By the Throat?

What do you do when you get in those places where life has you by the throat? I've been in a few of those places and I've learned three important strategies:

1.  Rest. Eat Well. Take care of our bodies. Our bodies come first. Without them, we are nothing. Well, you know what I mean. We're not present in the world. If you're walking with Jesus, you would be present with him, as Paul says. "absent from the body, present with the Lord."

Unless the Lord gives us specific instructions otherwise and we are sure it's God's guidance and not crazy thinking, our first priority is safeguarding health.

2. Partialize. Break the problem that has you in its hold into small pieces. What's doable right now? If you are worried about losing your house, what can you do today that might help? Ask for wisdom in working through a step-by-step process. We want instantaneous deliverance from our problems. In thirty-five years of walking with him, God has most often walked with me through a process of problem-solving. 

3. Work on relaxing and trusting God. God is more involved in our lives that we have any idea of. "If he's so involved, then why doesn't he rescue me?" I don't know. What I know is that he is suffering with you, to accomplish his purposes, which are worth what they cost. Whatever is coming on the whole world as we endure this economic crisis, he is in it with us, by his Holy Spirit.

Papa-God, please hold us in the palm of your hand. We need wisdom, guidance, and trust. You are a good God, or we wouldn't trust you with ourselves.

Posted early this week. I'll be away from a computer as I speak at Ordinary Women, Extraordinary God, a Vineyard Women's Conference in Columbus, Ohio. As always, thanks for reading. Comments are welcome.

Peter Was There

Peter. Intense, impetuous Peter. I've always thought he was pretty unfaithful there at the end, in the courtyard of the high priest, when he denies even knowing the man Jesus. Not saying I would have done better, mind you. Just that that failure to stand with Jesus was ignoble.

But I had a new thought the other day:  at least he was there. Unlike all the other disciples, when Jesus began his journey to Golgotha, Peter was near. Luke 22:61 reports that upon Peter's third denial, Jesus turned and looked directly at him. He was close enough that Jesus could make eye contact.

One of the hardest aspects of suffering is the sense of suffering alone. Who can really understand another's pain? Even if we've experienced something similar, each of our trials is unique. Our particular biochemistry, our particular emotional history, our own experiences combine to create specific suffering.

And yet, it matters when others make the effort to understand. It matters to be listened to. Eye contact matters. Jesus must have been glad for Peter's presence. Though Peter may not have performed well, he was close.

Lord Jesus, help us draw near to those who suffer. 

A Network of Life Savers

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

In the seventies, we used to sing a song, "They will know we are Christians by our love." "We will work with each other, we will work hand in hand." We always sang it after a monthly potluck dinner,holding hands around a large room. Usually in the basement of a local church, a group of mixed race and sometimes mixed up people held hands and affirmed our essential fellowship. Fellowship across denominational and racial boundaries and those on the social margins knew they were welcome, too.

After a few years, our life filled up with other activities and we stopped going. But the group that sponsored those potlucks in the church basements has not stopped. Empty Tomb's long-time founders and directors, John and Sylvia Ronsvalle, have expanded their reach to the world.

They carry the dying children of the world, the "least of these," in their hearts. Solid visionaries, they are nurturing what they call a "Discipleship Tree." The Tree is a network of givers, across denominations, supporting a network of life savers without regard to denomination.

Our enemy, Satan, wins when Christians stay splintered. Joining in the Discipleship Tree, which costs $48/year, is an opportunity to hold hands together against his battering ram.

There's just one catch. Signup is a commitment to sign up three more. A commitment to ask three other Christians to stand with you, regardless of denomination, next to Jesus, who stands with the "least of these."

Want to know more?  Discipleship Tree Homepage

Or contact the Ronsvalles' Project Coordinator.
Tell her I sent you.

And read this blog from a couple in Congo who recently received a new truck with help from Discipleship Tree:
Discipleship Tree Bears Fruit