Planted by streams

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you.

With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel,

The shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,

Their life shall be like a watered garden,

I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

from Jeremiah 31

This words come while I stand before a soapy sink, green rubber gloves up to my elbows. A vulgar altar. But God is not hampered by my commonness.

Reading a novel about WWII, my heart is heavy over the condition of man's hearts. The atrocities we can tolerate with relative ease. No political, pacifist rant from my dangerously uninformed mind. Just a heavy heart.

I read somewhere where one of these ultra-marathoners of the faith listened to the Bible while she drove. At the time I thought, Will I ever grow up to the point of listening to the Bible? Replacing music or, perish the thought, NPR podcasts with the spoken word of God? I can't see myself ever being that Christian. I'd probably have to paint scripture on the wall above our bed and place worship banners around the house too.

Here I am, at the sink, listening to Jeremiah, barely running the water so I don't obstruct the sound. 

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 

He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, 

and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, 

and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

source

It's water to a weary soul. No fear in trials, for the Lord provides. No anxiety in trouble, for the Lord brings fruit.

I told a friend today about our first year in Virginia, when our house in Tennessee wasn't even showing, when complicated pregnancy bills were piling up, when student loans were still due, and power bills were sky high from a limping AC unit. During a broke month, we were called home to see an ailing grandfather. Filling up with gas, I realized I was putting the month's grocery money in the car. In great anxiety, we arrived home to find a bouquet of gift cards, over $300, sitting in our living room. A gift from the youth ministry.

Our trust is the Lord.

P.S. I have scripture painted all over the girls' room, so I suppose I was already on track to be one of those Bible listeners. Still no worship banners.

Stress relief

Does anyone else take their problems to bed?

Last night, I turned down the sheets, fluffed a pillow and snuggled in next to my angst. All night I tossed over it.

The result of stress-nurturing: a migraine. A migraine while Tim's out of town - there's no relief riding up at 5 o'clock.

I saw a way out last night. I just chose not to take it. That way looked narrow and hard. Watching a mindless show and obsessively checking facebook during the commercials seemed an easier fix.

Distraction is a difficult idol to please. I found my hands itching for something else. Can I crochet, check facebook, watch tv, and read? Would that many distractions keep my mind away from the real problem?

The narrow way that led to life: read daily Psalms. I put off reading all day, favored the blog and baking and cleaning and stress. Late night, girls asleep, house dark and quiet, soul troubled. If God had started tea and opened the book for me, he couldn't have set me up better. But I ignored him. Looked hard at the book and in my heart of hearts, didn't want his fix.

My aching head could not carry the weight this morning. I dragged myself to pages of living water.

And found the peace I needed. The passages weren't specific to the stress, but the trust in God was.

And God's word starts chain reactions. Words I memorized for just such situations, muted under the enemy's breath, until other Godly words brought them to mind:

Cast your cares on the Lord because he cares for you. 


Trust in the Lord with all your strength.


Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit.


Consider HIM so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

These words are peace bringing, eternally orienting, ever applicable. With a heart centered, my head comes back in line. Maybe not the pain, but the the thought line.

Again, God uses everything, even migraines, for his good purpose.


For more on fighting the path of distraction: How to Unplug

For more on worshipping through reading:

If you read the Psalms only for doctrine, you’re not reading them for what they are. They are psalms, songs, poetry. They’re musical, and the reason human beings express truth with music and poetry is to awaken and express emotions that fit the truth. John Piper at Desiring God

For more on reading Psalms daily: Psalms in 30 days -- It might look complicated, but this plan gives you a Psalm from each book in Psalms {roughly} each day. I find that at least one will fit my day, better than when I would read five kingly Psalms on a day I was feeling serf-ish.

On Cleaning out my Grandparent's Apartment

My grandparents' home tells of six continents of world travel - Pakistan, New Guinea, Kenya, Chile, Switzerland, India {the full list warrants its own post}. And from all these places, the accompanying souvenirs. Items that I love for their craftsmanship, made by artists in villages who took precious time to create beauty amongst hostility. A collection of eye-catching pieces, almost lost to the next amazing eye-catching piece.

They used it all.  Sugar bowls and jewelry cases and pencil holders. No piece was so 'precious' that it must remain wrapped in tissue paper, ferreted away in a drawer where no one could see it. Chips happened. Cracks and glue. Just life. All this functional art used, seen, touched every day. The craftsmen might be more pleased to see it cracked and loved, then wrapped and saved and never enjoyed. The art isn't intended to last forever. It is intended to bring joy and beauty every day.

I see myself in their home. Where my esthetic originated. Grandmother's pendants. Granddad's African mammal art. Inlayed wood trays. Not just me - big one's obsession with elephants and giraffes is genetic. We just have Kenya in our blood, handed down through my great grandfather who wanted more than anything to see Africa. I'm the fourth generation to make the pilgrimage to the grasslands. Scraped by on mac n' cheese for a year in college to save for the trip. I had to go. And I had to go back as soon as the plane lifted from the Kenyan tarmac.

{Child memories are funny things. Of all the pieces in my grandparents' bedroom, the piece I remember: Figment, the Imaginary Dragon - a stuffed toy from Epcot. Why did my child brain latch onto that? It still sits in their bedroom. I laugh.}

My most valued treasure from my grandparents - Grandmother's Bible. That Bible sits with my mom's and mine. A legacy of faith - the plumb line of my family. This is what I want to carry home for my girls. This is what lasts. Afternoons spent on vinyl deck chairs practicing the 23rd Psalm and the catechism with Grandmother. Her faith taught to this younger woman to be carried on for generations. One day, I hope big one and small one add their Bibles to the pile and thank the Lord for generations of His grace.

Never mind bank accounts and collections, net worth. Faith is the inheritance, the only inheritance that lasts.

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness throughout generations. You do not forget your people. You do not leave them hopeless and alone. You uphold us with your righteous right hand and grace our grandchildren. Praise the Lord!

He is Risen!

Eggs soak in bright pink and purple bowls. Small reminders of life hidden inside an inert shell. Handheld picture of the tomb...

Our final story for Easter Week - Can you guess it?

He Is Risen from Luke 24 and John 20

This is the story from God's word: Mary had been sick for a long time. No one could make her better. Until she met Jesus. He healed her body and her heart. Mary loved Jesus and worked hard to help Jesus and his disciples.

But now, Jesus was dead, buried in a tomb that was sealed with a heavy stone. In Jesus' day, mourners brought expensive perfume to graves to help with the smell. It showed respect for the dead man's body. Mary woke up early Sunday morning to take perfume to Jesus.

When she arrived, the heavy stone was rolled back, exposing the cave. When she looked in, Jesus was not in the tomb at all, only the sheet he was wrapped in. Mary was heartbroken. She couldn't even take care of Jesus one last time. Two men from God saw her crying and asked, Why did you come to a grave to look for someone who's alive? Jesus isn't laying dead in a tomb. He's alive!

Mary thought the men were crazy. Dead people didn't walk out of graves. But then she heard a familiar voice, Mary. She turned around and saw Jesus, alive! She threw her arms around Jesus.  If Jesus could make his death right, He could make everything right. All sin and all pain and all death. This was the beginning of God's new kingdom. That's the end of our story.

If you used these stories, please tell me about it.

The Great Race

How dark must Saturday have felt? All hope wrongfully buried deep in a cave, hidden behind an immovable boulder. Waiting for another traitor to lead soldiers and pharisees to arrest key followers. Wondering if they were about to face a false trial, hidden behind closed doors. Or would they be left alone? No direction, no leader, no jobs, no family, no Jesus. No wonder the disciples hid in despair.

They'd seen Lazarus walk out of a tomb. But Jesus was there to call him. What happens when Jesus is the one in the tomb? When the untouchable teacher who calms raging waves is so completely beaten? He didn't even defend himself. As if he had determined his death before they even arrested him.

In light of the despair of that Saturday long ago, our teachable story is one to combat the dark days, a story of great hope, taken from Hebrews 12:1-3:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of 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 from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary or lose heart.

Team Work

The Great Race

This is the story from God's word. All around us, a race {run with your arms} is being run. A very long race over steep hills and low valleys. It's a race that God designed for all of his people to run. Sometimes, on the steep hills, the runners get so tired that they want to quit. But God has given them a special power {flex muscles} so that they can keep running. This power is called faith. And faith grows unbreakably strong when runners run together.

To make sure that no runner is ever left alone, God gave his special people stories of other faithful people. Like Abraham and Moses, who risked everything they cared about to obey God. They trusted God's big promise to send Jesus as their deliverer. When we think about other people's faith, it makes our faith stronger.

Even better, we have the story of Jesus. The only way people could walk and talk with God again was if perfect Jesus accepted all the punishment for their sin. Jesus only thought about how wonderful this reunion would be, like a shepherd's party after finding his lost lamb. He focused on that celebration as he was punished for everyone else. When we think about Jesus' faith, it makes our faith stronger.

With our super power of faith, strengthened by other people, we can run hard and finish the long race {throw arms out}. At the finish line is a huge party with all of the other faithful runners. The party never ends, as we celebrate the race with Jesus. This is the end of the story.

If you use the stories, please tell me about it.

The Death of the King

In East Tennessee, our thorns are briars - blackberries and roses. Scratched skin, snagged clothing - uncomfortable but not dangerous. In Kenya, thorn has a different reality. Spines, spears, needles - 3 inch inflexible shafts ending in razor points. Meant to deter herds of grazers from destroying the few desperate leaves that grow in the months of dry. The shame and pain of the crown Jesus wore on earth could be felt on any acacia tree.

Artist - Bill Timm

source

Our next story {Day 5 of Easter Week} What other story can you tell on Good Friday? The Death of Jesus Matthew 26:26-27:61, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, John 16-19

This is the story from God's word: Jesus and his best friends sat around a large table, celebrating the day God's special people left Egypt. Jesus was preparing them for what was about to happen:

Soon, he said, You will not see me anymore. I am going to be with God. When I do, I will make everything new. But I won't leave you alone. I am sending a special,  perfect helper to you. His disciples were confused, but they didn't say anything.

Then Jesus led them to their favorite garden. Like the first garden, a betrayal was about to happen. While Jesus was praying, one of his friends showed up with an army to arrest him, even though Jesus had never done anything wrong.

An angry court listened to lying witnesses and convicted Jesus of crimes he never committed. They sentenced him to death. As he died, he looked at the people around him and loved them. He prayed, Lord, forgive them. Then he accepted the punishment for all their disobedience from God, all the way back to Eve's fruit and on as long as time. Then he cried out, It is finished because he had done everything God asked him to do.

His friends came and buried him in a cave. Then they rolled a big rock in front of the cave door and sealed it up. They ran away and hid thinking that this was the end of Jesus. That's the end of our story.

If you used the stories, please tell me about it.

The Good Keeper

Another teachable story, a parable that introduces Jesus and his ministry. This story is to be told on Day 4 of Passion Week.

Tonight at dinner, big one told us the "serpent story," hitting every point. Small one helped with the hand motions. Favorite lines like "he spoke a lie!" and "God sent them out of the garden" {with wide sweeping arms} are acted out over and over. A very proud moment for me and encouragement to keep writing, keep telling. They are learning, more than I expected.

"The Good Shepherd" Jane Ladik

Day 4: The Good Shepherd Luke 15:2-7, John 10:1-18

This is the story from God's word: Once there was a man who took care of a flock of sheep. Every day he carefully led his sheep into the hills and picked a safe, good place for them to eat. Every night he faithfully led them back to their pen, where he slept by the gate to guard them. He loved his sheep, and all his sheep knew him and followed the sound of his voice.

One day when the flock was eating on a safe hill, a little lamb wandered off, leaving the good keeper and the flock behind. He walked so far that he could not remember the way back. Soon night fell. In the dark, the sheep was frightened and cried out, "Help!" Out of the darkness, the keeper appeared. He was so excited to see the little lamb that he scooped him into his arms and carried the lamb all the way back to the pen. When they returned home, the keeper threw a party with all his friends to celebrate the lamb's safe return.

This good keeper loved his sheep and risked everything to find his lost lamb. This good keeper is Jesus who loves his people and risked everything to make them safe. When his people cried for help, Jesus left his great throne in heaven, walked along a dark hill and delivered his people forever. That's the end of the story.

{This is not a hand motion heavy story, but I think it is easy to act out as you tell it.}

I remember learning this story when I was little, not much older than big one. The scared sheep calling from a rocky ledge while the good shepherd scours the hills to bring him home. I felt the desperation for the reunion. An aha! moment for me as a baby christian.

Jesus' original audience were the 99 sheep, probably offended that the shepherd left them alone to look for one foolish lamb. But for the foolish lamb, the tax collectors and sinners Jesus was so fond of, this story is life itself. Praise the Lord that I was counted with the foolish lamb, that the angels rejoiced upon my safe return!

If you use the stories, please tell me about it.

God's Big Promise

I'm sorry the timing of my teachable story posts has been so confusing. I'm trying to stay two steps ahead, so you can stay one step ahead. Here's the layout for Passion Week teaching so far:

Day 1 {today} Creation
Day 2 {tomorrow} the Fall.
Day 3 {Wednesday} God's Big Promise Genesis 12, Exodus 1, 3-4, 7-12, Deuteronomy 6:4-7, 30:15-20

Context: Adam had many sons and many grandsons and many great grandsons, on and on. Most of his sons did not love God, but one son, Abraham, was loved by God and loved God back. God promised {right index finger to lips, change to a flat hand as you bring to meet left fist ASL for 'promise'} Abraham that he would always love Abraham's sons and grandsons and great grandsons. They would be God's special people. Best of all, God promised that one of Abraham's grandsons would deliver {sweep your flat hand up, as if lifting} the whole world. 

This is the story from God's word: Now Abraham's great, great, great grandchildren, the people God loved, were all slaves {encircle your wrist with your other hand} in a far off land, Egypt. Their lives were very hard, and they cried for someone to deliver them. God heard them. He told a shepherd named Moses to go to Egypt and tell the king to 'Let God's special people go!'  God was going to deliver his special people from slavery, and Moses was going to lead them home.

Moses walked up to the king in Egypt and told him to let God's special people go. The king said, 'No,' {shake head} so God sent punishments to change the king's mind. But the king still said 'No' {cross arms while shaking head}. Finally, God told Moses that he was going to kill the firstborn son of everyone in Egypt, even the king. But He would deliver his special people, if they took the blood from a lamb and painted their doors with it. When his people obeyed, God's messenger passed over their houses, leaving them safe.

 After God's final punishment, the king let God's special people go. God's people danced and sang to God as they followed Moses toward their home. God had delivered them. When they set up camp, God explained his big promise to them. He told them that if they would love Him more than anything that He would give them a home and protect them. But if they loved other things more than God, He would punish them and take away their home. Finally, he reminded them of his big promise to Abraham: one day, God would send Jesus, and He would deliver God's special people forever. That's the end of the story.

 Days 4-7 are forthcoming. Tim and I are still deciding exactly how to arrange them and which passages to focus on. Please pray for our wisdom as we work through these stories.

As always, feedback is appreciated!

Rejoicing in the Upswing

Another mother-daughter weekend. Spring is time for school vacations and youth trips. And time for we girls to play together, bond over something besides household chores.

So, we visited the park. Situated under a stand of pines, we climbed and swung in a green fog {could account for the stuffy sinuses and sore throats}.

 Unsure of the swing at first...

 One big push later, exaltation in anti-gravity

The drama of the swing's fall makes the upturn that much more joyous. Our hearts the same. 

If you sin is small, your savior must be small also. But if you're sin is great, your savior must be great. 
~Charles H. Spurgeon

Our hearts are preparing this sacred week. Searching the soul to expose the depth of our fall, so that we might rejoice in the unimaginable height of His glorious grace. 

Our Creating God

We're having a beautiful, albeit pollen-filled day. The girls played long, arms pink and hair curling in the humidity. Peer pressure tells me to mow, but dandelions tucked behind ears speak louder. Let the flowers grow, and the let the little ones exalt in simple beauty. Our perfectly creative God hides tiny petals in all colors among the blades of grass for little fingers to search out.

Spring beauty reminds me that I owe stories, namely the creation story, for the storytelling project. The first Teachable Story, the story of our creative God from Genesis 1 and 2.

This is the story from God's word: In the beginning, there was nothing {make a zero with hand}. But God was there! He looked at the nothing, and {hold up one finger} God said, Light. He separated day and night, and God said, That's good. The next day {hold up two fingers}, God said, Sky.  He separated earth and heaven, and God said, That's good. The next day {hold up 3 fingers}, God said, Land, Plants.  He separated the ocean and the land, and God said, That's good. The next day {hold up 4 fingers}, God said, Sun, Moon, Stars. He filled the day and night, and God said, That's good. The next day {hold up 5 fingers}, God said, Birds, Fish. He filled the sky and seas, and God said, That's good. The next day, {hold up 6 fingers}, God said, Animals. He filled the land, and God said, That's good. Now that everything was full, God had one more thing to make: Man. God didn't speak this time; He formed dirt to make the man, Adam, and God breathed {blow into your palm} to give him life. Then God created a perfect helper for him, Eve. Adam and Eve were special because they could walk and talk with God. And God said, That's very good. The next day {hold up 7 fingers}, God was finished creating, so He rested. That's the end of the story.

Please give me feedback. Is there anything I need to include or exclude? Do the memory cues work {hand signals, repeated verbal patterns}? Did I slip "church language" in there without realizing it? Is it short enough? Do you have a better way to describe how Adam and Eve are special? Let me know in the comments section.

**Ashley's corrections have been made. Thanks again!

Teachable Stories

The guest pastor scrapped his lesson this week. Decided not to pressure the congregation to enter the mission field on the morning we were sending missionaries out. Instead, he taught us how to teach stories. I found this fascinating and helpful for a Momma wanting to impart the Bible to children. So I thought I would share it with all the Mommas {even the baby-less ones} here.

Team Expansion studied how cultures with oral histories pass stories from one generation to another. They likened the story to a full cup of water passed on carefully. No room to add anything. Rim full, so you must pay attention not to lose any either.

The prep work
These are not accidental stories, made up on the spot, but carefully crafted, intentional tales, meant to be repeated precisely so that the truth is not lost. A group familiar with the original story work together to construct a complete story that is:

• Accurate {of utmost importance with scripture}
• Contextualized to the audience {drop the religious buzz words, i.e. use 'close followers' instead of 'disciples'}
• Transferable {trying to start a chain reaction of information}
• Simple {less than 3 minutes}

Local Ministry

I don't know how to introduce this thought. Every intro is followed by the delete key. So I'll just say that I was tremendously encouraged by what I read in 1 Thessalonians. Paul laid out his ministry step by step, a checklist for parents with a toddling mission field. I found myself praying through this passage and wanted to share it with you.

Stuff I'm excited about...

I'm excited today.

I'm excited about the dessert that's under the broiler right now - pear halves with goat cheese, sprinkled  with butter, cinnamon and sugar. Oh my!

I'm excited about my new glasses. I've never had glasses before so I just experienced the "oh my gosh, I can see" feeling that comes with trying on glasses for the first time. I'm headache free today for the first time in two weeks. Yea for curved glass.

I'm excited about playing at my sister's wedding. While "Clair De Lune" is no joke and I have a lot of practice ahead of me, it makes me happy that Sarah wants to hear it on the big day.

I'm excited after having a productive day. Between potty training and headaches, I forgot how much work I can get done in a day. With spring upon us and the landlords coming for dinner this week, I'm on a cleaning streak. So nice to feel like I'm getting the house under control again.

Most of all (saved the best for last), I'm excited about God. I'm not always most excited about God, unfortunately, but today, I'm really excited. So what has me so excited? God uses really screwed up people to do really awesome kingdom work. Consider the cast of characters:

Moses - murderer and fugitive with a speech impediment who led the Israelites for 40 years

Gideon - the cowardly farmer who took 300 men into battle against 10,000... and won!

David - the baby of the family, the shepherd and artist who became the greatest king Israel ever had

Daniel - the slave boy in a foreign country who became chief advisor to the most powerful man in the world

Paul - He hunted and killed Christians before becoming the greatest Christian missionary of all time

As for the girls,

Esther - also a captive in a strange land who became queen of a huge empire and saved the Jews from extinction by serving three dinners

Elizabeth - the old, barren woman who gave birth to the greatest profit of all time, John the Baptist - who had a beard bigger than DH's, ate bugs, lived in the desert and was called the greatest man in history by Jesus Christ

How can we not love the Bible with characters like this in stories so huge?! How can we not be encouraged by the mighty way God uses not just ordinary but unlikely people to accomplish huge feats?

That's why I'm excited!