Faithfulness

Lately I have been thinking about women in chronically difficult situations. Women dealing with long-term illness in the family. Women managing the stress of unemployment. Women whose children have special needs. Women who follow Jesus while facing challenges we may not see.

But sometimes they tell us about those challenges. And what do we do when someone opens up? Do we tell her we'll pray (instead of praying with her)? Do we cringe? Do we quickly change the conversation or gloss over her trouble? Do we think, "Glad I'm not her!"

It's uncomfortable to experience secondhand pain. It's like seeing an open wound. But when someone recognizes how hard something is for us - even when she can't fix it - it means a lot. 

I love that we worship "The God who sees" (Genesis 16:13). He is always aware of our distress. He is our ever present help. He never abandons us.

Do we love each other that way? Do we walk alongside those who stumble and help pick them up? Do we pray with those who have questions but no answers?

What do we say to someone who is struggling with infertility or mental illness? What if God's answer to our prayers isn't healing but His sufficient grace? Do we remain faithful to our friends through years of struggle? 

These are the questions I'm pondering. I would love to hear what you think.

I've been blessed to be loved well by my sisters and brothers in Christ. I hope you experience that love at StoneBridge. And I hope you pass it on moment by moment to one another.

- Kathryn Truden

don't give up.

the concept of persistence has come up over and over again in my life as of late. sometimes it'd be so much easier to just give up.

plenty of situations are hard, plenty of situations seem like it would be better to walk away, and leave it, and forget about it.

we live in a culture that holds up this idea as normal. it's encouraged.

if there is "seemingly" no way that you can get what you want, it's not worth it to try. if it's old, pitch it. new is always better. it's not worth it to try to fix something when you could just start over. this idea permeates our culture.

the latest technology, the latest clothes, the latest car, an upgraded house, etc. etc. etc.

we chase happiness.

if i'm not happy, i should move on to something else. or someone else. or somewhere else.

persistence isn't regarded as highly as it should be, in my opinion. things that are really great in life rarely come without the need of persistence. they rarely come without any trials, or tough times. they rarely come without difficulty.

good marriages are hard fought. it would be really easy to just give up and walk away, but sticking it out in the tough times - that's what makes it great.
good friendships, really good friendships are forged only when they are tested.
gold medalists don't get to be champions by giving up when things get hard.
they don't give out medals to marathoners because it's an easy race.
no one gets very high on any ladder without encountering difficulty.

to quote tom hanks as jimmy dugan in "a league of their own": the hard is what makes it great.


my journey with God has been peppered with trials, and darkness, and silence, and failures. i have questioned him time and time again. i don't understand why some things had to happen the way that they did.

but those times are when i grew the most. making it through the difficult times, putting the time in, and pressing on toward the goal to win the race set before us - that is what makes it great.

to paraphrase a quote i heard a long time ago - i promise it won't be easy, but i promise it will be worth it.

it's true in our marriages. it's true when it comes to having kids. it's true when you cross the finish line of a marathon. it's true in our walks with Christ.

whatever your struggle is right now,
keep.pressing.on.

xo,

katie

Surprises

Last week I traveled again to California - this time for Steve's aunt's 90th birthday party. I'm thankful for these wonderful relatives with long lives and fascinating stories. We took an afternoon to visit the beach near Laguna. As we walked along, visiting and enjoying the beauty of the ocean, I spotted a water from a blow hole far out in the water. Having grown up on the ocean, I knew it was a whale - not just one but a pod migrating north.

This is a gray whale - one that can grow up to 50 feet long and weigh 30-40 tons. Steve took the picture above, but here is a more close-up photo from National Geographic.

I am always surprised by the beauty of nature - and by how viewing something so awesome and wonderful in a quiet moment can inspire and rejuvenate and remind us of God. He is there when we don't see him, and often surprises us with a blessing or insight when we least expect it. Or just his presence - so beautiful and comforting and refreshing - causing us to worship.  Psalm 104:24-25 says, "O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both great and small."
We are also his creatures. He has made us in wisdom. He even knows us by name and surprises us with his blessings.
Barbara Eckroad

You ARE...!

If you were at the Women's Retreat, you may remember a story I told about a piece of pottery that I own.  I would say that it's one of my favorite possessions.  It sits in a prominent place so I can see it every day and remember...

Just to familiarize you with the back story...I found it in a little shop in NoDa that sells my jewelry.  I had always admired this potter's work but I had never met her.  One day when I was in the shop, she was there and I found myself back at her display admiring her work.  A new piece grabbed my attention. 

I picked it up to look at it but it was a little more than I wanted to spend that day, so I returned it, thinking that it would be a great suggestion for a Christmas present.  As I did she said, "I don't mean to pressure you, but if you're interested, it's one of a kind."  I was surprised that she wouldn't make it again, it was so beautiful, so I asked her why.

Her response...  "It was a mess up, the glaze ran wrong, I can't duplicate it."  I picked it right back up and purchased it that day!  It reminded me that my Heavenly Father takes all the mess ups in my life and makes something beautiful from them!

But here's what I want to remind you of today...  When I thought about taking it to the retreat as a visual aid to my story, it occurred to me, "What if they don't think it's as beautiful as I do?"

And then came the quiet realization in my heart...  It doesn't matter what anyone else says, it only matters what the maker and the purchaser say!

And that is what is true for you!  It only matters what your Maker and your Purchaser say about you...  And the best part is, since they only speak truth, it's not an opinion, it's a fact!  So let me leave you with a little of what your Creator (Maker) and Redeemer (Purchaser) say about you!

You ARE the apple of His eye!  Psalm 17:8
You ARE His treasured possession!  Deuteronomy 7:6
You ARE beloved!  Colossians 3:12
You ARE an overcomer!  1 John 4:4
You ARE forgiven!  Ephesians 1:7
You ARE free!  Romans 8:2
You ARE accepted!  Ephesians 1:6 (KJV)
You ARE a Masterpiece!  Ephesians 2:10
You ARE loved with a lavish love!! 1 John 3:1

Do you have a favorite verse that reminds you of who you are in God's eyes?  If so, I would love for you to share it in the comments, or on the Vine Life Facebook page!

Sharla

St. Francis, what does that have to do with me?!?

As I have watched the news coverage on the election and installation of the new Pope, I began by thinking, "very interesting, but as a Protestant, not particularly relevant to me."  Then Bergoglio took the name Francis.  Having taught about Francis of Assisi, I was familiar with how significant the choice of that name is.

Saint Francis lived in the 11th century.  He was born to a very affluent family but decided to renounce his wealth and position to take on the cause of Christ for the poor.  He became poor himself and relied exclusively on God to provide for his needs.


More than almost any person in history, Francis took on the ministry of Christ.  He ministered to the poor, he cared for creation (animals, environment), he sought peace with enemies, and he looked to unify and not divide.  What is his legacy? What difference did it make to be like Jesus?   Catholic and non-denominational orders of Francis have ministered to countless people over the centuries.  The church has been reminded to care for creation.  During the Muslim rule of the Holy Lands, the Franciscans were not killed or driven out but given property to maintain their order alongside the Muslims.  Although never ordained nor an official in the Catholic church, he is recognized as one of the most influential parts of the Catholic church.

So what?  What does this mean to me?  St. Francis and Pope Francis realized that Jesus calls us to serve others and in that service the world sees the love of Christ.  Is there something we can do in our lives to be more like Jesus to others?  Is there something I can do to help the poor (Brent Jones can help out with this)?  Can I pay more attention to how I interact with creation (not wasteful, greedy, careless)?  Do I love my enemies (irritating coworkers, atheist neighbors, democrats, republicans, homosexuals)? Do I try to find similarities with other believers or do I look for differences?

Trying to take it on all at once is a daunting task -- and who has the time?  Is there one area that you could focus on?  The poor, creation, loving enemies, being a peace maker.  I have chosen one and will be working on it.  To God be the glory!

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  Amen

Embracing Obscurity

On Monday evenings in April I am going to lead a book club discussion in my home. The book is Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God's Everything. It's about pride, and as soon as I saw it in a Lifeway store flyer I thought, "I have to read that book!" Because I totally struggle with pride. Like the author of Embracing Obscurity, I daydream of becoming famous for some accomplishment, including something noble or significant in the Kingdom of God. Why am I pondering my own glory when I could be advancing His?

Here's an excerpt from the book:

"God gave Adam and Eve 'jobs' before they sinned. Something to 'do' was part of God's perfect plan for them and for us. We are designed to find pleasure and purpose in the roles God has given us - relationally, vocationally, and spiritually. In another word, we find significance in playing a part in God's great screenplay of the ages. And when we find our significance in Christ, we can be content to play a supporting role or even to stand in as an 'extra' in the background. The visibility of our part stops being such a big deal, as the reality of being on the cast at all sinks in."

The Lord is using this book and conversations I've had with friends about it to free me from the grip of pride - although I've got a looong way to go! It's wonderful to experience the joy of honoring God alone instead of being wrapped up in my own reputation. I am eager to hear from other women who struggle with pride, too. So read it for the April book club and please come. E-mail me if you want details about when we'll meet and what chapters we will discuss each week.


- Kathryn Truden

Without a Leg to Stand On

When I traveled to California
recently for my aunt's birthday
party, I took a lovely walk on
a long pier that jutted out into
the ocean. I discovered a hearty
bird sitting on the railing. This
immature gull had only one leg.
At first I thought it had simply
tucked one leg under its body,
but no, on further examination,
I realized that it really was
missing a working leg. When
the bird flew away, I saw that
it was quite capable of taking care of itself, regardless of how many legs it had. Its wings worked and it could fly, and soar, and swoop down to grab food in its beak. God had given it great adaptive instincts. Birds are often mean to the weaker among them,
but we can be different.

Yes, we learn and change as Katie so aptly wrote about last week. Some of us become more independent, but some - often due to circumstances beyond our control - become more helpless. Sickness, sorrow, loneliness, disabilities, injury, age, betrayal - all cause us to lose a little bit of our independence. So we learn to adapt and to trust and depend on others.

God told Paul that His grace was sufficient. Paul also writes that when he is weak, he is strong - and in another place - that those who are strong ought to support the weak and not just please themselves. We are all helpless before God, even with no missing body parts. But when one person suffers, we all do. With God's grace we can help each other to soar in spite of our limitations.

Barbara Eckroad