Step Forward

I would like to issue a challenge here today.

Take some time to consider where God is calling you to take a step forward in trusting Him.

This challenge might look different for you than it does for me. 

You may be invited to draw near to Him by spending time in His Word this week.

You may be challenged to wrestle by considering something you would rather dismiss because it doesn’t fit into the way you think or feel right now.

You may be asked to give something up, to try something new, or to persevere in something you are already doing.

You may be challenged to do something entirely different from these ideas.

This weekend, Jason and I are planning to take a few steps toward knowing and loving neighbors on our street.  We are going to stock a freezer with a few meals for a family who expects the arrival of their first baby in the very near future.  We are also going to follow up with a few neighbors who responded to our gift of cookies in December, by inviting them to dinner and getting the dates on the calendar.

To be honest, these things will push me beyond what I am comfortable doing.  I love people, but I feel awkward in new interactions like these.  Yet, I trust that by being obedient and walking forward in these simple ways that we will find the way to building community and sharing the love of Christ with others. 

I’d love to hear from you.  How are you stepping forward in trust?

***

Grace and peace be ours in abundance as we take steps toward trusting God.  As we do may we find that we take steps toward Him that we are transformed in ways we could not have imagined.

Jessica :)

P.S.  I will be posting something special Wednesday.  A Becoming Life will become an Ash Wednesday Prayer Space.  We will have the chance to begin the Lenten season well by pausing to converse with God using a few activities that can be as interactive as you let them be.  Grab a journal, a black marker, a couple pleasing slips of paper of your choice, and an object that is beautiful or pleasing to you.  Then come on Wednesday ready to talk with God.  I’m looking forward to it!  I hope you will be too. 

Dance of Love

This week I did a little writing in the midst of Last Wednesday worship.  I am always surprised at where God takes me when I write in the midst of corporate worship.  I shouldn’t be by now; He always leads me and my heart toward His. 

Is it possible—

you are making me new?

To become bold,

when I have lived timid;

To reach out,

            when I feel so painfully shy.

Eyes fixed on you

I join with all things to bless you, Creator.

To worship in humbleness.

Not noticing me, but all attention set on you

Responding to your goodness;

            to your voice,

                        drawing me forward

Ever toward faithfulness—

            always beyond

                        anything I could possibly do on my own.

You never leave me.

We do it together—

a dance of love.

***

Grace and peace be ours in abundance as we believe that when we come with willing hearts God is pleased to transform us, making us new.  May we find that we are drawn toward Christ with our eyes focused on Him allowing our transformation to take place as a dance of love, with all the glory going to Him.

Jessica :)

Faith Has Feet

“Faith has feet.”

Recognizing my role as priest

to carry blessing to all the world.

Beginning right here—

in my home.

Like baking cookies and walking the block,

carrying sweet blessing to neighbors yet unknown.

Moving outward.

Like noticing the older woman in the store

as she questions, “Where is the chocolate milk?”

and backtracking to listen and point her in the right direction.

Slowing to live love

like this—

small moments made important,

each an act of worship—

impacting someone’s world.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!””  Isaiah 52:7

***

Grace and peace be ours in abundance as we respond to Christ by living love, learning daily the truth and blessing of putting Angus Buchan’s words into practice: “Faith has feet.  It’s a doing word."

Jessica :)

Gracious Words on Tough Days

"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24

***

It is late when the phone rings and his name pops up on my phone.

“Hi honey,” I answer.  “Are you just leaving?”

“Yes.  It’s late.  I’m sorry,” he says. “It has been a long day.  I’m tired, hungry, and feeling a bit angry.”

“Will you go straight to meet your friend,” I ask.

“Yes.  It’s too late to come home for dinner now.”

“I thought so; but please make sure to stop for something on your way.  You’ll be too hungry if you wait to eat until you get home.”

This is not how I thought the evening would go.  I can tell he is agitated and I wish I could reach across the miles between us and give him a hug.

“You’re upset, aren’t you?” he wonders into the phone. “I’m sorry.”

“About dinner?  No.  I figured you wouldn’t be home as it got later and later.  Plus, dinner is not ready yet because I set the rice to simmer on the wrong setting.  I’m trying to fix it now,” I say half smiling and half groaning inwardly.   I add, “I did hope you might be able to pick up a few things for me; but they’ll keep until later.”

“You’re sure you’re not mad?” he asks again.

“Yes.  I’m sure.  What I am concerned about is that you’re headed out angry and hungry and tired.  That is not a very good mindset for a conversation with a friend.  So what I am doing is praying for you.  I’m praying that you would receive God’s peace right now.  I’m praying that you would leave behind the frustration and anger and weight of the day, that they would just fall away.  I am praying that you would know that I am not upset, but I am thankful for you and glad you are making time for your friend.  I am praying that you will be fully present with him—to listen well and respond with the grace and peace of Christ.”

“Thank you,” he lets out with a sigh.

“You’re welcome.  So.  If anyone cuts you off on your way they probably have had a rough day like you.  Be gracious.”  I encourage.  Then, knowing him I ask, “Do you need to go now so you can unwind a little on your way?”

“Yes.  That would be great,” he says honestly.

“Okay.  Well, I’ll see you when you get home.  I love you.  Bye.” 

After I hang up the phone and fix a plate for dinner I think about my husband. 

I think about tough days.  Mine has been full too and I am feeling tired. 

I think about how I love prayers and words of blessing any time.  Yet, on tough days words of blessing provide release from what has come before and the peace to walk forward with renewed energy and reclaimed purpose.

I think about how my husband has done this for me so many times.  I think about how thankful I am to be able to do the same for him. 

I think about this and give thanks for the way marriage makes the both of us better.

***

Grace and peace be ours in abundance as we extend just that to others.   May we know the joy of lifting up one another with encouragement in the strength of Christ.

Jessica :)

To Bring Us Home

It has been quiet around here for awhile. 

Over the last two months Jason and I have been making ourselves a little more at home in our new house.  In truth, Jason has done much of the work.  I have helped to rearrange a little, while being otherwise consumed with the fullness of real life--Christmas letters, baking, meeting neighbors, spending time with family and the normal daily things one does like making dinner and cleaning the house.  All this has been in the midst of pregnancy exhaustion.  It has been good and God has been good in the midst of all of it.

This time of learning to be at home in our new home makes me think of one of the ponderings for me this December as we celebrated Christmas.  Christ came to bring us home.

When I was at the Allume conference in October, one of my favorite sessions was one I didn’t expect to go to.  It was led by Laura Booz of 10 Million Miles and PennsValleyFamily.com.  I found most of the session wasn’t applicable to what I saw myself doing on the blog, but for five minutes God used her to speak straight to my heart about His heart.

Laura talked about the three parables in Luke 15—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the man with two sons. 

Of the shepherd she noted how he left the ninety-nine to go after the one.  She described how he said “I am going to go and be with you.  I am going to bring you home.”

Of the woman who stops to look for the coin, she described the woman’s tenacity.  “I’m going to be with you—search every nook and cranny until I find you.  I’m going to bring you back home.”

Of the Father she describes how he’s looking and he sees his lost son returning home and he runs to him.  He says, “I’m going to be with you, to welcome you.  I’m going to bring you home.” Then when he throws the party for this young son he notices the absence of his eldest son.  Then, too, he goes out to him.  He goes to be with him.  He goes to bring him home.

This is the heart of God.

So Christ comes. 

He comes to fulfill God’s promises.   

He comes to be Emmanuel—“God with us.”  

He comes to do what we could not do for ourselves.  

He comes to live a life obedient to the Father as His treasured child. 

He comes to live among us differently.

He comes to offer himself up for our sins, trusting in God’s goodness.  And God raises Him up from death to life.  He raises him up as an example of how we should live—lovingly and sacrificially as His treasured children.

In Christ, God comes to be with us.  He comes to bring us home.

It has been a month of seeking to receive this amazing gift.  It has been a month of resting in God’s love. It has been a month of seeking to share this gift with others.  It has been a month of living at home.

Now that we are mostly settled at home, I am hoping to be writing in this space again each week.  I am still praying through exactly what that looks like.  I plan to figure that out along the way.

I do know that I look forward to sharing this becoming journey of living at home in the Father's love with you in this New Year.

***

Grace and peace be ours in abundance as we receive the gift of the God who came to bring us home.  May we find that it leads us to a life long journey of becoming more and more like Him and living under the banner of His love.

Jessica :)

P.S.  I want to share a video with you of what it might be like to come home and live in the Father's love.  This is a video that Crossroads did in their series called A Journey Home.  It is an imagining of what the morning after the lost son returns home to his father is like.  Receive it as a gift.