God's Upside Down Kingdom-- the Inner Kingdom of Jesus (John's Guest Post)

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God's Upside Down Kingdom-- the Inner Kingdom of Jesus (John's Guest Post)

The kingdom of Jesus is an upside-down kingdom; it turns the definition of a kingdom on its head. Worldly kingdoms bask in their own power, personality, pride, and revolt.

The kingdom of Jesus is the reverse; it basks in the benevolent monarchy of Jesus.

  • The kingdom of Jesus is a small, living seed that grows, matures, and nurtures its citizens, and not a huge dead structure that sucks the life out of its occupants. (Matthew 13:31-32)

  • The kingdom of Jesus is given to vulnerably insignificant followers, not a kingdom usurped by a strong charismatic leader. (Luke 12:32) …

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Stones of Remembrance on ZOOM

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Stones of Remembrance on ZOOM

Dear Sisters in the Lord,

We are each on a unique journey, so we each have a story to tell.  Our stories are a mixture of the mundane and sublime, the hard and the soft, and everything in between. And because we know our Creator God (Eph 2:10), everything has meaning whether we see it clearly or not. And so our journey is one of discovery.

Join us in this discovery as I share my “remembering stones,” significant truths and turning points in my journey with God. And in the process, through guided questions and reflections, discover your own journey as well….

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Teaching from a Reservoir

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Teaching from a Reservoir

For my dear Teacher Friends
…Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37-38

In the early fall of 2000, John & I were blessed by a visit from Dr Marvin Mayer and his wife Shirley. Dr. Mayer had just retired from many years of teaching Bible and Theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.  John & I were students at MBI in the 1970′s.  Dr. Mayer fast became one of my favorite professors and “spiritual father,” with a continuing relationship over the years.

On this particular visit, I got up early so I could walk with Dr M in the morning before he and Shirley left to return home to Illinois.  As we walked and talked, he spoke of his years of teaching and made a statement that grabbed my attention:  “I teach from a reservoir.”

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A Pantry for my Soul

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A Pantry for my Soul

Are you in the midst of a long stretch of life when you feel like you have nothing? It has been survival day after day. Maybe you are a mother of multiple preschoolers; a person in chronic pain; a cancer patient going through chemo; a husband or wife, a son or daughter, a sister or brother grieving the sudden death of your loved one; or maybe a caregiver of some kind. You don't have enough time or energy or mental clarity to replenish your own resources…

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"Where is the Holy Spirit in all of this?"

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"Where is the Holy Spirit in all of this?"

A mature young Christian woman goes to her regular adult Bible study class. The teachers of the class  are experts in Biblical counseling. Week by week they share from the Scriptures answers to common problems faced by individuals and families in today's culture. One Sunday after learning the "formula" for solving a particular problem biblically, our mature young woman asks, "But where is the Holy Spirit in all of this?" 

A member of a sound evangelical church is a student in a class on Christian church history.  He reads some articles ... 

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Read My Mail: Clues to Getting Free of Legalistic Living

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Read My Mail: Clues to Getting Free of Legalistic Living

For the past five years, I have been leading a small group of maturing sisters in the Lord. We call ourselves “Branches,” from the metaphor Jesus uses of Himself and His people in the gospel of John, chapter 15 — “I am the Vine; you are the branches.”

Our unifying theme is “living from our union with Christ.” We all long to understand and experience the freedom and fullness of our indwelling Lord Jesus through His Holy Spirit living in us and through us as us. And so we study and share and pray with and for each other.

In the course of our meetings and discussions, I was moved to write the following email. Maybe you would like to “eavesdrop” and read our mail. Feel free to jump in and respond. We can learn from each other.

Also be sure to check out our reading list and related blogs.

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Growing Old with the Ancient of Days

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Growing Old with the Ancient of Days

For some reason, I’m feeling my age this year.

Up to this point, I hadn’t felt old… I have just felt “me” — a little slower, a little more forgetful, a little more “invisible” to those around me. But just an older “me.”

Maybe it’s been my multiple bouts of pneumonia OR maybe it’s my believing the enemy’s lie “you’re too old to ______” ( I’ll share my thoughts on that in a coming post).

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The Glory of Being "Babci" -- a Polish Grandma

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The Glory of Being "Babci" -- a Polish Grandma

I come from a long line of Polish grandmothers — incredible women who sacrificed and loved and put their “babies” ahead of themselves.

My Babci came over to the US on a boat at the age of 15 by herself from Poland through Ellis Island. Her mom (my “Great-Babci”) began to send her kids one by one out of Poland to the US before WWI. She could see the conflict brewing….

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In the Meantime: Sunrises say "Glory" in Scripture and Song

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In the Meantime: Sunrises say "Glory" in Scripture and Song

Reflections from Past Sunrises beginning August 2014

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.    The skies display his craftsmanship.Day after day they continue to speak;    night after night they make him known.They speak without a sound or word;    their voice is never heard.Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,    and their words to all the world.God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.  

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This "Branch" is going "Down the Shore" Again

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This "Branch" is going "Down the Shore" Again

From my very first year of blogging and many years since, I’ve been blogging my journeys to my “happy place”…the Jersey Shore.

A portion of this blogpost is a trip into yesteryear —one of my early Jersey shore blogs, Aug 2016.

And actually in a couple days, we will again be on our way to that favorite place on earth for me. It’s not just the ocean that calls me. It’s my roots — the precious loved ones (family and friends) and memories of my growing up years. So off we go for another adventure…

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Never Too Young, Never Too Old

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Never Too Young, Never Too Old

You are never too young…
you are never too old…
… to be the expression of the life of God
in you and through you as you.

I have a precious granddaughter. Her name is Claire. Claire has been falling in love with God for years now. When she was about 4 years old, she asked me one day,
”Babci [my Polish name for G’ma], who told you about God.”

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A Blessing for Aging ... Trusting and Flourishing

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A Blessing for Aging ... Trusting and Flourishing

Aging is hard. When we are young, aged people are often “invisible.” Life is so busy for parents of growing families, adults who are building careers, even middle aged people who are young enough to travel and serve. They all have “big, busy lives.”

As we get older, our lives can get smaller. Our capacity shrinks and much of our time, attention, and energies are absorbed by health issues. Life gets hard and can feel hopeless.

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Turning 78: Growing Old with the Ancient of Days

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Turning 78: Growing Old with the Ancient of Days

For some reason, I’m feeling my age this year.

Up to this point, I hadn’t felt old… I have just felt “me” — a little slower, a little more forgetful, a little more “invisible” to those around me. But just an older “me.”

Maybe it’s been my multiple bouts of pneumonia OR maybe it’s my believing the enemy’s lie “you’re too old to ______” ( I’ll share my thoughts on that in a coming post).

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