God

5 Messages I’ve Learned from Spiritual Whitespace

June 19, 2014 By Lisa Lewis

The words and ideas in Bonnie Gray’s new book, Finding Spiritual Whitespace have worked their way into spaces inside me I didn’t realize were there. In the working I’ve learned a few messages (so far). 5 messages at this point that I am able to share.

1) Whitespace is vital

Look at this picture. It’s a classic example of the vital nature of whitespace in photography. If the clouds weren’t there and all you saw was a big blue sky you might miss the details in the photo. Whitespace provides contrast. Bonnie uses this vital idea in art in terms of our spiritual landscape as well. The contrast of whitespace to the over full landscape of our day can allow space for our soul to breathe. Whitespace is vital.

2) Spiritual Whitespace is playful

Right in the middle of this classic photo surrounded by lots of lighter space is my cat Tartar. Named for my high school mascot because he was born in the art teacher’s kiln (warm space right?) I brought the tiny kitten home at the end of summer school before my freshman year. He was playful and creative. Allowing whitespace in our lives gives us room to be playful and creative too. If we are only about the “to do list” and getting things done, there isn’t room for spontaneity and fun. Hanging out with Jesus outdoors, or with colored pencils, pens or paint can be an opportunity to connect with the imago dei that you bear. Considering ways to find spiritual whitespace for creativity is so often pushed away as frivolous. Is it?

3) Spiritual Whitespace is hope-filled

The path in this photo leads off into the distance…I know where it leads because I’ve been there, but you might not. Spiritual Whitespace allows the hope of Jesus to seep into your weary soul just like the fog is seeping over the edge of the mountains. Fog might not seem like a hope-filled thing but it actually provides a lot of moisture for coastal plants and a respite from too much heat. Our souls need to know that in rest from too much heat, of feeling burned out from too many demands, of feeling fried at the edges from too much busy-ness, there can be a renewal of our souls from weariness.

4) Finding Spiritual Whitespace is Daily

Reading Bonnie’s book is not a quick summer beach or vacation reading experience. It is not a light, frivolous read. That being said, it is however a beautiful invitation to care for your soul-Daily. Bonnie has created a set of actions; invitations, to pull up a chair and share. Her writing is so personal and transparent that it makes it easy just to be yourself with Jesus, if you make the time available.

God gives rhythms in His Creation that we often ignore in our contrived electronic filled beyond the margins existence. He created us with a need to come away with Him and rest. Do we hear and accept? Or dismiss and reject?

Finding Spiritual Whitespace is an invitation to choose…

5) Finding Spiritual Whitespace is a Journey

Jesus knew what His life was about: the redemption of humanity. His one goal was met at the Cross. He died the death each of us deserves because of our natural opposition to the holiness of God; opposition of allowing anyone but ourselves to be in charge of our lives. When we recognize that it is us, not the Jews of 2000 years ago that put Jesus on that Cross; when we feel the weight of our own life burdens without His help and influence; when we consider what our options are apart from Him in the very real present and future; we come face to face with why Jesus journeyed to the Cross.

Finding Spiritual Whitespace is a journey. Realigning our priorities and putting our calendars, our past, our present into an alignment of a with-God life is a journey. It is not a one and done event; finding spiritual whitespace is a daily journey to the heart of God who made your soul, and mine, to need rest. To need space for Him.

The most beautiful thing about Bonnie’s book? She is authentic and transparent with her journey; a beautiful model for each of us as we journey through this world. Are you on a journey toward God and rest for your soul on a daily basis? Or are you journeying on your own, worn down, bearing untold burdens from your past, pain in the present, without space to rest?

Join us, won’t you? Community is the place to share and grow.

What’s Eating You?

March 6, 2014 By Lisa Lewis

I love gardening. I’m not sure what part is my favorite; planning, shopping, digging in the dirt, watching things grow or enjoying the fruits (and veggies) of my labor.

These are peas with edible pods. Looking forward to watching them crawl up the trellis that will be put behind this box this weekend.

I also love when irrigation is free. We’ve experienced much needed rain recently so these babies have it good right now.

I didn’t go out to visit the garden the past two days because of the rain and the blessing of time with a visiting friend. But today this is what I discovered

And my immediate thought was “What’s eating you?!”

Although I couldn’t see the trails of glistening slime I knew this to be the work of the dreaded garden nemesis: the Snail.

I can deal with weeds (I have learned much about my heart from weeds) I am an organic gardener so pulling instead of spraying is my way. I have dealt with a variety of pests by spraying a non-toxic soap on the leaves of plants. I have also used marigolds and lady bugs to help with pest prevention with great results.

But snails! Just ewww! The best thing I ever did with snails was pay my sons to pick them, put them in a bucket and we took them to a pond where ducks visited. Ducks love snails. Isn’t that nice? I don’t love snails. I’ve used jar lids of beer (they’re gluttonous so they drink themselves to death) and I’ve also used copper tape with moderate success. When their slime gets on the tape it actually gives them a mild shock so they back away from the tape. Both of those you have to keep up with like weeding because the beer will evaporate and the tape will oxidize and lose its effectiveness. This time it will be copper tape.

A thought occurred to me this morning as I asked the question of my poor peas: it wasn’t just what’s eating them? What’s been eating me?

This past weekend my hubster and I attended a Family Life conference called The Art of Marriage. The material was so worthwhile. We had decided to go in part for the material but the bigger part was to meet new people from church and connect with others whom we had already met. Good enough reasons to spend a Friday night and the better part of Saturday together and away from home.

When the event was over, the hubster and I took a detour on the way home and stopped by OSH to get a part he needed for a project. I of course detoured through the garden center. It’s what I do.

As I wandered through I saw lovely 6 packs of marigolds so I chose two different colors to inter-plant for pest prevention. While I was wandering I was experiencing growing discontent; the opposite response for me when I see and walk among plants. I didn’t like how I was feeling but I didn’t know what was up. As the evening progressed so did my yucky discontented undercurrent. I talked it through with the hubster and got to vent a bit: none of it was about him or us. I felt better getting some blegh out.

It remained with me for 4 days. Souring my days. Preoccupying my thoughts. Discoloring my experiences. It was eating me. Like a slimy, good only for ducks snail.

Unmet expectations.

I’d experienced the effects of what was eating me but I hadn’t found it out. But God…when I had cried out to Him was quick to show me what was going on; like taking a flashlight out to the garden at night and catching the snails in the act!

I had expectations that I hadn’t been aware of and because they weren’t met, I was cranky like a disappointed child.

What are the expectations you have? They might be for your marriage. Your children’s behavior. Your friendships. Your family members.

Can you name them? Identifying what your expectations are is huge. Most of us operate from a set of expectations that we aren’t even truly aware of until something doesn’t work.

What do you do with unmet expectations? That is a great question and one that is a real process question to unpack. It depends. That is a lame answer I know but it’s true. I’ve faced the silent monster many times. I’ve handled it well and mostly not so well. This feeling of being eaten up is awful and hurts me just like it hurts the life of the plants.

This is how it’s worked this time:

I talked with a trusted friend who knows me well and holds my heart and thoughts sacred. My hubster.

I prayed asking the Lord to show me what was up. He is faithful.

I confessed to Him my hurts and how I was allowing them to poison my thoughts about others.

I admitted my vulnerability to the small group we are a part of; that was the hardest part–risking with near strangers. But that is the only way to be in real community is by taking risks to be known.

My process is still happening; there isn’t a quick fix for life, sorry to say. But I know that bringing the issues to the Light is the Best Way of moving forward and learning how to deal with what’s eating me.

What’s eating you?

Stumble in the Right Direction

March 4, 2014 By Lisa Lewis

I had the distinct privilege of talking on the phone this morning with a dear friend and prayer partner. I call it a distinct privilege on purpose. It’s always fun to talk with her; we laugh and I cry (I do that easily, ask anyone who knows me well) and we give and receive encouragement. So why was today’s conversation a “distinct privilege”?

It was distinct: clear, certain, emphatic

She had some very specific clear communication for me as my dear friend. She knows my heart and she knows my gifts/talents/skills and she knows where I am prone to fall.

She said clearly in response to my awareness of a need I would be skilled and experienced to fill: “that is a mud pit you don’t want to fall into.”

Distinct.

When I went on to share a bit about what I’ve been up to since we last spoke, she responded with more: “you are in a good place. You’re stumbling in the right direction.”

That statement caused me to grab a pen and write it on an envelope (the closest piece of paper at hand before I lost the words!)

Stumbling in the right direction.

We do stumble at times don’t we? We want to make a change, or do a creative project, or make a new friend. But things happen, sometimes out of our control and sometimes because of us. The change is harder than we thought. The project doesn’t work. The person we hoped to be a new friend we discover isn’t really a good fit.

Stumble.

A stumble isn’t a fall. There is hesitancy. There is the recognition of fear of falling and of embarrassment. But the motion of stumbling is usually moving you in the same direction you were originally going.

So stumbling in the right direction implies you were heading the right way in the first place. Which of course begets the question:

Do you know where you’re heading?

It seems like I have been in the business of answering that question for 7 years! But the process of coming to an answer has really been the evidence of ‘stumbling in the right direction.’ The fact that this process has taken me 7 years might say different things to different people, but for me the theme of these seven years has been clarity.

I have spent time asking God and family and friends, to help me find clarity. Help me see connections between experiences, talents, skills and gifts. How best to make use of those connections. I started a blog. Way back in 2007 when I turned 50! This is actually my 3^rd blog (the other two archives are connected here if you’re curious)

I became a Life Coach in 2009 as a connection of e.t.s.&g. (see above) I love listening and asking questions of my clients, helping them connect the dots in their lives.

I am speaking to women in mentoring roles and in front of groups as opportunities present themselves. I really love speaking encouragement to women!

I am writing. Not as much on paper as I have in my head to say but I am writing. Especially in my journal.

Through these actions I have gained clarity. I know why I am here. (at least at this moment!)

I found clarity in connecting a dot from a long time ago; so long ago, it was almost forgotten. It is actually a question for all of us:

What is the chief end of man? (think humanity here)

To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Yeah yeah, grown up Sunday school answer right? Not at all.

Sit with me here for a moment.

If all of my moments are given as a gift from God, then thanking Him for those moments brings Him glory. He gets the credit. Not me. So being thankful for even the hard, yucky stuff we all go through at one point or another, is half of the main purposewe are here.

The other half? It’s

linked to life itself—enjoying God forever. Not in forever. Right here. Right now. And it’s linked to thankfulness.

In everything give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

In my stumbling in the right direction, I stumbled upon an old maxim which is bedrock. The first question in The Westminster Catechism.

Which brings me round to why I said my conversation with my friend this morning was a ‘distinct privilege’. She is a gift of God to many. Her friendship and wisdom is refreshing. We all need people like this in our lives on as regular a basis as we can make time for. And we all need to thank God for the privilege that true friendship really is. A distinct privilege.

Two things for you to consider:

Where are you heading? Are you stumbling in the right direction? Into the arms of a loving God who gives good and perfect gifts?

Who are the friends with whom you have the distinct privilege of relating? How can you encourage them today?

Please share your thoughts; all your comments are moderated so if it’s too private for public reading, let me know and I won’t publish it here. I’d love to hear from you!

Learning to Believe

January 20, 2014 By Lisa Lewis

I know life is hard sometimes. Some days are worse than others. Some Mondays you just want a do over by the end of the day.

There’ll be days like this my momma said…

But you don’t have to throw in the towel, or bury your head under the pillow, or distract yourself with TV or incessant snacking.

Nope. You have other choices. Choices for your growth. For your good. For others’ good too. You can choose learning. Learning to Believe.

Learning to Believe you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. Learning to Believe God’s plans for you are for your welfare and not to harm you. (even when today doesn’t make sense) Learning to Believe you have the capacity to forgive the hurt that poured out on you from another today. Learning to Believe Truth.

Someone once told me that Faith is like a muscle. You need to exercise it to strengthen it. How do you exercise Faith?

Learning to Believe what may not make sense at first. Sometimes we need reminding of Truth. Actually, daily we need reminding. Why? Because we are forgetful people. Something doesn’t turn out the way we thought it would or should or could and we freak out. Why? Because we are broken people. We need reminding!

Reminders come in so many ways: a beautiful sunrise (if you’re up early!); birds chirping; a time of silence when the littles are napping; an email from a friend; an entry in Jesus Calling. He reminds us to Believe Him. To Trust Him. To grow our Faith in Him.

We need people around us who can be our co-workers in learning to Believe. We need people who can be like Aaron and Hur were to Moses; helping him lift up his hands in prayer to the Lord while the battle raged on in front of him. It’s a great story: read it in Exodus 17.

Who are your encouragers? Your prayer partners? Your cheerleaders? You’re co-workers in learning to Believe? We all need them.

Sometimes the hardest part of learning to Believe is being willing to risk sharing our very real needs. Instead of being authentic with others we believe a lie: we don’t want to impose, be a burden, or too much trouble; yet if someone asked you for a listening ear or for help, would you turn away from them?

Learning to Believe you are worth the trouble is sometimes one of the biggest hurdles of faith. Somehow we aren’t treasured and affirmed the way God sees us and we believe lies about ourselves. Learning to Believe God’s Truth about who you are is an exercise of faith. Daily.

Don’t give up! You can do this! Like any kind of learning, it’s filled with practice and mistakes. The best part of this is: God has got your back! He is in this learning process with you for the rest of your days!

What are you currently learning to Believe? How may I be an encourager to you today?

Learning to Wait

January 15, 2014 By Lisa Lewis

I’m not sure if anyone has ever asked this question in a poll of popular opinion: “What are your thoughts about having to wait?”, but I’d like to imagine that universally people don’t like it.

We are born learning to wait. Crying for food or clean diapers, as an infant we have to wait. Birthdays, summer vacation, Christmas: frustrate a child who must learn to wait. Babies take 9 months to develop prior to birth. Farmers plant crops and wait for them to spout and grow.

Of course if you live in a heavily populated area you might have this view daily:

Learning to wait is a skill that is imposed in the order of the universe. Some things are easier to wait for or through; others seem to demand far more skill at the game of waiting.

Young moms can’t wait until a child sleeps through the night; is potty trained; starts Kindergarten so the moms can have time to themselves again. I heard these words when I was in those early physically demanding years of parenting: “treasure these times. They go by so fast.” I smiled and said thank you while thinking “easy for you to say; you’re not the one getting up at 2:00 AM or changing diapers…”

But now I’m the one saying the same thing to young moms. And since my memory is still mostly intact, I remember what I thought so I imagine they smile at me through similar, barely tolerant, thoughts.

How can we learn to wait well in the season we’re living?

By slowing down. Learning to see. To hear. To appreciate what is.

I mentioned I am reading a great book by Jeff Goins, “The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing.” I find I am highlighting a lot of quotable statements and phrases of Jeff’s. Good authors are noteworthy. They make you think, reflect and hopefully germinate seeds of growth and change. One of the many great things is this:

“we were made to wait, to long for things unseen. This is the place from which dreams and desires come. It’s a place of trust–and we find it not in the resolution, but in the incompletion.”

I ponder and ponder his statement: we were made to wait. I think if we were made to wait it would be easier to do, like breathing. But waiting is a discipline; a learned skill. Anything we learn we must go through the cycle of learning: practice, make mistakes, adjust, try again, repeat.

Is it possible to be free of the challenge that waiting brings? Do we have to simply muddle through? Is there a source of help to get better at waiting? Yes I think it’s possible. Have I arrived there yet? No way!

Like so many things in life, waiting well is skill learned through process of trial/practice/error. The critical piece is what we do with the error. Grace or guilt? Gain wisdom or grow bitter?

Wait isn’t on the list of spiritual disciplines directly but it’s implied. Learning to wait is part of our spiritual development. Patience is in the list of fruit of the Spirit of God. Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God.”

Learning to wait is God’s idea. What we do in response to His idea can be our personal measure of our own spiritual maturity; not to judge others but to see where we are still growing.

I am learning to wait well. I don’t wait well yet. Process. How about you?

Learning to Hear

January 9, 2014 By Lisa Lewis

Telling a story once may bring laughter, tears or insight. Who doesn’t love a good story? One that engages your head and your heart; causes you to think about life differently; appreciate what you have even more. Telling a story, the same story in the same way many times, can become part of your story.

Pieces of my story have been collected on these pages for almost 5 years now. I don’t tell my story just to be heard. I tell my story to process its elements and try to make sense in Light of a Greater Story. My desire is that through my story I am pointing to the One True Story and helping you see and hear how you can connect your story with the greatest story ever told.

For a few years I have been practicing listening skills. My ears work fine. But listening is a different thing altogether.

Listening requires focus. (internal as well as external) Freedom from distraction. Patience. Silence. Humility. (letting others talk instead of me) Listening to the heart requires wisdom as well.

After my Dad died I spent a lot of time alone allowing deep grief to be my daily silent companion. It was a form of depression for sure but not the black cloud that swallows many for various reasons. This was the result of the shock; the sudden tragic loss. And I knew I needed to be in the grief and not push it away, pretending everything was ok. It wasn’t. I was learning to recognize wisdom when I heard it.

I sat in the garden one day in May for I don’t know how long. I watched the flowers sway in the spring breeze. I heard birds chirping and cars driving by. But I sat unmoving, deep in self-pity; the kind that leads to despair.

Suddenly to my right a hummingbird started working the lipstick salvia plant that I had purchased on a trip to the nursery; a trip that was meant as a distraction for me. While there I saw a hummingbird approach a small 4 inch potted plant that had 2 flowers on it. I stood mesmerized remembering how much my Dad loved to feed hummingbirds in his backyard. I bought the plant and put it in the ground in our front yard. That plant was attracting another hummingbird and I just watched in awed silence. Tears welled up and spilled over as I thought of my Dad. I said out loud to God, “don’t you even care how hard this is for me? Do you even see how much I am hurting?”

I turned away from watching the hummingbird and looked at my hands in my lap. I had clenched both hands into fists. Staring at my anger in view of my hands I heard a faint whirring noise. I looked up and there, right in front of me not 2 feet away, a hummingbird hovered, staring at me.

At the risk of something precious being ridiculed, I will share: I knew at that moment God heard me in my grief.

He has gone to greater lengths than causing a hummingbird to pause in its flight to demonstrate His love for me. But do I listen?

He told us “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” He showed us “Greater love has no one than this; that he lay down his life for his friends.” He promised us a Helper “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

He also said “he who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Six times this is recorded in the gospels and always in the context of Jesus teaching something. The word we see translated ‘to hear’ has meaning beyond the ears functioning. English simply leaves out so much intent and is much too general. The Greek word used here ‘akouo’ means ‘I hear, I comprehend through hearing’.

Do we comprehend what manner of love and provision God has for us? Are we gleaning wisdom from His Word? Are we in the process of learning to hear?

Change it Up

January 3, 2014 By Lisa Lewis

This is lovely sketch was made by artist Rebekah Leigh Marshall. I am found her work online. I’m fond of tandem bicycling…

I’m four months into my 57th trip around the sun. That is a sobering statement. Oddly it is also an invigorating challenge.

What new things can I learn to do? What old things can I make better? What about my character needs refining? What about my character needs sharing? Where are my gifts, talents and skills needed?

Those are some of questions I have pondered prior to the beginning of the New Year, 2014. And like most people I have lists: lists for groceries, projects, tasks, reading, writing to people; you name it. I probably have written a list. But this year isn’t about lists.

I’ve learned some things about myself in these many annual trips: I like some things to stay the same and I like to change some things. Unfortunately the things I’d like to stay the same are completely out of my influence to remain the same. (think children growing up and moving away). The things that I’d like to change and are completely within the realm of my influence to accomplish I have often not accomplished. blegh.

As I have pondered my lists and recognized my one very-within-reason-to-change character flaw, I chose the word for my change-it-up efforts for the year: Resolve. I explained my choice more fully here.

My firm commitment is not just to complete my lists. Or change a character trait. Although those are both great things to commit to accomplishing. No my firm commitment is to live out the words of Paul to the church at Corinth. Near the end of his letter he wrote this: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Now a casual reading might give the impression this about being stodgy and stiff; that you’re supposed to never change and never rest. And like most times when we take a verse of Scripture out of its context we can run the risk of misinterpreting what is there for us. So a brief interlude for a valuable point of history:

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth because they had started to live their lives like everyone else around them rather than following the teachings of Jesus as they had been shared by Paul. The church had the same values as the culture. Paul spent a lot of specific writing reminding the Christ followers what it means to actually follow Christ. And near the end of his letter he encourages them to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Knowing the context helps me to try to make sense for my own life of following along the Way. I need to break things down into little pieces that I can somewhat wrap my head around. So here’s what I’ve learned in looking at this verse and why I’ve ended up with the one word Resolve for my focus this year.

Steadfast is not a word we use in daily conversations. Why not? Maybe our culture doesn’t support a word like this; listen to the definitions: fixed in direction; a steadfast gaze. firm in purpose, resolution, faith; a steadfast friend. unwavering. What is steadfast in our culture?

Abounding is also another word lost to our regular speech. Too bad. It’s a cool word. It originates from Latin and means overflow, or run over.

So stitching these word meanings into this verse helps me see that as a Christ follower what I do in my life with the Lord (which is everything because He lives in me, in you if you name His name) isn’t wasted. It’s not in vain. I can be fixing my gaze on Christ, getting to know Him more and more, and overflow with what He shows me in His Word. So, how I live my life, how I speak to others, how I spend my time, how I show grace to those who hurt me, how I forgive and forgive and forgive again, is not just me going through the motions. It is God at work. Changing it up in me, making me look more like Jesus every day. WOW!

I need to get on His two seater bike and be in tandem with Him. And what a ride it has been so far; He promises the adventure of a lifetime!

He has promised many good things but most of all His abiding Presence. Life here does not get any better than living daily with the awareness of His very real Presence.

I resolve to be on the bike in Tandem with Jesus.

What are you changing up this year?

Please also visit Rebekah

From 1st to 2nd and the In Between

December 17, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

I have been silent. Hours of time spent by myself in silence.
What used to be something I filled with too many things now is actually a comfort to me. I have been learning to let go and to wait in ways I have never before had opportunity.

There is loss and longing that I face. I don’t deny.

It’s our first Christmas out of our home of 15 years. Our college son flew in from his out of state U and then in a whirlwind hour and a half was out the door driving to our former town. To see friends. To work the holidays where his summer job offered time. Beautiful to have work. And friends to welcome him in.

He is facing the changes in his own way. It’s not his home anymore. Our home where the Hubster and I live will always have a place for our children to stay when they come, but the childhood home? That’s gone.

He sent me this picture yesterdayHis kitty, who lives with our neighbors now. If you look closely you can see his hand in the reflection. She was inside. He couldn’t hold her. She would lie in his arms like a baby. I ache.

I have been reading a lot in this season. Wonderful books. Encouraging. Deepening. Challenging books. A Million Little Ways by Emily P Freeman in which she helps us see. A Confident Heart by Renee Swope in which she helps us look at ourselves through the lens of Truth. Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey (more on that later!). I have also been reading an Advent devotional called Emmanuel published by She Reads Truth.

I am reminded that this is not my home, that I am a sojourner here, not just here but HERE. I am living between the 1st and 2nd. Jesus’ Birth the first Advent of Jesus. The looking forward to His 2nd return as King. How am I doing?

All of these writings have given me encouragement, comfort and a sense of being understood. I am the poeima of God, made to live the art that is my life. I no longer need live in the shadows of the past. I am gifted to serve the community in unique ways.

This too early out of bed morning I began Jeff Goins latest book The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing. And right there in the introduction was a gem for this day: “The challenge is what we do with these times, how we use–or waste–our waiting. The slower times contain a wealth of wisdom for us to tap into, but only when we recognize them.”

How am I doing? I am learning. To believe what is true. To be honest when it hurts. To be open to possibilities. To give grace to those around me who are also living life in the open. In between the now and not yet.

There is JOY in this place. So many people and circumstances for which to be thankful. Change is hard but change is good. Only God is constant.

Only God.

30 Days of Giving #10: Reflect

November 10, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

Happy Day! Today is a day when people who claim the name of Christ as theirs gather together all over the world to corporately worship God.

“Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; Yahweh, they walk in the light of Your presence. They rejoice in your name all day long, and they are exalted by Your righteousness.”

I heard a teacher once say we are to be the reflection of Christ to the world. Much like the still water reflects the image of the hills behind it in the morning light.
Sounds lovely. Looks lovely. That works when you are completely still.
But what happens when you move? when the storms of life come? The reflection is blurred.
If we are only to reflect God to the world then we either have to sit still on the sidelines of life or we run the risk of a blurred reflection of God.
Which of course is what we do as we live our lives.

Emily Freeman has written a great book, A Million Little Ways, that brings out a different image of how we reflect God to the world. It’s actually not reflecting at all.
God’s life in us comes out of us as we are fully who and how we are intended by our Creator to be. It is the art of our life that most accurately shows God’s image to the world. in A Million Little Ways.
This book is a transforming book. A must read. I am thrilled by the freedom Emily’s words bring to my heart. Her reflection on God’s Word shows me how I can be free to move through the world being me; not stifled by trying to be a carbon copy of the most upright person I know or by thinking I am to stoically sit and reflect the image of God to the world.
Read Emily’s book.

Perfect Love: Exceeding, Abundant, Beyond

October 17, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

The most difficult thing I’ve had to do in the past 6 years happened this summer. We moved after 15 years. Not just once but 8 times since June. But the moving wasn’t the hardest part.
The hardest part was not being able to move our pets with us, who are both 10 & 11 years old. This became evident as my husband kept hunting for work out of our area and even across the country.

Miss Arwen was kindly cared for during our first move by our wonderful across the street neighbors. They had cared for her on many occasions over the years and they already had a cat who Arwen knew and was comfortable with. They were happy to help us keep her stable while we were still looking for our landing pad.
The thing I kept saying over and over throughout this crazy time was “There are no unknowns to God.” This truth of God’s omniscience helped me stay ‘somewhat’ sane.
Finding a temporary home for our dog Tux was a different story. Our new tenants allowed him to stay in the backyard of our former home while we were in flux; I came every morning to feed and walk him. His favorite walk was at the beach.

Tux loves to run and play with other dogs. I thought putting an ad on Craigslist and posting of his availability on Facebook would make it easy to find someone wanting a playmate. Not so.
Week after week went by. A sweet older couple wanted to give him a try. We arranged a weekend stay. He was too energetic for their 3 cats, so Tux came back to our old backyard and back to the morning walks.
More time passed; my husband had accepted a job out of the area and we would be moving into another temporary place where we knew no pets were allowed. Our kitty was welcomed into our neighbors’ family, so we knew she would be fine.
The ad on Craigslist for our dog finally had a response! A woman on a ranch with two dogs was looking for a playmate for the younger of her two. The timing was perfect! It must be the Lord answering my prayers! We took Tux up to her ranch and the dogs all got along right away. She was a sweet woman with plenty of fenced space. This looked like a great home for him.
The goodbye was tearful for me but we also knew it was only for two weeks; I would be able to see him again when I came back to the area to meet the movers for our final move.
Everything seemed to be going fine for Tux; she texted a picture of him cooling down in the water trough one hot August afternoon. He was doing well, or so we thought.
One Tuesday evening she texted that she couldn’t keep Tux any longer. No explanation. We had a text conversation about the fact that we were four hours away and that I would be back in town on Saturday. I went into a panic! What were we going to do? We had no options! I cried. We prayed for wisdom and for a miracle placement.
When I returned to our area that weekend I contacted our local shelter to see about surrendering him. I was told there was a 4 week waiting list for an appointment to interview us and to meet and evaluate our dog. They began to tell me how I could try to “re-home” him myself, but I tearfully explained the 10 week process we had already been through and that this was my only option. She said she was sorry but there was nothing she could do. I would have to take him elsewhere. I was alone with this dilemma; my husband and sons were all in different cities and states. I sat in the truck and just sobbed. I did not want to take him to Animal Services. He was 10. I was sure he would be euthanized.
This was too much! I was angry about my husband’s job. I was broken over having to leave our home, our friends, and our church community. I had “held it together” through all these crazy moves during the summer while he hunted for new work. But this news was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I fell apart, alone in our son’s truck, crying over our dog and everything else all wrapped into one.
Ever so tenderly, wonderful words of love came into my mind: “You’re not alone in this. I will never leave you or forsake you.” “You can do this, in My strength”.
I met the woman and Tux early the next morning, pre-dawn on her way to work. I spent the last day with him walking him at the beach with a dear friend. I took him to a nearby backyard to borrow water and bath him before I drove him out to give him up. The people who received Tux were very compassionate and encouraging. They told me to check on the web in a couple of days and I could follow his adoption process. I tried not to cry but I failed miserably.
I drove away that day, leaving our family dog and leaving the community I loved all at once. Oh so hard.
From our temporary housing in our hew town, I checked their website the next day and his name and age was already up! Three days later I checked on their website to see if his photo and info had been posted. His name was gone! I called to see if he had been adopted. The gal said “noooo just a minute”. I got a sick feeling as she put me on hold. When she came back on she had a different tone altogether. Very cheerfully she said “Someone from Woods came over and selected him to move over to their shelter adoption program on a trial basis. If he passes their evaluation he will stay there until he’s adopted.” This was amazing, miraculous news! This was the place that had told me there was a wait list to even interview! Who could have arranged these details? Who!?
Only One that I know. The One Who loves with a perfect love. The One Who knows my heart and my broken places and cares for me just as I am.
I don’t deserve this kind of love. He knows that. This exceeding abundant beyond love is what grace is really all about. Perfect Love.

This is Tux posing for his adoption portrait. He’s available in case you’re interested. God knows. God sees. God cares. God loves with Perfect Love!