Eucharisteo Day 19... Because most of us have more than enough.

Then the King will say... 

     ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’  

     “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

     “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ 

-Matthew 25:34-40 (NLT)

Well, the holidays have hit. A trip to Target yesterday confirms it. 

I don’t know what it is about the holidays. I don’t know if it’s all the ‘traditional’ elements, the hoopla of the decorating, the flashing lights, the glitzy adds, the push to buy, buy, buy that sends me into a funk that borders the likes of Scrooge.  Now don’t get me wrong, I do put up a Christmas tree, love “It’s a Wonderful Life”, make a killer cheese ball & purchase gifts for my kids… & I’m certainly, not trying to push an anti-tradition, down with commercialism ideology… I just want people to be thoughtful about what they are doing, especially this time of year. 

Yesterday, I came across these few photos, pinned on Pinterest by a friend of mine… 

Beware… They are not for the faint of heart… trust me, my heart still hurts just thinking about them.  

Please understand that I’m not re-posting these here to shock you, to be a Debby Downer or to crush your holiday spirit. I just want us to be careful that in our zeal to create a perfect holiday for those closest to us, that we don’t miss the opportunity we have to minister to the least of these…  

I mean, what if this year, you chose as a family, to pare down & give what you would have spent to someone that has nothing?  What if you bought a goat for a family in Africa or rescued a child from slavery or sent them to school or put shoes on their feet? What if you chose to serve in a soup kitchen or took some time to visit a hospital or a nursing home? What if you donated food to the food shelf, coats to a coat drive, or gifts to a child in your community that won’t get one? 

Would giving in this way change you? 

There is no doubt in my mind that it would. 

 Cause really… do we really NEED one more thing under the Christmas tree for ourselves?

 “For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water. I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported. I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes. I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness. I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I deserved. 

 (RESV - Richard E. Stearns Version)”-Richard E. Stearns,The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us? the Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World

Echaristeo Day 18... It's a brand new day

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease. 

 Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.

-Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT) 

Sometimes I wonder if I started each morning (before I even get out of bed), with a grateful heart,  how much different the rest of my day might go. 

How much more thankful would I be for my husband... who starts my car when it's cold outside & fills my travel mug with coffee before I head to work in the morning; instead of complaining about how early & cold it is when I have to leave... How much more thankful would I be for a full time job (with benefits) to go to every day; instead of wasting my thoughts & energy on how much I long to stay home to support my husband in his day to day ministry... How much more thankful would I be for the little blessings God gives me every single day instead of focusing on what I wish I had. 

Gratitude is a heart attitude that has to be cultivated. It's not a natural thing, even for those of us that manage to see life as a glass half-full. But if we choose to foster it, we will experience life differently... & others will see something different in us. 
God... in us.

“Gratitude bestows reverence.....

changing forever how we experience life and the world.” 

-John Milton

Eucharisteo Day 17... The Sounds of Silence

Be still, and know that I am God. -Psalm 46:10 

 

I am thankful for the quiet. 

This past summer I went on my very first silent retreat. 

Our schedule had been a little more chaotic than normal & it was really beginning to take a toll on me. Worse yet, other people were beginning to notice. Least of all my family, who was kinda at a loss of what to actually do with me. So, at my husband's gentle prompting, I went away on a silent retreat.

Just me.  
My Bible.  
My camera.  
My journal.  
& a whole mess of pencils.

It was truly the best thing I've ever done for myself.

I took long walks.  
I prayed.  
I spent the afternoon in a kayak. 
I mulled over the scriptures. 
I took lots of pictures of simple things.  
I ate popcorn for dinner.  
I cried.  
I laughed.  
I poured out my heart to the One who knows me best.

I came home with a heart full of renewed hope & a new sense of purpose…

It is a good for the soul to steal away from the hubbub of normal life & be still. Our savior Jesus did it often. I often wonder why we think can manage to do life better than Him?  

“The world is quiet here.” -Lemony Snicket 

Eucharisteo Day 15... This guy.

... & this is what a real man looks like ;) 

I am incredibly thankful for this guy. 

There are hardly words really to describe everything he is & does for me & for our family. 

He seriously is a rock star!

Eucharisteo Day 14... Authenticity.

A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. 

-1 Timothy 6:6 (the Message) 

I am thankful for authenticity. 

Yes I’m on this soapbox again but I just can’t help it. I am, after all, a natural born skeptic so I love when people are just real. I’m just a simple, “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” kind of gal. 

I’d rather be around someone who is a whole lot rough around the edges than a big fat phony. I’d rather have a beer & an open conversation any day of the week, about a spiritual struggle in a bar with someone; than to sit in a pew on Sunday, next to someone who puts on a mask, lies to my face & says that they are “OK”. 

Unfortunately, I see more fake than authentic these days. It’s culturally acceptable you know.

It just makes my heart sad. 

While I understand how scary it can be to be open & honest, it’s just so much more work to pretend to be something we are not. 

Who do we really think we are fooling? Not God, who knows our hearts & certainly not ourselves. 

& what are we fearful of really? 

I mean, what would happen if we tossed our masks in the garbage & truly took a chance on authenticity?  What if we didn’t force a smile when our hearts are breaking & we asked for prayer instead?  What if we allowed people to love on us… to support us… to encourage us… to pray with us? What if we were honest about our past pain… our heartache… our sorrow & used it to minister to others? What if we were... selfless? Gasp!

Would acceptance, compassion & love abound? Would we finally feel as if we aren’t alone? 

Oh my goodness people! 

Do you see how revolutionary authenticity could be? 

How maybe we could actually be the Salt & Light that Jesus was talking about in Matthew 5? How maybe we could actually be what He desires us to be… His HOPE for the world.  

So… 

What do you say we try this authenticity thing together? 

Remember that whole thing about my being a natural born skeptic?  I’m not buying your, “I’m OK” anyway...

“These religious types were the fans that Jesus seems to have the most trouble with. Fans who will walk into a restaurant and bow their heads to pray before a meal just in case someone is watching. Fans who won’t go to R-rated movies at the theater, but have a number of them saved on their DVR at home. Fans who may feed the hungry and help the needy, and then they make sure they work it into every conversation for the next two weeks. Fans who make sure people see them put in their offering at church, but they haven’t considered reaching out to their neighbor who lost a job and can’t pay the bills. Fans who like seeing other people fail because in their minds it makes them look better. Fans whose primary concern in raising their children is what other people think. Fans who are reading this and assuming I’m describing someone else. Fans who have worn the mask for so long they have fooled even themselves.” 

–Kyle Idleman

Eucharisteo Day 13... Simple

 God, investigate my life;
    get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
    even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
    I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
    before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
    then up ahead and you’re there, too—
    your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful!

 I can’t take it all in!

Psalm 139:1-6

 Some years ago I happened across this quote--Something about it resonated in my soul. 

I am so thankful for the little things… the simple things… they are my favorite.

Good coffee in a mug painted by my daughter-in-law.  

Oatmeal on a chilly morning.

My Bible. (the Message version)

Leather bound journals.

Sharp pencils.

Deep conversations about spiritual things with my husband.

Silence.

Sunshine.

Writing.

Books.

Frye boots.

Turquoise jewelry.

Holding hands.

Long distance phone calls.

 Laughing with my kids.

Homemade pizza.

Dinner out with my girlfriends.

Flannel pajamas.

Fuzzy slippers.

Red wine & really good chocolate.

Little things. Simple things. Good things.

Precious gifts from an intimate God who knows my heart.