A Good Friend

A good friend....

sets her watch alarm to ring every afternoon when she knows that you are at your most frazzled and stops to pray for you.

finds winter boots for your daughter. In her size. In her favorite color. Out of state. And calls to tell you about it.

comes over to take your kids to her house when you've discovered they've "decorated" the upstairs bathroom with soft scrub and permanent markers.

stops when she sees you weeding the flower bed, seven months pregnant, and insists that you sit down and let her finish the job for you.

dog sits for you ad nauseum!

flies across the country when you bring your baby home and takes a week off work without pay, just to help you keep from losing your mind.

shows up in the middle of the night to watch the house and kids while you take your husband to the ER to get stitches.

brings you homemade soup and bread when you have the flu and no one else knows you are sick.

drops off a caffeine free diet coke on your doorstep just because she was thinking of you and knew you wouldn't dream of taking four kids under the age of seven to the store for such a small thing.

remembers your birthday, even when everyone else forgets because you just had a baby and all they can think about is how cute that baby is.

listens to you without judging or pointing out your faults. And then she prays. For you. For the situation. For everything.

encourages you at all times and always has something godly to say to you.

remembers that every baby should be celebrated, even if you've had twenty babies before this one.

sends a thank-you card to your daughter just for being such a great daughter to you.

sends you "fun money" so you can treat yourself to that new haircut or pair of shoes you couldn't justify putting in the family budget this month.

eats ice cream with you without making comments like, "Oh, we really shouldn't" but instead says, "Let's celebrate being able to hang out together!"

loves you for who you were, who you are and who God wants you to be.

Thanks, God, for so many, many good friends. Thank You for using them to teach me what it means to be a friend and how to recognize Your friendship. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Another Mother's Son

As I watch you sleep, sweet boy, my heart cannot help but ache for another mother's son. He was a sweet boy, too, I'm sure, taken to heaven this week, only three months older than you. I think of her grief, her sorrow, the overwhelming emptiness that must be her companion today. My heart breaks for her. I see so much possibility in you. I wonder what plans God has for you, and if you will allow God to fulfill them through you. Will you be strong? Will you be yielding? Will you be faithful? Will you be like you father...and our Father? I think about the thoughts and dreams the other mother must have had for her son. Surely this was not a thought in her mind. How could a mother conceive of such a startling end to her son's life?

And then I think of yet another mother, who long ago held her sweet boy in her arms. The Bible says she pondered many things in her heart. How she must have adored His baby soft skin and sweet little toes. She, too, must have had thoughts about His life. But, she knew her Son would also have a startling end to His life. How hard it must have been to watch His agony, the rejection by others, His suffering. And yet, she needed Him to accomplish God's will. He was not just her Son, but her Savior. I wonder how she spent those three days between His crucifixion and resurrection. Was it in despair and grief? Quiet expectation? Joyful hope? Reflective? Contemplative?

And, so I look at you anew, sweet boy. I still wonder what kind of life God will gift to you. No matter the outcome, there is the promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus--another mother's son and every mother's Savior--and I cling to the promise that He holds every detail of your life in the palm of His hand.

Is it ministry or a job?

I found this as I was surfing the other day and it went along with some things I've been praying through. It's the beginning of another new year and along with that come opportunities to re-evaluate your commitments and priorities. It's important to continually seek the Lord's direction when agreeing to fulfill another obligation or meet another need. I see so many busy women doling out their days to the highest emotional bidder without stopping to consult the Lord as to how He would have them walk out that same day. If you are a believer and your heart is to serve others, read through the list. Take a few quiet moments today to stop and ask the Lord about your commitments and how you are spending the time He has gifted to you. He may release you from something you have completed or were never intended to burden yourself with. Or, He may reveal to you another person or situation that needs your gifting and touch. Seek the Lord...

If you are doing it because no one else will, it’s a job.
If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it’s a ministry.

If you are doing it just well enough to get by, it’s a job.
If you are doing it to the best of your ability, it’s a ministry.

If you will do it only so long as it does not interfere
with other activities, it’s a job.

If you are committed to staying with it,
even when it means letting go
of other things, it’s a ministry.

If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it’s a job.
If you stay with it even when no one seems to notice, it’s a ministry.

If you do it because someone else said it needed to be done, it’s a job.
If you do it because you are convinced it needs to be done, it’s a ministry.

It’s hard to get excited about a job.
It is almost impossible NOT to get excited about a ministry.

People may say, “Well done,” when you do your job.
The Lord will say, “Well done!” when you complete your ministry.

An average church is filled with people doing jobs.

A great church is filled with people involved in ministry.

(Author Unknown)

Things I Want You To Know: How to Share Christ

I don't have the gift of evangelism. At least, the Lord has not revealed that this is one of my gifts. My heart's desire is for everyone to know Christ and respond to His open invitation of salvation and transformation. But, I begin to sweat just thinking about trying to share the gospel with someone. It isn't the message. It's the delivery. I know how important it is to share Jesus in a way that glorifies and honors Him and I've always had a fear that I wouldn't have the words or would say something wrong or not have the answers to another person's questions.

But, Jesus commands us to share the gift of salvation:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations." Matthew 28:19a

So, girls, I started thinking that I need to tell you how to share Christ with other people. I don't know who God will put in your path or life but I know He will ask you each to share the gift of salvation with others. Here is one way...


We're All Sinners
We are born into sin. This is a fallen world. Given the choice, the outcome would have been the same if you and I had been in the Garden of Eden. We, too, would have eaten the apple and disobeyed God. We, too, would have had to hide our sin and shame from the glory and perfect goodness of God.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

It's true. Not one of us living here on earth is perfect. It isn't about being a "good person" or "doing all the right things." None of us are good. God sees us all the same: Sinners. Wrong-doers. Destined for wrath and destruction. And, so...

Sin=Death
Because we are all sinners, because none of us can reach the standard of perfection God requires, because we are covered in guilt and shame, the consequence of sin is death. That's a hard thing to swallow. How can a loving God demand perfection from imperfect people? Good question.

"What fellowship has light with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 2:14c

In other words, how can perfection make room for imperfection and still remain perfect? It cannot. The same is true of God. He is completely without sin. Since we are all sinners, we cannot have fellowship with Him. Because He is eternal life, we cannot live eternally because of our sin.

"For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23a

But, our God is also LOVE. And so...

Jesus Died For Us All
God, in His merciful and infinite love for us, saw that we were steeped in sin, headed for death, and made a choice. He sent Jesus--fully God and yet fully man--to walk this earth. Jesus came to show God's love for us. He came to be the hands and feet and voice of God--in the flesh. And then he paid the debt of our sin.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

He willingly sacrificed His life for me. For you. He took my place and your place on that cross. He chose to die for us so that we could be free. Free from sin. Free from death. Free indeed! He died so that we could be with God forever.

In laying down His life for you and me, he conquered death and then rose again. His death and resurrection create a bridge that spans the wide canyon of sin separating us from God.

"...but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23b

Sin and death no longer have any hold on us. We are free! When God looks at us, He sees the shed blood of Jesus, the sacrifice of love He made and our debt paid in full. Jesus, because He was fully God and perfect, took my place, your place, in death and, in doing so, gave us the gift of eternal life. Life with God forever. What a gift! Instead of the judgment and punishment we deserve, God offers us forgiveness and mercy and grace. Now, that it LOVE!


The only thing you have to do is accept this free gift by recognizing your need for a Saviour and then asking Jesus Christ to be just that: your Saviour, your Redemption, your Key to Life Eternal. If you are willing to receive this gift of grace and forgiveness, let's pray together:

Father God, I know that I am a sinner in need of forgiveness. I confess my need for a Saviour. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I believe that he rose again from the dead. Jesus, I ask You to come into my life and my heart and be my Lord and Saviour. I thank You for this gift and ask You to help me live for You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

If you just prayed this prayer, you can be assured that you do indeed have life eternal in Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord!

Things I Want You To Know: We are not home, yet.

(Dear Emma, Ruthie and Olivia: Sometimes, I wonder if I will remember to tell you all the things I think are wonderful about our Lord. Sometimes, I worry that I will forget to impart to you some Truth that the Lord has shown me. Sometimes, I wish I could tell you now the little bit I understand of God's glory. So, now and then, I'll try to write those things down here, and maybe someday, you'll read this or I'll read this and we can talk about it together. I love you each, but Jesus loves you more. Love, Mommy)

I've been thinking about your futures, girls, wondering what kind of choices you will make, what sort of work you will find for your hands to do, what kind of man you will choose to marry, what sort of wife and mother you will each be. The future is full of so many rich promises from the Lord. One promise I want each of you to hold tightly to is this: "...for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:2-3 This world where we live is only a temporary home. We don't belong to the world but to God. His plan is for us to live here, growing and learning in our knowledge of His love for us so that, someday, we will be with Him, worshipping Him in Spirit and Truth.

The world can seem exciting and enticing, with its' pleasures and indulgences. But, compared to the splendor and majesty of God's eternal glory, the world becomes dark and ugly. I want you each to know that we are not home yet. Don't get too comfortable! Don't put down roots in this world but root yourselves in the Word and in the life-saving grace of Jesus Christ. God wants us to live in this world but He wants our hearts and minds to be fixed on our eternal home--the one He has prepared for us. It is the only place where we will truly belong. I want you to be there with me and Daddy, worshipping Jesus forever. I want you to each live your lives for the glory of God, knowing that your time here on earth is but a moment compared with an eternity with God.

I must confess that I sometimes get caught up in the things of this world. To be sure, they don't seem like worldly things but God always reminds me that they are. Whenever I take my eyes off Jesus, I lose sight of my eternal purpose: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. It also makes life on earth unbearably difficult to navigate when my gaze is averted to this temporal world. But, God is faithful in reminding me to return my gaze to the face of Jesus.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

I love you, girls. We are not home, yet, but I love walking through this world with you!