Thoughts About Home June 11, 2009

For Rex’s mother, home was the farm on Keener Road. It was the place she and her husband purchased when they were first married. Tree by tree and rock by rock, the land was cleared for farming. They did all the work themselves. At the end of the day, they would return to their little timber house exhausted and ready to rest.

It was in that home that she raised her 7 children. Many of them were born right on the farm. Rex will tell you that every inch of that land holds a memory. From the woods where they hunted and the pond where they fished to the fields where they spent countless hours picking cotton by hand. Their home was simple. It didn’t have any of the modern conveniences that we consider to be necessities. For example, Eunice spent hours outside washing clothes by hand, even during the ice cold days of winter. It wasn’t until her mid-eighties that she began to use a dryer!

Life was not easy on the farm, but it was home. This past year Eunice’s health deteriorated and necessitated an extended stay in the nursing home. Although the staff was wonderful and family visited frequently, Eunice wanted to spend her last days on earth at home. The doctor mentioned the possibility of going home by a specific date. Although there was no chance that she would be able to take care of herself, her children knew their mom’s desire and were willing to do whatever it took to allow her to return to her beloved homestead.

The date the doctor had mentioned arrived. Olene, Rex’s oldest sister who had become like a mother to her mother, went to the nursing home. She shared with me that her mother knew exactly what day it was. She was probably secretively counting down the days! When Olene walked into the room, she smiled at her mom. And Eunice lit up and smiled back. Then she started yelling, “I’m going home! I’m going home!”

Eunice got her wish. She was able to go home. And on April 24^th she breathed in her final breath of the fresh Keener country air.

That, however, is definitely not my final image of Eunice Keener. I had plenty of conversations with her to know that her life has only begun. There is NO question in my mind that 99.9999% of her life will be spent in Eternity. The thrill of going home to the farm, therefore, did not even compare to the joy she experienced when she stepped through the door of Heaven and heard her Savior say, “Welcome home!” I know she was jumping and shouting with inexpressible joy, “I’m home! I’m really home!”

“I tell you truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me

has eternal life and will not be condemned;

he has crossed over from death to life.”

John 5:24

Move My Mountain March 24, 2009

There is always something in my life that I want to change. Can you relate?

If you could add anything to your life, what would it be?

If you could take away something from your life, what would it be?

Like you, I am convinced that this addition or subtraction would greatly improve my existence here on earth. So I try to change the circumstance. The problem is some things are simply beyond my ability to change them. And no matter how many times I stubbornly repeat, “I think I can…I think I can,” I can’t. It’s like I’m trying to uproot a hundred year old oak tree by kicking it with my foot. It just isn’t going to work. And truthfully if it was that easy to change, I would have already changed it.

A couple summers ago, our family took on a project that required us to move 40 tons of rock! Thankfully, most of the rocks were only the size of a large grapefruit. The work was exhausting, but do-able because the rocks were small. If the rocks, however, were boulders we would not have been able to move them. We could not build enough mental or emotional muscle, in a lifetime of effort, to pick up that kind of weight.

So what are we to do when we can’t lift the burden that is causing us pain?

Ahh…that’s when we reflect on the character of God. The fact is with one breath God can uproot any tree…and with a push of his pinky, He can move a mountain of stone! Spend some time intentionally contemplating the power of God. Your soul will be encouraged and filled with awe and reverence toward Him.

Understanding God’s power produces peace. It’s comforting to know that you are loved by a God who is able. Nothing is impossible for Him. So when you face burdens that overwhelm you, remember you are a child of an All-Powerful Father. And this daddy loves it when you ask for help.

Is it time to change your tactic? Is your foot starting to hurt?

Are You Caught in the Current? February 5, 2009

We watched as the people floated on their backs. They all moved in synch. The strong current pulled them down the river. The movement of the masses was so uniform it was almost undetectable. But as your eyes fixed on a stationary object on the riverbank, you noticed how quickly the people were being swept down the river. Everyone was expected to join in. It was the popular thing to do.

That may be a picture of life for many of us. We jump in with both feet, look around to see what everyone else is doing, and join in. And before we know it, the popular, cultural currents begin to sweep us down the river of life.

At first, simply floating along is a lot of fun. We enjoy the affirmation of our care-free companions who confidently convince us that “This is the Life!“

But eventually you begin to cramp and you realize the current is intensifying. You suspicion that you are in trouble. You struggle to stay calm, yet your emotions fluctuate between anxiety and anger. No one ever explained there would be long-term consequences for going with the flow! Why didn’t they mention the exhaustion, the frigid waters of night, and the reality that so-called friends wouldn’t think twice of pulling you under if it meant keeping their heads above water?

Naturally you begin to evaluate life. What am I doing? What’s the point of expending all this energy? Is it getting me anywhere? Where are all these people headed? Where am I headed?

Then you remember a Rock you passed along the way. It was solid. It was firm. It wasn’t at the mercy of the passing currents. It was strong. It was peaceful. You knew you needed to get back to the Rock. So you placed your feet on the river bottom and began to walk upstream. It wasn’t easy. With every step you felt the mighty pull of the popular current. You saw the cynical looks. You heard the mocking, sarcastic comments. You prayed for strength and kept focused on the Rock.

Almost magically, you sensed a rope fastening around your waist. Slowly, safely, gently the rope guided you to the Rock like a fisherman reeling in his prized fish, unwilling to let it go. You found yourself standing on the Rock looking around. You were used to seeing only above you, so you were surprised at the 360 degree panorama. Instead of seeing only the color of the sky, now your eyes were taking in a rainbow of colors, shapes, and textures. For so long, your ears were filled with water and you were unable to hear anything else. Now the soft song of creation and the whispers of the Holy Spirit echo in your ears. Your heart finally slowed to a healthy rhythm. Peace, joy, security, and love flooded your soul.

One day, you looked around and saw the uniform movement of the masses…downstream, headed for destruction. You remembered how it felt to be caught in the current and decided to offer your help. Since then you have spent your days lying on the Rock, extending your arm to all in need. Some quickly grab your hand and you are able to help pull them to safety. You can see in the eyes of others the desire to be saved, but they’re unable to stand up against the current. So you jump back into the waters, tethered to the Rock, and you go to them.

After one rescue mission, the light went on…everything clicked and you realized:

“THIS is really the life I’ve always longed for.”

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock and gave me

a firm place to stand.”

Psalm 40:1-2

The Power of a Story January 28, 2009

Stories are powerful. They allow us to dream, to imagine possibilities. They provide comfort as we realize that we’re not alone in our thoughts and experiences. Our temptation is to believe that no one will understand what we are going through, but stories demonstrate that life is full of classic themes. Truth is others share and understand our reality, whether good or bad. We laugh, cry, smile, or sigh because our hearts resonate with the familiar triumphs and joys, trials and trauma.  Some stories simply entertain, while other stories have the capacity to inspire.

After God dramatically delivered the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, they had a story to tell. So when Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came to see him in the desert, Moses, like a child tugging at his mother’s sleeve, couldn’t wait to tell the story of what God had done.

Moses and Jethro greeted each other and then Moses invited Jethro into his tent for a refreshing glass of bottled Horeb Rock Water. As they reclined, “Moses told his father-in-law EVERYTHING (he definitely surpassed his male quota of words that day!) the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved them” (Exodus 18:8). Jethro was delighted to hear the story (Exodus 18:9), even though it was not his first time. Exodus 18:1 makes it clear that he had already heard all the details of the story. But there are some stories that are so good that they never grow old. It’s like your favorite movie or book that gets better over time. It produces an emotion in you. Moses’ story inspired Jethro. It reminded him of God’s goodness, of God’s greatness, of God’s love for His people…and his natural response was to worship the Almighty.

God is constantly at work in our lives. Sometimes His actions are obvious and dramatic. For example, when He allows us to escape from that bondage that has kept us enslaved for years. Other times, however, His actions are quiet and consistent. Our daily lives are filled with stories of God’s faithfulness. Why not take the time to invite someone into your home, to sit over a cup of coffee, and share a God story? You never know, like Jethro, they may be delighted to hear what God has been up to and they may worship God all the way home!

Stories are powerful.

God uses them to change lives.

Reality TV January 18, 2009

I still can’t believe it! I was always the one who said you would have to be crazy to be a part of any reality TV program. So what was I doing with lights and cameras in my house last week?! The answer: God will use all circumstances to teach us what He wants us to learn. And when planning how to teach me this lesson, I think God was chuckling! I do believe He has a terrific sense of humor!

Through an amazing “serendipity,” our daughter was invited to work with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. They asked if she would be interested in being featured in a 30 minute reality TV program. After her proud Dad’s feet were planted back on the ground, we all agreed that this was a spectacular opportunity. I called the producer and shared that Allee was honored and would love to work with them on this project.  I hung up the phone and it suddenly hit me…I had just agreed to be one of those crazy people that allows the nation into the reality of their lives! That was an intense moment!

Reality means: a strong possibility that Debbie will put her foot in her mouth. As an extrovert, who processes out loud, there is a high degree of probability that I will say something that I’ll be embarrassed by later! And with reality TV, there are no “do-overs”; no “oops, I didn’t mean to say that.” But even worse than that…they wanted to start right away which meant no crash diets; no sudden weight loss…just reality!!!

My initial thought was, “there is no way this is going to come even close to resembling reality. I will have my makeup on by 8:00 am…no sweats….a completely stocked pantry with all necessary staples to prepare the pre-planned meal.” No pressure. All smiles. Basically a non-realistic view of reality! I liked that plan. It felt safe.

Then it came time to film and I realized that I’m not one to fake it…plus I’m a horrible actress. I am who I am. With that said, I never want to become complacent. I never want to settle. I always want to cooperate with God’s transforming work within me. I definitely know that I’m not perfect and I don’t try to pretend to be, so why did I feel the need to hide who I currently am? Why was shame playing with my emotions?

The truth is I am not ashamed of my reality. On the contrary, I am pleased with my life. I love Jesus Christ with all my heart. My relationship with Him is healthy and growing. I love my husband. We are best friends. We have a strong and happy marriage. I love my children. They are healthy and bright. I am proud of their character. I am thrilled they love Jesus and are living for Him. I love my extended family. I am trying to live my priorities. My reality is not perfect. For example, Buddy humped the camera man! But my reality is a good reality. It’s a work in progress.

Yes, there’s a chance I may look like a fool. And it’s true that inviting cameras into your private home feels vulnerable. But if I am truly living for an Audience of One, why should I fear the judgment of the viewing audience?

I live before God’s reality camera every moment of my life. He knows me completely. He knows when I sit and when I rise. He perceives my thoughts from afar. He discerns my going out and my lying down. He is familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, he knows it completely (Psalm 139). He sees everything about me and yet He still loves me. As long as I hear His applause, I can handle the jeers of this world.

Lights, camera, action….bring it on! I’m ready to show the world what it looks like to be an imperfect person perfectly loved by a perfect God.

My 2009 Goal January 1, 2009

Another year…another fresh start…

The door of 2008 has closed behind us and we stand on the front porch looking out over a wide open space. Each of us has been given a gift of 365 days to create and execute this new journey. How will you respond to your new opportunity?

Some people struggle to get off the porch. Instead of stepping out into new territory, they press their noses to the window and look back focusing on the past. Are you fixated on hurtful and painful memories? Do you stare longingly at the “good old days?” Do you sit down in protest refusing to change or grow? Does the fear of the unknown paralyze you? God knows the plans He has for you. He is ready to give you a hope and a future. He’s doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it? Trust Him. He can make way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. He wants to complete the good work He began in you. But He is waiting for you to take the next step. If you don’t, you will find yourself sitting on the same porch in the same position 365 days from now.

Others jump off the porch and start running wildly. Instead of slowing down and asking where they are headed, they simply run. Many of their friends are doing it, so they join in. Do you find yourself out of breath? Are you exhausted by the pace of life? Are you pursuing things that will last? Maybe you are fast and have outrun those around you. Now you find yourself running alone. Are you lonely? Are you driven to accumulate possessions and accomplishments? Are you longing to impress? God says that boasting of what you have and do comes from the world’s philosophy, but doesn’t line up with His. His yoke is easy. His burden is light. The world and its desires pass away, so why run so hard after them. If you do, eventually you realize that you have been running in circles and are right back to where you began; making no true progress.

My desire this year is to step off the porch and walk with a determined cadence to the voice of my Savior. I don’t know exactly where that will lead me. And that’s okay. I will delight in being in the presence of my Father. Whether I turn to the right or the left, I will listen for His voice telling me, “This is the way; walk in it.” When I face obstacles, roadblocks, storms along the way…when I am afraid, I will trust in Him, in God whose word I praise. In God I trust; I will not be afraid. The rain will fall on both the just and the unjust. Every day will not be sunny. But when the skies are a brilliant blue and the sun is hugging me with its warmth, I will smile and rejoice. I will slow down and express the fullness of my gratitude to my amazingly creative God. I will take time to sit by the still waters and I will canon-ball, like a child, into lakes of refreshing. I want to walk hand-in-hand, step-by-step with the Spirit allowing Him to transform me. I long to express His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control with those I see along my path. This is my goal for 2009…Want to join me?

What Are You Holding? December 24, 2008

Yesterday I put on my Christmas shopping armor and ventured onto the Battlefield of Target. The objective – was to conquer the last few items on my shopping list.

After a couple hours, I emerged victorious. My shopping was complete! I closed the door; and as I sat waiting for the car to warm up in the parking lot, I realized the tangible objects in the bags behind me did not contain the most precious take-away. What made my heart dance with joy did not cost me a penny, yet I walked away with a beautiful picture of pure love.

The store was the setting of a classic Christmas shopping scene. People moved with urgency knowing their window of opportunity was closing. Looks of stress were evident on many faces. At the end of aisles shoppers engaged in Bumper Carts. A child asked in desperation, “How much longer?” The mom never answered. Another preschooler screamed, “I want that!”; then he would spot a different toy and demand, “I want that!” His intensity continued to escalate. As I pushed my cart in the opposite direction, I found myself irritated that the monster of materialism had such a strong grip on this young child already.

Before I wandered down that line of thinking too far, my mind was captivated by the image before me. I slowed down hoping to prolong the moment. I became oblivious to everything around me. Noise faded. Movement ceased. Potential gifts disappeared from the shelves. All my senses were singularly focused.

I was gazing at a grandmother holding her grandchild. They were on completely different ends of the age spectrum. One had grey hair and multiple wrinkles; the other had virtually no hair and the smoothest, softest skin. But they both had the same bright twinkle in their eyes. The baby amazed at the life around her. The grandmother amazed at the life she was holding. You could tell that the grandma desperately wanted to squeeze the baby to release the exploding sense of love trapped inside her. She refrained, however, and held her like priceless china. I watched her close her eyes as she placed her cheek against her grandbaby’s. She lingered. Then as if she was brought back to reality for a moment, she took a couple steps perhaps remembering she was supposed to be shopping. That didn’t last. Reality was trumped by love. She stopped, pulled her head back, and stared at her granddaughter like an artist studying and observing every detail before the brush touches the canvas. What she saw overwhelmed her and resulted in a very natural expression. This grandmother exuberantly kissed the baby’s cheek and a cheerful melody of I love yous followed.

Abruptly I snapped out of my mesmerized state and realized that this woman may be concerned about a complete stranger staring at her, especially when the stranger’s mouth was hanging wide open! So I forced myself to move on.

Sitting in the car, I wondered why I was so taken by this simple scene of a grandmother loving her grandchild. PRIORITIES. This woman focused on what was truly important. She wasn’t distracted by the pulls and pressures of today’s society that are so pervasive. She stood strong in the midst of the busyness and noise. She wisely concentrated on the joy that was already in her grasp.

My prayer this Christmas is that we would understand the joy we already hold. True gifts can’t be purchased….snow angels, laughter, the warmth of home, hugs, friends, family, my mom’s caramel apple pie. There are so many priceless gifts that don’t cost us a penny. But the most amazing gift of all is a relationship with our Heavenly Father generously given to us through Jesus Christ!

For the wages (cost) of sin is death, but

THE GIFT OF GOD

is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Decluttering December 10, 2008

In my family room sits a very special box. Today it holds my table linens and serves as a make-shift end table. As a child, however, it was my toy chest. Some may find it difficult to appreciate the value of such a simple box. It’s not made of expensive hardwood. The wood stain has worn off in several places. Scratches are abundant. But I love my toy chest because it was made by my Grandpa and I’m reminded of my childhood when I look at it.

The toy chest was like a best friend coming to the rescue. It always provided a quick solution to a messy room. Simply open it up and throw all the toys inside! It usually worked, but sometimes I couldn’t close the lid. So I would bounce up and down on the cover, in hopes that my toys would shift around and fit inside the box.

As an adult, I have exchanged my toys for thoughts and my mind has become my toy chest. The past two months have been filled with learning opportunities and life experiences that evoked numerous thoughts, ideas, and emotions. Each of which deserved careful evaluation. Unfortunately, the rapid succession of the events didn’t allow time for sufficient processing which encouraged me to resort back to my childhood tactics. I simply stuffed it all into my head.

Tucking things away is a good temporary solution. But eventually it becomes necessary to set aside some time to organize. If you don’t, the clutter becomes so great that you forget what you have. And even the greatest treasure loses its value if it’s forgotten. My mind is so full that I am in danger of losing valuable concepts. It’s time for me to organize the “toy chest” of my mind.

Organizing is a fairly easy process with toys. I’m not sure it’s as easy with thoughts, though. Is it possible to empty your mind and throw all your ideas onto the floor? Are a couple hours truly sufficient to complete the task? Like a child before a pile of toys, I’m not even sure where to begin. I need help.

Many organizational coaches break large jobs into bite size pieces as to not overwhelm. Maybe God will coach me by taking my hand and saying, “Here’s the thought we are going to deal with today.” And overtime, together, we will categorize each thought. Thoughts that produce anxiety, anger, or unnecessary negative emotions will be put in the throw away pile. Thoughts that do not line up with God’s way of thinking and do not please Him are garbage. I will need to discard them. Some thoughts will need to be put in the give away pile. I have played with them long enough. I know them thoroughly and now it’s time for me to share them with others. And then there are those thoughts that I will put in the keep pile. They will be beneficial for the days ahead. So I will need to carefully organize them for easy retrieval in the future.

Sometimes I’m tempted to avoid the hard work. My justification would be that everything looks good from the outside. But my heart always wins out and the truth is I want to please my Heavenly Dad. When He looks on the inside, when He opens the lid, I want Him to find a mind that is clean.

Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I desire to walk continually in your truth (Psalm 26:2).

I Promise I’ll Be Back! November 24, 2008

I’m having one of those seasons where I am having to choose the best out of all the good. Responsibilities and realities of life have decided to fill the balloon of time to its maximum capacity. Thank you for continuing to check in. Love to all.

Push “Pause” Please! October 23, 2008

In my spiritual journey, there have been moments I wanted to freeze frame and live within the pause. The picture was beautiful. And for that brief moment all felt right. God’s presence settled like the warmth of a down comforter on a brisk autumn morning. I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to blink. I barely inhaled hoping my slowed breath would stall the passing of the moment. It was a precious time…a rare time…a highlight in the midst of routine.

When we have the privilege of experiencing the glory, power and overflowing love of Christ in such a tangible way, it is so tempting to rip the remote control out of God’s hand and push the “pause” button. We know as the story of our lives continues, it won’t always feel this wonderful and our hearts long to revel in this gift. Like Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration, we try to reason with God and say, It is good for us to be here. Let’s build some shelters and stay. Let’s live here. It’s safe. It’s secure. It’s exciting. It pleases me. (Mark 9)

But we know better. Something in us hesitantly cries out, identifying the selfishness in that kind of thinking. We know we can’t live on the mountaintops. God has called us to the valley of reality because that is where His lost children are.

God understands what He is calling us to do is difficult. Jesus, Himself, came down from the ultimate mountaintop of heaven to live with us. He’s familiar with the challenges we face in the valley of reality: the difficult relationships, demanding jobs, daunting responsibilities, mind-numbingly dull routine, complex problems, and heartaches. Yet He asks us to sacrifice, as He did. He calls us to come off the mountain and to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He wants to use us to lead them to the mountain that they don’t even know exists.

It’s time to give the remote back so God can push the “play” button of your life. Thoroughly enjoy the highlights in your spiritual journey. Christ orchestrated them for you. He’s the one who took you by the hand and led you up the mountain. He met you there. He overwhelmed you with His presence. He filled you up. But when the time on the mountain has ended, take a deep breath, say a prayer of thanks, and walk back down into your mission field knowing Christ is always with you, holding your hand.