Sliding into Home Base

My brother wrote to me recently from Iraq. He said this:

I read something once that said:

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming... "Wow! What a ride!"

I love the picture in my mind that I see when I read these words. It makes me think of the apostle Paul, who said these words in Philippians 3:

17-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

20-21 But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

We're right there with him, running this race, jogging the marathon, ready to jump and land flat on our bellies as we slide toward the finish line, bruised, aching, tired, old, probably with a black eye, filthy, ragged, and proclaiming "Wah-hoo! What a ride!"

I personally need to remember this when I'm so focused in on my very small life, in my very small town, and my very small issues, only growing narrower and narrower in my view. This abundant life is a glorious ride! It is designed specifically to wear you out and use you up! Go for it!

xoxoxoxox

Vroom Vroom

Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

Philippians 2:13

And that is why I love this book. Paul is so full of encouragement! For the past 3 days or so, I've been suffering with a migraine -- change of climate after a week in Indiana, changes in air pressure, whatever. All I know is that my head hurts.

But God's energy deep within me -- that is such an encouragement when all I've gotten done is some laundry. That energy will well up within me and take over. For now, after the sun has just gone down at 9:00PM, the headache is at bay. And I'm ready to let God do whatever He wants.

It's so nice to know that I don't have to find things to make myself busy. God is at work within me! All I have to do is make myself available to Him with a simple prayer -- Please Lord, use me today.

xoxoxox

Home

I've been gone over a week -- I had a birthday last Tuesday (a rather big one), and Hunk O Man surprised me with a week-long visit up north to Indianapolis. I saw precious friends, gave hugs and kisses, rubbed noses with two sweet little girls to whom I am Auntie J, ate and drank my favourites, shopped a little, visited a lot, and relaxed. I didn't hurry, I didn't worry much about home -- I just began the next century of my life quietly and easily, and in the company of people I love. And in a place that has always felt more like home than any other place.

In a word -- it was wonderful!

And now I'm home again doing laundry and cleaning the kitchen. Hunk O Man has a birthday next week, and what with Father's Day, he decided to buy himself an Imax Theater for the living room.

Well, not really. I think it's only something like 50 or 52 inches.

The previous tv in there was at the point where you had to hit the side of it to get the picture to straighten itself out, so I didn't flinch when he bought this Imax. JB hooked it up and now the only problem is that there's no HD yet. Something about cords and boxes and the like. Also something about it needing to be fixed and eyes looking my direction.

I've been reading in Ephesians and just began Philippians, my favourite book -- and Paul often says "I thank my God for you." I love these verses because I thank my God so often for the friends I saw recently. And I thank Him for my family as well. Sometimes you get to have such a perfect week, or day, or moment, and you just think 'ok Lord, that's it, I've experienced it all and I'm ready to go.'

But we don't go, because there's still so much work to be done. My neighbors still aren't settled into a real ongoing relationship with Jesus. My kids aren't raised all the way yet. My husband's ministry isn't finished yet, and so neither is mine, since mine is to minister to him while he ministers to others.

So it's back to real life, and real work, and the realities of my relationship with the most important one, Jesus. On with the next half century. I'm armed with the Message and ready!

xoxoxox

Acts 10

I just read this, and there were a couple of things that really struck me.

First of all, Mr. Regular Guy Cornelius. Here's how he is described:

There was a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea, captain of the Italian Guard stationed there. He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer.

Just a regular guy, right? He was Italian, so I'll be he was even good looking. A good-looking Italian soldier. Relatively godly. Prays a lot and does good deeds. Leads his family in a godly way.

Well, he gets a visit from an angel.

Now I know a lot of godly people. But they don't get visits from angels. Obviously there was a purpose to this angel's visit, having to do with Peter.

But you know, WHOA! A visit from an angel, folks!

I'm thinking here that I want to be that kind of godly. I'd like a visit from an angel. Can you imagine? A person appears at your door, you invite them in, they fill the room with light . . .

Next amazing thing from this chapter. Peter is lost in thought and prayer and meditation -- and the Spirit speaks to him to tell him there are people at the door:

Peter, lost in thought, didn't hear them, so the Spirit whispered to him, "Three men are knocking at the door looking for you. Get down there and go with them. Don't ask any questions. I sent them to get you."

OK, I'm pretty close to the Spirit of God -- I talk to him all the time. But I don't think He's ever whispered to me that there are people at my door and I need to pay attention. I have never audibly heard the voice of God say "Hey Jen, go to the door." Or "Hey Jen, you should answer the phone, it's from Me."

Again, can you imagine? Being so close to God that He takes the time to whisper AUDIBLY to you?

I cannot get over how these things amaze me. These aren't just stories, they're actual history. Strange stuff happens all the time in our universe, in our lives. But this stuff, straight from God -- WOW! How cool would it be to live in a way that would enable stuff like that to happen now? As in 2009 now?

Lord, please fix our eyes on Your marvelous face. Change us. Speak to us. Lead us. Whisper to us to pay attention. Drop in on us from time to time and fill the room with light. Give us that kind of faith. Because of Jesus, Amen.

xoxox

Healed by a Shadow

From Acts 5:12-16, The Message:

12-16Through the work of the apostles, many God-signs were set up among the people, many wonderful things done. They all met regularly and in remarkable harmony on the Temple porch named after Solomon. But even though people admired them a lot, outsiders were wary about joining them. On the other hand, those who put their trust in the Master were added right and left, men and women both.

They even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on stretchers and bedrolls,

hoping they would be touched by Peter's shadow

when he walked by. They came from the villages surrounding Jerusalem, throngs of them, bringing the sick and bedeviled.

And they all were healed.

I WANT FAITH LIKE THAT.

xoxox