A Psalm of Blessing for the Broken

Today at Do Not Depart I'm sharing about Psalm 103 in our Run to Him series. It's a Psalm of Blessing because of a Love for the Broken. The Psalmist called on all the souls in the whole community to think back about the benefits of being loved out of their exile and brokenness by the most gracious, loving God.

If you're looking back (or at) a history with scattered shards left by life's cutting moments, this Psalm will give words to your gratitude. It will freshen your heart's resolve to Run to Him when you have nothing or when you've been given everything.

Here's a glimpse ...

Every journey includes failures and fresh starts, and we all survive at the mercy of a generous, divine hand. You may not need a toaster or a can opener or gently used coffee table. But how have YOU experienced the benefits of the east to west, earth to heaven, fatherly love of God?

Read more here ...

7 Days in a Cafe ~ Day ONE

If you watched my first vlog, you've heard about 7 Days in a Cafe. If you got my last post via email, I'm not sure the vlog showed up, so click here to see what you missed!

So today is my first of the "Days in a Cafe." I'm at my most favorite coffee shop - The Remedy. I thought it was a good place to start to watch, listen, and learn about people and God's love for them. It caused me to think about what makes this spot my favorite ...

When you walk in, the wooden floors are soft and smooth, with the evidence of many feet from all walks of life. I'm barely through the door, when the barista Matt calls out, "Hey Julie!"  "Hey Matt!" I answer back. The February sun is coming in the full length glass front windows, and the light catches on the faces of each person spending a piece of their day here. The barista calls out to me to see if my decaf is okay, because he made it with decaf espresso; he knows I like it strong. 

The 30 something data analyst taking a break to house hunt on his laptop, the couple sharing a full pot next to the window, the older man in the khaki jacket leaning on the counter, and the couple strolling in with a new baby.  I guess they're on a date. We are, too, but our "babies" are taking Geometry and Spanish 3 tests today. The girls by the window are talking about Twitter and about politicians they've heard about who do foolish things; they laugh and move on to talk about the Cancer Society not supporting Planned Parenthood. As we all sit and sip our coffees, the song "Evil is Alive and Well" plays, and the two girls stop talking and just hum. The train runs by the back of the building and blows its whistle on the way to the bridge where homeless people hang out before dinner ... and after. The barista sings a little harmony with "Evil is Alive and Well," and the data analyst joins in. 

Except for the sound of the man in the back talking about the rise in earthquake frequency, it's really quiet. The barista actually has good voice. Someone walks in and shakes the barista's hand. The new man sits down at their table. The data analyst says, "Good to see you, buddy."  They talk about the Reuben sandwich up the street, and they ask us how much it is; they know Jeff had one this week. We all talk about what we like for lunch. We recommend what's good to each other. People come here, because here they're known. Yes, the coffee is good, but people are known, and that's really good.

People seem to be drawn to where we're known and to who knows us. God knows that. Matt. 6:8 says, "your Father knows what you need before you ask him." 

Can we take that sweet quality of "knowing" people with us when we leave the Remedy? Sometimes the floors of life are not soft yet from the polishing of steady feet. Sometimes the floors are rough or slick, and no one greets you when you arrive. Sometimes even church is like that, but what if we took that "knowing" with us when we go? What if we say "Hey" and use people's names? What if we remember things like how we like our coffee? What if we hum? What if we help people know what's good? What if we help people know WHO is good? God is good, and He knows us best of all. 



My first day in a cafe is almost over. It's almost time to pack up and leave.  The song has changed. It's not about evil anymore. Now it's "This is home. I've been searching for a place of my own ... " I think I'll hum that when I get up to leave, and I'll take it with me. It feels so good to know and be known. People long for that, and sometimes they go into a cafe to find it. Maybe they can find that with people who know God, and then maybe they'll find they want to know Him too. 


So good to know you,

When we don't make room

After reflecting on all of those who made room for Jesus during His days walking on earth, there have been those who have emerged who did NOT make room. They beg not to be ignored. They beg to warn and teach us. They chose not to change their hearts and lives to accommodate the Christ, and instead, they were left with loss. 

Except for their dress and language, they fit into our world today. People like:

• The leaders of Jesus' hometown synagogue who wouldn't believe the Messianic claims of "Joseph's son" and, instead, drove Him out with wrath (Luke 4:16-30).
• The pharisees who were "filled with fury" when Jesus healed a withered hand on the Sabbath; they had no insight, only accusation (Luke 6:6-11).
• The Innkeeper whose words we never hear, but who must've reported there was simply no place for them in "the Inn" where travelers found shelter, but Jesus found no place to lay His head (Luke 9:58). 
• The betrayer Judas, from the intimate group of followers, whose heart longed for greed over God. He chose a pittance of silver instead of the Savior (Luke 22:3-6).
• The ruler Herod who sat on the earthly throne, treating Jesus with contempt and using his power to find him guilty, sending him back to Pilate. Once curious about the Messiah, He showed contempt instead of compassion (Luke 23:8-15).
• The urgent and demanding crowds who cried out for Jesus to be crucified. Caught up with emotion, they opted for the chance to satisfy their lust for violence, rather than their need for restoration (Luke 23: 23, 27, 48). 

Their choices were born out of hearts so filled with their own desires and their own idols that they didn't want to make room for Jesus. The same Jesus once proclaimed by a multitude of heavenly hosts, worshiped by awestruck shepherds, sought by oriental kings, and awaited by the godly. Ultimately, some chose not to prepare room for the Savior, and they bought only LOSS. Loss of understanding, nearness to Jesus, the truth, eternal life, justice, mercy, fellowship, and so much more. 

There are others tucked in between the pages of Christ's story, and their are others tucked in between the pages of our stories. Oh, that we when we have moments of decision we would choose to make room!

Tasty Tuesday ~ 5 Ways to Use an Index Card

Two days before Thanksgiving is probably NOT the time to decide to dive into a project or make a rolled cake for the very first time. If you're like me and you're traveling to be with family, you don't have time to make a trip to Hobby Lobby for craft supplies either (rats!). But .... I bet you have these 5 common supplies to turn an ordinary 3x5 card into a thoughtful detail that says "thankful" or "helpful" on your Thanksgiving. I used only common white cards, but you could go crazy and used colored ones. ;) If you don't have standard ones (line or unlined), you can cut your own from any piece of stiff paper.

Here are 5 simple ways to use a 3x5 card to add ease and encouragement to your celebration!

Supplies you might use:

1. scissors
2. crayons
3. markers
4. a hole punch
5. ribbon or fabric scraps

Idea #1 ~ Specialty Sign. 
An index card makes a perfect sign to distinguish between desserts, regular/decaf coffee, or items for special diets. I bent the card to make a fold, unfolded to cut the tail feathers, then refolded to finish the turkey. This little detail makes a simple "sign" into a special card that says "I planned ahead for YOU!"









Idea #2 ~ Placecard in tines.
Do you know that the prongs of the fork are called the "tines?" They make the perfect placecard holders. I folded the card in half horizontally, drew a heavy line to define the name portion of the card, added a personal "I'm thankful for you" line, and then detailed with crayons and marker dots. Voila! Simple but personal.












Idea #3 ~ Placecard at the plate.
I folded the card in half long ways, wrote an excerpt from a thanksgiving verse along the bottom, and added the name as the centerpiece. You could also use stickers, stamps, or fingerprints to decorate. Namecards are PERFECT projects to have children join in with set up and stay busy. I cut around the end of the name & decoration to make it a little more special. I like to place them at the top of the plate, and this avoids uncomfortable moments of "Where do we all sit?"






Idea #4 ~ Napkin ring.
I folded the card in half long ways, then made a small cut on either side of the center. I wrote the name on the left and a personal "love note" on the right and added a little coloring. I took a strip of left over fall colored material (ribbon works too) and threaded it through the card and around the back of a gathered cotton napkin (paper works too).  I tied it in the back to lay on the plate.







Idea #5 ~ Dinner reminder.
It really helps me to make a list of when each food item needs to get cooking. If I punch a couple of holes in the top of a vertical card and then use a ribbon or fabric to make a loop,  it makes the perfect reminder to keep me on track. This also helps when there are "helpers" in the kitchen who might want to "be in the know" and have an idea of when to help. It also helps answer questions for hungry teenagers who want to double/triple check when dinner will be ready. ;)

Do you have a 3x5 card around the house? You don't have time to make an heirloom quality traditional craft today, but I bet you have time to make a simple addition to your celebration that will add to the gratitude! Enjoy!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING Friends!

Voice Report & Thanks

I have felt very blessed to have others look outside of their own direct line of sight to "see me" in their 180. Thank you so much for the many prayers and words of encouragement you've sent. I want to give you an update on our trip to Vanderbilt's Voice Center yesterday. The halls and rooms there are lined with pictures of people like Reba McEntire and the Oakridge Boys, all famous patients who have had voice treatment there. There was much to be thankful for, not the least of which being that they didn't thread the foot long black cable through my nose and down my throat to see my vocal chords! Can I just say I was not looking forward to that again? ;)  And there were no needles involved. By now you know that medical things are not my "sweet spot." 

First of all, there was NO SCAR TISSUE.Woohoo! I've had 2 separate doctors, several years apart, show us pictures that revealed substantial scar tissue. The technology used yesterday was the most advanced thus far, but I don't want to be quick to chalk up the change to technology. I know many prayers have been offered for us, and I know God could've removed what has been confirmed by others more than once. The large scars we saw 2 weeks ago were gone yesterday!

After a thorough exam by 2 different doctors, they concluded that I suffered from some initial event/illness/occurrence while we were living in Asia that caused me to adapt the way I have produced voice. My vocal folds look very healthy (PTL!) but do not ever touch when I produce voice, and they should. That has created some other complications, and certain triggers have been bringing on these episodes of voicelessness off and on for the last 9 years. The doctors believe we can re-train my neurological pathways to produce my voice the way God intended, using vocal speech therapy and physical therapy. No surgery or medication needed. One of the doctors performed a short, but very painful procedure on part of my neck that seems to have helped already.  No pain ... no gain. :)


Isn't it amazing .... suffering a physical "trauma" in the past created other problems that, left undetected/ignored/untreated, caused greater pain and difficulty, even diverting attention from the real cause? Lots of spiritual application there ...

So I'll go back in about 3 months for a re-evaluation, but I'll begin a combo of physical and vocal therapy in my own homecity. I appreciate your prayers as I re-train this small, but critical part of my body and as God uses it, I have a feeling, to work on my character in the process. ;)  

Thanks so much for praying with us!

Other things I was thankful for: 

• great weather to travel after it rained buckets the day before
• no needles or long cables down my nose ;)
• access to excellent medical help - we are blessed
• texts from friends, letting me know they were praying for us
• sweet car conversation time with Jeff (and that he could go w/me)
• doctors who were so thorough, kind, and instilled confidence
• an awesome friend who brought dinner for the kids while we were gone!
• the opportunity to be with my Bible study group before we headed to N'ville
• a great night's rest after a full day

Be sure to check out yesterday's giveaway of Jill Savage's book:  Living With Less So Your Family Has More.

Tasty Tuesday ~ Orange Chocolate Muffins ... BAKE AND BLESS!

Any times our hearts turn to gratitude, it's a good time to bless someone else. November is the perfect time to "Bake and Bless." I've been the recipient of sweet gestures of blessing accompanied by sweet baking in the last few weeks. Look at what our neighbors the Allins brought to me this weekend! 

The homemade card came with a loaf of yummy banana bread that we all enjoyed, but you don't have to start from scratch. You don't even have to take a whole loaf or a whole dozen of anything; wrap up a "one" thing with a ribbon on top or a tea bag attached, and let that be your blessing. Something we make says "Blessing" in a uniquely warm way. Is there someone who lives alone? Someone ill? Someone discouraged? Someone grieving?  Someone lonely? Someone new?  Who in your life could benefit from a little baking and blessing?


 Now that you have someone in mind .... (stop and think of someone if you're not ready  ;))  let me give you a simple recipe you can use to Bake and Bless. This was inspired by a recipe that I modified from an old Taste of Home Holiday cookbook. They are light and moist, and the combination of chocolate with orange is delicious and perfect for upcoming holidays.

Orange Chocolate Muffins
Cream together:
1/2 c. softened butter & 1 c. sugar
Add:  2 eggs, 1/2 c. sour cream, 1/2 c. orange juice, 1 t. vanilla and 2 T. grated orange peel (I use dry)


Add:  2 c. flour, 1 t. baking powder, 1/2 t. baking soda, 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips roughly chopped












Mix until well combined, but don't overmix. It will become dry. Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray and then line with baking cups (makes for easier clean up - I hate washing muffin pans!).

Fill 14 muffin cups.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, until muffins are light and spring back when gently touched. Cool  a few minutes before removing, cutting and smearing with butter .... or cool a little longer before packaging a couple to take to someone else to "Bake and Bless."

I took one of my biggest muffins, put a special tea bag with it, arranged them in a fall themed plastic bag, then tied it all up with 3 strands of curled ribbon. All ready to deliver a personal coffee break and a blessing to a friend in need!


I hope YOU enjoy these, but more than that, I hope you BAKE AND BLESS! 

Covenant #8 - New Covenant New Me

(If you receive new posts by email and didn't see yesterday's video, be sure to click HERE to go back and see/hear the encouragement of An athem of my heart.)

Our study of the God's Covenants, solemn binding agreements, have been personal and rich. There's so much I could say to wrap up about the New Covenant changes our lives ... how it's changed MY life. I hope this one page description of what we were before the New Covenant might be a good way to seal the life-changing truths on our hearts. 

I encourage you to print it out, use it for review, and use it as a guide for praise. Because of the New Covenant, our only right response should be worship, and we have so much to look forward to! (Hebrews 12:28)

(If you receive an email subscription, click on the post title, so you can see the visual today.)

The New Covenant and the New Me

If you find the visual encouraging, would you share it on Facebook or Twitter? Pass on the good news of the what it means to be in a Covenant relationship with Abba Father!

Covenant #3 ~ Floor to Table

"Do not fear," God tells us more than once in scripture, because we have a tendency to be afraid.  Sometimes it's just our humanness that drives it, but it's magnified by our ignorance. When we act in ignorant fear, consequences can be profound, and that was the case with the Nanny of 2 Samuel. If she only knew ...


The biologically rightful king-to-be Jonathan cut a covenant with the divinely annointed king-to-be David in 1 Samuel 20. Jonathan promised his life to David, and David promised forever protection of Jonathan's family when he became king. Ultimately, they were both yielding to God's plan for His people. The covenant agreement they made included all of Jonathan's descendants, but when he and his father (Saul) were killed, those descendants didn't act as if they knew about the promise. They were afraid, and they were ignorant.

"Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth."  2 Sam. 4:4

But David did not forget his promise to his covenant friend; in 2 Sam. 9 he wanted to know if any of Jonathan's descendants remained ... not so he could eliminate threats to his throne, but so he could fulfill the "hesed" (lovingkindness) love of the covenant. When the grown, but still crippled, Mephibosheth was brought to David, the handicapped man called himself a "dead dog," realizing he was totally helpless apart from the King. Raised by the Nurse who was ignorant of the covenant, he expected to be treated like the royal threat he still thought he was. Instead, David granted him back all of his grandfather's land, many servants, and a place at the King's table. 

The King took the cripple from the floor to the table because of his covenant faithfulness and love. 

In her ignorance, the nurse who once fled in fear and dropped a small boy raised him to see himself as "just a cripple."  She didn't know that the King wanted to protect and receive and bless him. 



What were you like in your "Mephibosheth" state?  When you were crippled, what did you look like? Yesterday, our group described ourselves with words like: 

• proud
• angry
• empty
• dead dog (We like Mephib's description!)

And what WOULD you have been like?  We used words like:

• alcoholic
• arrogant
• abusive
• hurtful

But we do not have to stay afraid, ignorant, and crippled spiritually on the floor of helplessness. Through the New Covenant of His Son's blood, God wants to lift us from the floor to the table, to wrap us into His Kingdom and seat us at His table.   If we've come into a relationship with Him through Jesus, let's not live like we're still crippled on the floor!  

Let's live today with the hopeful attitude and radiant gratitude of one who belongs at the King's table!

See the first Covenant Study posts here:
Intro - Never Again
Covenant #1 - Knowing the Covenant Maker
Covenant #2 - Put on Your Robe

If you know someone who would be encouraged by knowing that they don't have to stay "on the floor" in fear, I hope you'll send them the link for today's post and let God use His Word to bring them to the table.

4 Reasons to Smile!

In case you're not smiling at the moment, I want to give you 4 reasons you should be! A smile is often a sign of a peaceful spirit.

Reason #1 ~
A little over a year ago, I joined a team of Bible teaching bloggers on to form the Scripture Dig team. Today we're unveiling a new look at the Dig website. Hop over to see the "fresh face" and find out where we'll be digging in weeks to come.

Reason #2 ~ 
Next week is my birthday!!! Sadly, I am confused most of the time about how old I'll be ... but I think it's 43. I'm not hung up on telling my age. So there 'ya have it. :)  To celebrate God's great gift of life, I'll be doing a giveaway every day next week!  WooHoo!  Be sure not to miss a day. It will be easy to enter, and the giveaways will include the personal, the beautiful, the tasty, and the encouraging!  If you don't subscribe to daily emails, do that at the top of the actual blog page, so you don't miss out. I like the tradition many cultures have of giving gifts to OTHERS on your birthday, so .... Happy Birthday to ME!

Reason #3 ~ 
Does this sound familiar?

• "I don't like this."  (Or the variation:  "I'm done. I don't want anymore.")
• "There are starving children in Africa who would be glad to eat that."
• "You can send it to Africa."

Familiar???? :) From your childhood?  From your own lips?
Well, now you can save money you would've spent on having more than you needed to serve or on serving more "special" foods than necessary and ... really send it to Africa. Read this post from Vernon Brewer of World Help as he was actually IN the Dadaab Refugee Camp yesterday. In the last 90 days over 30,000 children have died. You can make tomorrow or next Saturday (or both) be a day when you give out of your abundance to ease suffering in Africa. Tomorrow is an S.O.S. day!  Somalia on Saturday is a day to think, pray, give and really do something for "those starving children in Africa."  Will you S.O.S. with me?


Somali Mother Arrives at Dadaab from World Help on Vimeo.
So smile because you are not starving, and smile because God is hearing their cries, including many believers in their midst, and many people are thinking, praying, and giving to help meet the needs.

Reason #4 ~

That's a great reason to smile!

Saturday #2 in S.O.S. for Somalia

What's happening on your Saturday? Errands? Pool? Laundry? If you're like me, you probably don't find yourself sitting in one place, staring in silence for long on a Saturday. That's not really what "Think, pray, give" looks like. Today, with Jeff out of the country, I will be camped out all day at a soccer tournament. I'll have some "empty hours" and waiting times between games, and we'll have some time in the car. I'm actually glad to have a "place" to point my thoughts; I won't feel like that waiting time is wasted. I'll have some time to think and pray, and I'll have opportunity to give.


As we do whatever we do (Sounding a lot like 1 Cor. 10:31) we can turn our thoughts to the things that lay on God's heart.

- As I cheer for my son (Go Jake!!!) I can give thanks for the food I was able to serve him this morning and the health he enjoys.
- As I drive the hour to the tournament, I will consider the miles being walked by the frail and vulnerable masses in their search of food.
- As I sit in the sun and feel tempted to complain about the heat, I will pray for those who are longing for shade and relief.
- As I respond to my hot and sweaty child, I will rejoice in the privilege of having clean, cold water to give him to quench his thirst. And ice!!

What's happening on your Saturday? 

I have to confess. Spending ALL day at a soccer tournament wasn't my idea of what I wanted to do on the last Saturday before school starts. I had plans. I complained. Call me a bad "soccer mom," but I have to be honest. Somehow thinking, praying, and giving in the direction of "Somalia on Saturdays" S.O.S. puts my day into perspective and changes my complaining to gratitude. God seems to be using S.O.S. to do some work on me, too.


What about you? Has your awareness of the suffering in Africa challenged you at all? Tell me how. Others will be encouraged to hear, too. I'd love it if you would take a moment to let me know.   

As for me, I'll be sitting in the heat ALL day long, cheering for my healthy boy, drinking lots of water ... and giving much thanks while I ponder Somalia on Saturdays.

Doing a "Beautiful thing" for love

Did you ever really want to do something for love, but you held back?  Maybe reluctant to embarrass yourself? (That's my personal favorite.) Insecure? Worried you'll be ridiculed? Afraid to waste something? Or just unable to make a decision and commit to action?

Sometimes I wonder how much more of an impact my life would have, if I let love drive me. 

Remember Mary who sat at Jesus' feet when He came to her house? He visited her family in Bethany, near Jerusalem, more than once. Mary is remembered as a woman who did a "beautiful thing" for love.

Mark. 14:3-9
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

She couldn't have known, but she her act of worship foreshadowed Jesus' death and burial. Though she was treated with disdain and accused of waste by those who should've known better, I'm sure she was glad she poured out the precious perfume on the feet of her Lord. Jesus accepted her gift of love.

Maybe before knelt at His feet and filled the room with the sweet fragrance she was reluctant ... did she stand at the pharisee's doorway, try to get up her nerve, weigh the cost of criticism, examine her logic, or take a deep breath? Maybe, but ultimately, she let love drive her, and she did a beautiful thing we'll never forget. 


This weekend let's go out of our way to find Jesus, get up close to Him, and pour out what's precious to Him. Let's make one of "The Things We Do for Love" a beautiful thing,

The 112th Congress

When the 112th Congress convened in Washington yesterday, they had several priorities, including reading the Constitution of the United States aloud today. Even a 200+ yr old nation knows that sometimes before you can get down to business, you need a reminder of WHO you are intended to BE.  That's what we're doing here at Come Have a Peace in January.

Since the Gospel of Luke finds followers of God worshiping in the temple in the first chapter and again in the last chapter, it's not surprising that in the body of the Book, Jesus shows He wants us to Be Worshipful.

Though He is God, Jesus modeled a worshipful attitude when He gave His pattern for prayer in Luke 11. His "Lord's Prayer" begins with addressing and acclaiming His Father, ascribing worth to Him. On the day Jesus entered Jerusalem in the "Triumphal Entry," the whole crowd of disciples cried out in praises, calling Him King. When the Pharisees chimed in with their usual complaints, Jesus said "if these (people) were silent, the very stones would cry out" (Lk. 19:40). Our God must be worshiped. It's the only right response to Who He is.


Knowing WHO I need to be begins with understanding more of Who HE is. It's not hard to see why we get distracted by the "cares of this world." Just make a short mental list of your personal concerns, pressures in your local area, and global issues of distress...........  Satan uses trouble to derail our trust in God's greater power, our worship of Who He is. 


In Luke 12 Jesus said we don't need to fear those in this world who can only impact us "here and now." He warns us to take Satan seriously, but He underscores that warning with a statement of our value:  "Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows" (Lk 12:7). 


When we understand God's love for us, the value He places on our lives, and the promises He gives us, our only right response is to pour out worship to Him. My Scripture Dig Sister Kristi shared a profound quote yesterday about how those who know Christ have to respond with reverence. That's exactly what a sinful city woman did when she heard Jesus was having dinner at a Pharisee's house. (Read it here.) She came in with a costly bottle of perfume, and she gave a first century pedicure to Jesus' tired, dirty feet. Jesus said "she loved much."  He was deserving, and she was not, and it was the only right thing to do because of it. Be Worshipful. 


As I write, the new Congress is scheduled to start reading our Constitution shortly, and as they remember WHO our nation is to be, they'll respond with appreciation and a new sense of its worth. They will be more prepared to know what they need to do.

I won't give you a copy of the Constitution, but read the story of the worshipful woman aloud.  It gives us a fresh appreciation for God's worth in our lives and shows us Jesus values a woman is a worshiper. And if we don't ... the stones will do it for us.

Festive, Significant, Peaceful

Christmas at the Shelter

It was Christmas at the Shelter, on another frigid night.

The halls were filled with bags and packs, all piled high and tight.

Tired feet were wet and cold, in lines they shuffled past,

relieved to find some warmth out of the street's December blast.

Outside was lit with strings of lights hung up above the stores.

Inside was dim, adorned with hopeful eyes of all the poor.

The pews were used for sleeping, and the halls were lined with mats.

Instead of bows and garland, precious things were gloves and hats.

Layered coats were set aside and towels were passed around.

Belongings set up carefully, once each her small space found.

Some had friends among them and gathered as they came.

One was new and frightened, and no one knew her name.

There were women young and women old and women in between.

All were glad for showers, the warmth, the fresh, the clean.

Some talked about their families, of the people they would call.

Others told of distant homes and had no one at all.

For some so glad to talk and share, their stories would unfold,

but blankets over tired heads, for others silence told.

There were those with education, with positions and careers,

passed away with houses and replaced with hopes and fears.

Side by side we sat and talked and sometimes said a prayer.

"Thanks for listening," they would say, "and taking time to care." 

But when we leave and go back home to where we know our bed,

A gift will stay behind us, showing Jesus' love instead.

A bag of socks for weary feet that burned out in the chill,

With chap stick, snacks and other helpful things the package filled.

When each one had a love gift and had settled down to rest, 

They turned to us, to our surprise, and made sure we were blessed.

"Merry Christmas, many thanks for all you came to bring!"

But we were blessed in going with our Christmas offering.

For Jesus understands what it can be to have no bed, 

To be homeless in a city with no place to lay your head.

Some will still take refuge there when mistletoe's not hung.

Heavy feet will enter, though no carol's being sung.

But in the Christmas story there's a message we should hear.

Worship Christ through giving in His name throughout the year.

~ A Christmas gift for you and all who need a place of refuge, written by Julie Sanders

Thank you for reading here at Come Have a Peace.  Your reading has helped to make my Christmas festive, significant, and peaceful.  I'm praying your Christmas will be, too. 


Until January 3rd, the first Marriage Monday of the new year,

Thanks for Going From Old to New

Our models ~ everything was 2nd hand ... to new!

Maybe it's because I haven't finished packing or because my thoughts feel like mashed potatoes and gravy, but I have thought and considered how to put the past weekend into clear words, and I've come up mostly silent. Mostly ... not totally.  :) I started planning the days long ago, when the Lord starting weaving thoughts and ideas and plans into my mind and heart, and I shared them with my women's ministry team. As the weeks passed, God began to put together a very unique 3 days of ministry, centered around the theme: Holiday Old to New. If the holidays build up to a celebration of Jesus coming to earth, we have to remember that the whole point was for the transformation of our empty lives apart from God. Jesus made the way to take us from "old" to "new." 

Options for old to new

Cindy sharing her testimony

I have loved getting to know my friend, Cindy Bultema, and God brought her to Knoxville to share her story. She shared multiple events this weekend with my own church gals, at Serenity Shelter, and then in a combined adult group on Sunday. I love the way she shares HIS story through her life circumstances. Her prayer was that God's name would be praised, and it was. I loved having a front row seat!

Divine appointments

My friends who love Serenity with me

Friday afternoon, I picked Cindy up from the airport, along with my own sister who came for the weekend. When I got to the church early to "deal with details," the Lord prompted me to come away and spend some time alone with Him in the dark sanctuary to commit the next days to Him, ask for His blessing, soak up His peace, and call out for His movement. I knew many of you were praying, too, after I shared the request last week. THANK YOU for praying with me.


There are too many ways that He showed His intervention to try and write them all out here. At times it was almost overwhelming. He did "immeasurably more than all [I asked] or [imagined.]"  The praises may just come out in drops, the way water trickles out of a full glass. My heart is full. What a sweet way to prepare for Thanksgiving!
 


So I'll leave you with words from God's sweet Word and my hopes for this day, when your heart will be full to overflowing with Thanksgiving.

Ephesians 3: 20-21
 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

Praying your heart is full with gratitude for His power at work in your life and that you will pass that on to the generations around your table. 

I'm thankful you come to read here at Come Have a Peace, and I pray you'll enjoy His peace today. Happy Thanksgiving!

"I'm just so grateful"

My girlfriend arrived with a big hug and a bowl of broccoli soup. We both knew why we were meeting, so we didn't take long to get to what mattered most. She shared about her 2 week old unexpected diagnosis of breast cancer and all that's happened since. She shared. I listened. We prayed.
At one point I asked her how she was feeling about it all. "I'm just so grateful," she answered. I waited to exhale, thinking I heard her wrong. It wasn't the response I expected, but she went on. She was so grateful for how God is providing people to extend His love to her through prayers, listening, comfort, gifts of sick days, demonstrations of support, gifts .... care. God's care delivered through the conduit of His people. And she was so grateful.

On Tuesday my friend Kathy shared that the meaning of the Biblical word we know "as “thanks,” “thankfulness,” and “thanksgiving,” is eucharistia ... a response to a grace given; the acceptance of a kindness done with the acknowledgment that it was undeserved."

My sweet friend ... giving thanks for grace given, as she received undeserved kindness. She was a beautiful picture of gratitude to me that day. I was challenged to wonder if that would be my response to the trial of disease.

This morning I was meditating on Philippians 4:4-6.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

The Lord's return is near, so it gives me perspective about trials of this life and the grace God gives. Even when I'm anxious???? Especially when I'm anxious.   My friend and I agreed that, though the current of our faith flows strong under our life, the realities "on the surface" are still hard to bear. The hard stuff of life.  God knows this, and I guess that's why He invites us to let our anxiety go and replace it with prayerful requesting to Him, accompanied by "I'm just so grateful." 

Who have you seen displaying real gratitude?

How to Avoid Being 1 of the 9

If you're honest, (and like me, if you read yesterday) it probably takes more to really make you grateful than it should. My gratitude should go deeper and be more thoughtful. The story of 10 sick men in Luke 17 gives us a graphic picture of what real thanks looks like and what the absence of thanks looks like, too.

pic from www.childrenschapel.org

Not surprisingly, it was the majority who displayed what not to do and the minority who displayed what to do. When we read it, we all want to be "the one."  We don't even know his name, but we want to be him. No one wants to be one of the "other nine."  If we don't take a little time to think about what separated the two groups, then we'll likely fall into the majority more often than the minority.



Today on Scripture Dig, I paint a picture of what it looks like "Leaving Gratitude in the Dust." If you want to know how to avoid being one of the ungrateful nine, read on.

We saw the picture of Gratitude in the dust yesterday from Luke 17.  Today we’re looking in the same passage at a picture of leaving gratitude IN the dust.

• All ten sick men were desperate, begging for mercy from a safe distance.
• All ten sick men called Jesus “Master,” recognizing His power to heal.
• All ten sick men responded in obedience, turning to go to the priests, as Jesus instructed.
• All ten sick men were cleansed.

So what made the difference for the “other nine” who didn’t come back to give their thanks to their Healer?  Maybe the answer lies in ... read more

What does it take?

What does it take for you to be thankful? What does it take for you to be full of thanks?

Yesterday I read my teammate Kathy's post about what "thankful" really means. It was great timing, as most people in my country head into a month leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday. Today Kristi focuses on the one leperous man out of 10 who returned to thank Jesus for his healing in Luke 17. Their insights are shaping my thoughts of thanks, but none more than a divine chain of events last week. I left knowing it takes too much to make me thankful.

Monday night I went with group of gals from our church to do a movie night at the women's shelter where we serve. We showed "Letters to God" and had great discussion afterward, along with cider and sweets. (I mentioned it here.) But one lady I was looking for was missing; she had gone to a Bible study. Something else that was absent were pumpkins we brought to brighten the porch. So I planned to go back ... (I'm still thinking this is all just a coincidence at this point ... silly me)

A couple of days later, I went back with the pumpkins. As I was leaving, the missing lady stopped me at the door to ask if there was any way I could find someone at my church who had carseats they don't need. She knew that she could ask, because we've been going to the Shelter ever since she came there; our small group of young couples went to paint there a few weeks ago .. and she remembered. I told her I would work on it.


I went home, sent out an email to my women's ministry list, and had both car seats in 2 hours. When I called her to let her know, she nearly came through the phone with joy. You see, a space had opened up for her to move in to the family ministry floor of the homeless shelter, along with her 2 little boys. Children's Services required that she have 2 car seats before they could be reunited. She tried government service offices and ended up in a tangle of red tape and discouragement. Then God sent me to the house, delivering forgotten pumpkins.

I picked up the seats and went to deliver them with my teenage daughter. When we arrived, the ladies we have come to love were out in the leaf covered yard, all dressed up in costumes, like a scene from a Disney movie. They were taking pictures among the pumpkins, and some of them had their children with them. I had the joy of meeting the two little boys who will be strapped into the 2 seats. I love getting to be the messenger!!!!

Their mom was SO HAPPY she was going to be able to move with them into the family unit at the shelter, to share a room together, to eat in the dining hall, to keep putting their lives back together, to keep on learning what it means to know their Heavenly Father.  She was FULL of THANKS.

What does it take to make you thank  full?   As I thought about her attitude of gratitude, it has something in common with the healed man of Kristi's post today:   they had been in the land of little, and they knew what undeserved grace and provision looked like. Maybe it takes so much to make us thank full, because we have too much. We have to willing to spend time in the land of little to learn gratitude. 

Paul said, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Phil. 4:11-13

I think Paul and my friend whose lap is full of two beautiful boys would agree:  the sweetest gratitude is known when we've been in the land of little. It would be a dangerous prayer to pray to ask to really know how to be thankful. Some of you have been in the land of little this year, and some of you reading are there right now. I'm praying that we will be able to learn to be truly thank full.