The Holy Spirit's Strength in Your Life (Own Your Life Fridays) Ch. 7

Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.

CORRIE TEN BOOM

It’s a miracle! I thought to myself as I closed the door behind me. Somehow I had managed to slip out of bed without waking Clay, slip on my shoes and a comfy sweater, and get out the door for a Saturday morning coffee--even at 6:15.  As I sat in the cozy corner of the café, coffee in hand, I basked in the delight of a stolen moment alone. I read my morning verses, and jotted down some deep thoughts in my journal. I will be so kind, very loving, and patient today, I thought.

And then my phone rang. “Mom! Where are you? What are we going to do today?” I responded patiently with this child (how could I not be patient in such a lovely moment?) and explained that I’d be home in just a little while to do something fun with the whole clan. Even just thirty minutes alone was rejuvenating for me, but I sighed nonetheless.

But then the phone rang again. “Hey, honey! Who’s going to take Joy downtown for her appointment?” This time it was my husband's voice. I pondered on this. There were no less than four adults in our home who could drive; perhaps one of them could manage? This was my one morning alone. Even so, I continued to talk with Clay as we puzzle-pieced schedules. As I ended the phone call, I breathed deeply. The coffee and quiet started to enchant my soul back into a pleasant attitude.

And then the phone rang. Again. Everyone was hungry and wanted breakfast. With another sigh, I gathered myself, thanked God for the few moments of peace, and resolved to enjoy the day and cherish my beloved ones. This thought was barely a notion in my mind when I walked through the door to discover the dog had thrown up on the new carpet.

I think I need another cup of coffee.

So many times in my life I have encountered the tension between wanting to be Spirit-filled and gracious, and then being overwhelmed by my own attitudes, the unexpected situations of my life, or the many clashing personalities of my family members. Life tends to have a sandpaper effect on my attempts to be holy. These times have led me explore what it means to live in the power of the Spirit.

Throughout Scripture, the Holy Spirit is often described using the analogy of wind, or breath. When explaining the mysteries of the Spirit to Nicodemus, Jesus said:

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

The Greek word Jesus uses is pnuema, which can be translated as wind, breath, or spirit. Later, when Jesus is commissioning his disciples, Scripture manifests the metaphor into an actual happenstance: “And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:22).

Again and again the Holy Spirit is described as breath which brings life, and wind which provides direction.

Breath is a daily necessity. We cannot live without breathing, and it is a constant need moment to moment. The same sort of dependence we have on breathing is how we ought to depend on the Holy Spirit. Living in the power of the Holy Spirit means letting the Spirit of God be the breath that allows me to make it through every day. Relying on the assistance of the Holy Spirit should become as natural to me as breathing in and out.

To live only within the mundane constrictions of daily life is not to be alive at all. 

Christian means, "Christ in one." When we live in Him, we are "in Christ Jesus." When I learned this secret--owning the Holy Spirit's strength in my life--I was transformed.

Christians cannot flourish apart from making God's Spirit the source of their spiritual lives. 

Even the phrase "spiritual life" refers to the Spirit-living-through-us life. I am not speaking of some kind of unique charismatic experience (though throughout history, people have experienced God's filling in different ways), but of a power that we can never muster up on our own. It might be described as:

*an inner strength *a voice that calls us to become more excellent *an energy that moves us to love and forgive supernaturally *a fruitfulness that can only be explained by God

When the Holy Spirit directs our course, the natural consequence is a life outside of normal striving or fleshly effort. We are able to live beyond our own capacity.

To tap into the power of Scripture, choose five verses of Scripture that encourage you and memorize them through the next month. Start with this verse: "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). 

Chapter 7 in Own Your Life helps us understand the Holy Spirit's role in our lives and how we can have even more of Him.

God is Over Our Children's Lives (Joel's story part two!)

I'm so glad Joel's story didn't end where I finished yesterday!  Here's the rest of the story, and what I learned in it ...

His six-month-old body was stretched out with his arms perpendicular to his sides and his pale, chubby legs extended into a wide V. His eyelids were swollen and red, circled by rings of darkness. Sweat had pasted his straight blond hair to his forehead. His small chest heaved with every breath.

As I watched him, passionate love poured through my fatigued heart. I longed to hold him and rock him and sing to him. I realized how precious this little treasure of a boy was to me. How l wished I could comfort him with life-giving words of hope, strength, and encouragement. How I wanted to pour life into his struggling body.

I wanted so much to have the chance to shepherd him through his life. I had books to read to him and birthdays to celebrate. He had milestones ahead, like walking, riding a bike, learning to swim, learning to read, and running after a ball—moments of life to share together. If only he could know how cherished, how beloved he was.

And yet, he lay there completely ignorant of all the love and affection and goodwill that was flowing from my mother's heart toward him. My heart broke into a weak but desperate plea to God for his life, for mercy for my sweet son, for healing from his grave illness. "Lord," I prayed in tears as I watched my baby, "let me know that You are here and that I am not alone. Please help me:'

In the first moments after I whispered that prayer and waited, the room seemed a dark abyss, utterly devoid of grace. I found I could barely swallow for the fear that had gripped my heart. But I waited, waited in the darkness, yearning for comfort. Gradually, slowly, the darkness of the room began to fade in my mind as I sensed just barely, that somehow, even in this despair, I was not alone.

Somehow, I knew in my heart that the Lord was truly with me and caring for my fragile heart. As I waited, as I yearned for His comfort, I began to be aware of answers filling my heart, of comfort coming into my soul in response to my cries. My mind was flooded with thoughts of the Lord, and I suddenly found myself in the midst of a picture of His love.

As I watched Joel, it was as if the Lord was saying that He felt the same way about me that I felt about my baby boy:

I love you as you love your son.  I created My children to know My love.  I wanted to be their companion, their loving Father shepherding them through the seasons of their lives. In the same way your heart reaches out to your precious son , so My heart longs to reach out to each of My children.

I love you.  I am with you.   I will never leave you.

Just open your eyes and turn to Me.  My love for you is fervent and focused.  Sin has created a separation, but l am still here, I will always be here, always reaching out to you in love.  Even as you actively love Joel, though he is unconscious and unaware because of his grave illness, so I have loved My children, though their grave illness of sin and rebellion has created a temporary sense of separation from Me.  Don't worry; trust Me.  I will take care of Joel.  I will take care of you.

That inconspicuous old room, reeking of antiseptic and medicine, whirring with the sounds of the oxygen machine and beeping monitor, became for me a holy place of truly sacred ground. Here, in this unlikely setting, I found my heart filled with worship and thanksgiving. The Lord had engineered, through the seemingly disjointed circumstances of my life, a private meeting with me so that I could understand His love more deeply. In the void of all the people upon whom I usually depended, in the midst of the chaos of the move, I was ushered into the presence of the one and only person who could help me and who loved me. I was brought face-to-face with the reality of God's love for me and God's love for my child. As my heart was filled with worship, I realized that God loved Joel more than any other person could. Joel was also God's child.

As the night passed I had plenty of time to ponder, and I began to realize that ultimately my children belong first and foremost to God. I am their mother by His design, but He is over all of their lives. I will never really be able to control the outcome or circum- stances of their lives no matter how hard I try.

God had designed Joel in my womb. He already knew the extent of Joel's days "when as yet there was not one of them" (Psalm 139:16). Joel's destiny is firmly in the hands of the God who loves Him, as is mine. The realization came to me that walking with God through motherhood meant understanding that I,too, am still simply God's child. All of the issues of my life—relationships, circumstances, victories, and tragedies, even motherhood—were only meaningful as they related to God and His purposes in my life.

He brought me into that little hospital room to be with Him, to know His love, to reflect more on eternity, to see things from His eyes. I thought it was all about my child and my need to provide for him, but really it was about God overwhelming both of us with His care and love. I realized that I was to walk before God in motherhood as I walked in the other areas of my life—with Him as the center of my life, with Him as my strength, with Him as my guide—but like the rest of my life, it was to be a walk of faith, not sight.  (from The Mom Walk, available here!)

Do you ever forget that God is in control of your children's lives?  That He has a plan for them? Does it help to be reminded that God loves you just as you love your own sweet ones, and that He will always walk with you?  I hope you are encouraged today!

When the Night is Dark, Are We Alone?

Many years ago, we left our beloved Vienna to return to the United States.  Clay kindly stayed behind to manage all that had to be done with the movers, which meant I was alone wrangling little Sarah, 2 1/2 as well as baby Joel, 6 months, along with all the accoutrements common to traveling with children--big diaper bags, a stroller, and toys I hoped would help occupy and soothe them throughout the long international flight--through the airports.  By the time we finally arrived at my mother-in-law's, 28 hours since we had started, I was not only exhausted, but extremely worried about Joel, and with good reason...

Sarah had trooped through the journey fairly well but nearly fell asleep standing up as I pulled her nightgown over her head. Joel, however, had refused to nurse for about the last ten hours and almost seemed to be falling into a stupor. As I changed his diaper and readied him for bed, I saw his little chest heaving with each breath he took. His body was exceedingly warm.

When I held him close to me as I rocked him, I could hear a deep wheeze. Dread began to wrap around my heart like a dark blanket squeezing out all light. Something was wrong with my little boy.

What was I to do? Nana lived deep in the Texas countryside, just outside a tiny town of barely 700 people. The nearest clinic or doctor was in a town 15 miles down dark country roads, but it was tiny and I had no knowledge of the doctors. Hoping that he just had a cold, I cuddled Joel and held him in my arms over the next hour, praying and crying out to God for wisdom. But his little body became more lethargic and limp, his fever climbing higher even with medication, and soon he was gasping for breath.

I needed to act. Nana was asleep by this time and I knew she would have to stay with Sarah. How would Sarah feel waking up in a strange place without me, to a sweet stranger she barely remembered? I made a quick decision to take Joel to the emergency room in the next town. Wakening Nana, I told her what I needed to do and bundled myself and my baby into the car as quickly as I could. I drove the dark miles in a haze of exhaustion and prayer with Joel gasping for breath at my side.

The doctor who sleepily ushered me into the emergency room did not inspire confidence, but I was helpless and didn't know what else to do. After examining Joel, he looked at me with serious eyes and said, "If you hadn't brought this little boy in, he wouldn't have made it through the night. As it is,it is going to be touch and go. He is getting very little oxygen into his lungs and seems to have some kind of a virus, but it also seems that his body is particularly shut down. Has he received any unusual medication in the past 24 hours?" Concern was written all over his face.

I showed him the bottle the pediatrician had given to me. When he looked up the equivalent in his medical book, he glanced at me with alarm. "This:' he said decisively, "is not a medication we would ever use for children in America. As a matter of fact, I think it has shut down some of Joel's system. It was far too strong a dose for such a young child. Combined with the viral respiratory complication, it could prove quite dangerous."

I felt sick inside and a sense of panic and fear swept over me. I had tried so hard to do all the right things. I was so committed to providing the best for my children. I had given my life to them. I had thought I was helping Joel by helping him rest on the long journey. I was following orders of my doctor. What had I done?

The doctor and nurse on call placed Joel on a tall table that had a very flat mattress. He was stripped down to only a diaper. He hardly moaned as they slipped an IV loaded with strong antibiotics into his frail body. The nurse gently attached a patch connected to a tube on his chest, which she told me was a heart monitor. They fitted what seemed to be a small, hard plastic, clear box over Joel that discharged oxygen.

"I'm sorry, but the few rooms we have are full," the nurse said in a matter-of-fact way when she had finished. She looked as though she was tired of emergencies and needed a rest herself. "You can stay with your son tonight, but all we have for you is a chair. It would be best if you could watch him to be sure there are no changes. We don't have any other staff here, and we have to attend to the other patients. Just push the button if you need us."

I wedged myself stiffly into the metal, orange vinyl-clad chair. Picking up a flimsy hospital blanket, I wrapped it snugly around myself. In the warm June Texas night, I was not cold, but I needed something around my shoulders to protect me from the impending feeling of doom I was trying so desperately to resist.

Tears began to flow as much from sheer overload and exhaustion as from sadness. I felt overwhelmingly isolated and alone. Clay was in Austria. My mother didn't even know I was back in America. Nana was asleep with Sarah in another town. I didn't even know a friend I could call. I was sitting by myself in a dark room just barely illumined by the lights on the machines, the only sound the hissing of the oxygen into the plastic tent as Joel struggled to stay alive... (from The Mom Walk)

I'm so grateful this story has a happy ending--which I will share with you tomorrow!  That night so long ago, though, I didn't know what the morning would bring. Perhaps you find yourself in a similar situation today, not knowing how the story of your life will end.  How might you reach out to God in this time?  Are you trusting Him even when you can't see? 

Cultivating Imagination: Creating Artists in your Home--a podcast

Jet lag and a house full of company has enclosed the borders of my life this weekend and my brain is quite empty tonight as I prepare a blog post for Monday. I have just returned from an international trip and hit the ground running with a very full Saturday and Sunday. My life did not allow for a podcast with Kristen this past couple of weeks.

Seems so many are enjoying our podcasts and we are happy to share. Thanks for your comments. They keep us going!

But instead, I wanted to share a talk that Clay and I recently gave at a gathering called, Hutchmoot for visual, performing, word artists in Nashville. Many of you know that our 4 children have all ended up with careers in the arts in some way. Sarah has written 4 books, Joel is a composer with several albums of original music and has composed film scores as well as orchestrated for many artists, Nathan is an actor and has produced his first movie, (on Netflix: Confessions of a Prodigal Son), and Joy who has ghost written a book, and performed in Theatre, speaks and does speech coaching and has recorded original music and produced an album with Joel.

Our children developed their own vision for their unique areas of work from growing up in an environment where inspiration, creativity, gifts and their unique personality had freedom to develop uniquely. Being entrepreneurs and starting ministries, conferences, writing books, film scripts, composing, designing websites, creating arts movements with acoustic musicians and authors, stain glass, cooking, baking, pencil drawings, calligraphy, mastering a number of musical instruments are all a part of our family culture.

Our friends at Hutchmoot asked us to explain how we created such an environment and someone happened to tape our talk to the "Creative artist parents" at the conference. This is the talk Clay and I gave several weeks ago. Hope you enjoy the podcast today.

How do you cultivate artistry in your home?

Owning the Mystery of His Supremacy (Own Your Life Fridays) Ch. 6

As long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.

C.S. LEWIS

The world of a young child is full of wonder and trust. When we lived on my mother-in-law’s farmland in Texas, I remember taking my daughter Joy out for a walk on the land. She was two and walked with wobbly confidence as I held her hand, ready to catch her at any moment her inexperienced limbs betrayed her. It was a world of firsts. She marveled in joyous raptures at the Monarch butterfly that fluttered by us. She giggled as I blew on the dandelion in her hand, the fluffy seeds floating daintily in the wind. As we made our way back home, she grew tired from walking so I scooped her up in my arms. She melted into my shoulder in sleepy abandon.

I believe this is a small image of how God wants us to be with Him. In childhood we encounter the world in terms of trust and wonder, but as we grow we learn what it means to worry and doubt. Where we once saw the innumerable stars, we begin to see the seemingly innumerable bills. Where we once laughed at the soft wriggling body of a puppy, we now cry at the hurtful words of people whose approval we desperately wish we could win. The love of God was something we once rested in, and now we doubt when trials come our way.

It seems to me that the worries of adulthood make our vision smaller.

Instead of seeing the vast beauty of the world that God has made and the extravagant love with which He loves us, we narrow our vision to the small frame of temporary trials.

This is not to say that our trials are not difficult or painful, but that in our forgetfulness of God’s transcendence we fail to see the grace that supports us all around. When we lose this greater vision, we do not walk as “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37, NIV), but as though suspicious and afraid of the world.

The truth is that God’s power is greater than we can imagine, and his sustaining grace for our lives is deeper than we can ever understand. Psalm 8:3-4 says,

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?”

This Psalm declares the truth that the God who threw the stars into place is the God who cares for us. God’s care for us is present and personal, but it also reaches into a beautiful future we can’t even see.

Just as I delighted in carrying my sleepy Joy in my arms, God delights in providing for, loving, and carrying us. Practicing orienting my heart towards trust and worship enables me to catch a small glimpse of His glorious power and love. Resting in His transcendence helps me to open my eyes to the gift of beauty He is waiting to bestow upon me. Instead of seeing only the small frame of my worries and trials, I can begin to see all of life in the context of the beautiful story God is writing.

Own your heart's humility before God so that you can see Him in His proper place, bow your knee before His preeminence, and serve Hi purposes in your life: "Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor" (Proverbs 15:33, NLT).

God will not share the throne of your heart, because He is the only one who rightfully belongs there. 

 Rarely do I meet women who are unburdened, who choose to live in freedom, grace, and beauty. But when I do, I feel that I have been in the presence of Jesus. Their exuberance in this dark world reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, which is attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche:

"Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."

I love this quote because I want to be one of those people who dances to God's invisible music--that invisible reality where God works in response to His children's prayers, where angels dance, and where heaven prepares a glorious banquet for those just naive enough to believe in a Hero who will take us to a heaven where the celebration will never end.

Our God delights to find even one such person. Own your sense of wonder, and the celebration of the stars and the unseen blessings of your life will always bring you a secret delight, an unquenchable song, and a bubbling joy that this world will never be able to quench.

What is the biggest emotional drainer in your life? How can you place it in God's hands and step back to get a better picture of how you might deal with it?

Chapter 6 of Own Your Life focuses on seeing life with wonder, as through the eyes of a child and celebrating life!

Your Puzzle of Life is a Reflection of your Part in God's bigger, overall story!

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Hebrews 11: 3

"Mama, why do I have brown eyes and Sarah has blue eyes and Joel is so tall and Nathan has freckles and you and Daddy don't look alike?"

They say the average 4 year old asks almost 100 questions a day. But my little one was landing on a profound truth--none of us is the same. We are all different. Each snow flake has its own design--God was trying to tell us something! He love uniqueness. He does not compare us to each other. He intended for us not to conform but to live into the freedom we each have to discover the ways that will best serve our own family and our own situations.

Your children and marriage and finances and story will be uniquely different than anyone else you will ever meet. Why in the world do we attempt to follow formulas when we can see that our puzzles of life are so vastly different?

Each of us has a different life puzzle of life to assemble in order to bring order and to make sense out of all the pieces.  The choices you make in the midst of your life journey do have eternal consequences.  Yes, you can throw the pieces at God in anger and say, "I do not like the life you have given me, and I refuse to live within these limitations with a humble heart.  You have made me a victim.  You have ruined my life.  I will choose to live in darkness."  If that is your choice, the puzzle of your life will remain fragmented and separated, with holes in the picture.

However, if you choose to bow your knee and submit to the varied circumstances of your life, God will do miracles.  If you choose to trust and develop your integrity and an inner standard of holiness that isn't dependent on cultural standards, the puzzle pieces will begin to come together.  No matter what your limitations are--health issues, financial problems, a difficult marriage or divorce, a loss of friendship, death of a dream--your life is meant to be filled to the brim with the potential of God's blessings.  But in order to thrive and heal, you must accept any limitations by faith, trust in His faithfulness each step of the way, and wait for His grace so you can live a faithful story right in the place you find yourself.

If you embrace your unique puzzle of life, you will find wholeness.  As you look to God to slowly figure out how to put the pieces together, you will see a beautiful picture emerge.  Your story lived faithfully will become your glory--the place where He builds messages, provides answers to prayer, and teaches wisdom.

I have a collection of teacups and mugs.  Each is different in size, shape, and color--but every one of them is functional and beloved by my family.  In the same way, each of our lives is unique.  Our differences do not devalue our intrinsic worth, but they do create a different design.  I have always told my children, "You might as well decide to like God's will for your life, since your circumstances are probably not going to change just because you wish they would."

I have also told them that life is not fair in this world--we may have to be faithful to difficult circumstances our whole lives on this earth--because this is not the final place, yet! 

Jesus told us to lay up our treasures in heaven. When we accept the fallenness of this world, we learn how better to live into the moment.

"We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

What defines and makes your life distinct? What resources do you have?  What do you consider to be advantages to your particular puzzle?  Are there any areas that seem impossible at this moment that you need to put into God's hands?

"Trust in the Lord and do good.  Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness." ~ Psalm 37:3

Learning to see each turn in the road and each unique circumstance as a part of what God has ordained has helped me find purpose at each juncture.  I ask Him, Lord, what can I learn from this?  What message at this moment might prepare me to encourage someone in the same circumstances later? Show me Your faithfulness now so I can keep learning.

~from Own Your Life

Are there parts of your puzzle you need to embrace today?  How can you see God moving in your circumstances and accept the picture He's given you?

Own Your Life

Imagining Ourselves to be Heroes: The Gift of Inspiration

You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from the remotest parts, And said to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you, Do not fear for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." For I am the Lord you God who upholds your right hand, who says to you, Do not fear, I will help you." 

Isaiah 41: 9-10, 13

Mamas are my heroes because mamas are hero shapers.

Mamas were imagined in the heart of God, because He knew that when challenging world events would happen in the lives of his children, they would need someone to light a candle in the darkness, to sing their fears away, to assure them of God's presence.

Filling my life with biographies of faithful inspiring people who lived boldly, filling my children with stories of heroes, those who were courageous in the midst of difficult times, was a way I wanted to fill the treasure chest of their hearts.  When challenging life fell upon them, they would have resources to draw from--stories told, verses memorized, life lived above the darkness, so that they would know how to face their own fears and trials.

The way we choose, by faith, to face these difficult days, has great worth in the future faith and faithfulness of the children who live in our home. A glory to God, is for us to choose to believe in His presence so that our children will seek His presence. As Joy and I were talking about hard times tonight, she read me a blog she has just written. It encouraged me so much to see her own heart amidst all of the challenges facing all of us, that I thought I would share it with you. Be sure to go to Joy's page and read it and leave her a comment. And be sure to practice mama bravery and heroism in your own home. Enjoy!

I Need a Hero by joynessthebrave True. Story. “Aragorn is just not a realistic character.” Said my friend as we sat at lunch. “Really?” I said, “What do you mean?” “Well,” he said, holding his french fry a few inches away from his mouth in a contemplative manner, “He’s just too... Resolute... Too good. Nobody is that noble.” I hmphed and picked at my grilled cheese, he ate his french fry, and our conversation turned to complaints about homework and other serious The conversation did not turn into much more that day, but the comment always stuck with me. Not realistic. Too Resolute. Too Good. Nobody is that noble. I have always loved Aragorn. Heavens, I think there are few girls in my generation that have not gone through a stage of Aragorn admiration, and, were we honest, few of us have made it out of that stage. For evidence, see the meme included in this post. Tales like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Narnia, or to go back further, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the Odyssey, David and Goliath, and countless others have gone deep into the psyche of countless generations. We love stories for their adventure and delight, but I think there is a deeper down reason for our love of these tales. We love them because a good story gets to the heart of the struggle of good and evil that every age has had to deal with. Though it wears different masks-- war, oppression, slavery, nuclear war, facism-- every age has had its darkness to fight. We tell stories to make sense of the world, and to give us an ideal for how to live in evil times. That’s where the Aragorns of the world come in. Every good story has its hero. If stories help us make sense of our beautiful, broken and cruel world, Hero’s teach us to live in it. In our favorite heroes, we see people who face the same sorts of hardships and doubts that we do, yet somehow, miraculously come out the other side. We love heroes because they are brave, and because they make us believe that, perhaps, we could be brave too. Not Realistic. Too Resolute. Too Good. Too Noble. I believe our generation has lost some of its hope in heroes. We are wary of people who seem “too good,” and I do not think this wariness is totally unfounded. The last score of years have been full of media demagogues: politicians who promise and do not deliver, pastors who preach but do not practice, stars who shine but do not bring light. The rapid growth of social media has engendered a marketing based culture where everything and everyone is claiming to fill a need, and the emptiness of those promises has become quickly evident. As a generation, we have grown weary of people claiming to be heroes. As a result, many people have rejected the idea of heroism altogether, and have replaced it with the ideal of “being real” or “authentic.” This rejection of heroism and embrace of “authenticity” is evident in the proliferation of anti-heroes in literature and film. Take for instance the popular example of the “real” antihero Katniss Everdeen, who is only willing to do the right thing once she is coerced and harrowed into it. I am not wholeheartedly condemning all antiheroes, but I think it is worth noting their presence and influence in the 21st century imagination. There is something truly valuable in the pursuit of authenticity and humility, but what bothers me is the idea that true heroism is, as my friend put it, “not realistic.” But what do we mean by “not realistic?” We have forgotten to define our terms. To assume that a character can only be “authentic” “real” or “humble” if they are antiheroic means that we have assumed that no one can truly be heroic.  After all, there are no pure motives... And that is the assumption that bothered me about my friends statement. Is Aragorn’s bravery and heroism truly unrealistic? I recently finished reading Lord of the Rings over the summer, and was profoundly encouraged by it. The story is peppered with heroes of all shapes and sizes, and that is perhaps what I love most about the series. Be they hobbit or high elf, many a character comes to the edge of peril and decides to press on, to conquer, and to be brave. Time after time characters are faced with certain death, many meeting it, but press on for the love of goodness and the understanding that their decisions are a part of a story much bigger than themselves. Consider Aragorn. In the story, Aragorn is 80 years old. He has spent many years as a ranger in hiding-- a job without appreciation and without forgiveness. By the time the book begins, he has fought many bitter battles and spent years in obscurity, but he knows that He-- and he alone-- is meant to be king. It is not that he is infallible, but that he has spent his life preparing and training for his part. When finally the day comes for Aragorn to take his place as King, it is in a battle almost sure to be lost, but he goes forward bravely, knowing that this was his time to be brave, whether it ended in death or life. It was what he had prepared for all his life. It was the summation of his character. It was his part in the story. Not realistic. Too Resolute. Too Good. Nobody is that noble. I wonder if the reason we have lost our trust in heroes is because we have lost our sense of story. All good heroes know that there acts of bravery are not about them, but about the people, the values, and the goodness they believe in and want to preserve. Heroes seem supernatural, because in their actions they affirm that there is a true and even supernatural narrative that is worth protecting, and even worth laying their lives down for. Heroism is not about glory, it is about story. Perhaps more people would be real and authentic heroes if, rather than making themselves out to be great and noticed, they spent their lives, like Aragorn, in silent preparation of character, daily building spiritual muscle to fight, making decisions in quiet moments to walk towards the light and dispel the darkness, so that when their time came to lay down their lives for what is right, they would be ready. As I write this, there is a breath stealing heat lightening show happening outside my window. It is like nothing I have ever seen. The clouds are piled miles high and the stars a guarding the clear air around them. Inside the towers of clouds there are great silent flashes of light flashing, as though Gandalf himself is fighting Saruman. I feel small.   And I am. I am grateful for these moments, because in their inaudible and yet articulate way they remind me of the Great Storyteller, and the Great Story that I am a part of. I want to be hero. The story is not over yet, and more than ever we need heroes. A cursory glance at your newsfeed or will reveal that light and goodness are being challenged, and sometimes seemingly darkened, every day. But just like Aragorn, I want to know my place in the story, prepare my heart, stretch my spiritual muscle to be ready for my part in the story. We need to believe in heroes. We need to read stories about heroes. We need to become heroes in ready wait for the true King and Hero. "Suddenly Faramir stirred, and he opened his eyes, and he looked on Aragorn who bent over him; and a light of knowledge and love was kindled in his eyes, and he spoke softly. 'My lord, you called me. I come. What does the king command?' 'Walk no more in the shadows, but awake!' said Aragorn. 'You are weary. Rest a while, and take food, and be ready when I return.' 'I will, lord,' said Faramir. 'For who would lie idle when the king has returned.'" -Return of the King Indeed, who of us would lie idle if we thought our Jesus was coming back and we could please him by shaping little and big souls into heroes for His kingdom. Find Joy at: http://joynessthebrave.wordpress.com/ Wonderful Joy :)

God As Your Life Coach (Own Your Life Fridays) Ch. 5

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

A.A. MILNE

Even the birds aren’t awake yet, I thought to myself. As I slipped from the pool’s edge into the water, I shivered from the chill. I took a deep breath and bobbed my capped head under the heavily chlorinated water. As an asthmatic, many sports were hard for me, but I excelled at swimming because I could control my breath.

A shrill whistle sung out and echoed throughout the hard walls of the gym as I shot myself off under water from the pool wall to begin a swim practice that, while rendering me exhausted, would fill me with exhilaration and strength.

I spent many days swimming as a young adult. Swimming did not come naturally to me; it was a skill hard won with hard work. I spent hundreds of hours practicing, many weekends at swim meets, and during one summer my hair was very nearly green from the chemicals in the water. Whenever I would become exasperated with myself, my coach would encourage and challenge me to keep on going, helping me to adjust my method so I could be an effective swimmer.

Even now at sixty-one years young, although I do not have as much opportunity to swim, I love the chance to dip my head under the water and shoot off the wall again just as I did when I was a lanky teenager. Though my muscles are weaker than they once were, swimming is a skill that has never left me.

Swimming taught me to see God as my coach in the midst of life’s trials.

In my race of life, there have been so many times where my spiritual muscles felt exhausted, my heart was sore, and I didn’t think I could hang on for another lap of life.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24,

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.”

God’s goal for working in my life is always to help me build stronger spiritual muscles; I cannot grow stronger on my own. John 14:26 says:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

In all of our trials, God is with us, training us and encouraging us to stretch the spiritual muscles He has given us. We do not have to face trials alone. God is always with us to comfort and guide us, even when we are unable to feel it.

As we live by faith, we are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit training and instructing us how to live a righteousness life. When we see our days as a part of God’s training for righteousness, it strengthens us to not compromise.

God walks beside each one of us, offering encouragement and giving us the strength we need to fulfill our potential. 

God loves you. This simple truth is one of the most easily forgotten or misconstrued. It is easy, when encountering difficulties, to go to dark places in our minds, thinking maybe God is disappointed with us. However, the scriptural representation of God heartily contradicts this idea.

Hebrews 4:15 shows us that God’s attitude toward us is one of sacrificial love and deep understanding of our need for Him. It says:

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

When you pray, do so with the confidence that God loves you and understands every trial you encounter.

To quit before reaching the finish line deprives us of the reward of completion and the strengthening of our character. 

God is not so concerned that we are always happy as He is committed to helping us become mature and learn to be content. Begin to ask God how He wants you to live out your role in the story of life He has granted you.

How can you live truthfully, heroically, and faithfully in such a way that you will fulfill the very destiny for which you were born?

Chapter 5 of Own Your Life is about looking to God as your life coach and owning His training in your life.

Giveaway Winners

Last week we did a giveaway of 4 copies of Own Your Life for two sweet readers. The winners are:

Samantha Dixon

Alicia

Both winners have been emailed.

I am so thankful for all of you and pray you are encouraged by these samplings from Own Your Life.

What Does it Mean to Celebrate Life?

It's hard to believe November is already here--what a whirlwind this year has been!  As the cold weather predictably begins to head our way, so do thoughts of past holidays and new ideas for this year's celebrations. I wrote about one not-so-perfect memory in Seasons of a Mother's Heart , a book designed specifically to encourage homeschooling moms.

Several years ago at Christmas, I had planned a special time to bake cookies with the kids. I expected it this to be a precious Christmas memory. I also expected to get twelve dozen cookies made for Christmas plates. I had melted some chocolate for making candy-coated pretzels and turned away to work on a batch of cookies in the oven.

When I turned back around to see how the kids were doing, I reeled at the sight of three-year-old Nathan using the melted chocolate as finger paint. Chocolaty goodness covered his hands, face, hair, and clothes, not to mention the cabinets and floor. Unfortunately, in my anger I made a bigger mess of the situation and missed the joy of that moment. But time and experience have since tempered my temper. Today, I would get a big laugh out of my chocolate-covered child and take a few snapshots. I would choose joy.

(Oh, how I wish that going-back idea were possible, these many years later!)

I am more convinced than ever that even in the midst of the mundane, burdensome, and oftentimes frustrating tasks of life allotted to me as a mother, God wants me to find his joy. He wants every single day of my life to be a celebration of his blessings, whether large or small. He wants me to celebrate life—the life he has given me.

But what does it mean to "celebrate" life? Does it mean that I let my house be a wreck so I can enjoy my children, or that I never entertain negative thoughts and attitudes, or that I never discipline my children? Does it mean that I simply overlook the myriad difficulties that inevitably spoil the best days, or that I ignore the burdens I carry as a stay-at-home mom, or that I close my eyes to intractable sins that won't go away?

Of course not! The joy-filled life is not found by diminishing my God- given responsibilities as a woman, wife, and mother, nor can I find joy merely by refusing to face the hard realities of life in a fallen world. There is a tension that God is asking me to acknowledge and accept—the tension between ideals and realities. True joy is found by living somewhere between the ideal life and daily realities. That is where Jesus meets me, where his Holy Spirit empowers, and where I learn how to live the Christian life with supernatural joy.

To celebrate life is simply a choice. Every day, God extends his hand to offer me the gift of another day to live. I have the choice to take that gift and turn it into 24 hours of real life in Christ, or just let it become another 24 hours endured in a broken world. If I choose to accept it—to transform those minutes and hours into life lived for and with my Savior—I have the opportunity to see God at work, enjoy his presence, wonder at his creation, appreciate the expressions of his beauty and love, and touch the minds and hearts of my children with his reality. That's certainly what I desire, but it is a choice I have to make daily.

Daily.  Hour by hour. Moment by moment, some days!  How are you choosing joy today?

You can find Seasons of a Mother's Heart here at Amazon.

*****Many of you know I will be launching a new book February 2. I am so very excited about this book! (What else is new? :)) The name of the book is: The Lifegiving Home: Creating a place of belonging and becoming. Many of you helped me launch my last book, Own Your Life. If you would like to be a part of my launch team and are willing to help me get the word out about the book, please go to this page: The Lifegiving Home Book Launch

and ask to join the private group. Only those who sign up can be on this private page. I will approve you and you will become a part of the team.

The launch group is about women who want to help me spread the news about my new book when it comes out--in a pre-launch in January as well as a launch in February. Please do not join if you do not have time, as I don't want anyone to feel stressed. My old launch team was amazing and helped make posters and put out posts and left reviews and we watched together as the book got into the hands of sweet women all over the world. Thanks for letting me share! I am pretty excited!

Getting Rid of the Myths of Motherhood and a Giveaway!

The voices in our heads convince us, at times, that we are inadequate, have failed our children and and are some how different than all the other more perfect mamas who are represented on the Internet.

Yet, the reality is, you are just the mama your children need! Your story is fitted just for you--and so are those sweet ones in your home.

My dear, precious friend, Ruth.

Many of you know Ruth Schwenk, a dear friend of mine, who is like a little sister to me. She has spoken at our conferences numerous times. As the founder of TheBetterMom blog, she has reach hundreds of thousands of moms with daily encouragement all over the world. Ruth has a heart to inspire and encourage moms in their strategic Biblical role of motherhood.

I adore her beautiful and precious children and am always encouraged just to be with her. Her loving heart, generous friendship and passionate heart for God is contagious.

Ruth has partnered with another sweet friend, Karen Ehman, to launch a book that I know will dispel many of negative the voices we listen to in our journey of motherhood. Karen has written numerous books and inspired women for many years through writing, speaking and working alongside Proverbs 31 ministries.I met Karen at Glen Eyrie where she was speaking many years ago and was touched by her gentle spirit and endless creativity in the ways she has brought life and traditions into her home. We have carried her lovely and inspiring books at our conferences for many years.

Together, they have written a book from the vantage point of a young mom in the trenches of raising her 4 children, (Ruth), to a seasoned mama who has raised most of her children into adulthood. Together they have shaped a message that is warm, heart-filling, sympathetic and inspiring. I know you will enjoy this book. To celebrate the launch of their book today, they are graciously offering 2 copies of their book to women in my audience.

Moms have been hoodwinked—tricked into believing lies that keep them from not only enjoying motherhood, but forging friendships with other moms who might tackle the tasks of motherhood differently. Myths such as “Mothering is natural, easy, and instinctive” cause moms to feel like failures if they have questions or apprehensions in raising their kids."

These are some of the wonderful truths they have uncovered:

***Motherhood isn't a contest. We do not have to compare to anyone else's journey, but are quite free to live into the role as God leads and within the limitations of our own puzzle and personality.

***Living to invest in eternal values with our children is far more important than being busy with a long list of activities and commitments for our children or in living up to the demands of peer pressure that others bring our way.

***You are not alone in your work as a mama. God is on your team, and his spirit is there to come alongside you as you seek to invest in your children's lives. He is ultimately responsible for their lives and well being--it is not dependent on your works or perfection to see your children faithfully through childhood.

• Identify the ten myths of motherhood our current culture perpetuates
• Replace the lies with the truth of what God says in the Bible about mothering
• Acquire practical tools to help them form new and improved thought patterns and healthy behaviors
• Forge healthy, supportive relationships with other moms of all ages and stages
• Confidently embrace the calling of motherhood as they care for their families in their own unique way

I always longed for someone to walk beside me in this journey. Now, I am so very excited that Ruth and Karen have provided a wonderful resource so that you can feel that you have experienced and sympathetic companions to join with you in your journey.

Below, Kristen and I wanted to tell you a bit about our thoughts on the ways we have been hoodwinked.

To celebrate the launch of their book today, they are graciously offering 2 copies of their book to women in my audience.

To enter the giveaway, please share about this giveaway and their new book by either posting on facebook or twitter, or leave a comment on this post about what gives you freedom to enjoy yourself as a mom and how you live a life free of carrying the burdens of other's opinions.

You may purchase this amazing book, HERE.

You will find Ruth writing at: TheBetterMom

Karen writes at: KarenEhman.com