May 2008

May 27, 2008 

Several days ago I heard of the tragic loss of Steven Curtis Chapman’s five year old daughter Maria.  On a day that was full of celebration for a daughter that was engaged – tragedy struck.  My heart went out to that family and I couldn’t seem to get them off my mind.  I went to his website and looked at the pictures and video of this energetic little girl.  It seemed too much to bear.  As the days passed, God would bring the family to my mind and I prayed for them. 

Ten years ago another family lost a child.  Steven Curtis wrote a song for them titled “With Hope.”  Here are the words:

This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father's smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home
And now you're free, and ...

We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so ...

We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope

It’s the last few lines that hit me – whether we are holding on or letting go we have to do it with hope.  If we are laughing or crying we have to have hope.  It’s this hope that will get us through the times of life that don’t make sense.  Jesus is our hope.  Without Him we are helpless and lost because the tragedies will come and they will attack us at our core.  Without Jesus we don’t stand a chance.  So?  We hope!

I know that all of us have those times in our lives when it seems too much to bear.  I hope you can be encouraged by Steven’s song.  There is HOPE.  Because He lives we have a bright hope for tomorrow and an anchor for today.

On the front of Maria’s memorial service program was this verse:

Jeremiah 29:11 – 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.” 

“Expected end” simply means “an end with hope.”  God is good and has plans for us that are for our good.  Some days I cannot see that good, so I have to place my faith and trust in the One who holds my life in His good hand.  That is hope.

I’ve been reminded of some important truths this week.  It has caused me to reflect and to consider the fragileness of life and the security we have in Christ.  This morning, as I prayed for the Chapman family, I was reminded that even though their lives are going on, they are bearing the pain of their loss.  God will use that pain for the greatest good; it will not be wasted.  I prayed that God would remind me of that when I can’t find anything but pain.

When you hear one of his songs or if God brings him to your mind, pray for this dear family.  They have done so much for others and now it is time for their brothers and sisters in Christ to intercede for them.

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May 15, 2008    Caleb and Mr. Potato Head

What a week!  These past two weeks have been some of the most hectic weeks of my life.  My schedule has been crazy – good but crazy!  This past weekend I packed 2 meetings in a 3 day span.  I spoke 8 times in a matter of 3 days.  On Friday I was with the girls at Cumberland County High School in La Follette, TN.  Friday night was a wonderful time at a teen night with one of the ensembles from the school.   Saturday I spoke at La Follette Baptist Temple and enjoyed meeting the wonderful women who attended. 

In the middle of the day I got a call from Brandi.  She informed me that Caleb was being admitted to the hospital for pneumonia and acute asthma attacks.  Caleb is not quite 2 years old so we were all concerned. That is usually the way life goes.  We are in middle of our schedules and suddenly bad news or something that is hard to deal with.  I had one more session to do and then I was supposed to jump in a car and head to another special meeting in Kentucky.  I had to find a quiet place and get with God.  I had to remind myself that there was nothing I could do for Caleb and that God was in control.  I had to ask God to take care of Brandi and Brandon and help them during this trying time.  I am so glad the God of Peace grants peace to His children when we ask.

The dear people in Somerset, Kentucky were a blessing on Saturday night and Sunday.  God worked in special ways at this meeting.  As I set out on the drive home, I was so glad that I could pray to my Father and ask Him to heal Caleb.  God truly gave me settledness in my heart as I did the best thing I could do for my family and that was pray.

Needless to say I headed out Monday to see that little boy. (After I went and picked up my car which had been at the mechanics for several days).  For days I had been dealing with a broken down car and many other ministry issues but God worked everything out in His timing.  As I unpacked and repacked I thanked Him for fixing my car so I could travel.  Even paying the bill was not as horrible as it could have been. 

Monday afternoon I walked into the hospital room where little Caleb was sound asleep.  His mom and dad looked exhausted but they both smiled.  Brandi told me not to wake him up -- so now I had to wait.  I had stopped on the way in and bought him a Winnie the Pooh balloon, bubbles, and a Mr. Potato Head so I was excited for him to open his little eyes.  They had just taken him out of his oxygen tent so he was resting so peacefully.  As I sat down and waited for him to wake up, I thanked God again for His goodness and for doing what I could not have done even if I had been there.

Finally those little eyes opened and he turned his head around to see me.  A big grin broke out on his face and he immediately held up those arms for me to take him.  As I hugged and kissed him I was so thankful for a God who loves us and watches out for us.  Hours later, while putting the nose on Mr. Potato Head for the 100th time, I was reminded that God works in much the same way.  We get sick or stuff falls apart for the 100th time but God is right there to put it back together over and over.  He never tires of working on us, healing us, touching us, or bringing peace. 

Today Caleb is home.  He is doing much better.  I am back home today too, getting ready to leave again tomorrow for another exciting weekend of sharing God’s goodness and hope with others.  I have no idea what lies ahead, but I am so glad that I serve a God who puts things back together.

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May 13, 2008

Thank you so much for praying for me last week.  I had a wonderful time at Cumberland County High School in La Follette, TN.   This is a large school with over 1470 students enrolled.  Two years ago they experienced a school shooting but today they are doing well.  I met with the girls and we talked about the important choices they have to make in their lives.  I know that many of them are hurting and are trying to find fulfillment in so many things that will never satisfy.  I had the wonderful privilege to talk to them about many of those things in life:  drugs, alcohol, and sex.  I was then able to share with them what I had found in a relationship with Christ that always satisfies and never lets you down.  I know many of them listened and heard the message.  Please pray with me that God will continue to work in their lives.

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May 8, 2008

I have a special prayer request for you today.  On Friday at 2:00 pm, I will be speaking at a public school to all of the high school girls.  Please pray that God will give me the right words to say and pray that He will open up their hearts to be receptive to what He wants me to share.  I will give you a report as soon as I get back.

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May 6, 2008

It has been a while since I have written and I am sorry.  Life has been wild but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I have been crawling in a car or on a plane every weekend and going to new and exciting places.  Since my last blog I have been in NC, WV, GA, and KY.  I have had so much fun meeting new people and getting a chance to catch up with people I haven’t seen in a while.  The most exciting part was seeing the salvation of a 17 year old young lady in Lexington, KY.

Serving the Lord is such an incredible privilege.  I am thrilled at the opportunities God provides every day.  But I am learning that I have to look for them.  My days are much like yours-filled with ups and downs and enough distractions to keep me buzzing in circles like a fly.  My car breaks down (it’s at the mechanic now), my shower door leaks ( I am using a curtain right now) and if I am not careful I can find myself so focused on all the problems that I miss the opportunities that God has for me.

Lately my theme is “If it can go wrong, it will go wrong.”  I don’t have time for things to go wrong.  I am too busy.  But then God reminds me that He allows these things into my life and I need to find Him in the difficult things.  I need to seek opportunities from Him in the distractions of life. 

I am working on it.  I don’t have it yet, but I am working on it.

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