Please, can I have a drop to quench my thirst?

People Are Thirsty

Every time I come in from this Africa-hot Texas weather I beg for water, sometimes in a not-so-pleasant manner. This heat makes me sticky and irritable. I’ll be “glistening” all summer while searching for refreshment.

Others also look for cold water. Some head to rivers and lakes (my prayers for those involved in Arkansas’ flash flood). Others turn to vendors and waiters. I heard of a rich guy that was burning up in the heat. He could not buy a drop of water and was desperate for a cold drink. No one helped. “Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue” (from Luke 16:24), he begged, while knowing he was shut off from the life-giving water.

Drinks All Around

His desperation created in me a desire to help. I wanted to dig a well, pipe in some relief, do something. It was too late for him, but I could share my life-sustaining drink with others before they reach the same horrifying end.

I decided to tell as many as I could about the water that flows deep, puts out the heat and satisfies our thirst. Such water is found in Jesus. He offers living water and to the one who drinks it, no more thirst (John 4:10-14). I want to be the pipe bringing life, the well that overflows, the spout that pours sweet words of hope, life and redemption. I want no one to go thirsty like the rich guy. I promise to share my drink.

The Choice to Drink Deep, or Not

I may not be able to make others taste, but I can be a pleasant, enticing glass that holds cool and refreshing water. My acceptance and love can leave people with a desire to know more about me and my God. In these irritable, hot, hazy days of summer, fill my cup Lord, and make me a pleasant presentation of your living water.

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.) (John 7:37-9)

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Getting nowhere, but doing it fast?

It’s like I’m on an endless treadmill, battling the bottomless clothes-basket and scrubbing the forever dirty-dish. After that comes the endless next thing—errand, meeting, project, appointment, and, as always, the bills. So much stuff needs attention, must be done. I’m over scheduled, under focused and beside myself. It’s like I’m a hamster running on a mini Ferris wheel, with no way to get off, and no end to this race.

All the striving and running left me empty. Even with some measure of success, like cleaning all the dishes or completing a presentation with applause, I got bombarded by the next task and the sense of a fruitless chase.

Chasing Vapors.

Much of our life is spent “chasing the wind” (Eccl 4:4-6). King David’s son (Eccl 1:1), said, “Nothing under the sun is truly new” (Eccl 1:9, NLT), but we break our necks to make things new. We work hard to make a mark, leave a legacy, or influence others. We act like everything is up to us. We think if we don’t do it, it won’t get done and then, well . . . we’re convinced the sky will fall, our kids won’t turn out right, and we will be the ultimate, epic failure. So we stay busy attempting to catch what can’t be caught.

One Way.

The empty exercise caused me to seek God for his view, his take on what I should do. The scripture writer experienced the same pointless pursuits, and his search for answers ended in a summation of life, the reason for existence, the ONE THING that fulfills our longing. “Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty” (Eccl 12:13, NLT) was found to be the underlying meaning of life. And it echoes in other scriptures like “be still and know…God” (Ps 46:10), and the greatest commandment to love God and love people (Matt 22:37-40).

Do you, like me, struggle with this one life-simplifying thing? Does life’s summation to love and obey God seem too spiritual to be relevant? Are you running life’s treadmill, chasing vapors hoping for an end? Have you ever wondered why we work so hard but have no progress?

When we focus on loving God and loving others, we purify our running around. God helps us sift through what we do. He forgives our mistakes and failures while giving us daily direction. Our track becomes focused and the distractions pale in comparison to this satisfying life-purpose.

We beat the busyness.

My renewed focus gives me a clarity, ability and the enlightened truth—it isn’t all up to me. Although I still run, I feel light in my shoes, unburdened, and sort of like a super hero.

I’m going somewhere.

Unpacking the Pastor’s Workload: 7 Tips for Women to Help Out

All hands on deck! The job is big and the pastor can’t do it alone. Women can help unpack the pastor’s workload and make a powerful impact in the lives of those in the community and the church. As I mentioned in the previous post, Partnership with Pastors, I have a desire to help the ministries of the church be effective in their mission. The following is part two of that post and lists seven tips for women ministering to women. Ladies, you can do this.

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1. Realize you have something to offer. A listening ear. Wise counsel. Party planning. Training expertise. Organizational skills. Bake and Take friendship talent. You can always offer relationship to women who need relationships.
2. Pray for a discovery of where you can help both in the community and in the church.
3. Look for opportunities to serve women by determining their needs
4. Communicate your availability and interest in helping your pastor reach the women of the church and community. Be sure to express your intentions of strengthening the church and families.
5. Ask the leadership, pastor, or women’s ministry leader, what needs they see and how your skills and talents can help meet those needs.
6. Learn the skills necessary to become more useable. Be teachable and always adapting to changes.
7. Believe that God can use you to make a difference in the lives of others. No task is too small to make an impact, nor too big for you to do your part.

You can make a difference. With so many needs in our communities and churches, you have a great opportunity to assist life change by joining others and partnering with pastors.

* photo from www.jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu.

I’ve got a very painful heartache this morning.

I’m broken for the broken.
Crying for those who no longer cry.
Hurting for those devalued, feeling unloved.
Empty Christian shells without joy.
Desperately needing love.
Little girls and boys behind grown-up eyes.
Drying up. Crying out. Is there hope?
I love them.
I want them to know the love I’ve found.
I . . .
I can’t do this alone.
I can’t fix the lack of love.
There are thousands, tens of thousands, millions of them.
They sit in Bible class with us.
They check our groceries.
They walk the streets, homeless.
They live in man-made mansions.
They’re everywhere.
They’re single.
They’re married.
They’ve got relationships galore, but remain alone.
They hide behind destructive behavior.
They mask the emptiness with productivity or success.
They just want to be loved!
Believers and unbelievers alike.
I feel so broken.
I weep.
Oh God, how can I do any good?
The need is so desperate and vast.
I am only one.
Shall I stay at home and cry in my robe?
What can I do or try?
Should I blog this heartache of mine?
Or is it way too personal?
“How can they hear without a preacher,” You say.
Oh God, give me a megaphone!!!
Help me love them.
Love them all.
 

Ever wanted something so bad you could taste it? No, I mean so bad it hurts? A longing that if left would eat you alive, a feeling that seems so right when a taste of the desired is given. A desire and consuming passion that remains foremost in your mind. One might even say head over heels possessed with love for it.

It sounds like I’m talking about some passionate romance, and in a way it might be. It is them. I love them. I want the best for them. I can’t stand not reaching out to them, offering friendship, relationship, and acceptance.The other night, Chuck (my husband) and I went to see a single man our age in the hospital then took his parents and another woman in her 60’s to dinner. We were in a college town, the home of a big college. Our friend said she had never seen so many young people in one place before. Chuck and I had a great conversation with our waitress all during the dinner. I felt at home and in near frenzy in such a target rich environment. We dropped our church members off at their car then went to Starbucks. The place was full, inviting, and very open.

Feelings stirred deep within, a desire to meet each one and offer friendship with them all. I really can’t explain this feeling any better than the feeling of that first love. (Remember the first crush on a guy and the desire that accompanied it.) I want to be around them and give them all I have. That is the best description I can come up with.

The Spirit moves both Chuck and I to love them. He’s wondering what, how, when, especially since he already holds two full time jobs. Pastoring is part time pay, but always full time job. And I’m a financial drain, in other words a well kept woman.

I know I must write, speak, and whatever, and this love is the reason I do it. I am going to Mt. Hermon with all the trappings, proposal, one sheet, yada yada, but . . . I feel all this is only a step to reach my real love. Am I so wrong to spend a thousand dollars on writing chances when it isn’t my first love? If I must do this writing to reach them, it is worth all I have and all any will give me. Writing is more of a discipline than a passion. Will this be understood by editors and agents? Does anyone in publishing want to link up with someone who is more passionate about something else besides writing? Oh, I pray to God that someone wants to.

Just call me Consumed.

Reasonable doubt? How can one have doubt when a Valentine’s gift arrives via Federal Express from Elvis? Both Elvis and romance are alive and well. Before you go calling the nice guys with the strait jackets, hear me out. I may be a little quirky to love a hopeless romantic like my man, but we have so much fun together. When we enter a restaurant and ask for a table, they want us to give them a name. My honey is Elvis. Not really, but he tells them that with an Elvis voice. It doesn’t matter anyway. They don’t check ID’s. It’s just fun.

My Elvis is living and thriving. He is full of romance too. He invited me for a walk around our acreage yesterday. Last night was a clear starlit one, and he gathered twigs and logs for a fire in the pit on the patio out back. Never mind that it was forty degrees out. He thought it would be fun to count the stars, share the moment, and freeze our tails.

Understand, I had to put off all the ‘to do’ list items to enjoy him and his romance. Maybe our significant others are more romantic than we give them credit for, especially if we don’t give them the time when they ask. If we have poopooed their attempts in the past, they may have stopped the wooing. I am guilty. Mentally slowing my mind to engage him in his romantic efforts takes discipline. The dishes will remain. The work can wait. It’s a wonder my Elvis still tries. I love him for his persistence.

This persistent love is characteristic of the love God has for us. He wants to spend time with us, not to be a burden to us, but to allow him to show us how much he cares for us. Romance isn’t dead! Thanks to my Elvis and my God.

For you, my man, I am grateful.

XXOO Robin

I feel short of breath, like I can’t breathe deep. The weight of the world’s worries crashes in on me. The pain and suffering of others crushes my capacity to fill my lungs. Why did I ever say to Jesus, “Here am I, send me?” (Isaiah 6:8)

“Count the cost,” he says. (Luke 14:25-34)

How could I have known the cost of love? Do you or anyone else know what love costs? I didn’t ask for this, he called me to it. All I asked for was more of him.

“Lord Jesus, here am I…uhm, can I stay with you? Yeah, remain in you like your word says. (John 15) Can I have more of you, and stay with you? This sending thing hurts. It is a sacrifice and is very costly. My heart is crushed and broken for the many. Please let me stay with you. In you is safety and refuge”

God says, “Staying with me means going where I go. My heart is also filled with compassion for people. If you come with me, you will share in my suffering, but, my yoke is easy and my burden is light for I am with you and we bear the burden together. Breathe deep in me. I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30) Walk in my still waters and as you pass through this valley of the stench of death, (Psalm 23) I will fill your nostrils with the fragrance of deliverance. (2 Corinthians 2:14) I will give you hope. Lie in this boat and rest beside me. (Mathew 8:24) This storm will rage on, but you rest in me, breathe deep…”

“Come dear one. There’s another who needs love. Yes, it will be painful and costly. Come, share in my sufferings.” (Philippians 3:10, 1 Peter 4:13)

True love aches, sacrifices, and dies. Real love rejoices, triumphs, and lives. Are we willing to accept it? Are we willing to be it?
Can you say, “Here I am. . .” It’s worth considering.

Resolved,
Robin

Look. Here is my only son. Today is his eighteenth birthday and he is a man, a head taller than most. Not physically speaking but as a matter of the heart. He has the heart of David and the loyalty of Jonathan, his names sake from the Old Testament. In him,
I am proud, if I can be that without sin.

Today, I was asked to send him out amongst the wolves of our world, many of which are dressed in sheep’s clothing. He has been requested as a counselor for a camp with troubled children from horribly disturbed home lives.

Lord, his heart? That is not a safe place. Please send me instead. . . . Yes, he is yours. I gave him to you as a baby even while nursing. You’ve done a splendid job keeping him safe thus far. What tenderness you have created in him. I trust you to keep that which is yours. I give my only son to you again. Please hold my heart as it breaks for my little one, now big, venturing out where the wolves are.

This can be only a fraction of what you felt as you sent your only son to die for my wrong doings. Forgive me.

I have no grounds to ask, but please make my son brave. Keep him tender towards you, a man after your heart.