Learning to Live and Love: Returning Reflections

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Learning to Live and Love: Returning Reflections

John and I recently returned home after a glorious six week car trip (see previous posts). It’s taking longer than we thought to “get our Ohio feet under us” (as John has been saying).

My friend Barb may be right. She claims it takes 3 times the length of the trip we’ve been on to recover from being away. That means I need to give myself 18 weeks (4-1/2 months) to recover totally. Can that be right? Maybe so…it sure feels like it right now…

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Loving People: Friends Old and New (Part 2)

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Loving People: Friends Old and New (Part 2)

As we entered our beloved Dallas, anticipation was high…former home, birthplace of our beautiful daughter Beth, home of our beloved church (McKinney Bible Church) from many years gone by, precious friends “unseen” for 30+ years, and new friends in the Grace community (leaders and members of Network 220 and the Grace Tribe).

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Learning to Love People (Part 1)

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Learning to Love People (Part 1)

Lesson #4: God sends many kind, interesting people across our paths in life.
… A second is equally important:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
“Who is my neighbor?” In Jesus’ familiar story of the Good Samaritan, He answers that question from both directions. The racially-religious outcast (Samaritan) was “a good neighbor” to the needy, beaten and destitute man (his “suffering neighbor”). So in a sense we are all “neighbors” to each other. I guess the question is do we pay attention to those around us and reach out?

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Learning to Follow Our True GPS ...with John again

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Learning to Follow Our True GPS ...with John again

… So much new territory to navigate in our journey from Ohio through many states and on into Tucson. We successfully used our car GPS for the majority of the trip. But we experienced His Abiding Presence to be our best GPS of all. The most stressful part of the trip turned out to be finding our way to the hotel in Albuquerque, NM.

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More Lessons Along the Way . . . with John in his own words

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More Lessons Along the Way . . . with John in his own words

…If you have been following along with us, you know we’ve been unpacking these truths, learned on our trip thus far:

  1. God answers His children’s prayers (see previous blog post)

  2. God often answers before we ask. (today in John’s words)

  3. God is our GPS on trips and in life.

  4. God sends many kind, interesting people across our paths in life.

    And now for today’s truth:

    2. God often answers before we ask.

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First Stop in our Journey: Attached to Jesus

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First Stop in our Journey: Attached to Jesus

I’m back-tracking a bit to tell you about our first stop in our car trip. Illinois for Spring Break in Kansas City with our beloved daughter and son-in-law and grands was our plan. (see photos below).

But the the most heart-grabbing, spiritually touching part of it all took place in their home in Illinois before and after our trip to KC.

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Resurrection ZOE -- the Dance of LIFE!

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Resurrection ZOE -- the Dance of LIFE!

Easter isn't Easter unless it's Easter to YOU!

So declared a radio preacher early in Holy Week a few years ago. At first I said, "Yes!"  Then I thought about it awhile and said, "Not really! Easter is Easter whether I get it or not."

What is Easter anyway? Easter is the day we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the grave. He had conquered sin and death on the cross and then was raised, so that we could walk in newness of life. (cf. Romans 6:4)

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Focus on the Cross: the Last 7 Sayings of Christ with B.C. 2001

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Focus on the Cross: the Last 7 Sayings of Christ with B.C. 2001

It is truly "holy ground" to reflect on the Cross — what our Lord went through … but more than that, what He accomplished there. Would you meditate along with me ... and visit Christ's seven sayings from the Cross? [links below]

What a perfect preparation for the joy, freedom, and release of the Resurrection.

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Remembering Stone #9: Discovering the Indwelling Christ

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Remembering Stone #9: Discovering the Indwelling Christ

“Go down, Jan.”

My mentor-friend Donna would say this to me, time after time. “Jan, you are in your head. Go down”

My problem was that instead of actually feeling my negative emotions, I would do “commentary” on them and the situations that provoked them. Donna was trying to help me actually feel my emotions. You see, for years in “evangelicalism” I came to believe that anything negative was “sin” — negative feelings, negative thoughts, negative desires, etc. etc.

What a lie from the pit!

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St Patrick's Prayer for Today

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St Patrick's Prayer for Today

I’m not Irish except in the sense that everyone is Irish on St Patrick’s Day.

So this week, I’m returning to a beloved “hymn”. Today more than ever we need the beautiful truths expressed in what is traditionally known as St. Patrick’s Breastplate.

St Patrick's Breastplate is a Celtic hymn, usually attributed to St Patrick, that is sung around his feast day (March 17th).  There are many variations to this hymn.* But I have chosen a simple version to share with you.

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Remembering Stone #7: Seeing the Smile that Destroyed my Religion

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Remembering Stone #7: Seeing the Smile that Destroyed my Religion

It wasn’t that I hadn’t known or believed the truth of the Gospel: that I was a sinner and that Jesus died to pay for my sin. I knew, believed, and wholeheartedly embraced it all! I even theoretically knew and “believed” that God loved me and everyone else in the world.
The surprising thought of that gospel preached to me in Tucson through those lovely students was good news. It is …

ALL a free gift, not earned by works but received by grace through faith!

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Be Ye Glad...Oh Yes!

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Be Ye Glad...Oh Yes!

Those of us who were adults during the 1970s and 80s may remember the song "Be Ye Glad." It came as a peaceful balm to our souls during the stressful time of the Iranian Hostage Crisis. The spiritual imagery of our life in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is so poignant.

In light of the upheaval in our war-torn world, along with the upheavals in your own personal world, why not take a few moments to listen. Reflect on the message and even sing along.

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Remembering Stone #6: Journeying into the Dark Night of My Soul

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Remembering Stone #6: Journeying into the Dark Night of My Soul

You would think that after having had such amazing teachers and mentors at Moody Bible Institute and after receiving such a storehouse of Biblical and spiritual knowledge there (Remembering Stone #5), the Christian life would have been a breeze for me … joy-filled and exciting!

And it was exciting and joy-filled … for awhile. Let me tell you about it.

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Sandpaper & Polish: Relationships in God's Sovereign Hands

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Sandpaper & Polish: Relationships in God's Sovereign Hands

IJohn and I have been married for 55 years. We long ago gave up our unrealistic expectations of the “perfect marriage.” But we had tried and failed and put out the efforts again and again. After all, we made our vows to God and each other.

We had bought the lie that was rampant in our early marriage — I need to kiss my personality good-bye and be the overly submissive wife to my husband who was to be the “big cheese” who always knew “the answer.” And he had to be the one to take the lead, which rarely happened.

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Remembering Stone #5: Resting in the Sovereignty of God

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Remembering Stone #5: Resting in the Sovereignty of God

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! … Beginnings and endings, starts and finishes, twists and turns and even turn-arounds. That’s life, isn’t it? And that was true for me in those two years at the University of Arizona. Lots of twists and turns:

  • East Coast to the desert Southwest

  • Roman Catholic to Evangelical Protestant ( the entire time a true believer; a Christian no matter the church)

  • Student nun (“novice”) to a single college student, and eventually engaged to be married

Each of these changes have produced multiple stories. But since these “stones” (as my brother Conrad calls them) are describing my spiritual journey, I will stay focused. Back to Tucson and the University of Arizona …

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