"You Have to Be Carefully Taught"

The title of this song from the musical, "South Pacific," came to mind as I sat watching the Nashville Christmas parade last Friday. Children have to be carefully taught prejudice, because they don't inherit the hate gene through the birth process.

On both sides of my front-row chair at the parade were two boys ages 3 and 1. Each sat in the lap of a parent from an Arabian country. The father is studying at Vanderbilt. We had gotten to know them through an international student program at Vanderbilt.

I played with the 3-year-old and held the baby. Neither was at all concerned that I am Caucasian. In fact, the baby "made eyes at me" and gave me so many smiles I wanted to take him home with me.

Then an unexpected thing happened. Standing behind me was another little boy of African-American heritage. Probably around 4-years-old, he could barely see the parade between the chairs. Impulsively, I asked his parents if he could come sit in my lap so he could see better. They agreed and lifted him overhead, where he sat on my lap for probably an hour!

Again, the little boy didn't ask why a white woman was holding him. In fact, he was completely absorbed in the parade. We tapped our hands and feet as the bands marched by, and he only occasionally looked back to see if Mom and Dad were still there.

The scene reminded me of a time 40+ years ago when my husband pastored an inner-city mission church as a seminary student. One day I was sitting on the porch steps holding an African-American baby. A little girl came up to me and asked, "Is that your baby?"

Her question was a perfect reflection of a heart not yet hardened by a color-conscious society, where ethnicity decides for us who we like and with whom we socialize. What a travesty to judge people by the color of their skin or their native tongue!

This Christmas sing along with me, "Jesus Loves the Little Children of the World." I know it's not a Christmas song, but it should be! After all, Christmas would have no meaning if Jesus had not come to save us ALL from our sins.

On Ants and Grasshoppers

As I walked Lily this morning (Coco is getting a new "do" at the groomer), I noticed that the multiple ant hills on our regular route are dormant: no little red dots scurrying across the sidewalk carrying their tiny burdens. Lily, who has a habit of sticking her nose into other creatures' business, paid the hills no mind.

A Bible verse came to me, probably because I'm reading Proverbs at present in my quiet time. Proverbs 6:6, "Go to the ant ... consider its ways and be wise," reminds us to be diligent in providing for our families, and like the ant, to store up for a rainy day.

Then I remembered one of my childhood favorite stories, "The Grasshopper and the Ants." I played the record (yes, one of those platters that went round and round!) endlessly. I loved hearing how the poor grasshopper, who hadn't planned for the winter, was taken in by the industrious ants. Out of the cold and into the warmth of the ants' little home, the grasshopper was spared from starvation. Of course, the grasshopper learned his lesson: like a good Boy Scout, be prepared!

Our nation is presently in a quandary as to what to do with the nation's poor. What is a Christian response to the fact that the poverty rate has risen, and more people are on food stamps? Should we cross examine every person who comes to a food pantry to determine his or her worthiness? Or do we care for everyone, no questions asked?

I like to think of these matters as paradoxes. On the one hand, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat," said the apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:10. On the other hand, we read dozens of verses from both the Old and New Testaments about God's concern for the poor. Jesus described His sheep as those who feed and clothe the hungry (Matt. 25:35-36). In fact, the least little kindness is considered "as unto Christ." Note that no mention is made of whether these are the "worthy" poor.

At the same time, do we truly "help" if we are enabling persons to spend food money on drugs, alcohol, or gambling? Or even on junk food, gum, or soft drinks!

This is not an abstract question for me. For several years I directed a church-based ministry that sought to ferret out the truly needy from hucksters and slackers. Twenty years later, when I returned to visit the ministry, I found my case file #1 was still open! Some family dynamics seem never to change.

I would rather err on the side of helping than withholding. (I often did "err.") But I also refused help to those who lived off the hard work of others. I wish society would spend more dollars on social workers than sports stadiums!

My advice? As our nation gets ready to celebrate "Make a Difference Day," find one specific step you can take to help a family in need. Ask your pastor or staff person for a recommendation. After all, we live in the "Volunteer State."

Everything I Needed to Know, I've Learned from My Dogs

My two malti-poos squabble like typical siblings. It occurred to me at breakfast this morning that they are much like Christ's disciples. Coco started the fuss by trying to eat Lily's food. She always prefers what Lily eats because Lily is older and thus Mama's favorite. Whatever Lily gets surely must be the best!

In reality, Lily is on a low-fat canned dog food for, shall we say, plump dogs. Lily's food comes from the vet's office, but personally speaking, it's pretty lame. On the other hand, Coco's food is full of protein. Since she's still considered a puppy, she needs a calorie-laden diet. Coco should love her food; after all, Lily does.

Yes, I mean Lily. Lily sneaks around and eats Coco's food behind my back. Her increasing girth gives her away, even if I hadn't caught her "in the act." Now, I understand why Lily eats Coco's food. It's tasty and fattening! What I don't understand is why Coco tries to eat Lily's.

I've thought about this paradigm a lot since Coco took up residence eight months ago, right from the breeder's arms into ours. "She loves her food," the breeder assured me. Yeah, right! Right until she saw that she had a choice.

I'm reminded of Adam and Eve in the garden: wanting what they can't have, assuming the divine Parent has deprived them for no good reason, and taking matters into their own hands. My doggie-girls, like modern-day disciples, want what others have, even if it's not good for them. And, we too can't believe a loving God would keep us from having our desires!

I've tried to explain to Lily that Coco's food isn't appropriate for her. She cocks her head as if to say, "But I like it. You are withholding blessings from me." And my sweet baby Coco is determined to eat "what the big kids get."

Mama knows best, I've told them, recounting the many ways I take care of them. Why don't they trust me? Why don't I trust God? Maybe if I'm a better disciple, living by faith in God's goodness and provision, my girls will get the hint.

Unfortunately, Lily and Coco don't have a new nature in Christ. They still live in a dog-eat-dog world (sorry, I couldn't resist). Father, help me with my envy of others. May I accept what you have for me, your kid, unconditionally loved.

The Real Deal: Being Authentic in an Inauthentic World

I was in graduate school and slightly in love. Well, maybe a lot in love. But I kept to the high school maxim: "Never let him see you in curlers with no makeup." Supposedly, if you revealed your true self (or face), your true love would high-tail it to the woods and never be seen again.

So with hair perfectly coiffed and a carefully chosen outfit, I met my date in the front lobby of the dorm (yes, a dorm), and we headed out to his church van full of teenagers from his part-time pastorate. The plan was to take them to eat at a fast-food place and then head downtown to a statewide youth evangelist event.

At the burger place, I bit down on something hot, followed by a cold drink from my soda. The combination was unfortunate for the crown on one of my front teeth. It cracked along the back side and was hanging by a thread.

How do you bring up the fact that you have two capped teeth to someone you are dating? "Oh, by the way, do you see these two fake teeth? Ha, ha." I didn't know how to handle my embarrassment, much less in front of the teenagers (who are as a sub-set of the population notoriously cruel).

So, I did the only thing I knew to do. I rushed toward the van and told him to take me back to the dorm--no explanation, no details. Just take me back. He left the kids to finish their meal, and when we got back to the dorm, I fled up the steps without so much as a goodbye kiss. I called my dentist, who agreed to meet me the next day at his office.

I didn't have to worry about never seeing my date again. We had already made plans to go to his parents' house for the weekend for my very first visit! Now his mother would see my temporary cap and my other front tooth and ask her son, "What were you thinking?"

I worried about "my first impression" (no pun intended) all weekend. No one asked about my smile. I left the house feeling relieved that I hadn't left one or the other tooth in a piece of steak. Nobody seemed the wiser.

Shortly thereafter my true love and I announced our engagement, and the "tooth fairy" shined down on us until years later when I broke another crown!

Why couldn't I have just made a joke of my situation on that awful night at the fast food restaurant? Why was I afraid I'd be judged by my appearance, or lose my boyfriend over a slight imperfection? More importantly, why do I still hide out when it comes to letting my imperfections be known?

I even play that game with God. Somehow the Creator of the Universe isn't going to figure out I'm faking it in worship, or acting more pious than I am, or being nice to someone I really can't stand. Somehow the Almighty will be impressed with my "Sunday self." Oh, God, help me be real, especially with You."

Precious Moments

The document verifies the date: 42 years. How could Sim and I have been married that long? Why, it seems like only yesterday we were battling over important life issues such as "When is bedtime?" and "How much stuff is one allowed to stack in one's closet?" In fact, it was yesterday. And the year before that and the year before that—well, you get the picture.

"They say" opposites attract, and I suppose we prove the adage. I'm structured; he's spontaneous. I like neat; he likes everything out where it can be seen. I'm an introvert; he never met a stranger. I am by nature contemplative; Sim thinks on his feet.

We always said, mostly in jest, that we stayed together because of the kids—whoever left had to take them with him or her! So, on our anniversary night, it seemed appropriate to invite our youngest, Mark, to join us for the festivities. He brought us a card that reminded, "A life together is made up of loving, silly, important moments, but mostly, moments with each other."

Three friends have recently lost their mates. Today, Sim and I have precious moments together. I hope we don't waste any of them.

Barbed Wire for Fun and Eternal Profit

Entering the office of seminary professor Dr. LeRoy Ford, I was immediately struck by the different strands of barbed wire decoratively placed around the walls of the small room. I was in my first semester as a religious education student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The year was 1967.

Following my eyes and sensing the question forming on my lips, Dr. Ford explained that he had joined a barbed wire collector's club in Fort Worth. Perhaps he was reared on a farm, I thought. But after a little gentle probing (we shared the trait of curiosity), he explained that he had joined the group as an opportunity to witness.

My next thought was that I had just met "The Nutty Professor."

"I don't get to know many unsaved people," Dr. Ford continued. "This seemed like a good place to meet a few." Stunned by his creative approach to evangelism, I would soon discover LeRoy had a creative approach to everything.

He loved photography, skilled in picturing flowers and other wonders of nature. He relished the Mexican culture and studied all things Aztec. He was a Baptist historian, a talented cartoonist, an artful editor, and the author of several books.

LeRoy supervised my doctoral dissertation. He got me my first writing assignment with the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay). I took every course he offered, including his very first practicum on curriculum design. I modeled my teaching, curriculum writing, and editing on the skills, instruction, and values of LeRoy Ford.

Our earthly friendship of 45 years ended yesterday. Dr. Ford died July 9, 2012, after a short stay in the hospital. I already miss him.

LeRoy is survived by his talented wife Jeanette, an archivist and author in her own right, children and grandchildren, and hundreds of students. I was his favorite, I tell myself, smugly. We all thought we were. He made everyone feel special.

Freedom from Religion?

As we approach Independence Day, I'm confused about a group known as the Freedom from Religion Foundation. It promotes non-religion—that is, the right not to believe in God. I guess I'm confused because the right not to believe is a belief! This group believes there is not a supreme being.

But the Freedom from Religion Foundation does not call atheism a religion because then the foundation would have to free itself from itself. However, atheism is a belief system. Atheism purports to answer the questions: where did I come from? (a one-celled amoeba) What's wrong with the world? (religion) What's the meaning of life? (leave it better than it was) Where do I go when I die? (nowhere) It fails to answer what "better" would look like because, of course, truth to them is relative. But I digress. For a fuller treatment of this subject, read chapter 6 of my book, When Christ Sets You Free.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation actively seeks to eliminate religion from secular society—schools, the airways, the halls of Congress and state legislatures, and the military, to name a few. Its lawyers sue to stop public prayers and other displays of religion, such as manger scenes on public lawns. Of course, it also wants to express freely its right to win converts to its position, or-er-belief in nonbelief.

If the U.S. were "free" from religion, we would then only be "free" to practice non-religion. We would have to live as though we were not religious—except in our churches, synagogues, and mosques.

I think I've just described Communist Russia, where the religious were only allowed to practice their faiths in a few state-sanctioned churches—churches that abided by the rules imposed on them. This is still the case in Communist China.

This way of life is not appreciably different from the many countries that allow only one state-sanctioned religion. For example, you are only "free" to be a Muslim.

I'm beginning to wonder if freedom from religion isn't religious oppression. Methinks this Independence Day, I'm going to thank God for freedom to worship in America. I may not have many more opportunities.

It's a Plot!

The Writer’s Plot Writing Conference
The Story Continues...
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Furman University
3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville, SC 29613

Keynote Speaker: Harold Underdown
Early Bird Special Price: $80 until June 16th
Regular Price (after June 16th): $100
Manuscript Critique: $45 (first 10 pages)
Special Critique with Harold Underdown for rejected manuscript consultation: $45 (first 10 pages)
Deadline for submission: June 16th

Register online: www.thewritersplot.com
10% discount for TWP members for all prices

Presenters include:

Harold Underdown – consulting editor, former vice president & editorial director at ipicturebooks, former editorial director at Charlesbridge, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books

Edie Melson – social media marketing expert, author of best-selling ebook, Social Media Marketing for Writers and a devotional, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle

Vonda Skelton – author of Seeing Through the Lies (for women), three Bitsy Burroughs Mysteries (for children), and numerous magazine articles for adults

Patricia Thomas – author of 7 picture books, including “Stand Back,” said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!” as well as numerous magazine articles and short stories

Pam Zollman – award-winning author of 40 children’s books, hundreds of short stories and articles (for adults and children), and former editor at Highlights Magazine.

Alan Gratz – award-winning author of six children’s and YA books, short stories, magazine articles, plays, and several episodes of A&E’s City Confidential

Jessica Alexander – Associate Editor for Peachtree Publishing

Katya Jensen—Editorial and Subrights Coordinator for Peachtree Publishing

Diana Flegal – Literary agent with Hartline Literary Agency

Worry-Free Living: LifeStride

Life can be lived in strife or in stride. LifeStrife leads to worry-filled living, not worry-free living. When we live as though we are the center of our own universes and the answer to our own problems, we are soon overwhelmed by them. 

Self-confidence is replaced by self-doubts, which in turn make us fearful. We are caught in cycles of worry, fear, more worry, and more fear.

Jesus had a serious issue with both fear and worry because they represent mistrust of God. God has never been shown to be unfaithful. Why would we fear earthly eventualities if God is in control of everything (Ps. 27:1; Rm. 8:31)?

Jesus described a life devoid of worry in His sermon on the mountain. Bluntly, He said, “Don’t worry about your life” (Mt. 6:25). Easy for Him to say, you might think. But Jesus lived off of the generosity of His followers, without permanent shelter, much less a steady income. He pointed to the birds and the flowers as examples of God’s provident care.

LifeStride

When Jesus promised we could share in His kind of life, He gave us the secret for doing so. Jesus explained that He was the vine, and we were the branches. If we would remain nourished by Him, we would bear fruit equal to or greater than His! (See Jn. 15:1-5; 5:20.)

Life can be lived in stride instead of in strife. To stride is to take a step—that is, to make progress. Such a life can be free from striving. LifeStride is life walked in the Spirit’s power. Our inability plus our availability equals God’s ability.

In his book, Radical, David Platt writes: “This is how God works. He puts his people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provision in ways that display his greatness.” Life stride assumes the watchful eye of a heavenly Father and a caring Son who lives to bring our concerns to His Abba, Daddy.

 

Let’s resolve to be people of faith. Life can be lived in stride instead of in striving.

Worry-Free Living: LifeStrife

My puppy Coco sleeps about 18 hours a day. She doesn't worry about where her next meal is coming from or if she'll have a roof over her head tomorrow. You might call her attitude toward life an example of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:25-34. Coco is definitely not consumed with anxiety!

In my book, When Christ Sets You Free, I identified two extremes of how believers approach life. The first is LifeStrife. The second is LifeStride. One of them leads to worry-free living.

LifeStrife
When we forge ahead on our own, bypassing godly wisdom and operating in our own power, we can expect a life filled with struggle and contention—in other words, a life of strife. Those of us who strive work very hard. We often choose burdensome tasks and unbalanced loads. Jesus, on the other hand, described the life He offered: “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt. 11:30). Instead of a heavy, unbalanced load, Jesus promised an even yoke. The analogy is two oxen pulling together instead of pulling against each other.

LifeStrife is a dog-eat-dog way of existence (pardon the expression, Coco). But it's as American as apple pie and baseball. "Earn your keep. Work your way to the top."

If you study the major religions of the world, you will find they are based on LifeStrife: please God by doing for Him (doing vs. being). Humans do the work, and the Supreme Being is hopefully satisfied by their efforts. This approach to obtaining salvation reflects an amazing consistency: self effort.

In matters of faith, believers gravitate toward the code of “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” LifeStrife is the essence of most religion, but it is the antithesis of faith. Faith is giving control to God. Striving is the illusion of control.

The opposite kind of life is LifeStride. In my next post I'll explain the implications of "striding" instead of "striving."

Worry-Free Living: Internal GPS

One Christmas we bought our son Mark a portable GPS system for his car. Most new cars come equipped with one, but Mark drove a vehicle with “history.” He needed a GPS because Mark is, shall we say, directionally challenged.

During the holidays, Mark headed for his best friend’s home in Murphreesboro. He was to be back at 6 p.m. for dinner. When the meal was ready, Mark hadn’t arrived, so his dad called him. “Where are you?”

“I don’t know. I’m lost.”

Now, think about this. Mark had been back and forth to his friend’s house dozens of times over the years. How could he be lost?
His answer surprised us: “I’m using my new GPS. It’s taken me a way I don’t recognize. I have no idea where I am.”

Mark’s plight sounds familiar to all of us who have tried to find our way on a strange road.

The Bible is our road map for life, but we may find ourselves navigating in rough terrain. The road may appear unmarked, without specific
Scriptural guidelines. It requires steps of faith, taking unfamiliar paths just as our biblical forbearers did. Getting off and then back on the road is one thing; staying on the road is quite another! I call it “living between the ditches.”

These ditches are spiritual paradoxes such as We can know God. God is mystery. And Christ sets us free. We are slaves of Christ. Now, since I’m into paradoxes and polarities and antonyms, I’ve coined two extremes of how we approach life. The first is life strife. The second is life stride. Stay tuned to read about the differences and which leads to worry-free living.

Hospitality: My Elisha Room

If you've read my last postings, you are familiar with the fact that Kimberly lives in South Carolina. However, she makes monthly trips to Nashville for cancer treatments at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center. Although the cancer treatment—an experimental drug—is "free," the expense of transportation, meals, and hotels over the months had eaten into her family's pocketbook. I feel led to offer my home as a place for Kimberly to stay.

In October, 2011, Kimberly came for her first stay at "Betty's Bed & Breakfast." Although it might appear that Sim and I were being the “good Samaritans” in this story, actually Kimberly was the answer to my prayers. You see, we had an “Elisha room” at our house, and I had been disappointed that we were not having occasion to use it regularly for ministry. In the pastorate, we seemed to always have someone visiting the church—whether a missionary or evangelist or ministry friends—but since leaving the pastorate, our extra bedroom and bath were sitting idle.

In case you don’t remember what an Elisha room is, here's the story from 2 Kings 4:8-10: "One day Elisha went to Shunem. A prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to eat some food. So whenever he passed by, he stopped there to eat. Then she said to her husband, 'I know that the one who often passes by here is a holy man of God, so let's make a small room upstairs and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp there for him. Whenever he comes, he can stay there.'"

My "Elisha room" is downstairs rather than upstairs and unlike Shunem, the view from the windows is the beautiful rolling hills and green foliage of Tennessee. We've had guests from Canada, Kenya, China, and Mexico. They have ranged from a ballet troop, to international students, to great evangelists. Of course, the most important guests have been my grandchildren!

The first Wednesday that Kimberly stayed with Sim and me, we went to prayer meeting at my downtown church. Kimberly met the people who are usually at "our" table. After the service, an interesting thing happened. One of my friends stopped me to say, “If Kimberly ever needs a place to stay, and you can’t keep her, let us know.” It seems she and her husband also have an "Elisha room." Sure enough, in November, Kimberly stayed with this couple, as I had family visiting. And they remain on stand-by when we are not available to keep Kimberly.

Since I have begun sharing Kimberly's story with others, I've found several families who have "Elisha" rooms. They just didn't have a name for this special place! Practicing hospitality is at the heart of Jewish and Christian teaching. Some scholars list hospitality as a gift of the Holy Spirit. If you have an empty bedroom at your house, think of ways it can be used for ministry. Opening your home to those who need a place to stay is an invitation for angels to visit (Heb. 13:2)!

God Sent Me a Barnabas with Long Blonde Hair!

This continuation of the Kimberly story (see January,February 2012 blogs) began in the fall of 2011. You will recall that Kimberly credited a daily devotion magazine for confirmation of God's leading to seek cancer treatment in Nashville. Kimberly and her mother had come to Nashville for her monthly treatment and were staying in a hotel directly across from LifeWay Christian Resources—the producer of that daily devotion!

The two of them decided to walk over to our offices and meet the folks who worked on the magazine, Open Windows. As editor of the magazine, I would have been among the first to greet Kimberly. Except I was on medical leave with a hip fracture! But I heard about the visit and the deep impression Kimberly's story had left on the staff.

The magazine staff (thank you especially, Susan) put together a collage of the particular issue of Open Windows that had blessed Kimberly so much. We planned a big surprise break-time celebration for her next trip to Nashville. We would present the collage and enjoy cookies and punch with our new-found friend. But Kimberly came down with a cold and was not able to attend the "party." And—as it turned out—I was not yet recovered from my hip fracture.

Would I ever meet the mysterious Kimberly? All I knew was that she was an attractive, vivacious blonde, and like the biblical Barnabas, had the gift of encouragement. I now know Kimberly lights a room simply by walking into it. Her contagious smile and "people first" attitude attract others to her like the proverbial flies to honey.

When I returned to work, I began a relationship with Kimberly over the phone and by e-mail. I asked about her travels and where she had stayed in Nashville. Kimberly flew in on Wednesday afternoons and left Thursday afternoons. "What do you do on Wednesday nights?" I inquired during one phone conversation.

"Nothing much. I just rest," she replied. Knowing by now that Kimberly loved going to church and being a member of a downtown church near my workplace, I asked Kimberly if she would like to go to church with me some Wednesday night. "I would love that!" she replied without hesitation.

Then the thought struck me. Why should I take Kimberly to a hotel for the night when I would be coming back downtown the next morning anyway? Although the Sarah Cannon treatment facility was not on my beaten path to work, it certainly wasn't far away.

Little did either of us know that Kimberly was going to be an answer to my prayers!

No Room in the Inn? You Just Wait!

I promised a continuation of the Kimberly story (see January blog). And so we come to the spring of 2011. Kimberly and Michael had prayerfully decided to seek her entrance into an experimental treatment program for the melanoma cancer that slowly seemed to be winning the battle for her life. But when Kimberly approached the Sarah Cannon cancer facility in Nashville, TN, she was told there were no vacancies in the program.

Just like Joseph and Mary seeking shelter on the night of Jesus' birth, Kimberly was turned away with a 'No Vacancy' sign. But God had a plan, and like many of His plans that appear thwarted before they even begin, this plan would not be denied. Joseph discovered that plan after being thrown in a pit and then in an Egyptian jail. Jonah's submarine adventure ended on dry ground. And Daniel's influence wasn't curtailed by the Lion's Den dinner menu. So is it any surprise that someone dropped out of the Nashville program, and Kimberly took his place?

Now think about getting from South Carolina to Nashville on a monthly basis, usually for at least an overnight stay. Michael and Kimberly are in the 99% of Americans, not the top 1 %. No medical benefits could possibly cover every expense. Michael and Kimberly prayed in faith God would provide and took the step of faith into the darkness—faith that moves mountains.

Thank goodness for frequent flier miles and programs to assist medically-necessary air travel. Hooray for Southwest Airlines having a direct flight. But transportation to the treatment sites in Nashville, meals on the road, and trips back and forth to the airport were out-of-pocket expenses. Kimberly tried first one hotel, then another, seeking the lowest rate. Kimberly was also concerned about Samuel's well-being while Mom was away from home. She was his ride to school and number one homework consultant! Also, the family was still going to Virginia occasionally to meet with Samuel's doctors about his progress with his cleft palate.

Months went by as Kimberly settled into the routine of travel and treatment. On her July trip Michael and Samuel got to come with her, and they witnessed the fireworks show from Riverfront Stadium in Nashville. Then in October Kimberly's mom made the trip with her. That's when I first heard about Kimberly. But more from that in my next post!

The Spirit Speaks in Our Daily Routines

She came into my life unexpectedly, definitely a God-thing. Before meeting her (I was home nursing a hip fracture), I heard about Kimberly, who had visited LifeWay to meet the people who produce Open Windows, a daily devotional magazine which I edit. Open Windows, it seems, had been used by God to give her a new lease on life.

In and of itself, this testimony is not unique. Repeated throughout the nation many times each year, I hear through snail mail, email, and telephone calls how specific devotions bless people's lives (700,000 readers). But Kimberly was facing terminal cancer and had been told she had only one chance: an experimental program being conducted at the Sarah Cannon (remember Minnie Pearl?) Treatment Center in Nashville, TN. The regular trips to Nashville would be expensive and grueling in her condition. Would the treatments even work, or worse, have terrible side effects.

Kimberly's ten year old son Samuel had been born with a severe cleft palate. Six surgeries later, and with another surgery anticipated in Spring, 2012, just thinking about the insurance claims seemed daunting. Her husband, Michael, prayed with her about their decision. One day he found an Open Windows devotion which seemed to speak to him. The Spirit encouraged Michael to believe Nashville might be their answer. Later, Kimberly walked past the magazine, which was turned over on its back. An advertisement caught her eye. Although it announced an event she wouldn't attend, the bold print title exclaimed, "Come to Nashville." The Spirit spoke to Kimberly. Together, she and Michael would give this new treatment a try!

I'll tell you more about Kimberly in my next post, but for now let's stop and contemplate the wonder of it all. Believers faced an immovable object (terminal cancer), they sought the counsel of God, and the Spirit spoke through what was a for Michael and Kimberly, a daily routine: reading a devotion with Scripture and prayer.

As you begin a new year, and as you think about affirming life goals, make it a resolution to spend time each day in Scripture and prayer. Want an answer to perplexing problems? Look to God, through His Word and prayer; sometimes the Spirit speaks in dramatic ways, but often He uses our daily routines.