MY BLOG POSTS

Did you ever read something you already knew, but felt like you just “got” it for the first time? That happened to me this morning. I was reading the first chapter of Matthew, and I saw Ruth and Boaz in there. Because Right Where I Belong is loosely based on the book of Ruth, I feel even more a connection with the characters in that story. So I slowed down, really looked at that section. And I saw something that hit me — Boaz’ mom was a prostitute. Rahab. I think I knew that, but I know I never really thought about it.

What would it have been like for Boaz to grow up with everyone knowing what his mom used to be? Sure, she saved the spies in Jericho. But when the rubble cleared and the people went back to “regular life” did they gossip about this woman who was now living among them, married to one of their men? People are people, so I’m sure there were those who held Rahab’s past against her. I’m sure Boaz heard things about his mother that caused some schoolyard fights.

But looking at Boaz in the book of Ruth, that made him a compassionate man. It prepared his heart for the woman who would be the love of his life. Ruth was from Moab – many Isrealites were prejudiced against Moabites. I would guess Ruth was gossiped about by some of the less-than-kind people in the town, too. Boaz would have known that. And what did he do? He made sure she had plenty of leftovers to take back to her mother-in-law, he cared for her, he gladly agreed to be her kinsman redeemer.

I know this is all conjecture – the Bible doesn’t say what life was like for Boaz as a child. But I don’t think it’s too far of a reach to  guess that he faced struggles because of his mother’s past. And it is clear that he was a godly, kind, well-respected man (a clue that Rahab herself was likely a wonderful mother). The difficulties he may have faced as a child shaped him into a better man.

For me, it was a reminder that God works everything out for good. He uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. He elevates the humble. It was a reminder to me that no one’s past is beyond redemption, and the believers’ future is better than we can imagine.

Who says you can’t get anything from reading geneologies? 😉

“Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than sitting in garage makes you a car.” “I can worship God anywhere — church doesn’t have the corner on that market.” “There are too many hypocrites in church for me to want to go there.” “Sunday is the only day I get to really rest, and isn’t that what Sunday is supposed to be, a day of rest?”

I could go on. I’ve been in church work enough years that I have heard all the excuses. And, yet, I still believe firmly that going to church isn’t just a good thing, it is necessary.

Are churches perfect? No. Are there hypocrites, awful people, bad churches? Yes. There are bad restaurants, too, but we haven’t sworn off eating because of them!

It is through churches that my life has been changed. Men and women who love God and are committed to him have invested in me through so many different ministries, from the time I was a baby in the nursery until today, sitting in a Bible Fellowship class.

I grew up in a little church in Winter Haven, FL. It was filled with amazing people, a pastor who taught God’s word and lived it out, children and youth workers who truly loved me.  As an adult, I have been to many different churches, different denominations, different sizes, in different cities, states and countries. In every one, God has taught me more about Him, He has put people in place that challenged me and helped me, encouraged me.

But that is only PART of what church is for — yes, we go to grow and learn and be part of a community. But when we stop at that, we miss out on the best part: service.

There are LOTS of different places to serve in the church. For me, my favorites are discipleship and worship arts. I have taught Bible studies, Sunday school, small groups, large groups, seminars, devotions…you name it. I love seeing people get excited about learning more about who they are in Christ, helping ignite a passion for God and His word.  And I love using my gifts in choirs, praise teams, and drama teams. I have had more fun working with others in those areas, serving the church in those ways. It is fulfilling and fabulous.

Most people I encounter who hate church or make excuses for not attending are people who aren’t serving. They are so focused on what they aren’t getting that they miss out on what they should be giving. And every believer has something to give — you can love on babies, bring meals to people who are sick, help organize showers, make dolls for children in the hospital, serve meals to the homeless, fold church bulletins, run the games for VBS…

Even if you’re young — you can still serve. Our family works in the preschool at our church. Our kids fight over who gets to read the lesson, hand out the crafts. They love on these three and four year olds, play with them, and model Christ for them. Just last month, our daughters went with their youth group to sing for and bring food for the homeless at a local shelter, then they had a Christmas party for the Special Needs’ ministry at our church, bringing gifts, playing games, and jut talking with some of those amazing men and women. They came back from that saying it was the most fun they’ve had at a youth event.

So no more excuses. Add “Go to Church” to your list of New Year’s Resolutions. And if you already go, add “Serve” to that list. And if you’re doing that, too, tell us about it. What’s your favorite ministry memory?

I loved the musical Les Miserables before loving Les Miserables was cool. But my love grew exponentially when I read the novel. There is so much beauty in Hugo’s story, so much truth. My favorite part is right at the beginning. Jean Valjean is released from prison and is treated like trash by every villager he comes in contact with. Until he stops by a bishop’s home. This man of God is the first person to treat Jean Valjean like a person. He gives him food, using his best dishes. He gives him a real room with a real bed. And Valjean repays him by stealing from this bishop and running away in the middle of the night. Valjean is caught and returned to the bishop’s home. The bishop looks into the bag, filled with silver from his home – the home he opened to this man – and instead of condemning Jean Valjean, the bishop gives him more, sending the police away.

Then he says what is probably my favorite line in the novel: “Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good.  It is your soul that I buy from you; I withdraw it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God.”

For the first time in his life, Jean Valjean is shown grace: he is given what he does not deserve.  And Jean Valjean takes that gift, that grace, and he becomes a great man, a compassionate man, a man who showered grace on others throughout his life.

The Bishop is symbolic of Christ; Jean Valjean, fallen humanity. It is a beautiful symbol, one that gets to me every time I see it, read it, or hear it. As much as I love Cosette’s “Cinderella” story, the love story between she and Marius, the political statements and social implications, it is the grace shown in this story that, I believe, is truly at its heart.

That is why I love this story so much, because it teaches me about grace, it challenges me to give grace more often, with liberality. It reminds me that grace is truly amazing.

It is fitting that my “Year in Review” post is a day late…2012 was so crazy busy that I felt like I was rushing all the time just to keep up! But it was an amazing year!

Here are some of the highlights:

• I had THREE books published in 2012!!

• My oldest daughter, Emma, turned 13 this year!

• My middle daughter, Eliana, got a lead role in our church’s HUGE spring children’s production (she’s the cutie in white)

• My son, Thomas, started wearing Axe. Still not sure how I feel about that…

• The girls and I had a great weekend in Orlando shopping, playing, and talking about purity (this is us at Planet Hollywood in front of Judy Garland’s costume from “The Wizard of Oz”!)

I also spent a week relaxing in Tennessee, a week grading AP Literature exams and hanging out with my hubby in Kentucky, I saw all three of my siblings and all ten of my nieces and nephews. I directed two plays and performed in one. I read over one hundred books and started on a brand-new series of my own.

That, in a nutshell, was my 2012. Crazy busy, crazy fun. How about you? What were some highlights from your 2012??

“May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.” ~Ps. 67:3