Another Conversation

This is a back and forth Jim and I had while running errands on this sunny day.
Marlee: (To Jim,) would you feel bad if I twittered what "Pookie" and I are doing today? (Pookie aka Jim).
Jim: (a resounding) YES, I would!! How about "HeMan or somethin' like that??
Marlee: or RealMan?
Jim:
No answer, he's thinking.
So later as I'm fixing our very late Irish oatmeal breakfast; Jim or RealMan, comes in the kitchen.
RealMan: "Pookie" wants a kiss. I figure if I say "Pookie" enough I won't be shocked when I see it in print.
Marlee: You get your kiss Pookie.
The whole point of blogging this conversation is to say that life is full of funny things, along with some very tough decisions we have to make in this life. If you plan on having fun and laugh a lot, it will make you stronger when it's time to make that decision. Pookie and I laugh a lot, so we know when there is something difficult we have to deal with, soon the laughter will be there again, it's become a habit. And besides that, Jim knows that the nickname Pookie will not become a habit, I like Jim just fine.
Everything is going to be ok.

Aspiring to be Great in the Kingdom of God

Former Detroit Piston basketball player, Isiah Thomas, wrote a short tribute to his Piston coach Chuck Daly who recently died. If the article had been a poem, it would have had the word "ode" in the title. This was a work of praise to a man who was well loved and respected. He motivated his team players to be their best at all times. Mediocre did not survive around Chuck Daly. Remember Detroit's "bad boys" of the 80's? I hated it when Detroit came to town! Street ball. Not only were they motivated, but he expected his team to perform each and every game. In describing his coach, Thomas used such phrases and words as "champion," "mentor," "one of the greatest coaches," and "warrior."
Jesus also has words for those who would be great in the Kingdom of God, be a servant, Matt. 20:26. When love and respect for Jesus fills our lives, serving His people is His calling to us. In His time, Jesus makes us into the kind of servants that will become mentors, champions, warriors (we never give up!). The servants of Christ are gracious, well-respected and always teaching His word, telling and living His story. From the Savior who says "most assuredly," we are fully confidant of what we can do in His name. What more do we need in motivation than to have the Savior of the world as our Leader? We have all that we need in the face of adversity, God is the God who raises up champions and warriors! When we read that we can do all things through Christ, do we really believe, or do we admit it's in our minds but not our hearts yet? If you are in the land of "yet" still, take a leap of faith and believe you can because Jesus said it. That truth will bring us to the next step, and the next, and the next. Jesus has given us every word we need to fulfill our role as servant in this life. We can do all things only because Jesus has fully prepared the way for us in His word and on this earth when He was here.
I challenge you today to believe that Jesus will do the impossible for you. To believe that the call to servanthood is real and He has equipped us to do that very thing by imitating His example. No big wondering how I'm ever going to do it, it's all laid out in His holy word. Today is a day of challenges on all sides for the Christ follower and if we accept His challenge to deny ourselves and follow Him, everything we have need of will be taken care of. Trust Him, He is worthy!!

Grace

"...He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' THEREFORE most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. THEREFORE I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor. 12:9-10
It's the grace of Christ that we long for. The grace that covers the unknown, it covers all that we have no answers for, it covers everything that gives us pain and we have no solution for. It covers ALL the past, our present, our future tomorrow and our eternity. It is grace that covers our sins and therefore, no accusation can be brought against us and have any meaning to God.
Seeking His grace, desiring to live victoriously in His grace every day. No need to struggle with how we get this grace, it is ours, freely given by our Savior. Praying we will have a revelation of His grace today, this very hour.

Call to Prayer and Worship

I was glad when they said, "come, pray and worship at TRC." God is meeting us and He is doing great things in the lives of His people! We will definitely be there, we'll look for you to be there too. Expect the Lord to meet your needs, He is faithful and true.

Campus Ministry

"Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and TRIED TO KEEP HIM FROM LEAVING THEM; but He said to them, 'I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.'" Luke 4:42-43. NKJV
This is the call of campus ministry, not just a ministry to students, but ministry to multiple cities, multiple sites to all people. YES, multiple site ministry is God's will and calling. He hasn't changed His mind in the 21st. century. Is it easy, no! Is it expensive, you bet it is! This walk of obedience will cost us EVERYTHING! If we lose our lives in Him, we will find our lives. We will discover exactly what God has called us to.
I don't know about you, but this kind of commitment used to stir up all the "what ifs..." in my heart. We first heard of multiple city ministry in 1973, there was a vision even back then. Verse 42 describes what happens when the what ifs take over, and it will you know!" "But Jesus, it's so good here." "But Jesus, it just won't be the same..." whatever our reservations or excuses, the calling remains, it will never change, it's ours too. Jesus will never, can never leave us, even for another campus. He doesn't love us any less, or love them more. His heart is big enough for everyone, His table big enough and full enough for all of us.
Next time you hear of an event at the Lake campus, drop by and see what is going on. You will hear God calling you to preach in cities too. God is the God who fully equips His people to do all He has called us to do. On to multiple cities to preach His word and fulfilling our purpose!

Most Assuredly

How can we tell when someone is telling the truth? What do we look for? What are we listening for? We can listen to the eye witness and make a judgement, or we can look in their eyes. Do we know them?
Jesus knows that discerning the truth is so important one of His names is The Word. When He speaks, He is telling the truth, yet there were many of the religious establishment of His day that refused Him, called Him a blasphemer. Their hearts were darkened and they could not see the truth. Two of the words that Jesus spoke often, especially in the book of John are "most assuredly." In the KJV His words are "verily, verily". The more modern version, NKJ uses "most assuredly." When Jesus says "most assuredly", that gets my attention! What is He trying to assure us of? And wouldn't we think that the strong language He uses would tell us how important His teaching is? Jesus uses this phrase 25 times in the book of John in a variety of teachings.
The most important one is on salvation. Let us be most assured that when Jesus saves us, we are fully convinced. First of all, we have a need to be saved and secondly, He does what He says He will do, He forgives our sins and saves us! He is the only One who saves!! John 3:3 "...Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdon of God."
I could do the work for you and list the 24 other scriptures in John, but there is a better way. We live in a day when MANY people have given us their "most assuredLIES," and we've come away disappointed again and again. It's so important that we look to Jesus who is the TRUTH and believe Him, be convinced that every word He says we can depend on. I urge you to read the book of John NKJV, and everytime you see a "most assuredly," circle it and write down what Jesus is assuring us of.
Right in the middle of this day of mistrust throughout the world, find yourself assured. We can fully depend on His word. "Most assuredly..."

To Moms

Mothering with all of its nurturing is the most important work a woman will ever do in her life. From the time the egg is fertilized, the mother is nurturing with God's miracle of creative power. From the minute you hold your baby that another woman gave birth to, you are nurturing your baby. God does a creative work in all who nurture. Loving, guiding, teaching, correcting, having fun with, crying with.
When our children are older, our nurturing takes a different form. We have discovered our nurtured baby is growing up and is quite embarrassed to be seen getting a hug and a kiss. So now our loving care takes form more in words of encouragement and praise--the hugs and kisses will come again.
One day when the last diaper is washed and folded (wait a minute, now you know what era I'm from!) and other signs of babyhood have disappeared from around the house, you may find yourselves jumping up and down in celebration for a job well done so far.
Jr. High and High School is right around the corner. Steadyyyyyy...steady, there is nothing to fear! You can still nurture. Now the nurturing takes form in leaving notes in their room that have nothing to do with cleaning the room. You know they love homemade bread and chocolate chip cookies. Do you remember those smells when you came home from school? It says, this is my home, I belong here. Kids of this age may not communicate much about anything, but all along you and the Lord have helped to create memories for children. Memories nurture. If you have a child that loves to communicate, you are blessed!
Have confidence in the nurturing gift you have been given by God! It's a beautiful thing. One day, you will sit back when all your children are grown and watch them relate to their siblings as adults. They actually love each other and like being together! This is the fruit of God's gift of nurturing.
"The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." That's an old phrase we don't hear much anymore, but I think it's true. It defines the influence we have in our children and then the influence they will go on to be in the world.
Have a blessed Mother's Day, you're doing a great job!!