Category Archives: Devotions

Yesterday, I read a beautifully written blog post that had a powerful impact on me.

The author had spent the previous weekend at a small retreat (participants were limited to 75) and she described the event as follows:

“This was not a polished, snazzy event. This was three creative women who know their brokenness standing nervously in front of the rest of us singing their songs and telling their stories. Why would they do that? They did it so that the rest of us would see both our brokenness and our giftedness; so that we would frame our lives and see them as art; so that we would steward our gifts; so that we, broken leaky vessels would anoint the world with the fragrance of Christ.” 

The blogger’s photos showed a lovely outdoor setting with a plain wooden cross at the edge of a body of water. The singer and the speaker were dressed simply…no frills, no glamour.

How I would have loved to have been there!

The world—and even fellow believers—do not need polished and snazzy. Polished and snazzy rarely points anyone to Jesus because polished and snazzy tends to glorify the speaker and his/her accomplishments…not Jesus, who accomplished the only thing that truly matters in all of life (Matthew 20:28).

The Bible describes us humans as  jars of clay that hold the incomparable treasure of Christ’s Spirit :  “We now have this Light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great Treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

When I did the “Experiencing God” study, Henry Blackaby made the point that the book of Genesis was not about a man named Abraham…it was about how God worked in the life of a man named Abraham. Big difference.

I loved that these women came to this retreat just as they were…not as experts, not as those who had it all together…just willing to humbly share their experiences with Jesus.

You and I are called to do the same thing. We have been given the immense privilege to know and walk with  the risen Jesus! All we need to do is open our mouths and speak about what He means to us; the miracles He has done in our lives (and don’t say you don’t have any miracles to share…your salvation alone is a miracle!); the ways He has redeemed and restored our broken places.

You are a unique, one-of-a-kind, never-to-be-repeated person. You have been created in the image of God and are precious to Him. And you have been given an amazing assignment (Matthew 28:18-20).  It is no accident that the people in your life are there. They are your mission field.

All Jesus asks is that you tell them about Him in a way that only you can…respectfully, gently, and always with love. Just be real. Be honest. We are all broken in some way…but you know the Healer.

You are not responsible for their response.

You have a story.

All He asks is that you go and tell it.

I walked into the kitchen early in the morning and was delighted to find that the scent of sunscreen still lingered in the air. I spotted the now-empty orange beach bag slung over one of the kitchen table chairs and a smile broke across my face as memories filled my mind.

A verse from my quiet time the day before had seemed to leap off the page and issue a challenge to my heart: “Oh how sweet the light of day and how wonderful to live in the sunshine! Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted. Take delight in each light-filled hour.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4, The Message).

It was as if I could see the twinkle in Jesus’ eye as He invited me into the day ahead, to experience LIFE in all its fullness with Him.

“For today, show me how to delight in everything, Jesus. Show me the wonder of now,” was my prayer.

Shortly after I uttered that prayer, the phone rang and I was able to have a long, heart-to-heart chat with a dear friend.

Thank You, Jesus, for the precious gift of friendship… for leading me to these dear ones so we can share this journey through life. It is such a joy to laugh, cry, pray and dream together.  They inspire me and strengthen me, especially when life is hard. I see You in them.

After the phone call, the singing of the birds and the bright sunshine drew me outside into the beautiful summer day:

Jesus, thank You for the beauty of Your creation. The fact that You have created all that we see is awe-inspiring. It boggles my mind to think that all the beauty of this earth are mere shadows of Your even more surpassing and glorious beauty. You have placed enchanting and shimmering treasures  all around me that continually draw me into Your delightful and magnificent heart…always give me eyes to see.

A quick check of Facebook revealed happy photos of a young family who had been separated by war and horrifying injury but are now joyfully reunited…healing,  flashing happy smiles, loving each other, cherishing the moments, looking ahead to a rich future, celebrating life.

Thank You Jesus for the amazing bravery of those who serve this great country in which we are privileged to live. Thank You for this young man’s life and for protecting him so that he could return to his family who need him so much. May they never take their time together for granted and may they live for You the rest of their days.

A text came from my son, telling me that the barbecue for the track team was scheduled that afternoon at a local beach. Could I drive a friend who needed a ride?

Julia and I headed to the school and two sad-looking boys climbed into the car.

Their band teacher had just told them that he would be retiring at the end of this school year. The news hit them hard. He is a special  teacher who truly loves music and the kids in his classroom. He will be sorely missed and extremely hard to replace.

Jesus, thank You for the gift of this man, who has been such a bright light in so many students’ lives. Josh has learned so much from him. His sense of humor, kindness, and love for music will long be remembered by his students. Let this serve as a reminder that nothing stays the same for long in this world. We must treasure our good times, not taking anything for granted because seasons can change so suddenly. Help me to fully live this season that is before me now.

After dropping the kids off at the beach, Julia and I headed across the street to a charming cafe that boasts wonderful views of the lake. We each ordered an ice cream and took a seat by the window.  I looked up as someone entered the cafe from the back and was pleasantly surprised to see an older lady from our church. I had no idea she owned this business with her sons.

We were able to visit between customers. I was sad to learn that in the span of just a few months, she has lost a sister, a brother, and an uncle. So much loss. Tears shone in her eyes and she practically whispered, “But God is good.”

“Yes, He is. But it still hurts,” I said softly, assuring her that I would keep her in my prayers and stop into the cafe more often.

Thank You, Jesus that You draw especially near and comfort us when our hearts are breaking; that You keep track of every tear that falls; that You listen to every concern we have. Thank You especially for the Cross and taking away the sting of death forever. Thank You for hope in the midst of pain. Let this dear woman strongly feel Your Presence as she lives in this unwelcome new reality. Fill her with hope and give her beauty for ashes.

After savoring our ice cream, Julia and I walked back to the beach.

Despite the oppressive heat, the trees offered refreshing shade and we enjoyed the breeze sweeping in from the water. I drank in all the beauty around me. Julia and I chatted and I enjoyed watching the kids swim, chase each other around, play on the playground, and crowd around the grill as the coaches prepared the burgers and hot dogs. Bursts of laughter were frequent.

Jesus, thank You for these kids.  You love each one of them and long for them to know You.  Reveal Yourself to them.  Thank You for their dedicated coaches who have taught them how to compete with excellence, grace, and goodwill. Thank You for this perfect summer day and allowing all of us to be in good health to enjoy it. 

When the last burger was eaten and the soda bottles were empty, the party ended and we headed home. Josh had homework to do, so Doug, Julia, and I went to Burger King for dinner, followed by a Walmart run.  Our time together was light and full of laughter.

Thank You, Jesus for the precious gift of my family. Thank You for laughter and juicy burgers and salty French fries.  As I am able to fill my cart with groceries, thank You for Your abundant provision. Thank You for always providing my daily bread. Let me never forget how blessed I am to live in this country.

That night, as the sun set below the mountains, my heart was full. Joys, heartaches, disappointments…I experienced the entire day with Jesus, interacting with Him all day long.  His Presence electrifies, transforms, soothes, and beautifies… and adds a richness to all my moments.

As a new day opens before you, won’t you invite Him in to fill each light-filled hour? I’d love to hear about it!

“As the letter to the Hebrews proclaims, ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!’ Let us sit at His feet; let us hear His heart and feel His embrace; let us gaze into His smile, hear His laughter, touch the hem of His garment and be liberated into His joy! Ultimate joy! The joy of Jesus! 

He’s calling you today. He’s here and He’s calling your name and He’s saying, ‘Follow Me.’    —Sherwood Wirt, Jesus Man of Joy 

I am sitting in an empty auditorium as I write this.

My daughter is part of the cast of “Little Women” that our homeschooling co-op is presenting this weekend and I had to have her here three hours before the performance for hair, makeup, and last minute rehearsal.

The stage is lit, awaiting the players. All is quiet on the set.

I can hear the muted sound of laughter and excited chatter backstage as the kids prepare  for the big moment.

In another hour, my 13 year old girl will be transformed into a young lady from the 1800s, complete with flowing purple dress, cream-colored shawl, and high heels.

Two of the seniors who play  older, wealthy, distinguished gentlemen just walked onto the stage and took their seats in the center of the set. Their stage makeup is on—which they are complaining about :)— but they haven’t changed into their costumes yet. They look like typical high school seniors: jeans, T-shirts, and one is wearing a baseball hat. Their conversation is about sports, finals, and the after-party later this evening as the cast celebrates a successful run.

This is not what the public will see when they arrive for the show.

I thought back to opening night last evening when they were in full costume, convincingly acting their parts.

But that was just make-believe.

I can’t help thinking of how often we play roles in real-life.

We wear masks, covering up our real selves, searching for the right “character” to play for whatever the situation requires.

We hide.

I have a vivid memory of when I did just that a little less than a year ago.

I was having a terrible day. Everything that could go wrong did and the stress felt like it was a physical weight, crushing me beneath a merciless load.

I had to go pick up my daughter at a birthday party. I had never been to this home before and I have a terrible sense of direction, so that added to the stress. It was over 90 degrees that day and even with the air-conditioning blasting, the air felt thick and oppressive.

I called my mom on my cell phone as I drove, hoping that the GPS wouldn’t let me down.

I needed prayer and as I choked out my situation to her, I fought back tears, refusing to let them fall. I didn’t know how many moms would be at the home when I arrived and I didn’t want to look like I had been crying.

I ended the call with my mom just as I pulled into the driveway, relieved to see that I was the first parent to arrive.

I took a deep breath as I walked to the front door and rang the bell.

The mom of the birthday girl came to the door with a big smile.

I made sure mine was bigger.

The performance had begun.

For the next 45 minutes, I smiled. I laughed. I joked.

To anyone there that day, it would have appeared that I did not have a care in the world.

I could have won an Oscar. Maybe I missed my calling. Rather than studying my way through graduate school, perhaps I should have been pounding the pavement in Hollywood, awaiting my big break.

When Julia and I were finally in the car headed home, all of that energy required to play make-believe disappeared, like air being let out of a balloon.

I was exhausted.

I have to admit that I  listened with half an ear to Julia’s running commentary of the party as I ruminated on what had just happened.

No, I should not have unloaded on that mom. In that instance, I did the right thing by keeping my troubles to myself.  It was neither the time nor the place. However, it did get me thinking.

How many women cross my path on any given day, doing the exact same thing I had just done? What heartache lies behind the bright smile and cheery words?

I have learned not to judge by appearances…the woman who looks like she has it all together may be the one who is falling apart inside.

Remembering how desperate I felt that day, I have compassion on the women who cross my path. Only God knows what battle may be raging in their hearts.

He reminds me to be kind, to not assume that I know the whole story, no matter how pulled-together she looks.

I am also grateful beyond words that I have a Savior from whom I never need to hide.

One who knows me better than I know myself.

One who will never turn away, despite the ugliness He sometimes sees.

One who continually offers beauty for ashes and joy for despair.

One who gently whispers a reminder that I can remove the mask because in the presence of  His constant, unfailing love, I am safe.

One who longs to show a watching world what He can do with one broken, messed-up life.

He is a master at transforming the ugly into the beautiful.

The world doesn’t need another Christian wearing a mask.

The world needs to see someone real, whose confidence comes not from herself and her abilities but from her perfect Savior.

A watching world needs to observe Jesus shining through the cracks in our lives…because it is through those cracks that His Presence is shown to be most powerful and beautiful.

So, let’s not be afraid to drop our masks when appropriate and leave the make-believe to the actors.