Weddings and other frustrations

I have two daughters.  Therefore, based on the etiquette standards of our society, my husband and I have hosted (read "financed") two weddings.  On each occasion we wanted to give our daughters and our future sons-in-law the best we could possibly afford.  

We wanted everything perfect.  Or at least I did.

After each wedding a video began playing in my head of every little detail that went wrong.  I've learned through these expensive experiences that (1) weddings are BIG business; and (2) I should have gone into the wedding business!  But these videos of all the less-than-perfect moments began to control my thoughts when  I tried to sleep at night.  When well-meaning friends would ask, "Sooo, how was the wedding?"  When I tried to walk and pray!

Why did the florist tell me we would get frilly-tipped tulips, only to give us regular tulips at the last minute?  Why didn't the iron sconces look like the ones in her album?  

Why was the cake leaning like the tower of Pisa  (in both weddings!)  Can't anyone make a cake that doesn't lean?

Why did the wedding coordinator have us light the sparklers and not get my daughter and son-in-law to walk out BEFORE the sparklers went out - totally missing the moment for the photographer? (2nd wedding)

Why did the wedding coordinator tell me she would bring an "army of helpers" only to show up alone and solicit help from my secretary? (1st wedding)

Even now, writing about this, I can see the videos replaying and my frustration level rising!  But thankfully, the Word of God comes to my rescue.  Philippians 4:8 (TNIV):

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

I started redirecting my thoughts to line up with this Word.  The truth is, no wedding is perfect so I just needed to get over it!  Marriage is noble and right.  I'm so thankful my daughters chose marriage!   My daughters and their husbands are pure.  My husband and I could not be more proud or thankful for God's grace in protecting their purity and bringing them husbands of purity as well!  My daughters are indeed lovely!  And the highlight of each wedding for me was the moment their father walked out with his beautiful daughter on his arm!  My new sons are admirable men of God.  They are men that will stand among kings and be admired by their children and children's children.

When it comes to weddings - and other such frustrations - my focus is on everything that is excellent and praiseworthy.  In my case with both weddings, the excellence of God is now being revealed in two holy marriages.  

And best of all... absolutely perfect grandchildren!  (And all the grandmothers shout, "Amen!")

Why don't you tell the video of frustrating thoughts, "Stop!"  Start a new mental movie based on Philippians 4:8.  What can you think about that is True?  Noble?  Right? Pure?  Lovely?  Admirable?  Excellent?  Praiseworthy?

Now go ahead - think on those things!

Boring Testimonies

Today I am preparing to go away for a couple of days to a mountain lodge nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge.  I'll be sharing the weekend with 25 other ladies who are passionate to encounter God.  

After 10 years of leading these Encounters, I'm prepared for what I will hear and see this weekend.  Women who have horror stories of abuse.  Women whose lives were traumatized by divorce.  Women who are battling substance abuse.  Women who are weighed down with guilt and regret from abortion.

If not for grace!!!

These women will encounter God and God will heal them.  I know this because I know God.  The testimonies that result from this mountain-top encounter will be nothing short of phenomenal!

Then there's my testimony.  Compared to what I hear from others, my testimony seems so boring.  I've never personally experienced any of the life-shattering experiences listed above.  My family life was wholesome; my parents God-fearing.  I was handed a legacy of generations of followers of Christ and ministers of the Gospel.  I was sheltered and protected by a loving pastor-father and mentored by a powerful preacher-mother.  I never fell into teen rebellion.  I loved the house of God and grew to love His Word.  

Please do not misunderstand!  My past is not pristine.  I went through a season of years of rebellion against authority in my early twenties.  My husband and I have faced truly devastating circumstances in our 37 years of marriage.  But as I review my life overall, I've had it pretty easy.  

Some would say...even boring.

It is fair to say that I will not be invited to appear on the 700 Club or TBN to give my testimony.  A book about my life will most likely not make the New York Times best-seller list.  

Saul - who became the Apostle Paul - now there's a sensational testimony!  Christian-killer-turned-apostle to the Gentiles!  Wow.  Mind boggling.  As I look at the sons he raised up in the faith I cannot help but notice Timothy.  Apparently my testimony mirrors Timothy's a bit.  "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." (2 Timothy 1:4-5)

Timothy was a dear and loyal spiritual son to the Apostle Paul, and he became the pastor of one of the greatest regional churches in Asia.  The gifts and callings of God were apparent in him as a young man for Paul cautioned him to let no one despise his youth, to stir up the gift of God within, and to not be ashamed of his testimony! (2 Timothy 1:8)

Thank God for all the sensational, mind-blowing testimonies of changed lives by the grace of God!  I will always love hearing them and seeing the impact they make on others.  But in reality, as boring as my testimony is, I was a rank sinner who needed God's grace as much as anyone!  

I'm not ashamed of the Gospel and I'm not ashamed of my boring testimony.  

Oh - and I pray all my children and grandchildren have equally boring testimonies for their lives!

"You've got to preach."

You know those times when you realize, "This is what I was born to do!  I'm loving this moment.  I'm completely fulfilled when I am ________"  You fill in the blank.  

That's how I feel when I'm standing in the pulpit preaching the Word of God.  (There are also times with my grandchildren when I feel the same way!  Only grandparents will understand what I mean.)  

This weekend at Church Alive two young men acknowledged The Call of God on their lives.  They boldly stood before the congregation and said "God has called me into the ministry."  I cannot tell you how much this touches my heart!  

At the tender age of 14 I heard the voice of God (not audibly) speak to my spirit in the privacy of my bedroom.  He said, "You've got to preach."  It has taken me many years to realize that what the Spirit of God was depositing in me that day was the identification of my "sweet spot", the "one thing" that - when I'm doing that under the anointing - I'm the best me I can be!

Make no mistake, I believe every Christian is called into ministry and we teach that strongly at Church Alive. Actually, most of my ministry now is dedicated to teaching and training leaders who are in all walks of life, but have accepted the challenge to influence and disciple others for Christ.  Every believer a leader; and every leader a leader of leaders is our goal!  As Pastor Bill Wilson so profoundly declares, Christians do not have to receive a direct "calling" from God in order to get involved in Christian ministry.  Just look around for the need - and fill it!

Notwithstanding, there is that Call of God that changes you forever.  These two young men experienced that this weekend.  Now everything in their lives will have to line up with The Call.  Every decision they make will be framed within the backdrop of The Call.  

I tried for years, especially in college, to cover up The Call on my life. There were no Joyce Meyer's on TV in 1972.  It was not popular for a woman to acknowledge a Call to ministry, especially not to preach!  So I skirted around the issue, only confessing it to the dean of the Bible college I attended.  She was a bold, consecrated, educated, Spirit-filled, preacher-woman.  My mother was a fiery-yet-feminine preacher as well, so my life became surrounded by godly role models of women in full-time ministry.

Finally, my last year of college, I could hide The Call no longer.  I had been taking courses that would lead to a degree in music; but I confessed to the dean that I needed to take ministry classes to fulfill my Call into the ministry.  I enrolled in Homiletics that semester, and entered the class as one of two women in a male dominated course.  

When we delivered our sermons at the end of the semester, I chose a sermon I had heard my mother preach years before.  It had moved me and I hoped I could deliver it with her passion and fire.  I made it my own, adding a point here and there, then stood before my male professor and all those male faces and began to preach.  When you are doing what you are called to do, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, you are the best YOU you can be!  The anointing fell in the room that day.  The professor gave me an "A" on my sermon but more than that, he affirmed The Call on my life.  I'll never forget him announcing, "The Harrell family has another preacher!"  

In a very dramatic way about a year later, God called my husband to be a pastor.  We have taken wrong turns and stumbled around during our 37+ years together.  But The Call has stayed on us, as it always will.  The Call has led us to make decisions that I'm sure looked stupid to others.  Leaps of faith.  But here we are, doing what we love to do, with a bunch of crazy-wild, faith-filled Christians in Southwest Virginia!

And now teenage boys are hearing The Call.  I'm overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude to our God!

So pardon me please, but I've got to preach!

Jeremiah 1:7-9 (Amplified Bible)
"But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Be not afraid of them (their faces), for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.  Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth.  And the Lord said to me, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth."

Glasses on Top of My Head

Who will be honest with me on this one? At least once in your life you’ve gone looking for your glasses only to be told by someone (usually your children), “They’re on your head!” Initially you’re a little perturbed that you’ve been caught in a senior moment. Then embarrassment gives way to bursts of laughter as you realize how ridiculous you must have looked. But in the end, you are just glad to have your glasses!

God has promised us throughout His Word that He will be with us; He will never leave us; His presence will go before us; where two or three of us gather in His name, He is right there in the middle!

Have you ever thought about how ridiculous we must look and sound when we spend all our prayer time petitioning God for His presence? We pray over our day, “Lord, just go with me today. Please be with me in this meeting.” We pray over our church services, “Lord, meet with us tonight. Please send us Your Presence.”

The glasses are right there on your head!

There is no need to petition for something we already have! I am concerned about the amount of time we spend asking for what has already been given. God has been shifting His Church for some time now from focusing on petitioning prayer to prophetic prayer. As one author aptly states, “Instead of asking for God’s presence, we should be announcing it!”

So let me help you today by announcing over your life: “I declare the Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, Lord of all creation, Savior of the world, is present in your life today. He is your ever-present help in time of any trouble. He is your Faithful God, watching over your life to bless you. His glory is your rear guard. His goodness and mercy are following you all day.”

Now put your glasses on and let’s go!

Life Lessons from Shade Trees

Shade trees.  Aren’t they the best? 

On my morning prayer walk today, I found myself being very thankful for shade trees.  In a valley scooped out of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the heat and humidity in the month of August can be draining.  Morning temps are cooler, but the humidity is 75 – 95%.  It’s just plain hot.

So, I noticed that I intentionally gravitate to paths where shade trees grow near the road.  I promise you, the temperature is ten degrees cooler near those trees!  If I see a shade tree on the other side of the road, I’ll cross over to that side just to walk under the shade for a few steps.  One stretch of road provides a full 70 paces of shade!  Ahhhh.

I’m particularly fond of one area on my four-mile trek, just at the crest of one of the many hills in my subdivision.  The homeowner wisely placed numerous shade trees near their property line, which have matured and produced a quiet, calm sitting area in the owner’s backyard.  But to my delight, they cast their shade across the road and afford me a refreshing breather from the sun’s beating down on my path.  Today I intentionally looped back around this area three times just to enjoy the shade a little longer!

That’s when the Lord spoke to me.  Those trees were not planted yesterday.  Or last year.  Or even in this decade.  They were planted 25 or 30 years ago with the vision that someday they would provide magnificent beauty.  And shade.  Refreshing shade.

Are you planting shade trees for your future and the generations to come?  Sure, we enjoy shade trees in our yards and near our patios.  But shade trees have an amazing ability to reach out beyond where they are planted.  One such tree in my neighborhood forms a complete arch over the road, and even provides shade for the house on the other side of the street!

The shade trees I can immediately identify in my life are:

1. The Shade Tree of Family. My parents planted a Tree 59 years ago whose Roots formed a strong marriage and provided a secure family environment for my siblings and me.  I cannot count the times I have run to that Tree for support, comfort, and rest.  My husband and I took those Seeds and planted the same for our children.

2. The Shade Tree of Divine Communion.  I walk with the intent of praying.  I’m anything butan athlete, but I realize my body needs exercise.   So I walk with an agenda – to fellowship with God.  Whether it’s walking your neighborhood or kneeling in your Secret Place, time with God is the most refreshing Shade Tree in life!  Linger there a little longer.

3. The Shade Tree called “Church Alive.” Twenty years ago, my family planted the Seeds of a Church.  [It’s actually called a “Church Plant”.]  It’s my personal Shade Tree, my church family, my spiritual home.  Every week I “walk intentionally” under that Tree and without fail find the refreshing, cool breezes of the Spirit.  Today that Church provides Shade that reaches nations!  I cannot overstate the importance of planting oneself under the Shade of the Local Church.

When the great Prophet Elijah was weary from the heat of spiritual warfare with the spirit of Jezebel, he went a day’s journey and laid down under a juniper tree where the angel of the Lord found him and brought him food and drink.

When the Psalmist wanted to portray the picture of a godly life, he said, “And he shall be like a tree firmly planted…” (Psalm 1:3).

If we expect to find refreshment and rest in the heat of life, we need to plant our own Shade Trees.  If you haven’t, do not fear.  Just walk with people who planted theirs years ago.