MASTERpiece

Life is full of crossroads. There are times that we stand trying to prayerfully decide which road to take. Sometimes there is a right decision and a wrong decision. Then sometimes there are decisions that are right and left. What I mean by that is decisions that could both be permissible by God.

Ridley and I have been approaching one of those major crossroads in the last several months. We felt the Lord's promptings and preparation for us. We simply didn't have all the details, but we kept walking towards the crossroad. Then came the fork in the road. Ridley had to decide whether to continue to pastor or to embrace the ministry that he has outside of our church. Both seemed right and good. It was one of those times I wanted to submit and default to whatever Ridley decided. However, I remembered the importance of my role in praying. It may be Ridley's calling but I am a partner who committed to walk beside him and support him. My support didn't come in a lot of advice. It came with persistent prayer and patience. When you are praying about a decision that affects so many people, there is a great responsibility to make sure and make sure again that you are hearing God clearly and correctly.

It is at some of these crossroads that we have to be "big picture people". I believe there are times we are to live in our chapters and not worry about the big picture as much. However, there are also key times that we need to really step back and be reminded that God is orchestrating a much bigger picture than our brains can even comprehend.

The crossroad for us was a place where our time was going to be stretched and the demands were going to be more than we could devote the much deserved 100%. I think it is important to not wait until you are spread too thin to start praying for direction. If you wait until that time, you may make a hasty decision. It is important to allow God the time to speak to you and to track the confirmations. I began to list in my journal the many little and big confirmations Ridley and I were receiving. There were confirmations in scripture, devotionals on certain days, comments from friends, and questions from strangers. Those events themselves were specific but it was the timing of each one that blew me away.

The Bible is full of crossroads and the people that stood at them. Take Abraham. A man at a crossroad when a God he didn't know or worship asked him to go to a new land with his family. I am glad that Abraham didn't play it safe and stay home. How about Noah? No one had seen rain and he lived miles from the nearest body of water. Building a giant boat made no sense at all. That was a crazy crossroad for him. Then there was Moses. He did his best to argue with God and could have pretended that he didn't see that burning bush. He stood at a crossroad of obedience and had to choose. Imagine what would have happened if he didn't lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Last but not least, there was Jesus. He faced numerous crossroads. How many times do you think He had to step back and remember the big picture....the masterpiece that His Daddy was creating.

You see, we can't bring God down to our level to try to fully understand what He is doing. He is the Master and we are His pieces that He wants to use to create something beautiful. If we don't do our part, then we are like that giant puzzle on a table that is missing only one piece. It could be a 5,000 piece puzzle but that one piece interrupts the beauty of the masterpiece puzzle. As Christ followers, we can't risk it. We can't miss the responsibility and the beauty of our piece. Our Master is counting on us....all of us. As difficult as those crossroad decisions may be, it is truly easier to do the right thing (not always the easy thing) and fully experience a MASTER-PEACE!

Are You Talking in the Hall?

During the week, Ridley and I may pop in to visit at the school where our church meets. We have friends that are teachers and a few kids we like to check on. The sights, sounds AND smells take me back every time. I find myself saying, "Surely I didn't do that". Our visits seem to typically occur around the lunch time hours. The halls are full of those single file lines. You know, the ones with the teacher leading and the kids battling the urge to stray out of the line. Lunch boxes are swinging. Boys are picking on girls and the class clown is the free entertainment.

Yesterday, I received an encouraging email from a dear friend and lover of the Word. The verse she shared was from Isaiah 43:19, "See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." I have read that many times and I love the part about doing a new thing. That in itself has been a huge encouragement to me over the years. However, yesterday, the second part spoke to me more. "Do you not perceive it?" My translation..."Lisa, why are you whining and being so stubborn?" The verse goes on to say "I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland". Trust me, I want God to make the way because mine often stink and yes, I definitely want His way when I am in the desert.

So why do I do that thing? That thing where I question and whine DURING the way. I was reminded of those school hallways and how I am like those students. I won't just stay in the line and follow the Teacher. I mean even when I know I am headed somewhere really cool and exciting (recess or lunch), I still don't keep my mouth shut. I am even in the line picking on the boy (Ridley) at times. Can't you picture Jesus turning around and giving me the "shhhhhh" as He puts His finger to His mouth?

The lesson for the class today.....embrace the seasons we are in and the seasons He is leading us into. The hall is where we have to practice our discipline and faith. It will definitely keep us out of trouble.

Kneed to Know

Life can be a mixture of emotions and events that tend to leave us speechless at moments. There are those moments where you feel paralyzed as your head and heart try to figure out how to respond. We experience that on personal levels and on much larger scales as we have witnessed in the last week. The instinct to love kicks in. We begin to band together with an attitude of community that makes us stronger and more united. As difficult as the situations may be, It is evident that God truly does use those moments to pull people closer together.

As events unfold and meeting needs becomes a focus, prayer easily gets lost in the shuffle. I am the first to admit that prayer isn't always my immediate response. Resources may be limited. Time may be limited. Physical abilities may be limited. Finances may be limited. Prayer is never limited. Anybody can do it and do it anywhere at anytime. That is why the Bible commands us to "pray without ceasing" (1Thessalonians 5:17)

As I stepped away from the world a bit today and stepped into the Word, I began searching. The roller coaster of emotions can wear the heart out a bit. My fingers gripped the pages of my Bible and my eyes began to scan as I got excited to see what God wanted to show me. I was looking for something new....some treasure that might be revealed for the first time. It was simple. Prayer is powerful and effective (James 5:16). God will meet all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phillipians 4:19).

We try to make it more complicated. We try to come up with something brand new. Fear and doubt confuse us. Anxiousness makes us impatient. God wants us to keep it simple. He wants us to pray. He wants us to trust Him. He wants us to believe.

We all have needs. I would like to ask you to pray for me to take the steps of obedience that I know I need to take. Pray that I step in faith without looking for the safety net first. Provision comes after we step.

Now, how can I pray for you? When we get on our knees for one another, things change. God moves. So today, I am keeping it simple. I am going to pray for you. Let me know how. I kneed to know!