Crossing Your Jordan

Something from Nothing

Jenny — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:41:50 GMT

May 18, 2012

“What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” Nehemiah 4:2

Our home has served as a nature observatory for the past several months. First we watched ants build a tremendous network of tunnels inside an escape-proof shell. Then we witnessed five squirmy caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies. Our latest specimen? Lima beans. We wrapped a few beans in a wet paper-towel and placed them in a plastic bag. Within a few days the beans began to sprout.

While I enjoyed watching the butterflies and the ants (did I mention they were in an escape-proof container?), the Lima beans seemed to outscore their competition. The ants and caterpillars began (and thankfully, continued on) as living creatures. However, the Lima beans once seemed as good as dead to me. Yet out of a pile of plain, crusty, dried beans grew a healthy creature teeming with life.

God specializes in making somethings from nothings.

Take Creation, for example. "By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen." Hebrews 11:3

Think about the Israelites rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem after they returned from captivity. What to the casual observer seemed like nothing more than stones from a heap of rubbish God used to enable the Israelites to fortify the Holy City in just 52 days (Nehemiah 4, 6).

And remember the five loaves of bread and two smelly fish? Jesus used that which most considered enough to feed only a small boy to instead feed 5,000 men plus women and children (Matthew 14).

God specializes in making somethings from nothings.

Consider again my Lima beans. After sitting on my pantry shelf for at least a year--left over from last year's science project--the chance of the beans growing seemed slim. However, once I began to give the beans that which they so desperately needed--sunlight, water and food--they began to flourish. Beans which were once ignored. discarded. rejected. forgotten.

From something that seemed as good as dead

Grew this plant, teeming with life.

We even knocked our plant sideways to observe how it would respond.

But once life emerged from our bean, nothing could stop it from stretching toward the sky.

If God can do this with a Lima bean, what can He do with you?

Do you feel as if you've been placed on a shelf? Ignored? Discarded? Rejected? Forgotten? Ever felt like a heap of rubbish? Its never too late.

God specializes in making somethings from nothings.

Come out of the darkness and place yourself before the Son. Wrap yourself in humility professing your inequities before God. Soak in the Living Water. Absorb your daily bread. And what others once considered as good as dead will soon be teeming with life.

Nothin' to Do Today

Jenny — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:39:40 GMT

May 8, 2012

"For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:30

A never-ending list of things "to do" drives me to the point of exhaustion by the end of each day. In addition to our normal, homeschooling routine I am preparing for a three-week trip out of the country. There are shots to get (and lots of 'em, I might add . . . ouch!), lessons to prepare, miscellaneous travel documents and items and clothes to acquire, trinkets to purchase for the kiddos while I'm away, letters to write, a spiritual life to maintain . . . the list extends on into eternity.

I want to do all these things. Colossians 3:23 says to work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. I make a list of all the things I can do to work toward a particular objective so that I can give the Lord my best. But somehow I never find enough time or energy to complete the tasks I want to do. All I end up giving the Lord is an earful of complaints. When I fail to finish each task on my list I end each day feeling inadequate and discouraged.

Earlier this week I read in a magazine published by Proverbs 31 ministries an article titled, Are You Driven or Led?, written by Holly Gerth. That's easy, I thought to myself, I'm driven! I esteemed myself over my natural state of staying busy. But as I delved deeper into the article, I realized the error of my ways.

"If you're driven, you can't be led," wrote the author. I realized she had a point. The author listed three indicators of a driven lifestyle: exhaustion (check!), a lack of joy (check!), and a desire to control . . . everything (check, check!).

Jesus says, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly" (Matthew 11:30, The Message).

How do I know if I'm driven or led? I simply examine the fruit of my labor. Lately my work has failed to produce anything worthy of consuming. The only thing that's ripe is my attitude.

So yesterday I made a change.

As soon as I awoke I said to the Lord, "Father, I have nothing to do today. Not a thing. Only that which You desire to put on my plate. Please show me what You would have me do." I placed both feet on the ground and smiled. For the first time in weeks I did not have an impossible-to-finish "to do" list staring me in the face. I simply had to wait upon the Lord. I knew the day would prove enjoyable because His yoke is easy, His burden--light.

The Lord placed before me a joy-full and peace-filled day. We accomplished more schooling than normal, cleaned house (some of it, anyway), washed, folded and put away laundry (any of you mamas KNOW what an accomplishment that is), and I even had time for one more shot (polio, that is . . . not the other kind!).

What's on your list of things to do today? I haven't a thing on mine . . .

Band-Aids

Jenny — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:12:48 GMT

May 3, 2012

"But Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.'" Matthew 19:14

Last night while helping teach four-year-old choir, the teacher became the student as the children taught me a great lesson in curiosity and compassion. In what typically proves to be an hour of organized chaos (20 four year olds in a class with 3 adults, need I say more?), nearly half of the class paused at some point to inquire about a Band-Aid on one of my fingers. Granted, I was wearing a Strawberry Shortcake Band-Aid to go along with my ensemble, but the care and concern of the children blew me away.

Children aren't afraid to show compassion for other people. To be fair I'll admit that sometimes children so no concern for others, but generally speaking, when kids see someone hurt they want to know what's wrong.

When was the last time you noticed someone wearing a Band-Aid? I'm not talking about an adhesive bandage that you pull from a box. I'm referring to the things we sometimes use to cover wounds which lie beneath the skin.

There are those who choose to wear neon-colored Band-Aids, crying out for attention.

There are those who select camouflage-printed Band-Aids in attempt to hide their wounds.

There are those who prefer Band-Aids adorned with the face of a cartoon character, covering the hurt by pretending to be someone they are not.

There are those who wear jumbo-sized Band-Aids because their injury is simply too large to conceal.

There are those who can get by with Band-Aids the size of a small circle, almost as if the penetration of their soul never occurred.

And then there are those who wear Plain Jane Band-Aids to avoid calling any attention to their needs.

Let us all be like the little children. The next time we notice someone wearing a Band-Aid let us be sure to stop and ask if we can help right the wrong.

Trading a Ladies Event for Lemonade

Jenny — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 02:35:37 GMT

April 28, 2012

"There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:42

I love attending ladies events. What stay-at-home mom doesn't look for an excuse to dress nice, immerse herself in adult conversation, and enjoy a time of praise and worship without curtain-crawlers tugging at the hem of the aforementioned nice clothes?

But today I made a last-minute trade for time with my children at a lemonade stand over a ladies event hosted by my church. I do not condone boycotting all ladies events. Much prayer and planning and preparation go into these types of events; events which are meant to reach and inspire women in the faith.

Scripture tells us to encourage each other and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). But today as I drove away from a friend's house after having dropped off my children so that they could participate in a lemonade stand to raise money for Bibles--Bibles I will distribute in Africa with a missions team this summer--something felt gravely wrong. I glanced down to see myself wearing heels, stark-white pants and a nicely ironed shirt . . . while my friend sat in the hot sun with more than half a dozen children anxiously awaiting their first sale of juice.

What was I doing? What kind of message was I sending to my children? Let someone else do the work while I sit in a beautifully decorated, air-conditioned building sipping my tea listening to an inspirational message? I couldn't do it. There was only one thing worth being concerned about. My friend had discovered it and it will not be taken away from her. Though I love a good women's event, I knew what I had to do.

Risking disappointment from a few church friends and women from my Sunday school class, I drove straight home and changed into my grungy clothes. I returned to my friend's home, pulled up a chair beside her and the children, two of which were my very own, and settled in for the duration of the lemonade stand.

Let me say again that I believe there is a time and a place for women's events. We must encourage and build each other up in the Word of God. But when we choose listening to someone talk about faith over the chance to live out our faith, we must question whether we have become too complacent; whether we have exchanged conviction for comfort.

My actions today may seem a little crazy to some. But sometimes, crazy's fun.

And the tally from the lemonade stand? A whopping $125. Enough to buy 12 Bibles in Africa. Twelve Pastors; maybe 12 Widows; maybe 12 former Child Youth Soldiers; maybe, just maybe 2 Youth (ages 16-26) who will leave our conference equipped with 6 Bibles each, trained to lead Bible study in their own community.

Did I make the right decision today in trading a ladies event for lemonade?

Only eternity will tell.

The Power of "J"

Jenny — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 03:27:45 GMT

April 27, 2012

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11

Did you know that when it comes time for a caterpillar to form a cocoon it attaches itself to a leaf (or as in our case, the top of a lid) and hangs upside down in the shape of a letter "J?" I had no idea! Not until the girls and I watched our fuzzy little guys (or gals) do so this week as part of our 1st grade science curriculum (amazing what you learn while homeschooling your kids!). I find myself awestruck by this seemingly insignificant detail for two reasons.

First, as I stand in front of our school shelf mesmerized by these creatures I capture a clear display of God's love for His Son. I imagine Creation went something like this. God said to Jesus, "I know! Let's make the caterpillar form the shape of a "J" as it prepares to enter the Pupa phase . . . You know, for your name, J-esus." And Jesus said, "Awe shucks Dad, really? Isn't that a little much?" "No way!" responded God. "I want the whole world to know how much I love You!"

God loved His Son SO MUCH that He enabled even the tiny caterpillar to bring glory to His Son's name.

But guess what?

God loves us as much as He loves His Son (John 17:23).

Hard to believe, isn't it?

Maybe God didn't cause Creation to form the first letter of your name. Instead, Scripture says that He writes your name on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16). He rejoices over you in song (Zephaniah 3:17). His thoughts about you outnumber the grains of sand (Psalm 139:18).

God loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you, and for me. God's one and only Son. You know, the Son that He loves so much He causes the caterpillar to form the first letter of His name? God loves you that much.

The second thing which captivates me about our caterpillars is the symbolism they represent of a life transformed by the power of "J." The caterpillar enters the world as a hairy, multi-legged belly-crawler. Not much to look at. But once the caterpillar recognizes it's need for transformation, it grows still and allows the "J" to do its work. And out of the "J" emerges a beautiful creature; one who finds him (or her) self ready to fly.

We must each come to a point where we reach up and attach ourselves to Jesus. He invites us to come away with Him, into our own cocoon while He transforms us by His Word. And like the caterpillar, out of our cocoon will emerge a beautiful creature; one ready to soar on wings like eagles.