Keep It Simple Sister

During and after a brief bout of the 'flu' - (thankfully, I'm feeling better) I always ponder the things of life a little more than usual. Sometimes I believe that God uses these times of 'imposed quietness' to refocus my thinking, and sometimes, my present lifestyle. It has been a whirlwind of a summer. Honestly, spending two and half days on and around the couch was not my plan for the last week of summer vacation. However, in between long naps, I read, prayed and fellowshipped with the kids....from a safe distance, of course.

A special thanks to Bob for 'filling in the gaps' while I was doing the snooz-a-rama.

I spent a significant amount of time thinking about who I am to God. Dearly loved child, the 'bride' waiting for her bridegroom, unworthy sinner transformed by grace and mercy. Those were some of the realities that ran through my mind. Do I always embrace those realities as they are stated in God's Word? Unfortunately not - but I'm doing better. I was reviewing the story of Job. A man of integrity, blameless, favored by God. And God felt the same about him when things were smooth, as when things were unbelievably challenging.

I know it's hard for us to fathom how important we are to our Abba Father. But, that doesn't change the fact that we are......adored, highly valued and never beyond the reach of His hand.

Hi Friends......I know I've been extremely unfocused when considering my blogging status. Life is full and although I've often thought, "I need to blog about that", I found myself with more "living" to do. Thus, my long hiatus. Part of my activities during this hiatus have been Christian's baseball games, Jillian's multiple activities (both educational and social - she's the butterfly, indeed). I've done some riding on my Harley, but decided to make a change and ebayed it. I'd rather have funds available for "needs" - but if the right bike at the right price were to appear, then I'm not bothered by doing some HD reinvestment. Till then I can take a spin on Bob's Fat Boy. It handles well and is available for "cobweb cleaning" when needed.

Another opportunity this summer was to be a group leader at Carol Kent's Speak Up With Confidence Seminar at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A wonderful campus, with wonderful people. Albeit I told Carol's sister and conference coordinator Bonnie Emmorery that this would be a totally new experience for me........evaluating other speakers, she and Carol were confident that I would be able to handle the task. It was a great learning experience for both the student and the leader!! I believe that helping those seminar participants will help me be a better speaker/equipper. I thank the LORD for the opportunity presented through the Kent's organization.

Please be remembering my friend Suzie Thomas and her family in prayer. Suzie's dad, Kendall Ward, passed away unexpectedly on June 28th. He and Suzie's mom Margie were attending a Light Opera performance at College of Wooster when the LORD suddenly called Kendall home to heaven. The family grieves, but not like those who have no hope. We love you, Suzie!!!

Circle of Friends/Friends Radio will be taking a group to the Women of Faith Conference July 18-19 in Cleveland, Ohio. If you're coming along, wonderful - can't wait to meet you. If not, perhaps next year............and speaking of Women of Faith, Circle of Friends is pleased to announce that Sheila Walsh will be our featured speaker for the 2009 Circle of Friends Annual Women's Conference. The 2009 event will be held at the Johnson Center for the Arts at Malone University...yes University. They are upgrading to university status this October. Congrats to all my Malone friends.

I continue to sense a stirring in my spirit, even while dealing with the daily issues of life, family, ministry and work. I guess I shouldn't catagorize - it's really all ministry, isn't it? Just different facets of my environment. The Bible says that "whatever you do, do it as unto the LORD......" - I agree, in theory, but there are times that my theories and my application are rather askew. How about you?

Oh, I wanted to share with you that my friend Becki Reiser appears to be seeing some very wonderful door open to her in regard to her writing ministry. If you know Becki, she has an unforgettable story to tell..........if not, then you WILL remember her when you DO hear her story. More details to come at a later time.

Well, time to mellow out. Isn't that what Sunday afternoons are for?

Until next time - peace.

Lisa

Hmmm....all of a sudden the images of the Lionel Ritchie video are running through my mind. Maybe more than just the video.
Remember the lyric, "Hello, is it me you're looking for?"  The attractive young woman in the video is portrayed as being blind.

There are spiritual lessons here - if you are "looking" for them.   Albeit the young woman didn't have her sight, she knew who she loved.  His presence in her life gave her the "knowledge" to be able to do a sculpture of "Lionel" - remember?  She had faith that she knew the object of her affection, and was able to model him in a very deep and personal way.

Now, do we "walk by faith, and not by sight"?  Are we so in touch with Jesus (and I am assuming that He is the object of your spirit's devotion)  that we can model Him?  Something to ponder.

Jesus, is He the One you're looking for?  Are you looking for someone who loves you just the way you are? Someone who loves you so much that they want to help you be all that you were created to be?  Someone that would give everything they have to make sure that you are taken care of, not only in this life but for all eternity?  Someone who will never leave or forsake you?  Someone you can be totally honest with and not have to pretend that things are great when they are not?............Then my friend, Jesus is the One you're looking for......"Hello". : )

Happy New Year.....only a few weeks late.   The first weeks of 2008 have flown by.  Jillian and I went to see Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana on the 3rd, and we've been in forward motion ever since.  Yes, I did take my earplugs along. Not because Ms. Cyrus needs to be muted.  However, the 12,000 screaming little tweens (and some of their mothers...no I'm not kidding) were a little louder than my thumping eardrums could endure. (At least on a consistant basis)  So, during my little respites, as it were, I did think about life (and how much Jillian was enjoying the experience!!)  Age......yes, I have having a Partridge Family Flashback (I still go to iTunes to retrieve, "I'll Meet You Halfway" and "Breakin Up Is Hard To Do" - sorry Neil Sadaka, I prefer David Cassidy's lead vocal)  -  Remember Friday evenings in the early 1970's?  ABC was on at our house. The Brady Bunch at 8 PM,  followed by Shirley, Keith, Laurie, Danny, Chris and Tracy.  And let's not forget Reuben Kincade.

Sorry, rabbit trail...............Billy Ray and his Mrs. seem to have instilled some sense, morals and priorities into their young, and very famous, daughter.  (She told Oprah that church is important - and I think she even shared a Bible verse)  As I viewed the show, I prayed that she would not pursue the unfortunate path of some of her contemporaries. (Spear Sisters - poor, misguided, deceived girls).

OK......a store opening for my family's business, planning for the Circle of Friends Women's Conference coming to Walnut Creek Mennonite Church on February 15-16.  Some planning for a new radio program with my pals Suzie, Beth, Jocelyn...you know the Friends Radio gals. (www.friendsradio.org) - a romantic weekend away with Bob (Cherry Valley Lodge in Granville, Ohio is a wonderful place to relax), a family reunion west of Columbus the following weekend.........a touch of the flu (yuck!)
An impromtu visit with a dear friend from high school days - and another who recently moved out of state........laundry, Cub Scouts for Chris, lots of talks w/Jillian.....11 year old girls have lots of important questions - and lots of interesting answers!

However beloved ones, through all of the various activities God stayed exactly the same.  In this new year, that truth has become even more comforting and precious to my heart.

I sense Him really speaking to me about putting "first things first".  There will be absolutely no way that I will enjoy a well ordered life unless I choose, but faith, to put first things first.  Not surprisingly, even our children are learning that virtue in their kids church - so God is confirming it all over the place.

I need to get more sleep.  For some reason I've not been intentional enough in that area.  Also, the treadmill invites me to "take a walk" every day.  Haven't done that yet, either.  There's no excuse........I need to put first things first. 

The first "first" thing that will never change, is to love the LORD my God, with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.....and my neighbor as myself.  On a scale of 1 - 10?  How are you doing in this area?  I know the number on my chart, and I think I need to be making some improvements.  It's not an outward lack of "doing", but sometimes the "doing" inhibits the "being".
If the "being" (being still in God's presence) isn't the cry of your heart, then there's a problem.  I've noticed in myself - maybe you are thinking the same.

As COF encourages folks to encounter the One Year Bible on a daily basis, I have been reminded, especially by the Psalms, of God's nearness to those who seek His wisdom and comfort.

Seek Him in 2008 - He will be found. It's guaranteed - because He stands by His promises.......Good to know that never changes.  No, no, never.

Peace - Lisa

Do we make life and ministry too hard? A friend and I were discussing this, and other, issues today over a cup of coffee. She's encountering a shift in ministry responsibility and I believe, because of her ability to think creatively and scriptually, she can be used as a catalyst for some very important growth in areas where her leadership style will flourish.

I shared with her, and now with you, that sometimes we need to allow a "product" to speak for itself. Sure, there are times when we stick the "new and improved" label on things - and there's nothing wrong with that. That's good marketing. However, we need to be very careful not to "hyper" hype what we are presenting. I've worked in the food business in some capcity for most of my life. I grew up in it and there are some theories that apply in both business and the ministry in the church.

At a food show/trade show event we do a great display. Colorful, creative, visually appetizing - but all the "pretty" stuff won't mean a thing if the "taste" isn't there. Hope that makes sense. I can "lead" the consumer to the sampling table, but if the product isn't primo, then it's a major letdown.

Now, if there was any "product" (and I really don't like using that term - but you understand the context) that is premium quality, flawless, incredible - that is Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us to "taste and see that the LORD is good"........see, the proof is in the taste of the product. Our souls are "hungry" for the Bread of Life. When you taste something that you're longing for, you have one of those "that's it" moments. And no matter what you "eat" thereafter, you will never be able to satisfy that specific "need" apart from that authentic recipe, as it were.

Perhaps I'm attempting to draw too many comparisons, but I think that there is a simple principle here that is often overlooked in the church today.

As we seek to reach out to lost and hurting people in our community, let's keep a few things in mind. Folks don't gravitate toward "stale" food". Fresh stuff can come in either a "traditional family recipe" or "an innovative approach" - we enjoy both in the area of the culinary arts - why not the church? Also, "eating" requires active participants.........even babies "open up" to be fed - but we wouldn't want to feed a baby sub-par, stale, unsplendid food. Nor should we be satisfied with availing that "nourishment" in the context of the church.

Also, some of the most enjoyable "eating" experiences for me have come when I am connecting relationally with another person. A romantic dinner with Bob, laughing and communicating with my accountability group, a meal of comfort after a funeral, and yes sometimes, a quick bite with the kids at Chic-fil-a. (my favorite "fast" food environment) - nourishment in both the physical/emotional and spiritual sense is so strongly connected to relationships.

When I have the privilege of teaching either a group of folks (small enough to be interactive) or meet with a lady one on one,
I ask them to tell me about themselves........even shy folks will usually give you a glimpse of something in their hearts. I ask the LORD to help me relate what they are saying to a character in His Word. People identify with other people. If you are talking to someone who's heart is in pieces because they had an affair, tell them about King David. If someone is wondering when God's going to do what they believe He said He'd do - talk about Abraham and Sarah. If someone is being falsely accused of inappropriate actions and their reputation is being destroyed, talk to them about Joseph. You get the idea.

Contextual Simplicity is the art of humbly allowing God to work through His Word, His Spirit and your submissive heart to present truth to a seeking soul. You need to be prepared by spending time in His Word. If you have a hard time grasping concepts, then ask someone who's further along in their Christian journey to mentor/teach you.

I was reminded again today, that God speaks great volumes in a small still voice. However, when we hide His Word in our hearts we have the tools to discern what His Spirit is saying to us. I had several unusual "encounters" today. God was keeping me active and it was incredible - but it all started last night as God brought Micah 6:8 to my mind. That "word" from Him was hidden in my heart and He decided to "take it off the shelf" and remind me of it. Word of God Speak!!!

Keep it simple.

Peace - Lisa

I wanted to share these wonderful insights with you. They were written by my friend, Jeff Polen. He's an anointed worship leader, youth pastor and singer/songwriter.  Check out his music at jeffpolen.com

Allow his words to speak to your heart.

Blessings,
Lisa

The Director of Music

Throughout the Psalms you see a little subtitle that reads, “to the director of music.” This is the guy who had the privilege of leading the songs way back in the day. David would write something from his heart to God, then he would pass it on to the director of music, and the director would use the lyrics (along with some killer Jewish music) to lead the entire assembly in praise and adoration of the Lord God Almighty.

I wonder if anyone from the assembly ever got mad because the director of music did not pick their favorite Psalm that week.

I wonder if the assembly ever sang about repentance and sang about bowing down before God while they remained standing.

I wonder if the assembly ever grew tired and bored of singing the praise chorus “His love endures forever” when the director chose Psalm 136.

Unfortunately, I’ll bet they did get mad at the director, I’ll bet they did remain standing, and I’ll bet they did grow tired and bored. Maybe not in the beginning, but once they got comfortable, once they got proud –just as God warned them that they would.

In the eighth chapter of Deuteronomy, God says,“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today” (Deuteronomy 8:10-18, NIV).

When the people became proud and sang from their minds rather than from their hearts, God had to crush them. After all of those years of singing songs about God’s faithfulness, how could they think for one minute that He would not be faithful to bring about the calamity that He promised to bring about? For the rest of the passage from the eighth chapter of Deuteronomy goes on to say, “If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:19-20, NIV).

I wonder what it was like to be the director of music in the assembly when the people gave mere lip service to the Lord.

I wonder what it was like for the director of music to go from leading Psalms to leading Lamentations.

I wonder if we will learn from our past. - Jeff Polen

I don't know about you, but sometimes I would prefer to work my way around situations rather than plow through the fallow ground of the heart. As many of you know, there has been significant loss in my life the last year and a half. Five deaths in my family, challenges of a growing ministry, not to mention the most important of my God-given priorities, being a wife and mom to my husband Bob and our children, Jillian and Christian.

My dear friends kept asking me, "are you OK?" After about the hundreth time, I finally admitted that I wasn't and it was time to slow down and process. Depression medication evaluation, a reduced schedule of activities, increased quiet time to pray, read and just be still in God's presence. You know, once I got into the groove, it was actually kind of fun. I'd receive the calls and/or emails from my concerned and loving friends. Then I'd go for a walk or a drive and just hang out with God. I was tired, worn out and I needed a real rest. Like Jesus says, "watch how I do it......you'll find rest for your soul.......learn the unforced rhythms of grace."

I want to publically thank my family and friends for being close at hand and heart. Praying for me and extending very tangible acts of kindness. Also, the staff and management of Moody Broadcasting's WCRF in Cleveland. Your gracious understanding and support during this time of adjustment has been a true extension of God's love and care.

So, as the holiday season and coming new year are just around the corner, I just want to say "thanks again" for all the notes, emails, calls and words of encouragement.

I would also like to invite you to join me and the ladies that comprise Circle of Friends Ministries as we look forward to our 3rd Annual Women's Conference, February 15-16, 2008.
The event will be held at the Walnut Creek Mennonite Church in Walnut Creek, Ohio.
For conference information call: 330-852-0000. Nationally known author and speaker
Carol Kent will be our featured speaker for the weekend. Carol has spoken at women's conferences around the world. You may have had the opportunity to hear a portion of her story at one of the recent Women Of Faith conferences. Great thing about the COF weekend is that we get to hear Carol in multiple sessions. Please consider joining us for what we believe will be an incredible weekend of fellowship and encouragement.

Peace........Lisa

Since Monday marks the beginning of October and the World Series will be upon us in a few weeks, I think the baseball lingo is appropriate. Since I'm from Ohio (NE) I'm in Cleveland Indians territory. It's been encouraging to hear of the positive season that the team has had this year. Go Tribe!!...... However, I must admit, it's not baseball that's been on my mind the last few days. But it does have a lot with being "safe" at "home".

I was reminded the other day while I dined on Spicy Buffalo Balls (yes, that's what they're called - meatballs made with Red Hot Sauce, butter and frozen meatballs - a tasty treat with garlic butter angel hair pasta - thanks for lunch, Beth!) with two of my accountability partners that life is much like a baseball game. There are games that go incredibly fast, "three up - three out". There are games that go into extra innings and feel like they'll never end. ......I've had days that have resembled both. How about you?

I really love the book of 2 Corinthians. It's so rich. As the apostle Paul begins his second letter to this growing, yet struggling, group of Christ-followers, he encourages them with a greeting of grace. When we think about it, and I'll quote my spiritual dad on this one, "grace is all that God the Father is able to give to us through our relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ." Think about that for a moment. That's very profound, isn't it?

We all go through seasons of struggle. Some minor, some not. There are times when you get a "base hit" and it feels like you're stuck at first base forever. There are times you totally "strike out". Sometimes we hit a "home run" and it's like "whew hew - can it get any better than this?" - Yes, I think it can get better than that.

Think of you and your friends.....you see your pals stuck on a "base". Perhaps it's a "relational" base, a "spiritual" base, maybe a "vocational" base. When I see someone I love "stuck on base", I'd like to "bring them home". When it comes to offering a helping hand, I so often feel like "what in the world do I have to offer them?" Sometime, I feel like I'm in a major "batting slump" and don't want to "leave them hanging",    as it were.

Well, the LORD has told us how to help. Through Paul, God's speaks in 2 Corinthians 1: 3-5:

On the evening of September 11, 2007 my life changed forever this side of eternity.  It became official at 7:56 PM that my friend, mentor and spiritual dad, Dan Meininger, was called home to heaven. He now stands were he always wanted to be....in the very presence of God Almighty.  Resting in the everlasting arms of Jesus Christ.

Dan and his wife Carolyn have been dear friends of ours since the mid 1990's.  Little did I know what God had in store when Dan was invited to fill the pulpit for our vacationing pastor. WOW!!  Through his ministry, Dan touched my life, Bob's, our children and countless others around the world.  His ministry was one of encouragement and intercessory prayer. The foundation of Dan's calling was focused around Romans 8:26.  When he became burdened by the Holy Spirit to pray for someone, watch out!!!! God was gonna rock your world.  That's a good thing.

I think I'm still in shock to think that I will never speak to him again as long as God calls me to remain here on earth.  Those precious phone conversations where both of us had our Bibles open and were visiting in anticipation of what God was going to speak through His Word.  You see, everything Dan did was based on what God's Word says.  Whether is was to praise, rejoice, repent, forgive, love unconditionally, obey, trust, lament - well, you get the idea.

Few of us have had the gift of having a parent (biological, adoptive or spiritual) invest so much time and prayer in our lives.  I was blessed to have enjoyed this very unique and edifying relationship for over a decade.  God used Dan's life to show me the unconditional love of Abba Father.  

O my dear spiritual dad, how I will miss you.  Thank you for loving me.  To God be the glory, great things He has done.