I smiled at the kids and shot eye arrows at my husband.  The one thing I had vowed to never have in my home were sitting on my bed in a little carrying case.  Uggg.   I had to watch my tongue, though, because the joy on my kids faces as they pointed, giggled, and exclaimed joyfully over the little mice, clued me in that if I spoke out of turn, I could crush my kid’s spirits.  So instead of saying how I really felt (which was worse than I’d normally say since I was laying on my back feeling lousy) I joined in their fun.

A few days later, after purchasing a little mouse kingdom (I grumbled as I handed over the dollars) for my “free” mice, my son flew into the kitchen with panic on his ten-year old face.  “Mom!! A mouse is sick!”  Terror, fear, panic lit his face; happiness filled mine!

“Mom, you HAVE to do something.  The mouse is sick!”

What???  Do something.  It’s a mouse!!  However, because I needed a hero mom day, I emailed a vet friend then waited for my friend’s reply.  Her solution, a warm covering and karo syrup mixed with water.  Holy cow!!  Are you kidding me?  But looking into, by now all three, of my kid’s eyes I knew I had to save the mouse.  So, armed with a plastic spoon that could be immediately tossed in the trash after the mouse had sipped the syrup, I courageously went to the mouse cage, touched the sick mouse, put it’s tiny head to the spoon and watched it drink.  Then, like any mother would, I covered the little varmint with a fleece scrap and left my son’s room.  Two hours later, the near dead mouse was scampering about…fully alive.

A word comes to me as I think about the mouse event: Steward.  A steward is one who has been put in charge of something.  Stewardship is a Biblical lesson found over and over in the scriptures.  I have often equated the concept of stewardship to finances, but it also applies to the little mice in our life!  My kids were given a gift- I didn’t want it, but they took great joy from it.  We became stewards of these little mice, thus we were in charge of keeping them alive!

This lesson makes me wonder—what other mice do I have in my life that I’ve not been a good steward of?  As you think about this silly example, does it cause you to consider if there are any mice in your life?  What small areas have you let slide?  If we are to follow our Lord’s command to be good stewards, it means being good stewards of both the large items as well as the tiny mice in our life!  May you find joy today as you steward those tiny things in your life today!

What did we do exactly!  The panic I felt when my phone totally crashed almost sent me to the moon and back.  I knew I had two texts that came in-with partial messages.  I heard the beeps from my gmail and there was nothing I could do about it!  Oh, it was more than the phone crashing—it was like the crashing of my virtual life!!

I don’t think that I’m alone in the panic-when-the-phone-crashes realm.  I think that 99.9% of phone users have felt that.  But, I wonder how realistic I was being.  I love my phone.  I love having access to whomever, whenever for whatever.  I like pulling up coupons and calendars.  I enjoy reading verses and finding names of God at the touch of a button.  But is that much panic really necessary over a small device?  With a sigh I must say probably not.

Yet, the way we handle the little crashes in life (yes, I have to put my phone crashing into the little category—sniff) prepares us for the big crashes.  How do we handle the loss of a parent to death?  What about losing a contract or being turned down for a promotion.  How do we react when we find out our baby isn’t going to be “normal” or our child is severely struggling in school?  These are life-impacting crashes.

I love reading the Psalms in crashed times of life.  David knew about life crashing and because of his authenticity he left us a treasure trove of help.

In Psalm 119:50 he says, “This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life.”

Psalm 9:9 states, “The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation).

And Psalm 10:14 gives us this hope, “You have seen it; yes, You note trouble and grief (vexation) to requite it with Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.”

Our life crashes come as no surprise to Jesus.  He saw them before we even knew they were on the way.  I don’t always handle crashes well.  I scream, cry, and question, but I’ve come to realize that Jesus knew I would do that, too.  And when I’ve had my tantrum, He gently, lovingly pulls me back to Himself—beckoning through the Psalms.  He comforts my heart and gives me the strength to take the next step forward.

When my phone crashed I panicked, and then I made a plan to deal with the crash.  If you are experiencing a life crash, small or large, feel the crash and then make a plan.  Dig into Jesus and let Him be your consolation in affliction, refuge in times of trouble, and father when yours isn’t there to guide you.

January has a reputation for being a hard month.   Work or school resume, the weather is often cold, the month is long (31 days!) and really, what is there to look forward to?  It seems like January is an endless month, which potentially causes us to fall into a depressed or despondent state.

I want to encourage us today to forever change how we look at January.  It is very easy for us to fall into a slump after the excitement of the Christmas season.  The weeks leading up to Christmas are filled with decorating, gift purchasing, cookie making, and parties.  It seems like the whole world has a shine and glimmer and smiles are brighter.  And then once the gifts are open, the world is still bright as we get together with family, play with new toys and bask in the beauty of a few days off of work.  We have New Years Eve to look forward to and the anticipation of new adventures, new resolutions, and new hopes to aspire too.  And then….the ball drops and all the festivities come to an end.  And we slump.

Our lofty goals and dreams that come with a new year seem to come unglued within the first few weeks of January.  The glimmer of Christmas gives way to the droopy eyes of work stress, school stress, and bill stress.  And we become despondent.   I submit to you that we are despondent because our focus is…well it’s on us, which means it’s selfish.

“There are too many people in need…” Friends, our world is a hurting place.  Sickness appears to be on the rise, financial ruin is all around us, rebellion infiltrates our schools and families…and we are despondent because the holiday hype is gone?  Come, come!  Let’s get our focus back on track.  Even if we are facing tough times, there is someone else whose times are tougher.  Let’s be the ones to lift others out of the January Doldrums.  Using Psalm 100 Pastor Scott Smith reminded us last Sunday that Joy anytime is possible.   Following Scott’s lead, I urge you to be the one to spread Christmas joy into January!!

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!  Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing! Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.^, Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.

2010 may have been an incredible year in your life.  Perhaps lifelong dreams were achieved or incredible blessings came into your life.  Maybe you accomplished your 2010 resolutions and celebrated the success.  On the other hand, 2010 may have come up short.  Desires you entered the year with may have been laid aside due to unforeseen circumstances.  Possibly deep pain and grief caused the year to be sorrowful rather than joyous.

However 2010 played out in your life, it is exciting to think that we all get a “clean” slate as 2011 opens.  What does your slate hold?  What dreams and desires do you have for this next year?  More importantly, what place does Jesus have in those dreams and desires?

We don’t know the future.  We can’t control when the rainstorms will come or how long the sunny days will last.   We aren’t in charge of what blessings we will receive or what passions will be tread on.  But, we are able to manage our reactions to what happens to us in 2011.

Throughout the Bible, Jesus gave promises to help carry us through disappointing times—even disappointing years.  Maybe 2011 will see desires lost, but guess what!  Matthew 10:39 says, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Friends, when plans go awry, rather than sinking into despair, ask Jesus if this is His way of giving you a new life in Him.  Perhaps a lost dream will lead to a grander, more-than-you-can-imagine, reality.  A reality that God has been planning for you all along!

As we unwrap 2011 let us remember that God is in control—and His control is not a distasteful thing—it is a life-giving, generous gift.  Titus 3:3 in The Message puts God’s control into perspective, “It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this. “

I will pray that your new year, your 2011, draws you closer to the Generous Giver of Life, the One who causes the rain to pour and the sun to shine.  The One who delights in you.

Perhaps you, like me, are in the process of unpacking summer bags and filling  fall/school year bags.  I am exchanging my flip-flops (figuratively for I don’t know that I could really exchange them) for close-toed shoes.  I am putting away the beach umbrella and taking out the rain umbrella.  My tank tops are being replaced with short and long sleeved shirts and my shorts…well I can’t trade those out yet!

As we are in the summer to fall transition I want to encourage us to be mindful of how we are filling our calendar. In 2 Kings 18:6-7a we are given a look inside of one of the Old Testament Kings, King Hezekiah, success.  This glimpse gives three practical steps that can guide us as we set our fall schedules, “For he clung and held fast to the Lord and ceased not to follow Him, but kept His commandments, as the Lord commanded Moses.  And the Lord was with Hezekiah; he prospered wherever he went.” (Amplified version, italics added)

First, Hezekiah clung to the Lord.  dictionary.reference.com defines cling as “adhere closely, hold tightly or remain attached”.  How can we hold tightly to Jesus this year?  Just this morning I decided that one of my devotional books would live permanently in my car so that I can cling to Jesus while waiting in the car line to pick up my kids.

Next, Hezekiah held fast.  I live 20 minutes from the ocean.  One of my favorite views of the ocean includes seeing seaweed swaying in the waves.  Did you know that the root of the seaweed that adheres the plant to the ocean floor is called the Holdfast?  Have you ever tried to pull a seaweed plant up from the bottom of the ocean?  It is virtually impossible because the Holdfast, which is made up of many “finger like projections”, acts as an anchor.  What are some of your Holdfasts for this year?  This year, without a doubt, we will all be swayed back and forth by various waves.  Do you have anchors in place (small groups, prayer partners, a best friend) that will keep you securely tied to Jesus?

Finally, Hezekiah ceased not to follow Jesus.  “Groupies” are people who follow a certain rock group or star no matter the cost in dollars or time.  I am going to challenge us to be a “groupie” for Jesus.  Follow Him where He leads you, stay in daily contact with Jesus (a privilege we have that groupies of earthly stars don’t have), call on Him through prayer or song.

When we follow these three steps, we will pick up the right bags because we’ve allowed Jesus to define our bags, time, priorities, and ultimately our calendar.  In doing this, I believe we will prosper as Hezekiah did!

During a trip to France, my husband and I experienced the turning of  leaves from the vibrant greens of summer to the warm reds, yellows and browns of autumn.  We ate incredibly delicious food and met welcoming people.  However, one of my favorite activities throughout the whole trip was drinking “cafe au lait”: translation coffee with milk, in the morning.

Coffee in France is served black in a cup with a saucer.  If you ask for “au lait” you get a small pitcher of warm milk to pour into your coffee.  In France, coffee is meant to be tasted and enjoyed in a relaxed manner, not poured in a travel mug and slurped down while speeding off to work or school.  I’ve thought much about why that small, seemingly ordinary habit had such a profound impact on me.  Why does that memory outshine the memories of Notre Dame and majestic mountain ranges?   The answer I found is in Acts 2:46.

Acts 2:40-47 in the New King James is titled “A Vital Church Grows”.    These verses tell of 3000 people who were saved and baptized.  The verses follow these believers who experienced great signs and wonders, who sold their possessions and lived as a large group.  We are told in verse 46 and the first part of verse 47 that they continued “daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people..”   The words simplicity and gladness shouted out to me when I read these verses.  John McArthur wrote about these verses saying, “The Jerusalem church was joyful because its single focus was on Christ.”  The Jerusalem church grew because they were solely focused on one thing- Christ.    When I was in France drinking my “cafe au lait” I, too, was singly focused.  I was able to enjoy, taste, and sit.  I didn’t have to rush or eat on the run unless I wanted to.

I realize that living as a large group like the early Jerusalem church did is not practical in 2010.  I’m not going to suggest that we sell all our possessions so that we can be singly focused on Jesus.  What I am going to suggest, however, is that despite our crazy schedules, we can focus on Jesus even in the midst of chaos. In doing this, we can be joyful because our focus is not on the many things we have to do, rather it is on the one thing we are doing.

There is a challenge in Acts 2:46 as well as a challenge in the practice of having “cafe au lait”: live simply.  Live with Jesus as the focus.  Realize that we don’t have to “do it all.”  We need to allow ourselves “cafe au lait” each day.

As you are reading them you will have a reaction choice:

A)  feel sorry for me:  Please don’t!  B) Laugh, shake your head, and be glad you aren’t me.  That’s preferable!

After I tell my story I’ll tell you how I choose to look at them.

Two weeks ago son participated in a large karate tournament in Las Vegas.  Let me first say- Vegas is not my favorite place to go!  But, we had a fun time watching our guy compete, hanging out with other parents, and playing in the hotel pool.  After the event was over, my in-laws (thank you so much by the way!) took ALL three of my munchkins to their home for TWO- weeks.  Yes, I did say TWO weeks!  Now for those who are parents of children you know how valuable and incredible that is!

My husband and I drove home kid-free.  What an enlightening event!  I didn’t have to turn around once to gently (or not!) say, “stop hitting your sister!”  or “Quit pulling hair!”  My husband and I thought we had entered heaven on earth…until we got home.  Our dog, Sage, always greets us at the bottom of our front steps with a smile on her face and a wag in her tail when we arrive home after a weekend away.  This time, however, there was no Sage.  Instead we noticed a big, ugly, yellow note on the door.  My dog had been taken—to what I lovingly (not really!) refer to as doggy jail.  My heart sank.  Never in nine years had this happened to us.  Imagining our dog in jail made me mad, sad, and feeling bad.  It also (after picking her up and seeing her sorry state) made me feel like I had a mark on my name/character. That starts our two-week hiatus.

The next thing that occurred involved our kayak—a new sport for us.  We took a kayaking adventure, only to almost be overcome by the huge ocean waves near the Channel Islands off the California Coast.  Though tipping the kayak is something fun to do at La Jolla shores, it is not fun in the middle of the ocean!  We later found out that our kayak had taken on a VERY unsafe amount of water- a problem when kayaking anywhere!

The last three things were the killers.  On the way to pick up our children, while driving my beloved two-tone red and gold Expedition I heard a pop then saw the engine light come on.  We stopped fooled around with it (in the middle of the desert mind you) decided to continue on, but were stopped 20 miles outside of our destination when my car went into electrical failure.  My lovely, had it since it had 52 miles on it, car failed me.    My car wasn’t the only thing failing.  My dog, who had spent a day and a half in doggy jail was failing as well.  Her health had plunged and she was on death’s door.  We weren’t sure if she would even make it to even see the kids! Three days after my car failed, my husband’s car failed.  My car we had to have towed to a tiny town in Utah and we chose to rent a mini-van (oh the fright for me!) and get home, only to be stranded again by my husband’s car failing.  Thankfully, as of this writing, we still have one working vehicle- a truck.

Now.  That was a lot to have happen.  Life shattering?  No.  Compared to some, those things were light and fluffy and not real problems.  Piled all together, mixed in with a car wreck, a descent into darkness, broken dreams, and tension in the home—it all adds up.  They are all pebbles that have been rolling into my shoe, not out!

What are we to do when pebbles continue to roll in-not out- to our shoes?  We have two choices.  We can allow those problems to define us and focus on them and how cruel and tough our life is.  I would have justification for that mindset.  Or, we can reframe our thinking.  I’m going to quote from a very dear friend and mentor, an author of over 30 books, and a motivator and speaker and I’d like for you to just let her words soak in.

Pam Farrel author of Women of Confidence says this,

“Let God do through you what is way beyond your wisdom, strength, power and creativity.”

“If we focus on our shortcomings or setbacks, we guarantee failure.  If we focus on God’s plan, we will fulfill His purpose.”

“Sometimes He (God) delays so we can gain character we need to live out the call on the other side of the door.  Other times He blows open the door so we see it’s a miracle only He could have done, and He alone gets the glory and credit.”

“When you realize you can lose everything except your faith and rise out of the ashes, you are ready to walk God’s adventure.”

Friends, over the last six or seven months I have been stripped down, put to the test, and challenged in my faith.  But I’ve decided to choose life.  I’ve decided that getting bogged down in all that has happened only drags me down more.  God has some baggage (I had to throw something of Bag Lady in!) He wants me to throw in the trash in exchange for new life and new adventure.    So I choose to let God’s plan rule.  I choose to work on my character so I can live out my call.  I choose to focus on God’s plan.  I choose to rise out of the ashes.

Brad Bright said one night at a dinner party something that he had learned from his dad, Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ) regarding problems that come into our lives.  They can be problems or “Opportunites to see God work”.  I choose to see God work.  What will you choose?

A dear friend and I were having coffee at Starbucks the other day when a police officer walked in for his cup of relaxation.  The officer, filling the place with his larger-than-life-presence, got his coffee, found a table, and opened his laptop.  As we drank our coffee, Brenda and I noticed a little boy, age 2 or 3, walking purposefully toward the officer.  The officer looked up from his laptop and made eye contact with the little boy who then began hugging the officer.  Picture this:  A police officer, who is large in stature, being hugged by a little, tiny child.  Not only was the boy hugging the officer, he was sinking into the officer with complete confidence that all was right in the world.

For at least 5 minutes, that little boy hugged the officer.  Did the boy know the officer? No.  Did the boy chat with the officer?  No.  Was the boy a child who is demonstrative?  According to his mom, no!  That little boy just wanted to hug the larger-than-life officer, who gladly received the gift.

As I watched this interaction I thought of another larger-than-life person who allows us to “hug” Him—Jehovah Raah—“The Lord is our Shepherd”.  The picture that played out in Starbucks is one that has played out in my life time after time.  When I have been tired and broken down, I’ve run to Jehovah Raah for comfort.  When I’ve needed shelter from the storms that plague my life I’ve run to Jehovah Raah to shield me.  When my soul has been so beaten down by Satan’s attacks Jehovah Raah has been there to heal me.

Jehovah Raah is my shepherd, I shall NOT want.  Just as the little boy walked purposefully into the officers arms, I can purposefully walk into my shepherd’s arms.

Like the officer who shepherds the people of his town, city, state or nation, so Jesus shepherds us. (Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:11, Matthew 18:12-13)  Like the officer who gave comfort to the little boy via a hug, so Jesus is ready to comfort us. (Psalm 94:17-19, 2 Cor. 1:3-5)

My friends, no matter what you face—be it blessing or hardship—walk into Jesus’ arms and let Him guide, comfort, and shepherd you today.  Sink into Jesus arms with the confidence of a child knowing that all is right when you are wrapped in His strong arms.  We don’t need a Starbucks to find refreshment and rest from the bags we carry, we only need to seek out our Shepherd, Jehovah Raah and He will refresh our souls and give us the boost we need to make through another day!

How many times have we read in scripture, heard in a sermon or even listened to lyrics—such as those from my all-time favorite Christian rock band Petra- that “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” and really believed it like the Israelites did in verse 19?

Not only did the Israelites believe with all their hearts and lives the promise of God in verse 15 when he says, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s”, but they believed it so much that they sang songs of praise loudly to Jesus for winning a battle that had yet to be fought!

Oh the life lessons we can learn—the faith lessons we can learn–from these early Israelites!  When these people put their faith into action, God indeed did have the battle.  As the Israelites went out to battle, they began singing,

“Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.”

Those simple words sung in faith caused the attacking armies to attack each other, rather than the Israelites.  They attacked each other so thoroughly that not one man was left standing, and not one Israelite was killed!

Friends, I am challenging each one of us, myself especially, to sing praise to Jesus even before we go to battle.  When we raise our voice to Jesus in praise, He hears and will come to our aid in the most extraordinary ways!

Remember and even sing the words of the song by Petra, “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” as you go out to battle today!

“In heavenly armour we’ll enter the land

The battle belongs to the Lord

No weapon that’s fashioned against us shall stand

The battle belongs to the Lord “

I think the only ones who haven’t experienced this are children between the ages of 3 and 10; their sleep always seems so deep and restful!  Recently, when I experienced sleepless worry, the words of 2 Chronicles 20:6, spoken by Jehoshaphat  filled my overactive, anxious mind and enabled me to sift through the thoughts and find peace.

O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in Heaven?  And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations?  In Your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You.

Think about this with me.  Jehoshaphat knows an army bent solely on destruction is on the way.  But, even that doesn’t shake his faith in God.  He first seeks God (2 Chron. 20:3) then he reassures his people, which reassures us thousands of years later, of who God is.  He is:

The God of Heaven.  There is nothing more vast than Heaven and our God rules it—past, present, and future.

The Ruler of the Kingdoms of the Nations: Throughout all time many nations have fallen away from the foundational teachings of Christ, but God is still the ruler of the nations.  Ultimately their rise and fall are in God’s hands.

The Almighty Power: All power and might are in God’s hands, which means when we are His, He is going to fight for us with everything He has.

My friends, we live in anxious times.  We live in times when the earth shakes, financial kingdoms fail, and families war against each other.  Each one of these things is enough to tumble even the strongest person and unfortunately often do.  But! (and I know you’re not supposed to start a sentence with but, however, this is important) when we put our life into God’s hands look who is on our side!  He is God who, when asked, will step in front of the army we are facing.  He is our God who will give peace on sleepless nights.  He is the God who has everything at His disposal to fight for us!  What an awesome God we serve.

When you face a sleepless night, go to God’s word.  Dig in to 2 Chronicles and find peace as you rest in God’s almighty arms.