Ah yes. Hear that collective groan? “To church, or not to church,” that is the question among believers. Many of us are sick and tired of the way churches have become bloated institutions driven by the agendas of a handful of people. Many of us have been seriously wounded, neglected and rejected. Many of us, old and young alike, remark, “I just don’t see the point.”
I do not deny these stark accusations. And yet, I still go to church. Here’s why.
It is one of those Holy Convergences. You know the ones? When God is trying to tell you something and He brings the same message from all these “random” directions? Yeah, one of those. It is freaky and delightful all at once. Let me break it down.
First came the lunch meeting at Aubrey’s. I casually glanced out the window and time stopped for a moment as I watched this beautiful “pink snow storm.” Only it wasn’t snowflakes but seeds and petals caught up in the wind. I couldn’t take my eyes off this magical display. The wind, like the hand of God, just wrapped itself around this life-laden tree. It gathered up the pink promises, and in a gust, tossed the tree’s future into the air, carrying seed far from the original planting. Literally, it was like a river of pink seed carried through the current of air.
Are you seeing this? the Spirit whispered. Yes, Lord. Yes.
Then came Easter. God always brings a new revelation around what Father, Son and Spirit did for me. For you. One revelation came as I was planting new flowers and seeds. I heard the phrase, “Jesus was planted in the earth.” A dead seed. But then God raised him to life and from his resurrected life came forth many seeds. That is me and you.
Our very spiritual lives are a result of His power to bring new life from the dead.
People ask us why we do marriage retreats. They can be tense, awkward, revealing, and sometimes even scary. But those aren’t the moments we focus on. We live for the “ah-ha” moments when couples look at each other with fresh eyes, with God’s eyes, and remember why they want to try again. And again.
We do marriage retreats because people poured into us. We wouldn’t still be married, and happily married, (not perfect at it, but happy in the doing) if it weren’t for the older couples who kept holding out hope for us.
Marriage is one of God’s great character refiners. Therefore we need a bag of real tools and a huge dose of perspective to keep digging it out year after year. We need the hope of heaven to learn how to love.
Chuck and I believe that if you are going to stay together, you might as well be happy together. Thriving instead of surviving. We know folks who stay together “for the kids.” But they might be missing the mark. The kids just learn what it means to grow up in an isolated, unloving environment. So if you are going to stay married, then shoot for the moon. Learn how to live in peace, enjoyment, and intimate friendship.
The “I Do. Still” Marriage Retreat is designed for newlyweds and oldyweds. It is for couples who need a break from the mad pace of life, who need a deep breath of the Spirit’s power, and who need some laughter and wisdom.
We are walking evidence that God can build, and rebuild, a marriage that is worth staying in. Join us.
Register here.
What if there is more to the snow? More than the cooped up crazies with kids or without, or the fear of lost work time, or the endless cooking and cleaning (or avoidance of it). Since God doesn’t waste anything, I wonder, will we tap into the holy lesson of the snow fest?
I was struck by this scripture out of Job the other night. (I know, Job? Really?) Continue reading
When I first saw these berries, I remarked to the Lord that they are like many Christians I know. So much potential and yet frozen over. Two days later, I couldn’t stop thinking about this photo. Then the Lord dropped his interpretation and (surprise!) it was very different from mine. He simply said, “The wait of glory.”
It’s not a spelling error. The wait of glory.
As I mull on this notion, my spiritual synapses ignite like firecrackers. Wait on God. Wait on glory. Believe in His glory. In me? Ah yes, the scripture, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” But hope? What am I hoping in? No, who am I hoping in? He is our hope. Dan-n-n-ng.
Whether we like it or not, there is a “waiting” in the life with Jesus. And it is holy ground. How will we respond?
Think of Moses as he took off his shoes. Why did God ask him do that? Continue reading