Day 38 The Best Game to Play - The Perspective Game

February 12, 2015
Day 38

There is a game God showed me a while back and I now play it all the time. You do know He's a great gamer? This one proves my point. It is called the "Perspective Game." It's a christian game and it can be played any time. In fact it is encouraged to play it a lot in order to get really good at it.  And the interesting thing about this game is the need to devour His rule book.

The essence of the game is this. Every thing can be viewed from a positive perspective. So, every time something negative is thrown at you, you can view it from a different vantage point. His rule book helps you with tricky and not so tricky incoming perspectives. Some of the switch ups really take time and work. But basically wherever one starts from they can end up seeing an entire situation in an incredibly positive light. That's it. The game is that simple and that complicated.

Those who get really good at it always understand this key point - it takes practice, practice, practice. Those who get the most frustrated with this game are the ones who think it comes naturally and they shouldn't have to use His rule book all the time. They get discouraged easily because they are disappointed by their first reactions. They keep forgetting that you can only get good at this game if it is mentally played constantly and if you use His rule book for every perspective change.

The seasoned players have learned that it is where you end up that makes you an excellent player. They also depend on His rule book for every move to the point where the book looks worn from so much use.  This game has made life immeasurably wonderful. There are so many twists and turns to this game and God has always guided me through every perspective change.

Ya wanna play? You'll win too!

Day 37 Moses Reminded and God Relented

February 11, 2015
Day 37


Moses is told by the Lord that his Hebrew buddies are idly idoling. The dummies are making a calf idol. You want to know why? Cause Moses is taking too long. And instead of sitting around the campfire, kumbaya-like, having some testimony time of what they saw beyond the wall of water;
"Hey, bro, did you see that huge eel watching us?" "Yeah man, that was really cool!"
"Can you believe how close those Egyptian dudes came?" "Too close for comfort?"
"Did any Egyptians make it across?" "Nah, I don't think so?"....
...they are listless, bored, and lacking in gratitude. This just frustrates me! So soon???!!

I find it funny the vantage point I always view this from. Instead of immediately relating to these imbeciles I find myself sitting on a tall stool. How I can balance on the stool with my head shaking from side to side is beyond me. No identification with them, none, nada, zippo!

Because of this God wants Moses to leave Him alone to burn in his anger. Uh, this might be the perfect deified reverse psychology I have ever seen. But for right now,  He is going to destroy them, and He is going to make Moses into a great nation. Bam, there you go Mo', it can be all about You!

This guy, Moses, shows us true hostage negotiating for the rescued slaves, the ingrates.  Moses says, "C'mon, God?! What are the Egyptians going to think? That you are playing a dirty joke on the Hebrews? You want them to think your reasoning for deliverance was evil, a massive annihilation?"

Moses then reminded God of his promise - "I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever." What are you going to do about that big claim, huh, God?

Moses implored the Lord to relent. Just keep in mind, Moses was told by God what the people were doing but he didn't actually see them doing it. Moses was faith-ing it, certainly not sighting it. God, however, actually saw what they were doing. And instead of annihilating them, He did relent. No disaster for these slow, ungrateful learners! God's grace is so life saving. God loves with 20/20 vision of the extreme ugly and with perfect love-death on a cross.

Remember, He wanted Moses to leave Him alone to burn in His anger, yeah right! He loved Moses reminding Him of His Good word, His Good promise.  He loves us reminding Him of who He is and how He operates. And guess what? He relented, He did not bring disaster on the people.

This God! What love!

Day 36 Life

February 10, 2015
Day 36

Why do we fret?
Whom do we fear?
Why do we worry?
Who makes us sad?
Why are we anxious?
Why are we nervous?
What keeps us from smiling?
What keeps us from expecting His goodness to us?
What keeps us from believing that He is all He said He is?

When will we remember that -

The day
He died and
the day
He resurrected
changed everything for us?!!!

Sins are taken care of
and Life
exploded
from the ground!
Truly earth shattering, ground breaking news!

Do I really not believe this matters?
Am I more comfortable with contemplating my worry than
contemplating His sacrifice?
Can I really give up control
and it will be all right? Shout out to Marley!
This seem presumptuous.


Do I understand the disservice to His name when I fret?
Do I hear Him calling me onto the waves?
Is He asking me to look at Him and not at the treacherous circumstances?
Don't I need to see where I am placing my feet? This seem preposterous.

To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is work!
He calls me to believe?

Yes, He calls us to believe that everything He says about Himself is truth on steroids.

Do it!
Do it!
Do it!
Believe and you shall receive.
It is as painfully easy as that.
It is pridefully too easy!
Because I want more invested in it
than to JUST believe. Give me some tasks,
Mr.!

But, honestly
Why waste any more time?
Believe and travel the road trip of all
road trips!

Day 35 - If God Then What

February 9, 2015
Day 35


My husband asked me, "Lynne, what is your elevator pitch for IF:Gathering?" Hmmm.. if only I knew what that meant. He knows my fear of elevators! Google provided answers. Straight from Wikipedia, "an elevator pitch... is a short summary used to quickly and simply define a profession, product, service, organization or event and its value proposition."

The Holy Spirit has raised up a team of women calling themselves, If:Gathering, to equip women to serve the Risen Savior who is in the world today. They are challenging women to use their voice, who knew? Women have a voice? Their voice can be used without looking aggressive, too assertive, not submissive enough? They are calling them to use their God given gifts. Why? Simply because our time on earth is meant to glorify Him and to be about the Great Commission - Go and make disciples.

These women make no bones about the need to wrestle with our faith, to seek Him in the messy dark and daunting times. He desires to use even us as He recycles our dark times. He provides us comfort during suffering that then can be used to comfort others. This life stinks but He knows how to use all of that!

Women's conferences have always frustrated me. They fall into the same rut: highlight an individual in the Body (that's what the world does), demand a high fee to attend (that's what the world does), create one venue for people to come or they miss out (that's what the world does), talk about things that can make our life more spiritually satisfying (That's what the world does. The world is all about self-satisfaction, christians just christianize it - repackage the same product. ). These women, clearly following the Spirit, are charting a new path.

If:Gathering swung wide the gates, yelling loudly, "Hey! Everybody! Come, be with us!" Though they needed much more than that, their suggested donation was $25, but they would accept $1. They highlighted women refined by fire. There were no sickening sweet stories. Though I now want jeans with holes, high chunky heeled boots, long dangling earrings, necklaces, sweater vests that swag and raggedy-looking shirts (with all due respect). The apparel and accessories did not distract, but instead highlighted true women of faith - Women who are authentic, real, willing to be vulnerable, wickedly full of humor and make you yearn to be more Christ like! How did they do that!?????? They lifted Jesus higher than themselves. Why? For the world to see.

GIVE ME MORE OF THAT!

We women are not only to be bringing home the bacon but we are to bringing home the sinners!

Day 34 Nicole Suzanne Lynne

February 8, 2015
Day 34


Yesterday, Nicole Suzanne Lynne was born fourteen years ago in the early morning hour of 4:30 am. Her delivery was the hardest out of all six children. My water broke, I went in, they sent me home, I went back in. Duh, I am having a baby, midwives, take me in!

My labor with her was spent reading Angela Hunt's trilogy on Joseph. Every contraction brought me to a chest of drawers perfect for back support. Lynn was able to get some work done on the computer while I labored and read. Great combo.  The room she was birthed was the same room Theo was birthed this past August. Oh, the circle of life.

Lynn and I tried to get some sleep. What a joke, at least for me. Lynn slept like a baby, twinsies with the almost newborn. I labored, silently with the sweet little girl.

As soon as the little 6 pounder was born I loved her instantly, head over heels. And I knew right there and then I had given birth to a mighty little warrior, a huge person in a small body.

Over the past fourteen years she has been pure delight. Her prayers move me, her kindness compels me, her foresight intrigues me, her reasoning delights me. She is easy and sometimes too easy. Her birthday today was spent not with us but with her beloved uncle and aunt O'Donohue. She did not complain that we did nothing for her today due to the fact that I was away.
That kills me.

Nicole is Nicole. She reads relentlessly. She babysits Theo, her new nephew, religiously. She spends time with her friends with sweet loyalty and she delights me persistently.  I LOVE NICOLE SUZANNE - my Nicky Shoester!

Day 33 - IF:Gathering

February 7, 2015
Day 33


Women all over the United States and in other parts of the country came together yesterday for IF:Gathering. Women gathered in living rooms, women gathered in large churches, women gathered in small churches, all were focusing on this one question that demands an answer: If God is real then what? Many of who gathered are sisters because of Jesus, part of a spiritual family. We had no idea that our particular gathering would explode into 90 women. No idea.

Technology being used for the good of the kingdom is what IF:Gathering does really well. Many of the women following the IF:Gathering have been studying Joshua and the taking of the land through visiting the blog/facebook page. So, our hearts were already prepared for the messages we were to hear yesterday afternoon and into the evening.

The Spirit of God is moving amongst women. For us, at St. James parish of RCC, it was evident as all of this pulled together with little to no effort - 90 women out of the wood work. God is stirring up women out of their complacency.  He is asking us to look beyond ourselves and seek the adventure of running with Jesus.  This looks different for every woman. God reigns in and over diversity.

Jennie Allen began with Numbers 13:4-7, she is one of the women God has used to bring about this IF:Gathering. She is humbled. "Am I enough? Am I going to be safe? What is the cost?" these are the questions that many times occupy our minds. She says that God calls us beyond those questions. Joshua and Caleb saw and what the other 10 men saw, no disagreeing with that. But as Jennie pointed out, Joshua and Caleb chose a different story line. They choose the story of faith not sight.  Her phrase, "we are at war and the prize is faith," will not leave my mind. It is unpacking slowly.

God is calling women. This might be refuted by those who have "figured it all out" in all aspects of Christian life. But the question is, can we truly understand God's ways or are we willing to humbly recognize before our Maker that we will never have it completely understood. We are drawn by love into a fuller understanding but maybe we should just let God be God? God is calling women.

The God of the universe always stoops down and breathes the breath of life into obscurity, into simple dust. Oh, to be a part of this story! Church, He is calling us to a higher purpose; to love more deeply. 

In a few short minutes I am heading off again to be with women. If God is real then what?

Day 32 Deadly Expectations vs. Peaceful Gratitude

Deadly Expectations vs. Peaceful Gratitude

February 6, 2015
Day 32


Gratitude is to fulfillment as expectations are to depression.

As expectations increase so rises the treacherous mountain.
As an expectation is unmet so goes the fall.
The higher the expectation the higher the mountain and the higher the fall.

This has nothing to do with risk-taking.
A fall from taking risks is instructive, often painful, but still a moment of truth.

A fall from an unmet expectation is hallow, haunting and hurtful.

I like it here at the bottom.
Contentment is refusing to allow expectations rise like yeast in dough.

Gratitude looks back, reflects over God's goodness. This is where expectation can be unbridled, allowed to roam in the meadow of God's grace. Always expect God to be Good. Always allow Him to express His goodness on His terms.