The Hope of All Nations

"In his name the nations will put their hope." Matt. 12:21

I had the privilege of traveling to the Navajo reservation last weekend in New Mexico with about 50 people from our church including 2 of my kids. I found myself questioning what to say, worried I would say something that would offend them. I knew that the Navajo's have deep-rooted traditions and beliefs. I didn't want to appear to be coming in with all the answers when their families have been steeped in their ways for generations.


But, on Sunday, it hit me. Even though the traditions of the Navajo have been passed down for hundreds of years, God has been around longer...He was first. As we stood in worship with white and tan faces joined in song, I realized that we all need the same thing. I get caught up in the things we have and the worldly possessions the Navajo's might not have instead of focusing on what we all need. We all need compassion, forgiveness...we need a saviour. He is the hope of all nations. No matter what our human ways have been, no matter what we believe, it's not about me, it's not about the Navajo people. It's all about Him. He is the hope. He is the reason we can rejoice always, pray continually, and be thankful in all circumstances. (I Thess. 5:16-18)


My fear for proclaiming His name was my own fear. Remembering that He is the hope for every nation - every person - put my confidence back in Christ rather than in myself. "In his name the nations will put their hope." Matt. 12:21


When we sang Mighty to Save, I was standing beside Harold, a precious Navajo man. I stopped singing to hear him sing. He needs the same thing I need. We need Jesus. Praise the Lord - we both have Him! To Him be the glory! www.youtube.com/watch?v=-08YZF87OBQ

Should We Be Scared of God?

Why would the bible say, “Fear God?” I’ve asked myself that question over and over through the years. Someone once told me it was to show reverence or respect to God. I could accept that, but it didn’t seem adequate. As my pastor said this past Sunday, “Reverence sounds like distance.” It has a formal tone to it.


So, what did God mean by fearing Him. Ps. 33:18 says, "The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love." A God who has unfailing love doesn’t sound like a distant God. Certainly not one that we should be frightened to approach as the word “fear” often leads us to think.


Over and over the phrase is used in the bible. My very limited index in the back of my bible holds 15 references about fearing the Lord.


I have to admit that I didn’t hear the whole sermon last Sunday. I had children sitting beside me (and actually on me) asking me how to spell things, playing with my wedding rings, burrowing into me trying to find a comfortable spot. But between the wiggling, something sweet appeared on the screen in front of me. To fear the Lord means: desperate dependence resulting in reverent intimacy.


When I realize that without Him I’m sunk, that brings fear in me. Knowing that I need Him, desperately, causes me to depend on Him and builds in my heart a reverent intimacy. Pride goes out the window. Self-pity, shame, guilt…none of those things can find a place in my heart when I am completely dependent on Him.


I want the unfailing love of the Lord; I want His eyes on me. If you do to, then it’s time we understand that He isn’t a distant, hard, uncaring God. He is, rather, a gentle, loving Father who cares about the details of our life and wants desperately for us to depend on Him for all the details.

Sharon
(Thanks for your insight and study Roy.)

Toddler to Teen? Time Flies!

Our oldest daughter turned 13 last week. Man, the time flies! Seems like she was a toddler 2 minutes ago! I am learning so much everyday about what it's like to parent this new stage. I've learned, so far,

• it's best if I take a deep breath before I jump into a lecture;
• that when she tells me stuff, she's not always looking for an answer;
• that we enjoy a lot of the same things (that's really cool!);
• that I shouldn't snort when I laugh because that's not cool;
• I'm learning not to panic...she's learning and growing everyday. I see glimpses of Jesus in her and it reminds me that He's the one who is ultimately in control;
• I'm doing all I can to pour into her the blessings and promises of God without shoving them on her...being available at bedtime, holding her when she asks, putting notes in her lunch box, reading the bible or a devotional at breakfast;
• she doesn't always want me around, but sometimes she does. At those times she really needs me.
• when she gives me a hard time, most of the time she's really trying to get me to play...when I tickle her, or roll my eyes and smile instead of getting mad, we end of laughing.
• sometimes I'm an idiot. If any experienced parents want to give me advice, I'll gladly take it!
  

Lord, we need your help. Please give us the wisdom, patience, understanding, and perseverance we need to raise this strong daughter you've given us. You created her and know her better than we ever can. You're works are wonderful. (Ps. 139) Thank you for the privilege of being responsible for training our kids. I love You and Need You. I ask this in Jesus name...Amen

Sharon

Dreams vs. Reality

A few days ago, while I was working on waking Davis, with eyes closed, he sleepily said, "This might be a silly question, but are you playing tic-tac-toe with me?" I laughed. "No. Guess you were dreaming." He smiled and nodded.


Sometimes what is actually going on isn't what I see. It might look like one thing to me, but God, who never sleeps, is fully aware of what is really happening. (Psalm 121:3-4)


Disappointments come. Emergencies happen. Life changes. But, not without the watchful eye of our Father who isn't just sitting around playing tic-tac-toe, but is actively involved in the events of our days.


I'm trying to remember that today. Maybe what I've been counting on hasn't been grounded in God's reality, but rather in my dreams. Have I made idols of my aspirations? Probably. Today, as I long to do everyday, I'm clinging to Him...the author and perfecter of my faith.


"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition...so that you do not grow weary and lose heart." Heb. 12:2


Blessings...
Sharon

One Soda Leads to Another

We are about to launch a new t-shirt for my parent's shop. The shirt is the picture of how our parents relationship began. I wanted to include a verse on the back of the shirt. When I asked my dad, he thought for a while and then said, Ephesians 3:20-21.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

This verse fits the lives of our mom and dad perfectly. Dad lived a tough life as a child; he lost his daddy early on, smoked cigarette butts off the street when he was 5, lived with several step-fathers, and had very little money even though his mom worked up to 3 jobs at a time.


He met our mom at a soda fountain on Main Street in Whitesboro, Texas. They married, had three kids, both worked with mom's parents (his in-laws---pretty amazing), took over the business in the 80's, and have transformed the place little by little.

51 years after they said "I do", they are about to open a soda fountain of their own on Main Street in Whitesboro. God has done in my parents' lives more than they could have imagined. From a desperate situation at age 5, to a joyful life of following Jesus at 71, God has been at work for all those years doing immeasurably more than any of us could have dreamed. So, God gets the glory!


If you're in a desperate spot, turn your eyes to the one who was able yesterday, who is able today, and who will be able tomorrow to turn the darkness you feel into bright light...for His glory.

Contact us if you want directions to Lovejoy's on Main Street or if you want a great t-shirt. Tasty lunch, beautiful (fun!) store, and free wi-fi! What more could you ask for! Soda Fountain coming soon!

Things I Learned (or at least heard) from Granny Young

Sept. 26, 2008 marked the end of my grandmother’s 97 years on earth. She had much to say about life…especially about how we as her grandchildren lived it. I wrote this when she was 94. A year after she went home to be with Jesus seems an appropriate time to share my thoughts. Enjoy!

1. The “golden years” happen when your children are young and you are healthy.
2. People under the age of 70 are spoiled.
3. Kids need to learn to work.
4. We buy too many clothes and toys for our children. With all the distractions, they miss out on some of the plain things that God put on earth for us to treasure…mud, clouds, sticks, etc.
5. TV is the biggest waste of time…right up there with computers and microwaves!
6. Respect your elders even when they tell you things you don’t want to hear!
7. Things are really better than they seem, especially in hindsight!
8. Riding in the car should be a thrill! There’s time to talk, time to find pictures in the clouds, count cows, trucks, watch high-line wires, look for trains...
9. Three Wal-Mart bags of plastic Easter eggs filled with candy would feed Coxes Army! (I don’t know who Coxes Army was, but there must have been a bunch of them!)
10. Little girls should wear short dresses so they’re not in the way of them playing.
11. Moms should not wear short dresses.
12. Make-up and money just make you worry more about how you look and what you have.
13. Happiness is having all your family around, just not all in the kitchen at the same time!

Sometimes It Takes The Rain

It has been raining here for days. At first, I was thankful for the rain. We needed it desperately; however, after four days of it, I was ready to see the sun again. You see, the cloudy days had not only affected the weather, but my mood. I was feeling gloomy, unmotivated and overwhelmed. Satan was using the weather to discourage, distract and defeat me. (The 3 D's I know to watch for in my own life).


On Tuesday as I was taking care of Sharon's kids, Davis and Addison went out to play for a few minutes in between rain showers. To my surprise they quickly came back with a small bouquet of beautiful white flowers. With smiles on their faces, they said, "Look what we found!" I adored them, smelling the sweet fragrance they emitted (the flowers, not the boys!). Then I quizzed, "Where did you find these? They are beautiful! I've never seen them before." They replied, "They were outside in the grass! They are for you!"


Since I didn't know what they were, like any good mom, I told them to go ask the neighbor if she knew what they were. Sure enough, Mrs. Pam, our sweet neighbor, knows her flowers! She told them they were Rain Lilies which only come up after the ground is saturated with rain.


Wow! Did I ever need the reminder that God is faithful amidst the rain in my life. I shared with my children that even in the midst of a gloomy time, God is there, evident in His magnificent creation. Only when it rains can this flower be seen! Amazing!


Some of the most beautiful things come out of hard times in our lives. God wants to make something beautiful come from the rain in my life, if I will allow Him too.


Shortly after the flower incident, I began praising God, though the rain had not stopped. He helped me change my focus. So I ask you, "What is growing from the storms in your life? Is it discouragement, distraction and defeat (3 D's), or maybe bitterness, doubt and disappointment?" He wants to make something beautiful out of you and me, but it can only happen if we have our hearts and eyes turned to Jesus in the midst of the rain!

Romans 8:28 The Message
That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. 29 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son.. . .31 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? 32 If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? 33 And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen?

Lord, You are amazing. Your handiwork is evidence of your faithfulness and love. Thanks for loving me and drawing me to Your side when I allow myself to be consumed by my rainy circumstances. Thank you for Rain Lilies, Lord! I love You!


Here's "Sometimes..."—an oldie, but a goodie—from Steven Curtis Chapman for your listening pleasure!