More Than Seen

My weekend trips home began the same way. After the hugs, my Grandmama would say “Are you ok? Sit down … let me look at you.” She sat in her favorite chair. I sat on the sofa. And she looked … and looked…and ….

It wasn’t a casual glance. Mrs. Adell’s gaze was the “impolite” one your Mom reprimanded you about when you were younger. Intense and probing are probably the most accurate words to describe her stares. They were unsettling yet filled with an incredible amount of love.

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After an uncomfortable amount of time, if there was anything weighing on my heart, she knew. She discerned and dismantled what my outward appearance portrayed. She saw me. And responded with a sweet invitation…“Tell Grandmama about it.”

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The Bible doesn’t give us the exact number of people at the pool of Bethesda.- John 5:1-9 John simply describes the scene as a “multitude”of blind, lame and paralyzed people waiting to be healed.

In the midst of the crowd, Jesus saw this one man. And not only did he see him, he knew his struggles. His name remains a mystery yet both the man and his plight were significant to Jesus. If we’re completely honest, isn’t that what we want… to be seen and known?

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It’s what Hagar needed. Desperation drove her to the desert because she could no longer endure Sarai’s harsh treatment. Then El Roi, The God who sees, met her. And unlike the ones she served, he understood the full extent of her pain.

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The weight of suffering can immobilize us making isolation our home. But even there, we’re not alone. God loves us too much to ignore the burdens we bear.

Just like the man at the pool and Hagar, your circumstances are not hidden from God’s view. He sees and extends the invitation to unload your cares.

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My Grandmama was able to see me but, with God we are more than seen. He sees and delivers and heals and saves and so much more.

So I’ll go ahead and ask….Are you ok? Has your season of difficulty been far too long? Are you being treated unfairly? God sees.

I encourage you to take a seat in his presence. Stay there, even if it’s uncomfortable. Allow the Lord to gaze at you. And tell him all about it.

Your Sister Friend,

Because He Said So

It was a wonderful invitation. The owner of a major Christian Company opened her doors to our mentoring group so we could glean and grow.

I admired the simplistic beauty of Glory Haus. So yes! Most definitely yes! I was looking forward to soaking up every word Molly had to say.

When we arrived the team was gathered in worship. Hands were extended and the presence of the Lord was literally resting in our midst. Oh yeah you heard right. They scheduled time for worship during the work day. Automatically I knew these were my people.

During the tour, Molly shared how the Lord guided her in developing the Glory Haus team. He gave her the names of friends that would take the journey with her but, there was a catch. She couldn’t ask them to join. She had to wait until they suggested the idea to her. And even though it took a while, one by one the team was formed. Throughout our visit, there were several stories with a consistent theme. God spoke. Molly obeyed. Her business grew.

As I reflected on the day, I was reminded of Jesus' earthly father, Joseph. We don’t talk about him a lot but, I believe his life beautifully exemplifies obedience.

I’ll give you the short version of Matthew 1:18-25 but, when you have a moment grab your favorite drink, a quiet corner and sit down with this text.

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Here’s the skinny. Joesph was in the midst of what I would call a hot mess. He was engaged to Mary when he found out she was pregnant. And to make matters even worse, Joseph wasn't the father.

Now because of the circumstances, Joseph decided to break off the engagement with Mary. But, he didn't want to expose her to shame or harm. So Joseph planned to put Mary away "quietly" v. 19

When he went to sleep, an angel visited him in a dream. Joseph was given specific instructions. v 20-23. And, as soon as he woke up, Joseph did exactly what the angel of the Lord told him to do.

Now mind you, this wasn't just an isolated incident. Joseph had this obedience thing down to a science. Again in Matthew 2:13 -14 and v.19-21, the angel of the Lord gave him instructions. And like before, as soon as Joseph woke up, he responded with obedience.

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How many times has God spoken to us but, we question or procrastinate? We say things like, "It's too hard.", "What will people say?" or "I'm not qualified". But honestly, these are just dressed up excuses for disobedience. Did that just grab you?

Transparency alert! Right now I feel like I should be writing "I will obey" 25 times on somebody's chalk board. I'll share my chalk if you'd like.

Ok, so where are you on the obedience scale? Are you rocking and rolling with Joseph and Molly? Or are you like me and need some improvement in this area? Well, here are a few practical steps I believe we can take to help us walk out a life of obedience.

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Go to sleep. Yep! Get some rest. - Did you notice it? Every time the angel came to deliver the Word of the Lord, Joseph was asleep. Ask God to calm you down so you

can rest not just physically but, mentally and emotionally. My friend it's difficult to think clearly or be in a position to hear from God when we're exhausted. - Psalm 127: 2

Open wide. Ask the Lord to open your eyes so you can see what he wants you to see. Allow him to penetrate your heart and your mind and take complete control. And, be willing to receive whatever he has to say.

Move now. Not tomorrow. Not next week or next year. But, whenever God speaks, challenge yourself to move right then. Don't even give yourself the option of later.

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Joseph's obedience gave him the opportunity to shepherd the heart of our Saviour. Molly's obedience has created lovely home decor and jewelry that shares the good news of Jesus around the world.

So the next time God speaks, obey not because it makes sense or fits into your life plan but, just because He said so. And, watch the beauty of obedience unfold.

Your Sister Friend,

Lessons from the Climb

Normally a nice dinner or a getaway would be the perfect way to celebrate. But a few years ago when Frank asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, I was at a loss.

It had been a hard couple of months filled with health challenges and I wanted to do something out of the ordinary. After tossing a few ideas around, I decided we should climb Stone Mountain. Initially Frank wasn't on board but, he came around.

I was excited leading up to our adventure but, on the way I started thinking, "Lord have mercy! What in the world were you thinking....Do you really want to do this!!!??" Since it took some convincing to get there, I was not about to change my mind.

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The distance from the bottom to the summit is only about a mile. But, if you’re not an avid hiker... I'm not ... you need to eat your Wheaties and borrow some in order to get to the top.

Maneuvering the rocks was rather challenging and to make matters worse, it was cold. I paused more than a few times to catch my breath. And trust me ... those railings were a whole gift from God to keep us from slipping. Did I mention it was cold?

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I'm not sure how long it took us. We didn’t measure time, we just enjoyed the moments. When we arrived at the top, the struggles of the climb took a back seat. Feelings of relief settled in like a gentle breeze. I guess it's sort of how you feel when you accomplish any goal.

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We’re already in the second month of the new year and I'm still writing my goals. Have you already finished? If your answer is yes, just know ... I’m officially your fan.

I'll admit there's more than a little residue from last year. Even though I had some wins, there were goals I didn‘t complete. This year I'm making efforts to be more intentional about what I want and mapping out the steps I need to take to get there.

Some desires I’ve placed before the Lord seem massive ... like Stone Mountain. And to be honest, I have no idea how I’ll reach them. But, when I to try to figure out the particulars or start thinking things won't work out, I'm reminded of the lessons from the climb.

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Mindset is important. Proverbs 23:17 tells us, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” girls included No matter what the goal or task is, make a conscious decision to finish before you start. You don't have to know the what, the when or the how. Just refuse to give up. Don't accept anything less than accomplishing what you set out to do.

Small things prepare you for big things.

That year I challenged myself to make 7000 steps at least four days a week. Going around and around a track or park didn’t seem like much but, it gave me the strength to climb. If you're not where you want to be, keep moving. There's power in consistency.

It's not a sprint.

Some people ran up the mountain ... we walked. But, we all arrived at the same destination. Focusing on who’s ahead of you can be distracting and discouraging. Move at your own God pace and trust His timing.

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Every day is a new opportunity to begin again. So keep dreaming, keep setting goals and keep climbing. When you get to the top, thank God for the journey and enjoy the view.

Your Sister Friend,