all of you.    It takes time.  It takes energy.  It takes effort.  But it doesn't have to cost a lot.  It just takes a little initiative and not being afraid to invite others into your world.  It doesn't even have to be an immaculate world.  My friends have seen me and my house at my worst.  

I have a little sign in my house that says this:  "To have a friend, you must be a friend."  I encourage you to open yourself and your home to others.  I'll bet they're needing a friend as much as you are.  It will enrich your lives and give you a treasure for a lifetime--friends.

*This is also why I love Facebook--being able to keep up with friends I don't get to see often.  We already knew so much going on in each other's lives when we saw the Thorne's tonight!!

What Would You Do?

What would you do if you had a vision like Ezekiel had?  Ezekiel had never seen anything fly through the sky except a bird.  But he saw wheels with eyes flying.  He saw the likeness of four men with straight legs and feet like calves, each had four faces--each different--and each likeness had four wings.  He saw above that a lining like ice and above that a throne like sapphire.  A man was on the throne and it was as if fire was radiating out of him with a glory above him like a rainbow.  What would you do if you saw something you'd never seen before?  Imagine being at a loss for words to describe something flying if you'd never seen an airplane or spaceship.  

Ezekiel was supernaturally transported back to his people to deliver a message from God.  When he got there, he sat among them for seven days--at a loss for words over what he'd just seen.  I imagine he was a little traumatized.  God had told him to not fear the people or fear their faces (don't we get intimidated when someone looks at us angrily or with contempt--and tend to back off?)  The message was hard...and God had already told Ezekiel they wouldn't repent.  What would you do?

We are told in Acts 2:17, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams."

What would you do if you were given a vision or a dream?  Would you be willing to share it to whom God directed you?  It all sounds amazing to give a word to people until we realize it may be to angry people who may want to kill us.  We want to be a people "for such a time as this," like Esther, until we realize she was fighting for her life in the modern-day country of Iran, among a people who hated her people.

We're also told that in the last days, Christians will be hated among all nations.  If we're going to be given dreams and visions in the last days...and be hated by all nations in the last days...I think we better be praying.  Ezekiel couldn't do his job without being filled with the Spirit...and neither can we.

What would you do?

My Worst Nightmare

I had a friend send me a video to watch tonight.  Thanks, Jerry Hamlin--I'll have bad dreams tonight!  It's absolutely my worst nightmare.

You see....my dad took us on a great vacation every summer.  Something I'm truly thankful for.  We took some wonderful trips!  He'd sometimes work 3-4 jobs just to save money so he could take us all over the United States to see our country.  Of course, mom was just as much a part as she budgeted that money and took care of us kids while he worked.   It really started when we'd drive to Red River and take that Old Red River Road that was a windy, steep, narrow road.  I can remember us having to hug the rock side of the road to let someone pass...or backing up to a place so someone could go around us.  It terrified me.  But the crisis trip was when we took a bus ride up Pike's Peak.  (At least, that's where I think it was!)  I was fine and having a good time and fully confident in our bus driver.  Until I moved to the very back seat....and the driver had to back the bus up to make a turn...and until my end of the bus was hanging over the mountain!!!
I screamed, "STOP!!!!!" 

And he did.  And he picked up his tour bus microphone and said, "Thank you."  And the whole bus laughed.  I was so terrified I didn't have time to be humiliated.  And I was just thankful he stopped!!

This video reminds me of those drives.



I remember one trip with Andy in the mountains when I made him stop and let me walk.  I truly don't like mountain roads.