AFRICA THOUGHTS

Since I've had more than one person ask me about my trip to Africa and how we could justify going to such great lengths to reach out to people while not being able to meet all of their physical needs, I'm going to address this statement or at least, sort my thoughts out regarding it.

The concept of world help is a very legitimate and logical solution to what needs plague our world, and organizations like Amnesty and One World do a great deal of good in helping meet those physical needs of many an individual. I think we should fully support them and contribute our time and our money to providing medicine for the sick and food for the hungry, but we are not simply made for food and clothing - we are made for Eternity. That is the Number One need in the world today. Do the other things matter? Yes. Should we support them? Yes. Is it sad how many Christians preach Jesus, but ignore the needs of the poor in their own communities? Yes. But does this change the Great Commission to go and tell the whole world that God loves them, made a way for them to know Him and through Christ, despite whatever happens in this life, they can have peace and joy and love - with or without shoes? No. The facts are simple, we will all perish one day - we don't know when and we don't know how, but it IS inevitable and more important than stopping the process is securing the destination.

When Jesus sent His disciples into the villages, He didn’t send them laden with gold and food, He could have, He had EVERYTHING, but He sent them with power and a truth that could set people free. Why? I’ll ask Him in Heaven one day, but I have a suspicion that He knew when we didn’t have anything to need – we would be fooled into thinking we didn’t need Him.

To quote my writer hero, Max Lucado "God knew our need was not education, so He didn't send an educator. Our need was not money, so He didn't send an economist. Our need was not health, so He didn't send a physician. Our need was salvation, so He sent a Savior."

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).

SONG IN THE NIGHT

I awoke this morning to an unfamiliar sound, granted I am NOT a morning person so anything before 6 AM could be counted as unfamiliar. Nevertheless, in the pre-dawn darkness I laid motionless, listening to the song of a bird outside my window. My first thought, I confess, was that of annoyance, "Don't birds know to sing after the sun comes up?" But in that split second between annoyance and dismissal, God spoke to me -

That is what faith is.

As that thought sank in from my brain to my heart, I wept. For my own lack of faith and for those who have lost their song in the night.

the stone cold reality of divorce
the frightening uncertainty of illness
the emptiness of shattered dreams and disappointments

All the things that cause us to sit in silence wishing with every thought that next instant will bring the warmth of sunlight.

Maybe that bird I heard was confused or his internal clock was set a bit early, but I want to believe that he was singing because he knew what was coming.

This seemingly insignificant creature understood creation, and he sang.

Yet I am reminded that I know much more than tangible creation, I know the Eternal Creator and though His motives and methods may at times seem hidden, His mercies are not.

"Come to all you who are weary and I will give you rest"
"I have plans for you declares the Lord... plans for a future and a hope"
"I will be with you always, even until the end of the age"

And now that I am listening for it - I can hear the song.

Sometimes Loud and Strong,
Sometimes Hushed and Reverent,
Often times Choked with Tears.

Maybe, just maybe, if we could learn to sing a little louder in the dark times, those living in darkness would better hear and understand our song.

Because we ARE the singers, but HE IS THE SONG!

Even in the dark, He is worth singing about.

Can You Hear me Now? Good…

Have you ever wondered why the disciples couldn't manage to keep their eyes open in Gethsemane while Jesus agonized only steps away? I can't help but think "Come on, guys! You have Jesus, "the" Jesus, and he's done all these super amazing things in front of you and YOU can't keep your eyes open. He's asked a simple request, ‘watch and pray’, and you can't do it - pitiful."

On a few occasions growing up I would get the full-name greeting from my mom followed by, "Are you listening to me?" (I learned quickly that the use of my middle name was NOT a good thing). This question was followed up with a slow repeat of whatever it was that I was supposed to be doing or not doing at the time and then a threat of sorts of the consequence if I didn't straighten up. You could judge a lot by the tone of my mom's voice. You still can...

I really like that Jesus came back twice to His disciples. He keeps giving them chances to do the right thing. He still does that you know. I do have to speculate, however, what His tone was with them? Was He angry, was He exhausted, was He sad? Whatever the tone, the one thing their actions displayed, they didn't get it.

Before you judge, think about the times you have heard the voice of God. Random, but I once asked God to speak out loud to me. I was in my car, feeling very "in touch" and having a good conversation with the Maker of the Universe about all sorts of things when I was overcome with wanting to hear Him speak. I began to pray, "Please God, I want to hear You! I want to know the pleasure of Your voice! Please, I want to hear you out loud!" A few minutes passed while I listened as hard as I could and nothing happened. Then, out of the blue, I heard God speak, not out loud like I had asked, but deep and quiet in my soul, and do you know what He said? "Read your Bible out loud. Then you will hear My voice." I got the point...

Sometimes what we hear and what we really hear are two different things. If you are asking God to speak to you, be reminded that He may use an unconventional method to get across His message. Whatever the means though, what a comforting thought that our Savior keeps coming to us with His beautiful words.

What’s your Handle?

I am always amazed at hearing the testimonies of other Followers of Jesus. How they met Him, how he showed up in their lives and how they have been forever changed from that first encounter. When we first started this journey, months ago, not hours ago, we as a team began emailing out our testimonies to one another. We only managed through a few individuals and I was thinking, since we are STILL ON A PLANE, maybe we can continue in person what was begun online. I am reminded of John writing that he had handled Jesus, this is an odd choice of words to me, and yet upon thinking of it (and visiting dictionary.com) I am reminded that to handle something you become familiar with both its form and its purpose. John was familiar with Jesus not just in a theoretical sense, much more, he KNEW him and he KNEW what he was about. I wonder sometimes if in our busy lives, we forget that Jesus is meant to be handled. For only in handling him and can we then hand Him to others. Tell someone your Jesus story today and do it with your hands FULL.

THE WOUNDS THAT HEAL

Isaiah, I think, had the heart of a poet. The book of his name's sake carries much beautiful imagery and probably most well known is his foretelling of the suffering of our Savior.

"and by His wounds, we are healed" Isaiah 53: 5 (last phrase)

If I get past the familiarity of these words, they hit me with profound clarity.

I once took a spectacular tumble from a bicycle and managed to slide down a good bit of asphalt. Most of you have too, I imagine, and it doesn't take much to recall the memory. What I remember the most is my dad picking out the bits of the road that had left themselves in my leg and elbow and crying as he did so. The pain was acute, but it eventually subsided and I was left with a scar for neighborhood bragging rights.

I don't meant to trivialize the pain of Christ, by no means, but you or I do not have a lot of experience with having our flesh ripped from our backs repeatedly from bullying Romans. If anything, this concept is so foreign that we read verses like the one above and are scarcely moved by the depth of pain hidden within the words.

Jesus stood up to our bully and took a (literally) hell of a beating for it. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't poetic. It was graphic and ugly and messy and painful, but it was necessary.

Why? because our lives can be graphic and ugly and messy and painful.

And if I am really honest, I think because, I like Thomas, need to be reminded of His wounds in order to embrace the healing of my own.

An even stranger notion is that the scars you or I bear can be the instruments in which Jesus brings healing to someone else.

STARRY NIGHTS...

This past Friday night was incredible, it has FINALLY turned cooler and the wind is gusting just enough to make you curl up a bit snugglier in your sweatshirt and long for steaming cups of cocoa.... I adore autumn.

I had an amazing first this weekend. I prayed outside. Yes, earth shattering, I know, but different than my typical head bowed and eyes closed praying - I kept my eyes open and drank in the Creation that was all around me as and you know what happened? - all the rhetoric faded away and I was left with simple words to an incredible Creator. I was surrounded by His beauty and His creatures all in their own way singing praise to Him (including 3 shooting stars) and it was one of those moments where you think - "remember this. don't let the seconds tick past - pause, take a deep breath and let this be written indelibly on your soul" And it was amazing........

I read once that the reason leaves turn colors in Autumn is that the trees are withdrawing all of their nutrients from the limbs to prepare for winter, and what we see as a gorgeous display of color is actually the beginnings of death. I can't help but think that the Holy Spirit does that in us as well. When we submit areas of our lives to Him and learn to die to our own wants and selves - He portrays His beauty so much that people will pause and look at the change and reflect on it. We are reflections of His life in our death...
So, my various friends, my encouragement for you today is to get outside, alone - take a walk, sit on your back-porch, drive with the windows open but don't miss the change in the season and how our very personal Savior wants to use His creation to speak change in our own hearts. Again, I adore autumn...

HIDE & SEEK

One of my favorite games growing up was Hide & Seek. The thrill of hiding in a tight confined space, heart pounding and suddenly risking everything to run, exposed towards home base.

You know when I first learned to play - I never wanted to leave my hiding place. I thought if I could just stay there then I would be safe, but a competitive spirit drove me towards something much greater than safety - victory. And so, I gradually would will myself out of camouflage, creep towards my parents bed or the oak tree in the backyard or whatever object had been deemed "base" and eventually head wide open towards both impending danger and safety.

When David penned, "You are my Hiding Place, You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." I imagine he knew that same mixture of elation and risk.

I don't mean to trivialize a beloved Psalm, but the truth is, I often hide more than I seek. I want to run, but be it because of fear or insecurity or sometimes plain old sin, my feet remain stationary. The irony is that we can use Psalm 32 as an excuse to stay in our "holy huddles" far longer than we should. We feign our risk measurement as a spirituality test. But we can't miss my new favorite part of verse 8, five words that kick me out of hiding and into faith walking, "the way you should go".

The point of hiding is to prepare us for the seeking. Those brief moments of solitude helped me gear up the courage to play the game as it was intended. And best of all, I learned that even when I got "tagged out" we could play again.

If you're like me and you've either been hiding too long or have been sitting out after being "tagged" - get back into the game. Grace gives us the time to catch our breath and faith urges us to run with abandonment towards our home base, and the best part is, we will reach it. And according to Jesus, that's the point, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

HAVING A LIFE

In a roundtable of conversation last night regarding what it looks like to be a person having found the "life" that Jesus speaks of, my mind began to drift. Below are the buoys of truth I bumped into in the current:

• God's faithfulness has NEVER been dependent on the faithfulness of His children. We have a history that shows Him using us in spite of us.
• There is a canyon of difference between escape and deliverance. Escape is by my effort; deliverance is by someone else's.
• God's greatest works of art are displayed through lives of redemption. Need a reminder; read Hebrews 11 - these weren't perfect people, not even close - they were self-centered liars and adulterers. God listed them as having faith worth following - do we? Need another reminder, look at a rainbow. Need another reminder, look in the mirror.
• God is big enough to handle our questions. He allowed Job 37 chapters of questions before reminding him of Who he was dealing with. Go ahead, He can take it...
• Faith is tested and proven when YOU can't fix it... whatever "it" is. When your back is against a wall or a Red Sea, to quote Moses (you can't go wrong in quoting Moses) stand still and watch the Lord save you.

Having a "life" cannot be seen in how we live; rather it is only displayed in how we die...

"Whoever saves his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life, for My sake will find it" - Jesus

FAITH THAT WORKS

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

When God called an old man named Abram into the desert - He didn't show him a map or a family tree, He told him to obey and follow. When He called Moses through a fiery plant, He didn't lay out a plan of escape or attack, He told him to go and speak. When Jesus asked rough handed (and I'm sure rougher mouthed) fishermen to leave their poles and nets, He didn't give them a prospectus on how to change the world - He just called them to follow.

You know why we have heard these stories? Simply put; these ordinary characters did what they were asked and as a result became a part of something extraordinary.

I can't help but think that I have rarely experienced life-changing, mountain-moving, no-explanation-other-than-God kind of FAITH simply because when He has come a calling - I have pulled out a notepad and responded with a list of questions... Sometimes He answers because His patience is everlasting, but sometimes I wonder if He simply moves on to someone else...

worth considering......

FAITH THAT WALKS

Having grown up in Florida near the Atlantic ocean - the beach is one of my favorite places. The sound of wind and waves, the sun reflecting on shimmering water, the hot crunch of sand under my feet - there is something about it that just makes me feel both small and totally alive. But, in all my visits and days spent splashing in the surf, never once did I step foot into the shallow tide water and it move out of my way. Not even a little...

On two occasions (one was apparently not enough) God caused the waters to cease for His children in order to give them a clear passage to where He was leading them. Don't miss the profound truth here. God will cause waters to dry and rivers to halt if it means getting you to your Promised Land.

Did you hear that? Just checking...

Well, we must not have gotten the point, because Jesus used the same message with a different obstacle. This time, instead of water - he points at earth, a mountain to be exact. We are told that if we have faith, we can say to a mountain "Move!" and it will.

Mountains and water hold equally daunting mysteries - they embody that which appears immovable, unchangeable and unfathomable. And yet it is HERE that our God says - "Trust Me, have faith in ME and I will show you that there is NOTHING I cannot do. I can bring you through the waters OR I can empower you to walk over them. There is no mountain I can not move or give you strength to climb" (and just an FYI - if God calls you to climb the mountain - He might just show up at the top).

Friends, if there are mountains in your way or rivers in your path - keep moving, keep believing and be amazed at the power of our God. And when you get to the other side, tell someone... It is God's story, but amazingly enough, He is using us to write it. Now get moving...

"If you have faith, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you" - Jesus

INVISIBLE TO TRANSPARENT

I chose Invisible to Transparent as my blog title because it best sums up the journey of my life thus far. I have been a Christian since childhood and yet it has only been in recent years that I have begun to fully grasp the love that has grasped me. Sadly, I spent years of my life on the center stage, pouring out a message that had not fully saturated me. Constantly seeking moments in the sun for the warm feeling I craved. I look back and shudder at my arrogance, realizing that my own desires hindered me from being overly useful to God - insecurity (or pride - depending upon your point of view) painted me invisible.

Now, years into the journey and steps down the road, I have begun the transformation that matters most. Being who God created me to be, realizing I will occasionally trip and fall, but knowing that the wounds will heal and the scars will remind me of whose I am.

So, this is me, Karen, from Invisible to Transparent.