Jana Spicka

Criticism and Praise

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I heard a story a long time ago about a train conductor who would walk up and down the train punching people’s tickets.  He came upon one grouchy lady who complained and ranted and loudly criticized his every move.  As he punched her ticket, he raised his eyes and said, “You hear that, Lord?” And he moved on.

The people in the that box were astounded by his gracious response. So a man several rows back praised him on how well he handled the difficult moment. The conductor raised his eyes again and said, “Did you hear that, Lord?”

Which voice would have rattled you more? The criticism? The praise?  Funny how some people languish over one word of criticism. Others are spun around by one word of praise.  How loud is the voice of God in your life?  Is His voice enough to silence the voices of criticism and praise from others?

The Great Divide

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A lot of people have used this phrase to denote the great chasm between the saved and the unsaved. But I think it is a great description of what separates the Saved and the Living.

I hear lots of stories. What I see as the biggest hurdle for most believers is the notion that God is present, relevant and available in their lives.

Today. Tomorrow. Now.

He is important enough to save us from sins. Indeed, enough to punch a card for entry into heaven. Yet He seems irrelevant and even irrational for our daily lives.

Why is that?

Have we gotten so self-sufficient, so IN-dependent, that we don’t think to ask God for help?
Is He too busy?
Are we too broken, beyond His repair?
Are we unclear of what is ours to handle and what is His?

I was reading a book that lists many of the ways God introduces Himself to us. One is that we are soldiers and He is the King of Angel Armies. The other name and picture was of us being His sheep and He our Good Shepherd.

Don’t know about you, but a soldier and a sheep? In one package?  My friend Meagan said she feels like a sheep holding a sword.  That awkward and that foolish.

Or maybe it is precisely that need and dependence God has set us up for. We are part of the Great Battle Plan. We are also lowly, needy, sheep that can not cross running water, don’t know when to move on to other pastures, can’t get back up when we fall down unless helped, and who are the stinkiest farm animals around. That’s us. Snort. God’s sheep.

Today, instead of scraping to figure out how to make your life work, ask the Lord to be your Shepherd. Ask Him to lead you beside still waters so you can cross safely. Ask Him to lead you to pastures where there is good green grass. Make the metaphors work in your life. Just ask Him. And then watch and wait.

Begin to close the Great Divide by relinquishing your need for control, and acknowledging His Very Real Presence in your moment right now.

Psalm 63 says: “My soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me.” O Lord, lead us in your way everlasting. Interrupt our lives. Realign our thoughts and needs to You. You are the Good Shepherd. We need You. Amen.

God Stories from Beth

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So love sharing the way God is holding Beth close to Him. This was from a recent email she sent. Enjoy!

It is Sunday (Aug 29) so I’ve been here a little over a week and it has been the hardest day so far without question.  I’m just really missing people and realizing that this could be harder and longer than I thought even though I’ve known it wasn’t going to be easy.  I went outside behind the cottage to sit at the picnic table facing the river and turned on some music planning to write emails.

Instead I ended up just listening and letting the songs wash over me for about an hour.  I was playing a list of songs God had brought up throughout the time leading up to the first trip and as well as this one.  Each one had something I needed to hear or be reminded of.

The first one was “Our Hope Endures” which just helped change my perspective.  Nothing has really changed…the reasons I came are still the same and everything I heard from the Lord to bring me here is still true.  The next song was “Don’t Get Comfortable” by Brandon Heath.  The chorus says, “I am gonna show you what I mean.  I am gonna love like you’ve never seen.  You are gonna live like you used to dream.  This is your new song.”

I’ve also been frustrated because I feel like I’m not doing anything or getting anywhere.  I know that it will take time but you would think that I’d never even met the Croudaces before with how reserved I’ve been and still am even after a week.  I was thinking about this and had stopped listening to the songs.  The Lord brought my attention back in the middle of “Wait and See” also by Brandon Heath…”Still wondering why I’m here.  Still wrestling with my fear, but oh, He’s up to something.  And the farther on I go I’ve seen enough to know that I’m not here for nothing.  He’s up to something. He’s not finished with me yet.”

Each song was so on target.  “By Your Side” Tenth Ave. North and “Let the Waters Rise” Mikeschair…”God you know where I’ve been you were there with me then.  You were faithful before you’ll be faithful again.”  Then hearing God say the next line:  “I’m holding your hand.”

At one point I heard something rustling in the leaves and looked over.  It was a bird but what caught my attention was the fact that it was at the base of one of those trees that the bark peels off.  I hadn’t seen or at least noticed any of these trees til just then.  Not much of the bark is off at this point but it has started.  The Lord was saying, “You’re going to get there. Don’t get discouraged with slow beginnings.  It is coming off.”  It will be interesting to watch the tree as it progresses.  I’m sure the Lord will have more to say to me about it.

Lord, thank You that You see and hear. Thank You that You are ever interceding for us. Bless You, Lord. Amen.

Don’t Scramble. Follow.

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Don’t scramble. Follow.

Simple words. Big, hairy, audacious way to live. Scrambling and striving is innate, ingrained. Expected and applauded. By the world, that is.

Following is scary, unsure, uncertain and certainly out of your control. But whose life is it anyway?

Weren’t we crucified with Christ? And now, we don’t live anymore? Our demands for control got nailed to the tree. Right?

Want to know if you are simply doing life the Jesus way when He said, “Follow Me” ?

Pay attention to your fear, anger, and need to know the outcomes. They are dead give-aways that you really, really, really think you are in charge.

Not only did Jesus say He would never leave you, He also said you couldn’t add one hour to your life or an inch to your height by worrying. He implied, why fret when when you can trust?

Fretting comes from fear of being alone and on your own. Trusting comes when you know you are in His hands. And it is the only and best place to be.

“Let not your heart be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in Me” John 14:1

Do You Get Tired of Hearing “I Love You” ?

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I now have a God Box. I had to. My dresser and my desk were covered with all these sweet notes, kisses, hearts or butterflies from the Lord. As I was lovingly putting them in the box, I thought about how I have a box for my kids, and a box for Chuck.  Little remembrances of moments, notes, emotions, memories of our lives together.

And now a God box.  At first I felt foolish. Or insane.

But then I went to the mountains with Chuck.
In our favorite jeep with the top down.
On our favorite kind of day, crisp and cool.
With our favorite music playing loud.
Holding hands and breathing deep.

We were aware, invested, immersed in being together. Nothing foolish. Nothing insane. But instead it was the most normal, delightful thing in the world.

Then we went to our favorite spot in the mountains. But actually it was Our spot before it was our spot. I had been running away to that spot to cry or dream or vent long before Chuck came into the picture. When I got there, it was just as as sentimental with Him as it had been with him. Butterflies were everywhere. The sand was warm, the water loud and laughing. The trees nodding and bending in the almost-autumn breeze. I gasped in surprise when a cool gust of wind swept across my skin as walked in the chilled water. And there it was…

A little pink heart lying on the river’s bed.

No doubt discarded by a visitor tubing down the river. But there. Not carried away. But there. On that day. At that place. For me.

I picked it up and laughed out loud. My voice and tears burst out, “I love You too!”

What else could I say?

No, I will never get tired of His love notes. Because I can never get enough of His love.

Lord, you delight in us. In me. You are ever, ever trying to tell us how much You love us. Give us eyes to see, and ears to hear. And boxes. We all need God boxes so we won’t forget. Oh yes, and Lord…We love You back. Amen

Big Mac Attack

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Some of you have heard about my computer woes.  But what you may not have heard is how the Lord totally set me up. Again.

I had all these big plans of writing this summer. My laptop computer broke. I got another laptop. It broke, too.

Summer has slipped by, the crunch of our new WGR class is here, and I have been reduced to trying to peck out emails on a machine that resembles an old, old woman on oxygen in a hospital bed, gasping for breath. But here is the rest of the story. I am a little awestruck in the telling.

This morning I am sitting in front of  an iMac with a 20-inch screen. It’s secondhand for sure. It came late yesterday afternoon, only one day before our class begins tonight. But still, I’m shaking my head in disbelief as I look at the first pages of my new books without having to squint and blow it up to 200%. I am noticing its speed and ease of handling big projects. With three book projects on the way this year—and a worship CD— this is a very, very needed piece of equipment.

I think to myself: Did God really break my computers, while they were still under warranty,  so that I could get what He knew I would need?  Is that possible? Or, even probable?

I am reminded of Proverbs 16:9  In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

All that wrangling, and worrying, and whining, for what? Can you believe I shed tears over a computer?  Or lack thereof?

Today, God’s name on my calendar  is Jehovah Jireh. The meaning of this name is The Lord Who Provides. The name is literally, The Lord Who Sees, or The Lord Who Will See To It.  Funny huh?

Lord, You alone are my source, and our source, for everything.  What can we say but we love You. Thank You for being so good to us, even if we don’t always see it in the moment. Amen.

Notice heart in center upper screen... smile.

God’s Work?

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I am reading this great book, Rework. It is one of those rare books that actually has something fresh to say rather than regurgitated mush. Small is good. Meetings are a waste. No time is no excuse. And, I like how God keeps talking about “work” through this book, and others, like Linchpin and Proverbs.

Proverbs says: all hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

These authors remind us about the beauty of “work.” Work is not workaholism, busy for busy sake or busy for a pat on the back. More hours is not more work. Work is not watching the clock, punching a card.

Work is something very intrinsic to our nature; it is set apart. Dare I say it – Holy? When you sit around and watch TV, surf the web, or whatever you do to “zone” out, do you feel good? Proud of how you spent your time?

Or, rather, when you have attacked a problem and begun resolution, when you have quit making excuses and started writing, working out, cleaning, building, whatever you’ve been avoiding, don’t you feel PRODUCTIVE? You have created something of value.  And in some small measure you feel more alive. I’m not talking about proving value; I’m talking about revealing God’s giftings.

God never does half-ass work.  He always puts His whole heart into whatever He is doing. He loves what He is doing, and nothing deserves less than His best. Maybe, just maybe, that is why Colossians says: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the
Lord, not for men. (3:23)

God has created you for good works so that the two of you, together might be revealed. So are you working, or talking about working?

Lord, teach us to count the days and make the days count. Amen.

Anger and Armor

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We have had a revealing summer. Kind of like getting a family report card, and we really needed a tutor. A spiritual tutor.

So Glad we have the Holy Spirit to teach us. What I want to share is how He does it on a small, day-by-day basis.

We will have a huge blow up. “Stop talking to each other like that.” “What’s the matter with you?” “You know better, now act like it.”

And then we all walk away a little sick in our hearts. Not because of the failure, which stinks, but because of the repetition. I want them to get the message, and change the behavior. Yet we keep repeating the same issue.

But do I think the same thing with myself and God? “I already told you Jana. Now stop it. You know better, now act like it.” God rarely talks like that to me.

What He does is call me to the righteousness within me. He reminds me of who I really am. He pours courage in, and washes sin out.

And He continues to teach, and teach, and teach.

Guess what Charis’s memory verse has been these past two weeks (Is God smart or what?):

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Ephesians 6 10-13

Holy Spirit, thank You for always teaching us truth. And teach us to pray for each other and to not fight against our loved ones, our own flesh and blood. But strengthen us to stand against the evil one. Thank you Lord. Amen.

When Old People Make Young People Cry

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I was re-telling some Zimbabwe stories today at the girls’ school. There are some funny ones and some sad ones. And one that really sticks out to me is when we went to the old folks home.

This place was even worse than other places we had seen. It was old people just sitting around waiting to die. No family, no provision, with literally a threadbare existence. If they had shoes, they were
busted open because they had worn out or were the wrong size to begin with. If they had clothes there were holes and tears in their shirts and pants.

We took a picture of their “pantry.” It had oil and meal to make sudza.  That was it.

Then sweet Laura Jones piped up and said, “What if we wash their feet and pray for them. Can we do that??”  She looked like an angel when she asked that.

My internal response was No Way. But my external response was a stammered, “Yes–Yes–we–can–”

And we did.  Here we were young, polished Americans on our knees with our slick American water bottles pouring out purified water on these dry, cracked black feet.

Then came the dull murmur as we prayed in our language over a people who did not understand a word we were saying. Yet we all believed that God had no problem with our dialect and accent.

I am not sure who was changed more. Us or them. I don’t think I have ever felt more like Jesus than when we washed those old, weak, dirty feet.

I am so glad that Jesus never stammered or hesitated to wash my feet. I am so glad that He is pleased to touch me and pray for me.

Father, I pray even now that the old folks in Zim and the team here are reminded about the crazy day that You showed up in the oddest way.

“Isn’t that a strange way to save the world. . .” Amen.

I know that You are for me…

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This is the new song that the Lord “just happens” to have on the radio at the exact time that I am letting out one of those long, desperate sighs. Enjoy.

You Are For Me
by Kari Jobe

So faithful
So constant
So loving and so true
So powerful in all You do

You fill me
You see me
You know my every move
You love for me to sing to You

I know that You are for me
I know that You are for me
I know that You will never
Forsake me in my weakness

And I know that You have come down
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who You are

So patient
So gracious
So merciful and true
So wonderful in all You do

You fill me
You see me
You know my every move
And You love for me to sing to You

And Lord, I know that You are for me
I know that You are for me
I know that You will never
Forsake me in my weaknesses

And I know that You have come down
Even if to ride upon my heart
To remind me

I know that You are for me
I know that You are for me
I know that You will never
Forsake me in my weakness

And I know that You have come down
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who You are