Clean Feet

"For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." (John 13:15)

Good morning, friends!

The summer camp where my husband and I have ministered since arriving in France is, shall we say, rustic.

(Rustic is the French euphemism for "primitive.")

There are bathhouses and showers, but to get to these small oases of comfort, on rainy days you have to slog through the red clay mud in flip flops.  By the time you leave the shower and return to your tent after your shower, well, let me just say, your feet are no longer clean.

We endure this daily trek for three weeks out of the year only.  One of the reasons we are able to overlook this aspect of camp is because, at the end of our three weeks, we know we are returning to tile floors, pristine bathtubs and showers that you can stand under as long as you would like.

(Or, until the hot water runs out.)

Obviously in Jesus's day, having clean feet was a luxury reserved for the indoors, a refreshing time after labouring outside or walking long distances in sandals on dusty pathways.  No wonder that one of the many markers of hospitality in this arid part of the world was washing of a guest's feet.

To me, this is the Israel equivalent of my Southern American roots:  "Come on in, take your shoes off, and sit a spell."

This foot washing was a task reserved for servants, bidden by their masters to welcome weary travellers to come, clean up, take a load off, and rest.

What a beautiful picture Jesus gives to us at the Last Supper, when He Himself washes the disciples feet.  This passage is recorded in John 13:1-20.

A few thoughts caught my attention as I was reading this passage again while preparing this blog:

1.  The meal was already done! "And supper being ended...he riseth from supper..." (John 13:2,4) Usually this foot washing should have taken place before the meal began.  Perhaps no servant was available for this task, but what is clear is that none of the disciples took this task on for themselves.

2.  Jesus knew who He was, and did not allow a "menial task" to escape His notice.  John 13:3 is sandwiched almost as an aside between supper ending and Jesus rising to wash the disciples' feet.  Jesus, "knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God," did not allow this knowledge to keep Him from performing this servant's duty.  Jesus came to us as a servant, with a servant's heart.

3.  Jesus did not allow His position of authority to overrule His servant's heart. He invested His life in serving His Father and then others around Him.  "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye ought also to wash one another's feet." (John 13:14)  He could not be clearer.  What a meek and humble heart the Lord had toward His disciples!

If my Lord is willing to give Himself to serve even in the lowliest of tasks, should I not also be willing to give myself in the service of my Lord, and of others?  Am I greater than He?

Of course not.

The next time I am faced with an unpleasant, "menial" task, may I be reminded of this act of humble service, and be prepared to do the same for my God, and for those around me.

It is, after all, the very least that I can do.

Rest and Restoration

"Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house." Luke 19:5

Good morning, friends!

I have sweet memories of hearing my children sing Bible songs as they have grown up.  Of course, those of you who have children have similar memories, where sometimes the lyrics do not line up with the original words.  

My children loved the Zacchaeus song, but whenever they arrived at the crucial moment, it always came out, "Zach-ki-ki, you come down!"

(Sometimes I sing it that way on purpose now, remembering those times.  It always gets a smile from my family.)

I just love the story of Zacchaeus, because when we read the account in Luke 19, it's like a zoomed-in portion of his life.  His life for me is frozen in the time when he is up in a tree, trying as hard as he can to see Jesus.  

It's easy to overlook all that happened in his life before this moment.  I think that had we known Zacchaeus before this encounter with Jesus, we probably would not have been one of his fans.  After all, Zacchaeus was a fraud and a cheat, a liar and a selfish person, who stole from his own countrymen and neighbors to line his own pockets.  

(Of course, before I met Christ, people would not have wanted to know me, either.  There wasn't anything worthy of notice in my "old self," either.)

No, I prefer to start my story of Zacchaeus up in the tree, desiring with all his heart to see Jesus, "who he was, and could not, because he was little of stature." (Luke 19:3)

I had never before really given any thought to the fact that Jesus invited Himself to Zacchaeus's house. Growing up, I think that would have been considered a hospitality no-no.  Thankfully these were not Jesus's rules, or Zacchaeus's, either.  Zacchaeus "made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully." (v.6)

Just an aside here:  How different is this encounter from so many of the other encounters Jesus had in others' homes!  Jesus was welcomed joyfully!  Now, there is a dinner where I would have liked to be present!

At the same time, I can only imagine how Zacchaeus's conscience must have been smiting him.  Here he was, receiving Jesus in a lavish manner, which was gained in dishonesty.  I imagine that his time with Jesus made him very conscious that his lifestyle was FAR from what it should have been.

I am so thankful for closure to this story!  I have no doubts that Zacchaeus made good on his promise to Jesus: "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." (v.8)

When Zacchaeus opened up his home to Jesus, it was for a temporary rest, a reposing time of physical restoration for Jesus's body.  I'm sure there was a meal, and many comforts extended to Jesus.

Welcoming Jesus in his home however was for Zacchaeus a much greater blessing.  He found a rest to his longings and emptiness, and restoration for his soul.  Jesus declares it to him in plain terms: "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (v. 9-10).

I am so thankful that Jesus came to seek after me, and to save me.  I have had that Zacchaeus moment, when I was longing to learn about Jesus, and to see Him for who He is.  I have invited Jesus into my life, and had Him offer the same grace and restoration to my soul.

Have you?  If you never have, why not today?

Honored Guest

"Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things..." Luke 10:38-42

Good morning, friends!

I want to share a silly confession with you.  It's nothing at all scandalous, but it's not something I usually mention.  Are you ready?

As a kid, I always wanted to be called Suzanne.  I guess for me, like Anne-with-an-e of Green Gables, Susan just sounded so plain.

Now I live in France, and guess what I'm called here?  You guessed it:  Suzanne.  And here, Suzanne is the common name and Susan is the exotic one.  Isn't that funny?

I love French first names.  My favorites have always been the hyphenated ones:  Jean-Marc, Marie-France, Pierre-Andre.  One such name always brings a smile to my lips, because while it is a common name here, I cannot help but think of the Bible story to which it corresponds:

Marie-Marthe.  Translated, that would be Mary-Martha.

You're probably smiling now, too.

It's difficult to think about hospitality in the Bible, especially hospitality shown toward Jesus, without thinking about this anecdote in Luke 10, isn't it? I have always been touched and humbled by each of the ladies in turn.

Martha was the one who invited Jesus, oversaw the meal preparations, and was overly concerned about having everything "just right." I believe that having Jesus in her home was such a great honor in her eyes, and she wanted to do her very best to honor Him.

Yes, she got carried away, and complained in her service.  I never liked being too hard on Martha, though, because in her place, I probably would have done the same thing.  Jesus's rebuke to Martha could have been said to me as well:  "Susan, Susan, you are preoccupied and worried about many things."

What are the "many things" that trouble my thoughts?  Life:  working through the details of day-to-day living, allowing the cares of this world to prevent me from seeking the Lord's strength rather than relying on my own abilities.

Then there was Mary, who was so enamoured with Jesus Himself, and with His teachings, that she didn't want to miss a thing.  I suppose I have my "Mary moments," too.  There are times when I get busy reading about God's Word, working on a lesson for kids or an interesting thought for this blog that I get late fixing lunch, or put off my ironing or other chores that I don't enjoy as much.

Quite frankly, I think the reason I like the name Marie-Marthe so much is because if I were honest, I think there is some of both Mary AND Martha inside of me.

Of course, Jesus's rebuke to Martha cannot be ignored: "But one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (v. 42)

One day my service for the Lord on this earth will end.  There will be no more meals to fix, family members to care for, houses to clean, or laundry to fold.  Even Sunday school lessons, Ladies' Bible studies, and visiting neighbors and shut-ins will come to an end.  I will be standing in front of Jesus, and I want to greet Him like the honored guest that He is in my heart.  I don't want our relationship to be strained through neglect or stilted because of lack of communication.

Quite frankly, I don't want my "service" for Him to compete with my sitting at His feet, learning from Him.

I'm glad that the hyphenated name in France is Marie-Marthe, with Mary coming first.  After all, she chose the good part, didn't she?

I pray that I will today, as well.

Welcome...or not?

"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." (Luke 7:47)

Good morning, friends!

Have you ever been invited over to someone's house, and ever gotten the feeling that even though you were invited, you just weren't that welcome?

Maybe like me you have experienced the uncomfortable "re-invite." You know, when you invite someone to your house, so they feel obligated to have you over in return, but there is not any real desire there.  Or maybe, you are invited because you show up with a plate of cookies, and the person feels duty bound to invite you in.

One word: AWKWARD.

The host or hostess may not say or outwardly do anything to show hostility to you, but you know.  Even though the visit might end well, or finish at least less awkwardly, there is still that uncomfortable knowing that your presence is just not that acceptable.

I think of many instances in the Bible where Jesus was invited to people's homes, and quite frankly, was not made to feel that welcome.

(Can I add as an aside that many of the instances of hospitality toward Jesus in the Bible read as the guidebook of hospitality "don'ts?")

One instance is the passage where I find today's verse.  Jesus is invited to Simon the Pharisee's house, and though he was invited to eat, and the meal was right, the atmosphere was not.

Jesus outlines all the "don'ts" of Simon's hospitality in verses 44-46: no kiss of greeting, no water of refreshment for Jesus's feet, no oil for his head.

At the very least, any one of these oversights would have been considered a Middle Eastern hospitality no-no.

At the very worst, this was deliberate on the part of Simon:  a show of disrespect to a "not so honored" (in Simon's eyes) guest.

Jesus, being the gracious guest that He was, did not point out any of these oversights, until Simon showed disrespect to an uninvited guest.

This woman was not on the invitation list.  We do not know how she found out about Jesus, or how she got into Simon's house.  Simon obviously knew about her.  Simon had no qualms about displaying his knowledge of her wrong-doings.  At least, on the inside.

Jesus, however, knew the thoughts of Simon's heart.  And of the lady's heart as well.

I love the graciousness of Jesus displayed in this passage.  If anyone in the room had a right to judge this woman, it was Jesus.  His compassion must have overflown in response to her repentant heart.  Who would not be moved at such a loving display of sorrow?

When I think of my tendancy to hold onto wrongs done to me, or to take offense at ungraciousness shown me, do I not show the same unforgiveness that Simon showed to this woman?  Do I really love so little, that I forgive so little?

May God help me to forgive and love others as Jesus loved me.  He forgave all my offenses, so that I could receive His love, and then show that same forgiveness to others.

May Christ--and those He loves--always be "welcome guests" in my heart.

Hostess Gift

"His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." John 2:5

Good morning, friends!

When Americans think of the French, especially of Parisians, unfortunately the word "hospitable" does not usually come to mind.

As a whole, French folks are more reserved than the average American, giving the impression that they are standoffish or rude.

There ARE rude French folks, just like there ARE rude Americans.  Sorry to burst your bubble.

There are many layers to French hospitality and so many nuances and unspoken rules of etiquette that it is easy to offend, without even meaning to.  After 15 years of living here and 15 years of social blunders, I am still trying to figure out many times what is acceptable and what is not.

One of my favorite aspects of hospitality in France however is the hostess gift. Usually it comes as a bouquet of flowers, or maybe a box of chocolates if it happens to be around Christmastime.  My children enjoy a "children's gift," usually in the form of candy or a small toy or book that often arrives when grown ups come to visit.

I must confess that this is one of my favorite aspects of having folks over.  I love bouquets of flowers, and that hostess gift is a little extra gesture that is not at all lavish, but very appreciated.  It lets me know that my offer of hospitality is accepted and that the guests are thankful for being invited.

One of the "hospitality" occasions with Jesus reminded me of a hostess gift that was very much appreciated.  It's in John 2, and Jesus was the one doing the giving.

Remember the story?  The host of the wedding had run out of wine, which as the host of the wedding feast, would have been a major "faux pas" in Middle Eastern hospitality.  Jesus told the servants to fill the waterpots with water, and take it to the master of the feast.  When he had tasted it, he declared that it was the best that he had ever had.

There was no gain for Jesus in giving this wine.  The only ones who were aware of what had happened were the servants, his mother, and his disciples. The host of the feast was certainly none the wiser.

I have listened to and read many debates about WHY Jesus did this first miracle.  Some said that He did it to satisfy his earthly mother, who was encouraging him to "do something."  Others have stated that Jesus did not want the host to be embarrassed.

I have read many ludicrous commentaries about HOW Jesus did it.  I will not insult your intelligence with their reasonings.  People love to try to explain away a miracle.

The only explanation given to this first miracle is in verse 11:

"This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed on Him."

When I read this verse, I realize that Jesus's first miracle was like other miracles He performed.  This miracle revealed His glory:  Jesus as God has all power over all creation, including whatever needed to be done to change water into wine.  The other aspect of this miracle is that it affirmed the faith of His followers.  Those who witnessed this miracle, believed on Him even more.

I believe that it also reveals another aspect of Jesus's character:  His love and compassion for others.

Jesus loves to give.

When I think of all the hostess gifts that I have received over the years, the ones that have meant the most to me were given by people who show their love and appreciation at other times as well.  I know that I am loved, whether or not I am hosting them in my home.  Those gifts speak volumes to me, more than the polite obligations of fulfilling a social debt.

I am sure the master of the wedding feast was grateful for Jesus's gift, even though he did not know from whom it came.

I pray that I will always be thankful for Jesus's gift of eternal life, especially since I know to whom all praise and thanks is due.

Hostess with the mostest...almost

"Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching..." Luke 12:37

Good morning, friends!

One of the workshop sessions during the Ladies' Retreat in Belgium was about the subject of hospitality.   In a day in time where time itself is such a precious commodity, true hospitality is a rare gift indeed.  After discussing various obstacles toward our own reaching out to others, the discussion focused on how we as ladies could be more hospitable to others.

While I was listening to the various suggestions, a random thought popped up in my mind about hospitality in the Bible, specifically the hospitality that was shown to and by Jesus in the New Testament.

This week, if you will allow me, I would like to share some of my findings.

Hospitality is a big part of our ministry here in France, whether over a simple cup of coffee, or a meal, or a special occasion that we have planned for, like the annual Christmas party for my English teacher coworkers.  While I do not have as many guests in my home as I would always like, I know that I need to be ever ready for those times when someone makes an appearance.

Usually, people come over when I am the least ready for it.

My mother-in-love spent over 30 years in France before they returned to the US to take care of Carey's grandmother who is suffering with Alzheimer's. One of the many things she imparted to me in the years of our working together is something that I carry with me today:

My whole house doesn't have to stay clean, just the front room, or what someone can see from the door.

The reason is simple.  French ladies, as I have mentioned in an earlier blog, tend to be very fastidious housekeepers.

I am not.

I am not slovenly, but I live with a comfortable amount of clutter in my house.  As a write this blog, the laundry is piled on the table, waiting to be carried upstairs by my children.  My countertop still has the coffee stuff on it, because quite frankly we still need it this morning.  My desk is as usual cluttered from various lesson plannings, blog creations, and projects to be finished at a later date.

OK, maybe I am still working on the "keeping the front rooms tidy" part.  In about five minutes after I am done typing this blog, all this will be changed.

Hopefully, nobody will knock on my door before then.

(OK, small confession.  As soon as I typed those lines, I could no longer ignore the clutter, and remembered that someone is supposed to drop by later this morning, so I got up and straightened.  You have my permission to laugh now.)

If I have someone pop over for a cup of coffee, or to tell me a problem in their lives, or to share something they have picked for me from their garden, I don't want to be ashamed about my messy rooms.  I want to be able to throw the door open, invite them in, and be ready for the serving part of our ministry here.

The verse at the top of this blog reminds me that one day, when I least expect it, I will appear before the Lord to give an account of my servanthood for Him.  There won't be time to tidy up my life, confess sin, change my attitudes, make things right with others.  The Lord will return, and I want to be ready when He does.   I should be ever watching for His appearance, with a "clean house" so that I am not ashamed.

Now that I am aware of entertaining my Lord at a moment's notice, maybe it's time to clean up.

February Bible Discovery Club Part 2

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given... and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Good morning, friends!

No, it is not Christmastime already, unless you came to our Discovery Club yesterday!  What a great time of fun with our young friends as they (re)discover the joys of our Saviour's birth.

As always, our club began with snack time.  Our coworker Damaris made some Christmas sugar cookies, in keeping with our theme.  Our kids are good eaters, as usual!

The Bible "summit" in our series for this week was the birth of Christ.  It was a BIG leap from the Ten Commandments to Jesus's birthday.  To help with the gap, I used the illustration of the Ten Commandments as a mirror, which reveals that we are dirty, but can do nothing to clean us up.  Only perfect people can be with God in heaven.  Then, we explained how God Himself came to earth to show us how a perfect life should be.

 We are leading up to Easter time with our lessons.  Please pray that these next few weeks will show our young friends why Jesus had to die for their sins, so they too can be clean and go to heaven.

After the lesson, we had our game time.  This week we had two games.  The first was "Pass the Parcel," like a musical chairs with a gift.  Under each layer of paper is a candy.  When the music stops, the child holding the parcel removes the first layer of paper and retreives the candy.

The second game was Fruit Basket Turnover, with different names and objects from Christmas time.  This is definitely a game we will be doing again--the kids had a blast!

See you in two weeks for our next club!

Happy birthday, Princess!

"My son (daughter), give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways..." Proverbs 23:26

Good morning, friends!

When I first proposed to my family that I would be starting a blog, they were on the whole very encouraging and supportive.  My daughter, however, was a little more apprehensive.  Her first question:

"You're not going to write about us, are you?"

To set my daughter's fears at rest, I reassured her that the blog was about ME, and not them, and she was fine with that.

Well, today, with her permission, I am breaking my own rules.

Because today I have a beautiful, funny, talented daughter who is turning 14.  Yes, 14.  1-4.  I never thought we'd make it.  I never thought SHE would make it...um, never mind.  

How is that the days are so long, the nights even longer at times, but the years are so short?

Since my daughter is turning 14 today, I want to share 14 things about her that make me SMILE.  

1.  Her smile.  Yes, there were the brace-face years, but they are behind us now.  I love to see her smile.

2.  Her laugh.  Her laugh is very contageous, and very spontaneous.  Think washing machine.

3.  Her sense of humor.  My daughter has a quick mind, a quick study of human silliness and so a sharp wit.  (She gets that from her dad.)

4.  Her beauty.  My friend's mom says that soon I'll have to walk her around with a paper bag on her head.  Or maybe a veil.  We'll see which one is more readily accessible, or which one allows her to breathe.

5.  Her poise.  My daughter is so much more put together at age 14 than I ever was.  She is very graceful, especially under pressure.

6.  Her soft spot for anything fuzzy, usually one of our five cats.  Or stuffed animals with googly eyes.

7.  Her talents.  My daughter is very creative.  She works well with her hands, whether painting, crafting her clay figures, drawing, or designing those little rubber band things that are the nightmare to my vacuum cleaner.  

8.  Her cooking skills! OK, I may have had a SMALL part in that, but can I tell you how nice it is to leave instructions for a meal or a dessert and come back to eat one of her creations?  Anything that I don't have to cook is good food, indeed.

9.  Her love for her brothers.  YES, there have been the times that I thought WWIII was taking place upstairs, but she is a very loyal sister, and very creative with her brothers and inventing new games for them to play together.

10.  Her voice.  My daughter has a lovely singing voice!  I love to listen to her sing.

11.  Her fashion sense.  OK, so maybe the mismatched sock thing is a little too 1980's Punky Brewster for me, but she is always modest.  And fun.

12.  Her tender heart.  She hates to see others' hurt.  Maybe a little less when it's one of her brothers who have been annoying her, but you get the point.

13.  Her blush. I'm glad that my daughter can blush at things that are inappropriate.  I pray she never loses that.

14.  Most of all, her love for the Lord makes me SMILE.  I smile when I hear her teach the Tuesday night Bible study for her brothers and our coworker's children.  I love to hear her pray.

I can't wait to see all the special blessings God has in store for this beautiful young lady!  We love our Ju-Ju!

Verse for a lifetime

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

Good morning, friends!

As missionaries, we are asked to answer a lot of questions:  questions about life in France, questions about our kids' schooling, the things we miss from the States.

One time, my husband had a well-meaning friend ask how long it took to drive to France from the USA.

(Ahem.)

A question that is often asked to missionaries is, "What is your life verse?"  I have a hard time answering that question, because quite frankly, I really don't have one.  

Since I got saved as a young teenager, many verses have been a comfort to me over the years.  Psalm 27:10 was an encouragement to me when I felt all alone as a young believer. Psalm 4:8 spoke to me as I struggled with night terrors as an older teen.  As a young mother nursing my children in the middle of the night, Galatians 6:9 spoke to my heart to stay faithful even though I was sleep deprived.

(Funny story:  One night after many nights of broken sleep, I found myself quoting, "for in due season we shall faint if we reap not.")

For many years now, the verse in Jeremiah quoted at the top of this blog has been a favorite.  It hangs on my husband's office door:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

As I was preparing to write this blog today, this verse stood out in a new way to me, because I had forgotten the English words. For many years now I have been reading my daily devotions in French.  Many of the verses that I learned in English as a young person have been replaced by their French equivalents.

This verse is one of those that comes to mind easier in French.  Translated, it would be,

"For I know the plans that I have formed for you, says the Lord, plans of peace and not of trouble, to give you a future and a hope."

Several thoughts jump out of this verse:

1.  God knows the plans He has prepared for me.  "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord," Psalm 37:23 reminds me.  Nothing is hidden from His notice.  He knows the direction He wants for my life.

2.  The plans are ones of peace.  God desires that I find His peace in my daily walk, and wants to lead me to His eventual rest.

3.  His plans have a purpose!  He wants me to have hope in the beautiful future that He has prepared for me.

How much of an encouragement these words must have been to Jeremiah, as the children of Israel had lost their very identity and their nation.  These words were His promise that God had not forgotten His promises to His people.

How much of an encouragement these words are to me today.  God knows me personally.  He knows my past, and where He wants to lead me in the future.  His promises are faithful!

Do you have a life verse?  What words do you find especially encouraging from God's Word today?  Feel free to leave a comment!

Have a great day as you live out God's purpose and plan today!

Faithful at the Very Least

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." Luke 16:10

Good morning, friends!

Am I a faithful person?

Before I answer that, let me consider the number of hats that I wear in any given day.

Wife.  Mother.

Daughter. Sister.  Sister-in-law. Aunt. Cousin. Niece.  Granddaughter.

Housewife. Missionary. English teacher.

Friend. Neighbor.  Colleague. Client.

Housekeeper.  Cook.  Entertainer.  Organizer.

Encourager.  Leader.  Prayer warrior.  Servant.

Like you, everyday I assume different roles with varying degrees of success.  Many times it feels like a juggling act.  As the responsibiliities accumulate, fatigue sets in and the many aspects of my daily life collide until at times, I drop the ball.

Do these failures mean that I am not a faithful person?

Webster's dictionary defines the word faithful as "having or showing true and constant support or loyalty; deserving trust:  keeping your promises or doing what you are supposed to do."  In order to be faithful by this definition, I must be trustworthy and supportive in my responsibilities.

There are many Bible verses that remind me what is most important in my life:  my faithfulness in stewarding my life for God.  God is as much interested in the big picture of my life as He is in my day to day living of it.  Truthfully, the way that I live the life God has entrusted to me today determines my faithfulness in the living of it tomorrow.

This Bible verse in Luke 16 is a source of encouragement as well as a sober warning: "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." The context to this passage talks about financial faithfulness, so the practical aspect of life.  The Lord reminds me that if I am faithful with the smallest responsibilities--maintaining order over my daily expending of His resources, for example--then I am also faithful in the areas of my life that count the most.

The warning of the verse is of course that if I am unfaithful in the "little things," then how can I ever expect to be faithful with the greater "riches" that God wants to entrust me?

I am not a perfect wife or mom or friend.  I am not Miss Missionary of the Month, or daughter of the year.  I am sure that my housekeeping will never grace a magazine cover.

But that doesn't mean that I shouldn't do my best to be faithful to serve the Lord in those areas of my life.

Am I giving the Lord honor in the "little" areas of my life?  Can I be trusted with these responsibilities, and do my best to please the Lord in every hat I am called to wear today, so that later on, He can entrust greater tasks to my hands?

May the Lord find me faithful today.

Camera Shy

"Lord, teach us to pray..." (Luke 11:1)

Good morning, friends!

Many of you will probably get a good laugh out of this but I have a confession to make:

Skype and I are not friends.

For a long time I avoided Skype because, quite frankly, I hate having a camera shoved in my face.  I hate being photographed, videoed, or interviewed for anything. I don't want to know what I look like talking to others.  And no matter how hard I try, I can't keep myself from looking down at that video box while I am talking to friends.  I feel very self-conscious.

Living in a different continent from my family and friends however has at the very least made me more willing to try.  I am always amazed that I am in my living room, talking to family and friends in the U.S., and we can carry on a conversation with someone thousands of miles away like we are talking face to face.

That is, as long as the connection is good.

Then there are the times when things stutter and crawl, the picture gets fuzzy, the dialogue overlaps, and communication is next to impossible. The only thing left to do is "hang up," and call again later.

Sometimes, when I pray to God, I feel just like I do with a Skype call.

I know that I should pray.  I know that God desires to see my face.  I know what I want to say and what needs to be said.  I know that He delights in the sharing of my burdens with him.  There are also times when I feel like the connection is so bad between the Lord and I, that I just want to "hang up and try again later."

Why do I not pray as I should?  The Bible has so many wonderful promises related to prayer:

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." (Jeremiah 33:3)

"Yet have not, because ye ask not..." (James 4:2)

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)

"Ask, and it shall be given unto you, seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Luke 7:7)

The only thing that keeps me from praying to God is myself.

Just like I don't like my appearance during a Skype call, many times I don't like my appearance before God.  I feel self-conscious just because I do not come humbly, as a child to a loving Father, and realize that I need to ask for His help.

I have learned to appreciate Skype.  I love seeing my family and friends, share a cup of coffee with someone thousands of miles away, take the laptop to the bed and pour out my heart in tears to loved ones.  I find myself looking less at the box in the corner and more at the face in front of me. And the more time I spend on Skype, the more comfortable I am in front of it.

When I pray, may the Lord find me more and more comfortable in His presence.  May I look at myself less, and more at Him and all His wonderful grace.

Time for some "face" time...

Let's Go for a Walk

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Good morning, friends!

As I have mentioned already in this blog, I walk A LOT.  There is hardly a day that goes by that I do not walk to the bakery, to the school, to the train station, to a neighbor's house.  If that were not enough, sometimes we will gather up the family and just "go for a walk."

I have such precious memories of walking with my children when they were little.  The village where we lived had a wooded area in the middle of town, which we called our "imagination forest."  We would walk, picnic and play in that forest.

Many times I remember during these pleasant afternoons, the kids asking me to tell them a story about Jesus. I remember sharing the parables with them and we would try and figure out their meanings together.

There have been other times when I would grab one of my children individually and say, "Let's go for a walk." As we roamed in our town, to the bakery, or down by the river which runs through our village, we would talk about their lives, their time at school, their friends, their dreams.  Sometimes the talk was very superficial, just a time to connect.  Sometimes it was to address "issues" in their lives that were hindering their walk with the Lord.  Other times the kids would ask me questions about spiritual things.  No subject was off limits during these walks.

We have always walked our children to the local school here, at least once a day every day. As the children have grown and my oldest two are now taking the bus, I walk now just with my youngest son.  Sometimes we play games, imagining we are tanks or soldiers or dinosaur hunters. Sometimes he will ask me a spiritual question that will lead to more questions until the 15 minute walk to school has turned into an extension of our morning devotions.

Yesterday morning was one of those special times with my son.  He wanted to talk about heaven, one of his favorite topics.  I was amazed at the depth of his knowledge on the subject of the end times, the rapture, and life in heaven.  Where did all this insight come from?

I realized then, that all these walks, and talks, are bearing fruit in his life.

I love the verse in Deuteronomy that addresses our communication of God's truth to our children.  According to this verse, there is not a time when we should NOT be instructing our children in God's word.  If we are in the house, I am to be living and teaching about God.  If I am working, or resting, or starting my day, I should be modelling God's instruction to my children.

When I walk, I am to be walking in a way that leads them to God and the answers in His word, while I answer their questions, guide them with my words, or just spend time with them.

The older my children get, the fewer opportunities I will have to invest this precious time for communicating God's truths to them.

I think it's time to go put on my shoes, grab my kids, and go for yet another walk together.

Who knows what we will talk about today?

Duty-bound

"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." Luke 17:10

Good morning, friends!


Missionary "service" is not for wimps.

There are many joys to living on the missions field.  There are the joys that come from discovering a new country and language, learning how things are done in a new place, meeting new people, trying new foods, and of course the blessings of introducing God's message to people, many of whom have never heard of the Bible or Jesus.

There are also many struggles on the mission field as well.  The joy that comes from discovering a new country and language also comes with abandoning preconceived ideas about how things SHOULD be done, or said.  Meeting new people means personal investment, at the risk of having your good intentions mistaken for manipulation ("What does she want from me in return?") Trying new foods is great, until the new food happens to be rabbit head, or anything coming from the "extra" parts of  animals.  Teaching God's Word is wonderful, but getting to that point in my interactions with others is a long process.  It takes time to build trusting relationships where people feel comfortable sharing about the hard places in their lives.

Missionary service is just that:  service.  It's not a job.  It's not an adventure.

Quite frankly, it's a lot of hard work.

As a young person, I had quite an idealized image about what a missionary was.  I imagined the exotic locales, picturesque scenery, with quaint locals who loved Americans and all things foreign.  I visualized sharing God's message where people were eager to hold a Bible in their hands and couldn't wait for the time where they would learn its truths.

Then I arrived in France.

To his credit, my husband had tried to warn me.  He tried to temper my enthusiasm for the ministry here with his years of experience having lived as an MK in France.  While I mentally assented that things would be difficult here, I still thought of ministry in terms of a sprint and not a marathon.

Fifteen years since arriving here in France, I still find myself correcting false notions about the country and its inhabitants, making language "faux pas," and getting impatient with the pace of spreading the gospel here.

I can't tell you the number of times in my head where my flesh has whispered: "Is it really worth it? Why don't you just quit?"

The verse at the top of this blog and the passage where it is found have been such a source of encouragement to me during these "dry patches" in my life.  A servant by definition does just that:  serve.

There are tasks that are unpleasant, but as a servant, I am called to serve.

There is not always glory or personal satisfaction in the job at hand, but as a servant, I am called to serve.

There are needs to be met, sometimes when I have needs as well, but as a servant, I am called to serve.

I cannot do what I want, when I want, as I see others all around me "indulging" themselves, but as a servant, I am called to serve.

In this passage Jesus reminds the listeners that no servant takes care of his own needs before first taking care of His master's.  It was normal behavior in that context, and it should be normal behavior in my context as well.

When I get to the end of my time here on earth, I want to be able to say to the Lord that I have been a "faithful servant."  Maybe not the MVP-Servant or the Most-Likely-to-Succeed servant, but the Servant-that-Stayed-when-everything-in-her-flesh-SHOUTED-to-quit servant.

This life of service is not just reserved to us missionaries.  Anyone who has been saved have been called to serve.  The things that I have mentioned about France could be said about countries all over the world, including the U.S.  My friends, we are all of us called to serve, in spite of difficulties, disappointments and discouragements, as well in times of great joy, blessings and comfort.

How will I serve today?  Will I be faithful in the tasks that the Lord appoints me today?

"Duty" awaits.

(Picture from thepracticality.com)

Open Hours

"Pray without ceasing." I Thessalonians 5:17

Good morning, friends!

France has some of the strangest hours for businesses that I know of.  It is not unusual for businesses to be closed on weekends, closed on Mondays, closed from noon to 2 pm, and then closed the entire month of August.

Yes, I said the ENTIRE month of August.

If a French holiday falls close to the weekend, for example a Thursday, then a lot of businesses and even schools will do "a bridge" that takes off the Friday and then into the weekend.  It's the same for holidays that fall on a Wednesday:  businesses that are closed on Monday will take Tuesday off and extend the weekend.

There is no method to the madness.  Once you think you have things figured out ("OK, stores in town are closed on Monday,") you walk to a shop which you really need to visit, only to find out that they are OPEN on Mondays, and closed on Thursday afternoons.

I think the businesses do it just to keep us guessing.  Bienvenue en France! (Welcome to France!)

I have been thinking much about prayer since the Ladies' Retreat in Belgium.   One of the areas of my life where the Lord really challenged me is stated in the verse above:  "Pray without ceasing."  Is this a realistic expectation for my life?  Can I really live every moment of every day in a constant act of prayer?

A business sign at the retreat became a symbol to the attitude of my heart towards prayer with the Lord.  Like the French businesses, many times a day my heart was "closed for business." I would go through my daily routines, making them just that--routines--without taking the time to pray.  I would only pray at times when I "felt the need," when something so overwhelmed me that I knew the Lord was the only solution.

I had become a woman who prayed, but not a woman of prayer.

This verse in Thessalonians reminds me that my heart needs to be "continually open" to the Lord, breathing out requests to Him like a running conversation that plays as the soundtrack of my days.  While I am working, or playing, eating or talking with others, I should be carefully listening for His voice and allowing His Holy Spirit to guide me.

When it is time for the Lord to "do business" in my heart--to convict me of sin--then I should be ready to accept that correction in the same way that I am ready to transact business in a store.  After all, that is the point of "being open," isn't it?

My heart's desire for this year is to live my life in constant prayer with my Lord.  I want the Lord to find me keeping shop with an open heart, ready for whatever business the Lord brings my way at any given time.

Is my heart open to the Lord today, or am I "closed for service?"

(My thanks to Patti Appleby for the illustration of the open/closed sign.)

Old Fashioned Love Story

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord..." Psalm 37:23

Good morning, friends!

I'm going to share with you a good, old-fashioned love story.  Yes, it's going to be mushy.  Yes, it will probably make some of you roll your eyes, or go into a diabetic coma at the "sweetness" of it all.

But, it's my blog, and it's my story, so you have been warned.

As a French major in my junior year of college I had the opportunity to travel to France to learn more about the language and country.  What I did not know was the wonderful way God was going to allow that trip to change my heart about serving Him in this needy land.  Upon returning home from this six-month trip I surrendered my heart to serve the Lord in France.

Shortly after returning from this trip, I was in the church near our campus when they hosted Jeff and Jane Abbett, missionaries on deputation to the country of France.  During their presentation Jeff mentioned that he had a younger brother, who was also on deputation to France, and he was single.

My ears perked up.  I nudged my friend sitting next to me and said, "I'm going to marry this guy's younger brother!"  We had a good laugh, and I didn't think much more about it.

I finished college with a small student loan that I needed to overcome before I could attend Bible college and prepare for the mission field. I took a job teaching French in the town of Lynchburg, and began attending a local church there.  Guess who were members there?

Jeff and Jane Abbett.

Guess who visited them there?

Carey Abbett, SINGLE missionary on deputation to the country of France.

I got to know Carey during that visit, and the subsequent visits.  We maintained a two and a half year long distance relationship in the time before cell phones, reliable emails, laptop computers, Tweets, and Instagram.

(Some of you younger whipper-snappers may be wondering, "How did we ever survive?")

My husband even had to return to France for six months while we were dating to get some paperwork issues ironed out.  Longest six months of my life.

Looking back sixteen years and three children later, I cannot help but be amazed at the depth of love of my Lord.  He knew the desires of my heart, and gave me so much more in my husband than I could ever ask for or deserve.

My Valentine's surprise from my honey!

I'm so glad that while He was ordering my steps, He was also guiding my husband's steps as well.  Now our footsteps walk life's road together.

OK, I'm done gushing.  You can go back to your lives now.

I can't wait to get back to mine!  Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

What's in a Name?

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." I John 4:7-8

Good morning, friends!

At the beginning of every school year where I teach English here in France, I have around 80-100 children and then as many parents, grandparents, and babysitters to recognize and whose names I have to learn.

I am terrible with learning names.  Over the years I have tried many tricks and gimmicks.  It usually takes me three or four meetings with the same people before I remember their names without fail.

(Just a sidenote:  As missionaries, we meet a LOT of people.  So, if I met you four years ago on our last furlough, and haven't had any contact with you since, please go easy on me if I have to ask your name.)

One of the ways that works the best for me at the beginning of each school year (or ladies meeting, or camp retreat) is to play a simple game, where my group sits in a circle, and I start off by saying, "My name is Susan and I like sweets." Then each person says the names before them, and then adds something they like that begins with the same first letter as their name.  It's simple, and usually by the end of the game I have learned names and something personal about each individual.

The Bible tells us much about God's character:  His holiness, His mercy, His faithfulness, His compassion.  I love the verses mentioned at the beginning of this blog.  When I want to know who God is, and associate something personal to Him, I don't have to look any further than I John 4:7-8:

God is love.

I cannot dissociate my God from His love.  I have often heard it said that if God stopped loving, then He would stop being.  God IS love, and when Satan, the world and my own flesh want me to think otherwise, I return to this Scripture and remember that all that God is, and all that He does, has as the source a perfect sacrifical unconditional love.

Is it any wonder that God reminds me in this passage that if God is love, and I call myself His child, that I should also love as He loves?

How does God love?  I Corinthians 13, the famous love chapter of the Bible, reminds me that this is no sentimental sappy tripe dreamed up by card designers in time for Valentine's Day.

(It is CERTAINLY not the lustful animalistic "love" portrayed in certain movies which I shall for all decency's sake refrain from mentioning.)

God's love is measureless, boundless.  It can however be seen, and experienced, by looking at His Son, and the sacrificial devotion of Jesus as He left heaven's worship to offer Himself as a sacrifice for my sins.

These verses also remind me that if I DO NOT love, then I am not able to associate myself with God and His love.  Very powerful statement indeed.

I'm so thankful that when I think of God's name, love is one of the first of His qualities that comes to mind.

I wonder, when others think of me, if they associate my name with God's love, as well.

Roots and Ground

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

Good morning, friends!

It won't be long now.

In just a few short weeks, IT will be hitting me.  Every February, like clockwork, I start counting down.

No, it's not for Valentine's Day, as much as I enjoy that.  It's not for President's Day, or Saint Patrick's Day, or any other known holiday.  It doesn't even have a date.

I know it's coming, and I can't wait.

In a few weeks, my husband and children, if they don't see me in the house, know right where I am.

Outside.  In the garden.  Spring fever is lying in wait, ready to call me outside.

I love gardening.  I never thought I would. Growing up, I didn't have a green thumb.  I didn't even have a brown thumb.  I had a BLACK thumb.

Something has changed in me throughout the years, and I find myself becoming increasingly impatient for the return of warm weather.  I start saving in March and planning what new bushes, flowers and trees I will add to my garden this year.

When my husband and I built our house here in Boves, I had dreams of planting flowers, bushes, trees, even vegetables.  Do you know what I harvested from my garden the first year?

Rocks.  Lots and lots of rocks.

Our yard is a slab of limestone with a thin layer of topsoil.  In order for any plant more sturdy than grass to grow, it takes a lot of love, a lot of patience, and a lot of potting soil.

Ever heard the expression, "dirt cheap?" Well, dirt is NOT cheap, as we have found out.

I am proud to report that our garden, almost seven years old, boasts rose bushes, bulbs, flowering shrubs and hedges.  We even have a maple tree (lovingly referred to as "the stick") faithfully pushing out new branches and leaves each year.

Thinking about my garden reminds me of the hard work that my family and I have invested in our garden. The results are far from finished, but I delight in watching new things grow, and planting new offerings each year and watching them spread their roots into the ground and thrive.

Roots and ground.  

I love the imagery of the Bible.  There are so many beautiful passages that describe God's love for His children.  I love this passage in Ephesians that talks about me as God's child, being "rooted and grounded in love."  Rooted means to become stable, and grounded means to lay a foundation.

What makes me stable, and what is to be my foundation?

Love.  God's amazing, sacrificial, unconditional, unparalleled love.

God's love is so wonderful that in this life, I will only scratch the surface.  Paul's prayer for this church was that they would know God's love in all its fulness.  I cannot begin to comprehend it, but I want to spend the rest of my life in the pursuit of its knowledge.

My garden will grow this year, because the plants I have invested in are well-grounded, have placed deep roots and are thriving.

May I thrive in God's love, so that I may bloom here in France in the garden where I have been planted.

Cooling Off

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Matthew 24:12

Good morning, friends!

Many of you know my love for coffee.  Because of my heart palpitations, I have to limit my coffee intake to one cup of "leaded" a day, and then it's decaf for me.  By the time my children are up, I've usually had two cups of coffee to go with my quiet time and morning Facebook checkup.

Sometimes, I get busy during my day, and feel the need for a "pick me up," so I make myself a cup of coffee.  Many times the cup is not finished, and so I decide to put the cup in the microwave and heat it up later.

(P.S. On a side note, I cannot tell you the number of times I have heated up a cup of coffee in the microwave and have forgotten it.  Many times I open the microwave to heat something for dinner, and exclaim, "So THAT's where my cup went.")

(P.P.S. You've probably done it, too.)

Of course, the reheated cup of coffee never tastes the same, does it?  I'm not sure what changes.  It's the same amount of coffee, milk, and sugar that I put in it when it was hot.  Cooling off somehow changes a steaming mug of deliciousness to an unidentified greyish liquid that is more "ugh" than "yum."

Some of saddest verses in the Bible talk about Christians who were once walking hand in hand in faithful communion with the Lord, only to allow their energy, desire and love for the Lord to dwindle away.  This verse in Matthew is one such verse: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."

I did a little research into the expression, "wax cold." Apparently it is the idea of a gentle breeze that is deliberately applied to the cooling off of something.  Imagine a mother gently blowing on a spoonful of soup before placing it in the child's mouth, and you get the idea.

In this verse, what is it that causes my love for the Lord to "wax cold?"

Iniquity.  In other words, sin.

This passage reminds me that the hour is late, and the days are not getting better.  The context reminds me that life on earth here for the Christian is going to keep getting harder.

One of the most deceptive aspects of sin is that many times the destructiveness of sin is very subtle to our eyes.  We do not always notice the changes that are happening to the world around us, until we look back at the gradual shifting and wonder, "How did the world get like this?"

Many times I may look back in my life and wonder, "How did I get like this?"

The words of our Lord to the church of the Laodiceans is a constant wake up call to me: "So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16) I have explained this passage to my kids in this manner:  "Our sinfulness makes God sick."

As much as I detest drinking lukewarm coffee, it is nothing compared to the Lord's reaction to my lukewarm attitude in serving Him.

May the Lord find my life scalding hot for Him today.

With all thine heart

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Deuteronomy 6:5

Good morning, friends!

It's been three days since I've been back home from the ladies' retreat, and I have tried in vain, but I just can't do it.

Today, I quit.

What do I quit, you might ask?  Well, while we were at the retreat, we were taught a song from Deuteronomy 6:5 that is 

stuck. 

in. 

my. 

head.

I have tried replacing it with other songs.  I have tried in vain to sing it at the top of my lungs so I can get it out of my system.  

It won't budge.

My husband and kids are going around the house humming and whistling it.  

I even hear it in my sleep. 

I suppose there are worse things to have stuck in my head.  Itsy Bitsy Spider.  Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.  Row Row Your Boat.  

OK, that didn't work.

Instead of fighting it, I am giving in.  I mean, the words are Scripture, right? So, since I cannot help but sing the words, I want to make the most of them.

Love:  I should have an affection for:

the Lord:  the object of my affection

thy God:  a personal attachment.  He is MY God.

with all thine heart: center of my feelings, will, and intellect.

and with all thy soul:  my self, my conscious, breathing part of me.

and with all thy might:  my abilities.

To sum it up, I should have an affection for my God in such a personal way that it captivates my entire being.  No part of me can be left out in this devotion to my God.

Try as I might, I am still humming it, snapping my fingers to it, even singing it.  

But am I living it?

Love...as thyself

"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Matthew 19:19

Good morning, friends!

As many of you have seen, for the past several days I participated at a Ladies' Retreat in Belgium.  Christian fellowship of any kind is always precious, but even more so as we labor here in France, isolated from another churches and their ladies.  I look forward to this refreshing time each year.

So, how did I get ready for the retreat this year?

Well, there was the usual packing, cleaning, and last minute instructions to my family.  There were the last sweet words exchanged with my husband.  

And, because I was looking like one of THOSE kind of missionaries, I did something I hadn't done since September.  

I went and got my hair done.

I'm a pretty simple person.  I'm not into mani-pedis or spa treatments or shoe shopping or any of those "pampering" treatments ladies usually enjoy.  I detest clothes shopping and only buy shoes when my other ones are more "holey"  than I am.  I color my own hair to hide my wisdom.  But every now and again, I look in the mirror and remind myself that I need to take care of myself as well, and so away I go.

While I am leaning back in the chair with the warm water running over my head, gentle hands massaging my scalp and making small talk, I wonder why I wait so long in between visits to the salon.

Then I remember:  when my monthly support comes from individuals who sacrifice their daily needs so that I can stay here in France, it makes me think twice about a once-a-month trim.

But there is nothing wrong with a haircut every now and again.

As a young Christian, I remember reading Matthew 19:19 and putting the emphasis in my life on the first part of the verse:  "Thou shalt love thy neighbor." I knew the "thou shalts" were commands not be ignored, and so since that moment, I have tried to pattern my life around learning how to love my neighbor.

Many times I overlook the second part of the verse:  "...as thyself."

How do I love myself?  I'm not talking about an indulgent, "I owe it to myself..." lifestyle, a selfish exaltation of my own desires above the needs of others.  How do I show that I love myself?

I take care of my body's needs:  food, clothing, and shelter.

I take care of my relational needs.  I have a husband, a family, and friends.

I take care of my emotional needs.  I seek out support for troubled times, and provide myself with pursuits that I enjoy.

Most importantly, I take care of my spiritual needs.  I seek out a personal relationship with the God who first loved me, and gave me all the blessings I enjoy today.

In the same way that I "love myself" in these areas, I am to do the same to others.  I am to love others sacrificially, unconditionally, seeking to meet needs on a personal level for the folks whom the Lord places in my path today.

Many times it will mean giving up something that I would like or maybe even need.  But didn't God sacrifice Himself for me? And will God not reward me in heaven for the sacrifices I make for others today?

I enjoyed walking out of the salon on Thursday and feeling like a "new person" again.

How can I show that kind of "new person" love to someone today?

Children's Discovery Bible Club February 2015

"Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 20:7

Good morning, friends!

This week Bible's club fell directly on the heels of our ladies' retreat.

(As a side note, who thought that was a good idea?  Oh, wait, it was us!)

It was encouraging to put in practice right away the teachings we had seen at the retreat!  

As usual, we started off with snack.  Our snack this week were chouquettes, a small glazed donut with large sugar crystals stuck to the outside.  Both boxes disappeared quickly! (By the way, the bottle on the table is a drink like Kool-Aid, and nothing else.)

My coworker Damaris taught the lesson this time.  Our Bible "summit" for this week was the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.  It was such a blessing to watch the kids hearing about God's holiness for the first time.  I was reminded how much I need to live a holier lifestyle, and not fall into the "golden calf" mindset:  God is not right here, so I can do whatever I want.

After the lesson was our activity time.  Today was a Valentine's craft, and we emphasized God's command to love Him first and foremost.  The kids had fun making their tissue paper flowers.  

See you in two weeks for our next club!

Overcoming the Daily Grind Ladies Retreat

"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." II Corithians 5:18

Good morning, friends!

I have just returned from a three day ladies retreat in Belgium, sponsored by several American military churches and several French speaking Belgian churches. The retreat was held in the same castle where we also hold our family retreats for several of our French churches here.

What a wonderful time of refreshment, teaching and fun we had.  I was able to go with my coworker and her mother-in-love, which made it even more special this time.

The theme for this year was "Overcoming the Daily Grind." The sessions centered around the topic of coffee, and drawing spiritual parallels in our lives through the making, grinding and consumption of coffee. Each table was decorated with an antique coffee grinder and coffee beans!

Patti Appleby was the main speaker for four sessions on having "critical conversations with God."  I was challenged to be a woman of prayer, and most of all to be involved in the ministry of reconciliation, first myself to God and then others to God.

I am so thankful to my husband for the opportunity to have been with other godly women, and grow in the Word of God.  I'm sure that there will be many ideas "brewing" in the weeks and months to come from these teachings.

The castle where we had our retreat.

Abiding

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." (John 15:9)

Good morning!

One of the most telling caricatures of a "typical" French person is a man in a striped shirt wearing a beret, carrying a long loaf of bread (the wonderful baguette) under his arm with a bottle of wine in the other hand.  While I have seen men wearing berets, and carrying a loaf of bread under their arm, I don't think this is a very flattering portrait.

(Imagine drawing a picture of a typical American.  Hopefully it's not one of THOSE people you meet in Walmart.)

It is true, though, that if I had to include in a drawing some symbols of French living, it would have to include a cup of strong coffee, a baguette, some form of cheese, and a bottle of wine.  

Let me say in advance that I have never tasted any of France's famed wines.  Cheese and bread, yes, in great quantities, but no wine.

I know a lady in my village whose family is in the business of making wine.  Every September she takes a long train trip to the South of France where she will--with many other laborers hired for just such an occasion--work in the vineyard for several weeks to harvest the grapes for that year's label.  I was surprised that in this day and time that any widescale harvesting of any fruit or vegetable had not been mechanized.  I asked her if it was necessary to harvest the grapes by hand.

Shocked by my American ignorance, she replied, "Of course!  If not, it would hurt the vine."

She then went on to explain to me that vines, if properly maintained, can produce a good quantity of grapes for 50 or more years.  There are vineyards in France who have vines that are over 200 years old.  Therefore, in order to avoid harvesting anything but the grapes, workers labor for hours in hunched over positions, gently clipping the fruit and delicately transporting it to those who will make the wine.

Hearing about the vines and its fruits always makes me think about Jesus's "I am" in John 15, describing himself as the true vine, and His Father as the caretaker of the vine.  Abiding in Jesus produces the fruit in my life that shows that I belong to His family, part of his "vine."  The fruit that is produced in my life speaks volumes about the vine to whom I am attached.  I want the "vine" to receive the praise--after all, the fruits are the result of the vine's sustenence:  "without me ye can do nothing." (v. 5)

Tucked in the middle of that beautiful passage is the verse mentioned above:  "As my Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love."

Jesus transmits the Father's love to me, His adopted child, in the same way that the caregiver nourishes the vine who in turn allows the branches to produce fruit.  I am the direct result of the Father's amazing care and of Jesus's transforming love.  The result of this love?  Fruit in my life.

What is the fruit that my life yields?  More love!  Galatians 5:22:  "The fruit of the spirit is love..."

Simply put:  God loves me through Jesus so that I can "continue" in this love, and let it reach others through me. 

Now, there is a "fruit of the vine" that is worth bottling up and sharing!  

Let's hope that this year's "vintage" of love will have a good taste to those around me. 

R.A.O.K.

"For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans so?...Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."  Matthew 5:46,48

Good morning, dear friends!

I witnessed an honest-to-goodness R.A.O.K. this week.

In our local grocery store, a flustered lady arrived at the counter with two sodas, asking hurriedly what the minimum shopping limit was for a credit card.  When she found out that she did not reach the minimum amount, another customer stepped up and bought the two drinks for her, wished her a great day, and left.  The lady and the salesclerk were talking between themselves, saying how rare it is in our day in time that someone would help out a stranger.

A Random Act Of Kindness, is a rare thing indeed.

There was no way for either party to know if they would see each other again, no exchanging of addresses, no promise to help out another person, just a simple geste toward another person, and then they went on their separate ways.

I wonder what both parties were thinking as they left the store?  How had their attitudes changed with that exchange?  Was it a simple act of kindness, motivated by an immediate need, or something more?  The lady on the receiving end, did it make her kinder, more compassionate to those around her for that day, or was it accepted as her "due?"

I cannot help but think about Jesus's teachings on love in the Sermon on the Mount.  He encouraged His listeners to love their neighbors as themselves, with an additional admonishment tacked on:  "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?  Do not even the publicans so?"  Am I surprised when my husband, or my children, or my coworkers or my closest friends love on me in such a tangible way? (I'm still VERY thankful for those kindnesses!)  In many ways, it's normal to do special things for those we love the most.

But for those I don't even know?  For those who mistreat me, or take advantage of my kindness, am I motivated to show my love to them in the same way?

Jesus described this kind of love as "perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."  And this love is perfect, complete, entire and mature.  This is the sacrificial, unconditional God-love that is motivated not in what is gained in the exchange, but what is given.

May I be motivated today to do a R.A.O.K. to a stranger, or even someone I may not necessarily like, and see what happens.

I might just be surprised by the results.

Keep Hanging On!

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude 21)

Good morning!

Ever have one of THOSE kind of mornings?

Yesterday was like that for me.  I got up early, had my quiet time, got myself ready to go.  I had an important doctor's appointment scheduled for the morning that I could not miss, kids to get off to school, lunch to be made promptly upon my return, etc, etc.  I knew what I had to do, how much time I had to get it done, and what was expected of me.

Is that creepy dramatic music playing in the background?

OK, so there was an incident with the curling iron (don't ask).  Then there were the "parental moments" with the kids that made us late for school, one child missing the bus and having to be driven.  After getting the kids on their way to school, in the car on the way to the doctor's appointment I realize that the appointment was not yesterday but actually a week later (totally my fault).  Of course, the doctor couldn't take me yesterday, so I have to come back next week at the correct time. 

Now, none of these things in and of themselves are worth writing about.  I mean, we all have "jelly side down" kind of mornings, don't we?  And all the essentials are there:  God's provision, good health, a loving husband and family.  Sometimes, however, things just don't happen the way we plan.

What was my reaction to all this?  Well, a few tears of frustration were shed, and then, I received a spiritual reality check.

Was I going to let my circumstances get the better of me--render me useless for the rest of the day-- or was I going to cling to what I knew to be true about myself, and about God?

I found this verse in Jude while I was getting my heart back "on track" after such a rocky start to my day:  "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude 21)  And it reminded me that no matter what comes my way, I am not in this life alone.

Remembering to stay in God's love is a good place to start.  The word "keep" in this verse is interesting.  It means to watch or be on guard, by keeping my eyes open and alert.  In short, I should be on the lookout for God's love in the day to day circumstances of life.

The ugliness of sin is all around me, as I am reminded in verses 18-19 of this chapter.  "Bad things" can and do happen.  That is why I need to be so much  more vigilant to watch for God's love and His mercy in the every day chaos of life. Sometimes the circumstances are just a string of inconveniences, like yesterday morning.  Other times there are real dangers lying in wait to destroy my walk with the Lord.

I may have some rough starts along life's journey, but who doesn't?  Does that mean that I abandon all, and go hide under the covers until I can face life again?

Or will I choose to watch for God's love and mercy for me, even in the midst of difficulties?

I think I know what to do, for the next time life attacks.

By the way, I still went jogging, had a great lunch, got a lot of work done yesterday on the computer and around the house, and my child that was corrected before school came home at lunch with a broken and repentant heart.

Take that, "bad" day.

Pressed

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead, And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." II Corithians 5:14, 15

I have a love/hate relationship with jogging.  I love the "jogging" part: getting out in the early morning, testing my limits, and of course the way I feel when I'm all done.  There's that good muscle tired, euphoric feeling that leaves me energized and ready to start my day.

Then there's the "going" part.  The getting out of my warm bed part.  The getting dressed twice in the morning part.  The sweaty nastiness and the morning shower part.  

And in January/February, it's just plain cold.

In order to get up and out on days like yesterday, with freezing temperatures and general February yuckiness, I have to love the outcome so much that I am willing to submit to all the unpleasantries. I have to remind myself that while I do not enjoy all the preparation, I love the results.

And so I go.

How many of life's daily activities are motivated not by love of the process, but love of the result?  I don't like cleaning house, but I love the result of having an orderly, tidy home.  I don't love correcting my children, but I love enjoying my children and being around them.  I don't love washing clothes or ironing, or digging ball point pens out of the dryer, but I love pulling on sweet smelling, nicely pressed clothes at the beginning of my day.

Sometimes I wonder, "Is the unpleasant task I'm facing today worth the effort to arrive at the finished result? Is it worth it?"

And then I think about Jesus.

I'm so thankful that Jesus, while He did not love the process, He was so moved by love, that He went to the cross, so that I might benefit from the end result.  The Bible is clear that Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame..." (Hebrews 12:2) He did not rejoice in the suffering, the mistreatment, the agony, but He did it willingly, so that He could be obedient to His Father, and allow me access to heaven forever.

In light of such a great love, the verses in II Corinthians 5:14-15 are a great source of encouragement, as well as a greater conviction.  Because Jesus was willing to give all for me, I should be willing to give all, to others.  The word "constraineth" means to urge on, press, compel, or drive.  What should cause me to press on?  I should continue because without God's love I was dead in my spirit, as are those around me.

This verse goes on to say that because I have benefited from God's wonderful love, that I should no longer live for myself, "but unto Him which died for them, and rose again."  This is the daily process, which reaps eternal results.

This is the motivation that I have to get up and out, doing what God has placed upon my heart today.  Will I love like Jesus, even though the process is long, complicated and even seemingly fruitless at times?

And yet, how can I do less?  In light of He who gave all for me, how can I not give myself in love today?

How great is my love for Christ?  Is it enough to love others today?

How Do I Love Thee?

"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3

Good morning, ladies!

I love Valentine's Day!  I know many people deplore its commercialism, but otherwise February is to me just a speed bump on the way to warmer weather and getting back outside.

Besides, what could better than setting aside a whole day to tell those close to you that you love them?  

So, men everywhere who are reading this blog, consider this your two week warning.   Don't miss it, and don't mess it up for the special ladies in your lives.

Ladies, you too!  Woo your man this month.

Okay, now, let's get serious.

I thought it would be fun the next two weeks to do a countdown to Valentine's with thoughts about, what else, LOVE?

I think it's a shame, that as rich as the French language is in so many ways, there is really only one word for love, which is the same word for like or have an attachment to.  Sometimes people use the word "adore" to show an extreme liking toward, but I prefer to reserve that word for God alone.  So, a French person can love a chocolate eclair, love their dog, love a sports team and love their families with the same word.  The idea of "like" doesn't really exist in French--it's all just love!

Isn't it the same way with God?  God doesn't have to tell us He "likes" us (even though He does.)  When God talks about us, He reminds us of His love:  His unfailing, unconditional, sacrifical, perfect love.

One of my favorite verses about God's love for me is Jeremiah 31:3.  I love how God, during the midst of one of the tumultuous times in the history of Israel--the captivity of the Jewish nation by Babylon--reminds His people that the horrors they are experiencing, even though they are the results of deliberate sin in their lives, are not without His notice, and are not forever.  God wants His great love for them to sustain them during their trials.

Here are some "nuggets" in that verse, just for me today:

1.  God's love is personal!  "I have loved thee..."
2.  God's love is eternal.  He loved me before I existed, while I strayed in sin, and will love me into eternity.
3.  God "likes" me, too!  He wanted me close, so He drew me in.
4.  God's love is rooted in His goodness.  I cannot disassociate the two--my God is always good to me.

Whatever I face today, I am reminded of God's personal love for me, and that should be enough to sustain me through the trials God allows me to experience today.

In return, I can show this love to those around me today, a personal, sacrificial, all-encompassing love that only God can produce in me.

Who can I love on today?  Let's start with you, dear friends!  Take "heart:" God's love is real today!