Are you ready?

The tragedy in Charleston has us all contemplative.  These people were surely in the safest possible place - church on a Wednesday night.


It takes a committed Christian to be at church on a Wednesday night.
Surely, we think, they would be protected from evil.


My guess, though, is that they weren't there to be protected.  They were there to love Jesus and one another.


Because of that, they were ready to face even the deepest of evil.  When it confronted them,disguised initially as a friend.  Because they walked with Jesus in the ordinary days, they were ready to face evil and fear and death with confidence and peace.


They were ready.


Evil didn't send an advance notice.  No warning was issued to alert them of terror and untimely death.
But they were ready all the same.


What a lesson to us all.


We have no promise of tomorrow, much less of peace and comfort and protection.


The readiness of these nine heroes (I don't refer to them as victims) speaks to me, for sure. They were ready to die. But something else stands out.


The readiness of the survivors.


I was astounded at the responses of the families of these heroes.  They, too, were unaware that pure evil would upend their lives that fateful day in June.  They, too, had no warning of what would confront them.


But they were ready.

They had no time to prepare a mature, well-thought out response to evil.  They were given no notice that the microphones of the world would be thrust in their face to capture this intensely personal reaction. 


But they were ready.


They were ready, yes, to grieve, but also to respond with grace and forgiveness.


They were ready to lean completely on the love and sovereign grace of their Savior even in - especially in - the face of unspeakable tragedy. 


Because of how they lived on the "ordinary" days, they were ready to live a life that makes Christ known to an unbelieving world.  A life that exude peace and love and grace. And hope. 


A life like this is ready to die...and ready to live, whichever God numbers for that day. A life like this cannot be explained apart from the glory of God.


What we have observed in this Charleston community is a result of a group of people who were ready.


Ready to die.


And ready to live.


Are you ready?


I Peter 3:15 - Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

Love is an Apple Pie

Life has inevitable valleys. 


Some darker and deeper than others.  But there's no escaping the valleys.


There are just gonna be some in every life.  We all have to walk them.


And in those valleys, there are some places that have to be walked in single file.  Places where no one can walk beside you or even carry you - you have to walk through certain spots in the valleys alone.


I know that Christ is always with us, of course, but there are places we simply have to pass through solo.  Narrow canyons where not even the closest friends or dearest of family can join us.


It's hard to see someone you love traversing those treacherous ravines.  So often we just don't know how to help.  Responses can range from avoidance to offers of "let me know if I can help" to finding excuses for non-action.  Intuitively we know that some places in the valley are single file...but we fail to realize that we are not helpless to empower those who find themselves there.


There are things that can be done that help.


I am finding those places lonely indeed.  But bearable because of those who stand on the rim of the canyon, pouring out love in a thousand different forms.


Love in the form of


texts that assure me of love and prayers
VIP treatment at my favorite pharmacy
cards in the mailbox
videos of adorable babies that I long to squeeze and kiss
an extra long hug from one who's already navigated this particular canyon
a quick phone call that says "I care about you and yours"
flowers
impromptu prayers in the Publix parking lot
homemade muffins and energy balls and a casserole
CFA milkshakes and a jitterbug dance
reaching out to wipe my tears...and crying with me
the sharing of a funny moment or saying from a kid I adore
a simple "how are things today"
a homemade apple pie, delivered warm from the oven
even the kindness of a stranger who has no clue of the journey I'm on


All these things are strangely...beautifully...powerful aid for the solitary places in the valley.


I am grateful.  For love.  Always.  But especially now.

A Dating Tip

It's VBS at our church this week.  That's "churchspeak" for "Vacation Bible School" - a fun, crazy, hectic, glorious 5 days where kids get to hear the incredible Good News of God's love.


It is my privilege to get the chance to hang out with middle schoolers.


This has to be the greatest age.


A cataclysmic mix of emotions and energies and enigma.


Tonight I am going to share with them a really really cool bit of dating advice that I found in Proverbs.


If you happen to read this and then run into some 6th-8th grade girls from Watkinsville, don't spoil my lesson.  I'm looking forward to being the one to give them this tip.


Here it is:

Proverbs 4:26 says - Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established


So what does that have to do with dating????


Well, I came upon this verse while preparing to teach on Proverbs 4:23 - Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Such a fabulous verse.  Underscoring the importance of what goes on in our heart - because that is the source of all that happens in our life.
Then the next four verses that tell us how to guard our hearts


Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.
 Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
 Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
 Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.


We take care of our hearts (and therefore our very lives) by being careful about what comes out of our mouths, what our eyes focus on, and where our feet go.
Life-altering.  Truly. 
Every single verse is a post of its own.


But what I uncovered in verse 26 is something I'd never seen before.
Truly, truly God's Word is living and active!


Watch the path of your feet....and all your ways will be established -
The verse was originally written in Hebrew.  And the word for "ways" is the word "derek".  It means course of life, actions, behaviors.  But it is specifically used for ....
Dating!
Seriously!


Ponder what that means for a minute.
Where we go (places, people, activities) determines the course of our dating life.
Probably 99.99% of the time, the person we marry is someone we've dated.
And the person we've dated is someone we've met in places we've been.


So, I plan to ask those middle school gals tonight - what kind of husband do you dream about?
A man that cherishes you?  Values your mind and your heart?  Protects you - physically and emotionally?  Defends your honor? Sees you as a treasured life partner? Sacrifices his own comfort and desires for your good?  Loves you unconditionally and completely...like Jesus does the Church?


Then you need to take care that your feet don't go to places where those kind of men don't hang out.
And spend your time where those kind of husbands are being groomed.


And then be the kind of woman
that the kind of man you dream about
would want to love.

To the grandmother at Cookout

I assume you're a grandma. Considering the difference in our ages and the incredulous fact that I'm a grandma you may even be a great grandma!

You had the look about you   Your mannerisms were gentle and easy. Your temperament was sweet and the way you insisted on going last at the drink station let me know you've had lots of practice being selfless. We had a fun albeit quick little chat about how confusing the drink dispenser was.  Your smile was engaging.


I went on to my table and enjoyed my burger with Betsy.  As she set out to conquer her cookie dough milkshake, I took a moment to scan the restaurant, wondering about the hubby I expected to see you sitting across from.


I found you.


But not him.


Not anybody.


You were alone.
Eating your burger and fries.  In solitude.


I think my heart stopped beating for a few seconds as my mind covered the gamut of the possible scenarios of your life.


To lots of young Moms, getting to eat alone - even if only a Cookout burger and fries - sounds like an unattainable luxury!  But I wonder if that maybe isn't how you felt at all.  I don't know what circumstances surround your alone-ess but I think your being here by yourself takes courage.


Maybe you were out running errands and your hubby is at home but it was time for lunch and so you just came in to eat. 
It still takes courage to sit by yourself, surrounded by people.


Maybe you are driving to visit family and this was a stop along the way.
It still takes courage to sit by yourself, surrounded by people.  And to figure out the drink refill thing.


Or maybe your story is that you're alone every day.  That your hubby of a lot of kids and years is gone.  And you're out to eat to beat the alone-ness.
That takes an awful lot of courage.


While Betsy made sure that she left no molecule untouched in her delectable dessert, I wondered if you'd been alone long.  If you'd had a happy marriage, the blessing of children, and a good life.  If you have dear friends that you get together with regularly.  If you feel loved and valued.


Or if you're really lonely and if the prospect of eating by yourself surrounded by people sounded better than eating by yourself all alone.


 The tears that were welling up in my eyes as I considered that this might be your story mean that I admire you.


And that my brief goodbye and watery smile as Betsy and I passed by your table on our way out were meant to pay homage to your courage.


I hope you enjoyed your lunch.  And I hope somehow that you're on your way to a great party to celebrate you.
And I really really really hope that you're not lonely.

Guest post - Bondage

Today  I want to introduce you to my friend Irene.  She wrote a book (I think that is so cool!) that was just released.  After being burdened by seeing fellow believers be so careless about what they put into their minds, Irene sat down at the computer and downloaded her heart.  Nothing Gray about It was the result.


Take a read of this piece she wrote for Living Letters and I think you'll see not only why I love her, admire her, and am grateful for her presence in my life but also why I highly recommend her book.
She has graciously agreed to let me give away 3 free copies of her book to the first three women who email me privately at chamfam@bellsouth.net.  Someone you know (maybe even yourself!) would greatly benefit from this book.  Contact me and the first three gals will land a copy.


Here's Irene....

It’s a Package Deal

 

Bondage appears to be the newest hype these days. It has somehow been translated into the hip theme in novels and movies. It's depicted as exciting, luring, and captivating. We are led to believe if we don't experience bondage, we miss out. Many of us stand in opposition. However, bondage isn't just in theaters or the novels stashed in nightstands, it is everywhere.

We entertain bondage every day. At the core of bondage is sin and living in slavery to what we have been rescued from. Yet we continually entertain the thought of it. The Israelites were no different (Exodus 12-17). They lived as slaves in a foreign land where they were mistreated and life was difficult. Then one day, God in His great mercy called Moses to lead them out of Egypt for the promise of a better life in a new land. They left in the middle of the night with only the possessions they could carry. Life became difficult on their journey to the new land. In their desperation, they longed for Egypt. They actually desired to go back to the very life they were rescued from. Don’t misunderstand, the Israelites didn’t long for the slavery, they longed for the comfortable life Egypt provided. There was just one small problem. The comfortable life and slavery came hand in hand. They couldn’t have one without the other. It was a package deal.

 

It is difficult to grasp why anyone would entertain comfort when it is attached to slavery. Yet we do the very same thing. We cry out for Egypt when life gets hard. Loneliness sets in and we yearn for the social circles we ran in, but an ungodly influence can infiltrate. Marriage seems unbearable and we dream about the attention we used to receive, but adultery can dig in its ugly claws. Stress kicks in and we hunger for what took the edge off, but an addiction can become our master.

 

We will never experience the true freedom Christ offers when we entertain the comforts of Egypt. The comforts, no matter how small or insignificant, hinder and cripple us from proceeding forward. Let’s remember Egypt but not return to it. Egypt will provide comforts, but slavery and bondage will be its theme. It’s a package deal.

 

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

 

Irene Sposato

check out her site for more info including a link to a radio interview -

http://chrisirenegd.wix.com/emotional-purity