Ordinary to Extrordinary

I was recently reminded of a probable conversation that happened in the Bible. It went something like this:

God: “I need you do so some big things”
Moses: “Who Me? Not ME! Lord, I have nothing and am not equipped. You should pick someone else”
God: “I want to use YOU. What have you got there in your hand?”
Moses: “I have a stick. It is all that I have.”
God: “Okay. If you give me that stick, I will use it AND you.”

I imagined putting myself in that conversation today. I challenge you to do the same. Maybe you are thinking:
“What do you have in mind, Lord?”
“Well, that depends on what it will cost me, Lord.”
“Why me?”
“I have nothing. You should definitely pick someone else who is better equipped for the job.”

Sometimes we think of men and women in the Bible and hold them at a level higher than that of ourselves. I often forget about how many of the remarkable characters were not so extraordinary to start with. They were sinners just like us. Some were tax collectors, outcasts, misfits, and criminals. Some were the poorest of poor. The Lord used them and took them from ordinary to extraordinary.

I have been thinking a lot lately about how He calls us all to do his work. Maybe He calls us all at the level He called all those amazing characters in the Bible. Maybe their stories made it in the Bible only because they said yes when He called.

I imagined what my personal response would be. “Lord, I have nothing and am not equipped for your work. I only have these two hands. Take them. Use them. Use me.”

Please realize He is calling each and every one of us. Right now, in fact. He wants to use us for extraordinary things..bigger things than we can even imagine. We just have to be willing. If you want a sign, you reading this IS your sign. He is asking..and waiting for your answer. Are you willing to give Him the stick in your hand? Are you willing to give Him your hands? Today is the day. What will your answer be?

Dacian

I believe God intertwines the paths of people for a purpose. Sometimes we are blessed with the knowledge of it happening and what comes from it. Other times we are not. Three years ago my path crossed with someone a world away from the place I call home. I was born and raised in a small town in Illinois. He was born in a part of the world I hadn’t really known existed until a few years ago.

His name is Dacian. The first time our paved journeys made contact, I didn’t get to know him well. Thankfully, the Lord gave me another chance. Sometimes we are given opportunities in life that we would not normally get on our own, but because they are orchestrated by God, it happens and we are so very blessed. Only because of this, Daci soon became someone I now call, “friend.”

I have seen him in times of joy. I have seen him in times of trial. I have seen him persevere through unfair attacks in life. I have seen him shine through it all. He has taught me how to keep faith in times of not understanding the Lord’s plan and how through no matter what, to give thanks that God is in control. I have learned so much from him.

Daci doesn’t have an easy job. He is the country director for Buckner in Romania. He makes decisions everyday on how to best meet the needs of so many orphans and poor children in Romania. Each day he sees children living in conditions many here have only read about or seen on TV. Many of these children look up to him like a hero. He is blessed by living in a beautiful country, but in one that has challenges and limitations that we cannot imagine. This is a guy who wears many hats. Two of his most important roles are that of a husband and father. He has lots of pink in his future as they are expecting another daughter on the way this summer! I have never seen his face light up more than when he talks about his family.

In times of economic hardship, we all tend to get anxious about money and security. Things are no different in Romania. Imagine working with orphan children everyday and realizing if people don’t give out of their pockets and the kindness of their hearts even more than ever, the wonderful children you work with will have no place to go. They will receive no meal, no clothing, no education, no spiritual nourishment, and no warmth of a hug from a loving caregiver. These are desperate times for these precious children.

His job is not easy. (Yes, this is the second time I said that.) He has had opportunities to take the easy way out, the less stressful careers, or the higher paying jobs, but he continues to serve the Lord where the Lord tells him to serve. He has remained faithful and is a good man. He has lot on his plate. So, I ask you for a favor. I ask you to pray for my brother and friend today. I introduced you to him so you know who he is and that the children he serves need our help. If you would be so kind, please lift this man, his family, his programs, and his many children up in prayer today. If you want to make a difference in the life of an orphan child, it can start right now with that prayer.

The Door

Phil and I recently had our engagement pictures taken. It was fun. We opted for an “urban” photo shoot as opposed to the traditional pictures in the park or in a studio. We were really pleased at how they turned out. I like this picture here. It isn’t my favorite of all we had taken, but I really like it. I couldn’t figure out why until today. Is it the colors? Maybe. Is it because it is different from the others we had taken? Maybe, but those explanations didn’t seem to stop my head from tilting to the side and my face making that puzzled look each time I gazed at it. What is it about this picture?

Finally, I flipped through and stopped on this picture, and it came to me. I think this picture is symbolic. Here we are hanging out by this door. No one really knows for sure what is on the other side…I certainly don’t. I could take an educated guess, and it might be close. However, I’m not certain what is on the other side.

The journey through that door could offer us many things. Obviously, there are things on the other side that cost money. There are indications of that on the door. There is also a sign that says, “No Smoking.” Think back to the cartoons you watched as a child. Remember when a character would take off running fast? Smoke would come off the character’s feet. Maybe this sign is a sign to say “Don't go running through this door so fast you start smoking..take your time!” Okay, I know it’s just a sign to inform everyone smoking cigarettes is not allowed, but that image of smoking feet keeps playing in my mind.

What IS on the other side of that door? My guess is that if we were to have gone through that door, the next action after this picture was taken would be for Phil to reach his long arm down to help me up. He would probably make sure I was steady on my feet before taking me by the hand and moving forward. No, not just because I am wearing heeled boots in the winter, there could be ice on the other side, or just because I generally tend to be clumsy and am known to trip...A LOT. He always makes sure my feet are steady before we move on.. in more ways than one in life.

When I looked at this picture today, a verse came to mind. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9).

I think this picture is symbolic of our journey ahead. The door, scuffed much like our lives tend to get in our journey through this world, is just asking to be knocked on. Our Lord is on the other side waiting for us to answer. Phil and I will be married in just over a couple months. We don’t know what doors will be opened for us in the future. We don’t know what is on the other side of many of them. I pray we will do our best to not run so fast through them that our feet create a cloud of smoke. And I am guessing he may need to hold my hand and guide me through many. I think this picture is a cool reminder that the door is always there. He is always there waiting. Waiting for us to ask so He can give. Waiting for us to seek so He can show. Waiting for us to knock so He can open that door.

Who knows what’s behind that door? He does and has a great plan for any of us who ask to go through it. May you ask, seek, and knock on that door you are standing in front of today.

Soar Like An Eagle

I was driving the other day and saw something on the side of the road that caught my eye. It took me a second to realize what it was. It was a bald eagle. Never mind the fact it was scavenging on a dead animal, this bird was beautiful. As my car got closer, the bird perked up and flew away.

He was breathtaking. He stretched his wings and soared into the sky over the snow covered corn field. What a picture! I wondered what it would be like to fly so freely. Immediately, my mind went to Isaiah 40:31.

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Recently, I have gotten back into the daily routine of devotion. Boy, have I missed it, and am glad I’m back to where I should be in those few minutes each day. It reminds me everyday of the areas I need His help in, His guidance in, His wisdom in, His Grace in, and the Hope we can all have through Him.

The timing of me getting back to this is good. During this time in my life, I am preparing for many changes. In just a few short months, I will be getting married, moving, starting a new career, and starting a new life as a married woman. Each day my apartment changes bit by bit. A piece of furniture is sold and moved out. A box of this and that gets packed and ready to go. Things are changing. In some ways, I am very curious about those changes. Since I am a control freak, I of course want to know exactly what all those changes in the future will look like and how things will go. Will all the wedding details be flawless? Will I be packed in time? Will I transition into the role of a wife AND Texan well? Will Godly people be put in my path there? Will I be working exactly where the Lord wants to work through me? I’m pretty confident to say I think the answer to all those questions is, “Yes.” Why? Because I am doing all I can to prepare for it, praying about it, and most importantly…I have hope in the Lord.

No matter what is on your mind, what you are planning for, what you are questioning, or what you are trying to figure out, remember one thing. Those who hope in the Lord will soar just like that Eagle flying high in the sky with beauty and grace. May we all remember His promise of this and take that flight.

Bowl of Roses

Alright, I have a bone to pick. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about celebrations. However, recently I flipped the channel over to a holiday tradition being broadcasted on television. It’s a lavish event…spectacular even. The Rose Bowl Parade.

So, let me get this straight. All floats are required to be made of flowers and flower material. I have heard the average float contains about 100,000 blooms. The average float costs around $250,000. That is just one float. Millions of people stand by to watch these creations drive by. They clap, cheer, and stand in awe as they enjoy the feeling they get by being entertained by dead flowers pasted on wheels. In America, we call this entertainment.

I often wonder what those in third world countries think of us Americans. Do they look to us with admiration as if we are royalty since we live so extravagantly? Do they look at us with anger seeing how we live fully having the knowledge they are out there starving?

In Ethiopia, many work day and night for a wage of $0.50 to $1.00 a day. I’ve seen them. They are so hungry and so hopeful that one day help will come. I guess that is why I get a bit irritated with the parade. Those I have seen are human just like you and me. For whatever reason we were born here and they were born there. Why? I don’t know. I do know that if I were in their shoes, I would want people to spend money on coming to help me than I would have it being spent on flowers to cover a float. I’ll admit, while watching the parade for the brief time I did, I felt a bit defeated. I try hard to bring forth the need of the least of these and the importance and urgency of that need. Watching float after float prance by while the crowd clapped, made me feel sick and like I had fallen behind in the battle.

I can’t deny that the floats are absolutely beautiful. However, do we really think it is ok to spend millions of dollars on chopped up flowers when there are children dying from illnesses that would be prevented or treated with our pocket change?

I probably shouldn’t take it personally. No one means to personally offend me by it. However, I do. These people who are suffering are my friends, my brothers and sisters, my children, and as Christ tells us in the book of Matthew….HIM.

I couldn’t help but see visions of schools being built with each float that passed. Imagine if we just took the money that was put into those floats and put them into the hands of those who really need it. Food, education, shelter, etc. How much do we as a society value human life if we let children starve to death in the streets in one part of the world, while we waste money on pretty floats to just enjoy for a brief moment in time? Am I the only one that thinks we are missing it in a BIG way? Most days, I am proud to be an American. However, this was one of those times that I was less than proud of how we do things in life.

The Start of a New Shelf

Happy New Year! 2008 is officially done and a new year has begun. I find it exciting to think of the possibilities that lie ahead. This year could be full of so many things. Our minds cannot even fathom the potential blessings that He has awaiting us.

I had a wonderful Christmas. This was my first Christmas celebration of many with my future husband. I am left with a feeling of great thankfulness for the time we had to celebrate. My family was all together to gather for those traditional events, meals, and activities. It was nice. The snow was beautiful on Christmas Eve, and we even had some new additions to our celebration that night. We made new friends that are a part of the African Refugees here in the QC area. They are from Burundi, and we just fell in love with them!! Above is a picture from the evening.

One of my favorite moments of Christmas this year was on Christmas Eve. As we stood in the candlelight of the church, I looked around. To my left, was a new friend. A mother from Africa doing all that she can to provide for her family here in the US. With her baby wrapped on her back, she held a candle in one hand while softly trying to sing a Christmas song in a language not her own. On my left hip was a petite little girl. Her head was heavy as she was tired from a full tummy and an evening of play. As I gently tried to hoist her up on my hip, the hot wax from my own candle dripped onto my hand with each move I made. She was falling asleep as we all sang Silent Night. To my right, was my niece with her new young African friend as well. They both stood so still holding their candles. They felt so grown up being trusted with it. Delainey with her fare skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes, stood next to her new friend with dark skin, long black braids, and dark eyes. In the candlelight they looked like two little angels standing side by side. I was so proud of them. Next to them was my fiancé, the man whom I will spend the rest of my life loving. He too watched over the little girls and sang along in the candlelight. I snuck looks of him out of the corner of my eye and was almost breathless thinking about what an incredible man he is. Across the church, I saw the rest of my immediate family, all singing and enjoying the moment. I realized how in many ways, they have blessed me in ways I have not deserved. My church family surrounded the sanctuary in a circle. Circle of love…A Circle of Thanksgiving…A Circle of Light.

Christmas Eve was a wonderful memory that has been written in the books and placed at the end of the shelf labeled “2008” in the library of my mind. It was part of a special end to a great year. I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for the almost empty shelf of “2009.”

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:11-13