A life of storm and sunshine

Young woman preaching

I met three wonderful women in ministry yesterday. They're living life on the edge, in the midst of storms and sunshine.

1. On the phone, I talked to a recent graduate of NU. She's a part-time pastor, looking for a full-time post in children's ministry. "What do you like about your job?" I asked her.

"I love everything about it!" she enthused. "I love the children, I love the church, and I love being in ministry."

We talked about the opportunities and challenges of starting out with a heart called to serve as God's minister. She's stepping out into the life of ministry.

2. At my home. An MA student and female minister, working on the history of the Assemblies of God and its female ministers, spent the afternoon in my office. She browsed through my resources.

Powerful preaching

I felt so grateful for the women who studied and wrote ... and then shared their files, dissertations, and insights with me. I'm merely passing on what was passed on to me. It's a pleasure to hand over the goods to the next generation. This gal is walking strongly along the path of ministry.

3. At Starbucks. A treasured mentor and retired missionary spent a few hours telling me about her calling and ministry. I was thrilled to hear how God directed and sustained her, her husband, and her four kids.

I can't wait to write a sketch on her life for our credentialed women's newsletter. What a privilege to be a writer when such stories are waiting to be retold! This creative and resourceful pioneer has carved a path of faith.

Ordained women pastors in China

Three generations of women called and serving in ministry. I'm clinging on the fourth rung, wedged between the others. I'm looking on and cheering, glad that the Spirit fell on men and women for the proclamation of the Good News. (Click here for a video of women preaching.)

If you felt called to ministry, please tell us about it!

Read more:
*But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;" Isaiah 43:1-3a  NKJV

*Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
*Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2

Moravian Prayer: Jesus, our redeemer, thank you for dying to save sinners; grant us courage to share the salvation story with those who are still lost. Blind our eyes and hearts from race, color, or creed.

Savior, thank you for your grace and mercy. We intercede today on behalf of all nations asking that this year we will surrender ourselves to you that you may melt and mold us into your likeness. In your name we pray. Amen.

Promises fulfilled...

It's Boxing Day, the day after Christmas Day. Another year with the  hoopla of buying and wrapping gifts, rearranging and cleaning, cooking and serving the feast (or feasts, for some). What a wonderful reminder of God's promises, kept through Jesus our Lord.

One year, we gave our children a gift on Christmas Eve, another Christmas Day, and one for each of the 12 Orthodox Days of Christmas. That Christmas lasted a long time. (We did that once. When I was young. And had energy to burn!)

This year, our celebration with family filled Christmas Eve. The kids gave me my gifts early, as requested: dozens of little serving dishes. Our square bamboo plates corralled individual servings of traditional and new foods.

Everyone had to pitch in this year. Jonathan helped more than I can remember any of our kids doing, including baking fresh pretzels and rye bread. Yum yum. W smoked a 20 lb turkey - especially delicious ... an indulgence for me (mostly vegan). The grandmas baked and brought delicious cookies and Nanaimo bars. Veges, breads, desserts... a feast medieval kings couldn't have imagined.

W "shops" electronics all year. Our kids choose numbers to pick unwrapped presents from a lotto-box... this year included remote helicopters, an IPod Shuffle, cables and LED flashlights, earbuds, and who knows what else. Since I have not shopped, the stockings were a bit bare. (Yay for super-Santa and his loot!)

Family and friends from Canada and the US joined us. We all like each other and get along, so holidays are full of laughter, memories, and love. What fun it is to see the next generation of little kids come into the circle, getting to know Grandmama and Grandpapa (great-grandparents). W brought our daughter Kirsten home for the day from skilled-nursing care. (Her recovery is on track; she comes home today after almost 3 weeks in hospital and post-surgery care.) We missed one brother and his family in Switzerland and Germany and nieces in Winnipeg and California (love you!)

We traditionally read the Christmas story in 11 parts and sing a matching carol between readings. We randomly pass out scripts, and then read them in chronological order. One of the little guys hopped on my lap to pound out his version of the carols on the piano as I accompanied the singing. [If you'd like a copy of the readings&carols, send a request to rosemee@hotmail.com.]

Like last year, some attendees had never experienced a big family Christmas where everyone gets along. Hopefully, they'll have ideas for recreating Christmas for their own families in years to come.

Phone calls that don't come as promised, money that disappears, and offers of help that don't materialize. They're all part of our human experience. Unlike promises we make and break to each other, God never reneges on what he offers us. Though we don't experience perfect healing, trouble-free relationships, or painless negotiations through life, He remains constant.

Christmas is proof of God's love and faithfulness, a Savior given at the right time for the salvation of humanity. Have you experienced the joy of that encompassing love? If not, I'd love to introduce you to the faithful One.

Read more:
*And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  So he came by the Spirit into the temple.

And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2:25-32 NKJV

Worshipping Calvin. Or not.

One of this morning's blogs mentioned that the writer and a theologian met over breakfast "to discuss Calvinism." God has told us to think deeply about his ways in the world, but really... I got to thinking, why is their topic Calvin's doctrines? 

Why not meet to discuss Jesus? Or why not meet to discuss God? And see how the conversation unfolds?

Supper with Jess and Jeff, a couple of our friends, is grand. My husband and I eagerly anticipate time with them.We eat at nice places that feel like splurges because of great food. My senses of taste and texture, smell and seeing, feel heightened and we are fully sated when the evening is done. 

But it's not just that we all like good restaurants. It's not just the friendly company that stimulates us. W and I have talked this over many times before and after our visits. "We love spending time with Jess and Jeff. Isn't it fun to spend time with people when every conversation turns to God?"

Friends of W or me know we have broad areas of interest. When something takes our fancy, we read and read and read about it. We love research. For us, knowing is more than half the fun. Hence, those 30 books beside our bed... on Robert Gurney's contemporary architecture or 1 Corinthians or birch bark canoes.

Lately though, both of us are splashing through scripture, wading through the Word, and gorging ourselves on God's truth. I listen to the Bible read aloud a few times a day. W's read the Bible through many times since Spring, cover to cover. 

"What do you get out of it?"  I asked him, hopeful for a tidbit or tasty spiritual morsel. "What have you learned?"

"Ah, that's not a valid question, because that's not the point," he replied. "I read for immersion, not to learn or to look for answers or to prove a theology. I'm reading because God gave his Word to us."

Likewise, when we eat with Jess and Jeff, we're not just filling our stomachs. Without exception, talk turns to the wonders of God among us. The surprises in the world He has made. The whys and hows and wherefores that tantalize us from scripture. The riddles and mysteries and revelations that make serving Jesus an ongoing adventure!

It could be a crushing bore, except that God comes to meet us, time after time. We breathe in his presence, and adrenaline starts to flow in the lively exchanges. People at neighboring tables often lean in to listen. When we fold the napkins beside our plates, wave away desert, push the chairs in, and walk out through the foyer to the car, we're just bursting with fresh amazement at the goodness of God.

Do you cultivate friends like this? If you don't have a Jeff and Jess, get thee to church or a small group. Listen to find someone who loves God (so much that their whole life is a hunt to know Him better). It may take a while, years even, to search out those intentional and maturing disciples of Christ. Be someone like that, too. You'll rarely have a better time, or go to sleep more satiated, than after a physical and spiritual meal together! 

Read more:
*The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the LORD in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name—he is holy. Psalm 99:1-3 NIV

*As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV

*Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3 NIV 

Eternal peace or insecurity?

My husband is writing a paper on the idea of "once saved, always saved," an issue that seems contentious at worst, confusing at best. How nice to have a theologian in the house - his work and passion to know God inspire me to a closer walk with God, too.

I read Scripture this morning, still mulling over last night's conversation about some theologians who want to give us peace in following Jesus. They so passionately want us not to fear that we'll "lose our salvation" that they are willing to say, "If you've ever made a commitment to Christ, you're safe, no matter how badly you behave thereafter." ("Hell be damned, I'm gonna live like the devil because I'm in!") Other teachers are so worried of us sinning that they say, "If we fall away, we deceived ourselves and were actually never saved in the first place." ("Holy insecurity!")

Yet I read in God's Word:
         Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.  So shall it be! Amen.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:4-8 NIV

Here's what I understand:

• God, holy and magnificent above what we can grasp, is utterly terrifying to humanity.
• Our Maker restored the possibility of a relationship between us, based not on our merits or works, but on his amazing provision through a Sacrifice that satisfies his justice and demonstrates his love.
• Woohoo! We are free; we live in harmony and beauty; we are pardoned from anything we have done or will do. (Yeah, my heart is dancing with joy!)
• When he comes back, we will understand the past, present, and future grace and peace he extends to us. THAT will be a celebration unlike any other for those who love him. (In contrast, the realization will be an unthinkable horror for those who rejected him.)
• It's an honor to live as God's kings and priests among our fellows, inviting them by words and by peaceful, moral, exuberant lives, into relationship with our God.
• God will examine how we lived and reward us in absolute justice, according to our choice to live in him or spurn his friendship.

Am I insecure? Can I lose intimacy with God like a letter I drop on the way to the post office? Nope, I'm safe in the hands of a mighty Lord who keeps me. However, he expects me to press in, to align with his character, and to serve him and others as his emissary. He also lovingly allows me to walk away and reject him, even when that means I deliberately choose to end our relationship.

We choose Life! To THE ONE, who was, is, and is to come, be glory, honor, power, dominion, authority, praise... over all, and in you and me... as we worship with right living and joyful retelling of his goodness. AMEN.

Renewal as summer ends...

Enjoy the end of summer with us! Here's a prayer for the renewal of Christ's church around the world, as universities begin their academic calendar, as work vacations end, and as children go back to school. (The tune is chosen from Hymnal.Net. You may listen to it using the player.)

Lord of the Church, We Pray for Our Renewing

Lord of the church, we pray for our renewing:
Christ over all, our undivided aim.
Fire of the Spirit, burn for our enduing,
wind of the Spirit, fan the living flame!
We turn to Christ amid our fear and failing,
the will that lacks the courage to be free,
the weary labours, all but unavailing,
to bring us nearer what a church should be.

Lord of the church, we seek a Father’s blessing,
a true repentance and a faith restored,
a swift obedience and a new possessing,
filled with the Holy Spirit of the Lord!
We turn to Christ from all our restless striving,
unnumbered voices with a single prayer:
the living water for our souls’ reviving,
in Christ to live, and love and serve and care.

Lord of the church, we long for our uniting,
true to one calling, by one vision stirred;
one cross proclaiming and one creed reciting,
one in the truth of Jesus and his word.
So lead us on; till toil and trouble ended,
one church triumphant one new song shall sing,
to praise his glory, risen and ascended,
Christ over all, the everlasting King!

Timothy Dudley-Smith
Words © 1984 Hope Publishing Company