Discussion Island

In the middle of Loch Leven, shadowed by the mountains of the Scottish Western Highlands, sits a tiny island steeped in rich history.

It's called Discussion Island.

Since medieval times, if there were any arguments or disputes among the people, the quarreling parties were rowed out by boat to Discussion Island. They were given cheese, whiskey, and oat cakes and left there until they sorted out their problems.

No refills provided.

And as a result, in over 1,500 years only one murder has occurred in that region.

I was fascinated as a local woman recounted the story to me on my recent visit to Scotland. Discussion Island isn't very large. In fact, only a few trees stand in the middle of it. You could walk across it in less than one minute.

Now, just imagine a person with whom you have quarreled recently.

At times our arguments have substantial grounds. But more often than not, don't we get our noses out of joint over the small stuff?

It tends to be the day-to-day irritants that grate on our nerves and cause pettiness. Perhaps a careless remark taken the wrong way or out of context started the whole thing. And you've decided to avoid the person or just not talk to them for a while.

And the tension in the air mounts. It begins affecting others. It becomes bigger than it needs to.

So, let me ask you...

How fast do you believe you could sort out the issue if Discussion Island awaited?

"Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." Ephesians 4:26

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Endings Promise Beginnings

There is a universal truth we all have to face. Whether we want it to or not, everything eventually ends.

The last day of summer.

   The final chapter of a great book.

      Parting ways with a loved one.

As much as I anticipate new adventures, I've always disliked endings. But endings are inevitable.

Leaves fall.

   We close the book.

      You say goodbye.

I just returned from a ten-day vacation in Scotland. In that beautiful, enchanted land, God brought about a long-awaited ending in my life.

In the Highlands, I finally said goodbye to a broken heart. To an "I do" promise that didn't stick. There, He allowed me to release the plans I thought my future would hold.

   Everything that was familiar.

      All the earthly things I held secure.

         And enabled me to embrace a new beginning.

God breathed new life into a heart restored by Him. And allowed me to see fresh possibilities. To glimpse the wonder-filled plans that He's unfolding before my eyes.

It's been a journey two and a half years in the making.

I learned at a soul-deep level that endings promise beginnings. Sometimes it takes a while to move on.

But God's timing is perfect.

He walks beside us in the dark valleys towards the sunrise mountaintops.

   And He reminds us with each step how much we're loved.

      How much we're cherished.

Maybe you can't relate. Maybe you don't care. But there's an overarching truth that gives us all hope: when we trust God to heal us, He never disappoints.

Ever.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

Have you experienced significant endings and beginnings in your life? I'd love to hear your story.
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He Molds From Shards

Have you ever broken something dear to you?

Perhaps it was a handmade craft from one of your children. Or a sentimental antique passed down to you from your parents or grandparents. Perhaps a piece of pottery painted by a sibling.

When we hold the broken pieces of such a treasure, the grief and loss we experience isn't about the object itself.

It's about what it represents.

Special memories. A beloved person. Measureless love.

The object provides us a reminder. To smile. To feel the warmth of love.

But what about when we break?

Perhaps it was a relationship.

   A dream.

      Your heart.

Those times we find ourselves looking at the pieces of our life wondering why we never heard the tornado sirens. Dazed by flying debris. Wondering where to even start again.

Yet God sees where we've fallen.

Whether our broken pieces represent our own sin or the consequences of someone else's, God does His best molding when we're broken.

The hard shells of pride, ego, and busyness that we erect keep our hearts distant from the One who loves us most. Sometimes He allows those He holds dear to break so that we come to the end of ourselves.

   Our agendas.

      Our to-do lists.

         Our self-centeredness.

            To seek Him.


In those moments that stop us in our tracks, we finally hear His gentle whispers. It's amazing how well we hear when all our strivings cease.

Then with great care, God pieces us back together.

   More beautiful.

      Still fragile.

         Yet stronger.

He holds your broken pieces -- His handmade treasure -- and reminds you it's never about the object itself. It's about people recognizing Him and His handiwork through your healed brokenness. It's about what He can do through you.

He molds our shards into stunning mosaics of grace.

“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.” Hosea 6:1-2

How have you allowed His light to shine through your most broken seasons of life? Or how have you seen that demonstrated to you through someone else?

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There's Leaving in the Following

Photo from here.

For the past several weeks, I've been working through Henry Blackaby's study Experiencing God with my Small Group. It's been the most pivotal, transforming study I've ever done.

But Sunday night's lesson still lingers.

It caused me to ponder about this faith walking we do with God.

   What it takes.

      What it requires.

         What we have to give up.

It's a leap of faith into a story already in motion. His story.

If we're honest with ourselves, this journey He calls us to embrace often stands in direct opposition to what we planned.

Just think about these scenarios from Scripture:

• David had to leave his sheep to become King (1 Sam. 16:1-13)
• Noah couldn't maintain a daily routine and build an ark at the same time (Gen. 6)
• Moses couldn't herd desert sheep and stand before Pharaoh simultaneously (Ex. 3)

So there's leaving in the following.

Their lives, like so many others throughout Scripture, offer us hope and courage to leave the comfortable to follow God into an uncomfortable, incredible, divine journey.

Have you ever given up anything to follow God?

For example, I didn't grow up in the church. I had my life all figured out.

And it didn't include God.

I felt cozy with my safe job, loving family, circle of friends, and daily routine. I steered my own ship and that's exactly how I preferred it.

Until God stepped in and interrupted.

As I began attending church, learned about God's love, and the sacrifice He made to make us whole, I became an uber excited new Christian. I assumed everyone who loved me would voyage with me.

I could not have been more naive.

My family was supportive, but my friends didn't get it.

At all.

They weren't ready to strap on sandals for such an excursion. They liked their sandals where they sat.

But God kept after me, so I experienced a crisis: "If I believe God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do, don't I have to trust Him enough to walk by faith and not by sight?"

That meant following God, not my friends.

It meant obedience when I didn't even know what I was agreeing to do.

Now, 20+ years later, I have only two friends remaining from that original circle. But God has provided new, amazing friends who are excited and passionate about this faith trek we now walk together.

I've experienced incomparable joys and profound losses. And He's used them to shape me into a vessel to write about and teach His Word.

A greater story I could not have possibly fathomed.

The expedition hasn't always been fun. But I wouldn't trade one single step for anything in the world.

We cannot stay where we are and go with God. 

He always calls us into bigger stories than the ones we would have written for ourselves.

Is God calling you to a life adjustment to prepare you for a calling in your life? How will you answer Him? Have you ever done Henry Blackaby's study "Experiencing God?"
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Silence: When You've Lost Your Voice

I've been pondering the story of Zechariah in Luke 1 during my quiet time this week. And it got me to thinking.

Sometimes we experience moments that leave us speechless.

Perhaps our circumstances silence us:

    ... a blessing too immeasurable to grasp

    ... a heartbreak too deep to comprehend

    ... a long-awaited dream coming to fruition

    ... a tragedy too senseless to understand

For a time, the blood thundering in our ears drowns out all else. Pulse racing. Knees weak. Head spinning as we attempt to grasp the enormity.

When was the last time you experienced such a moment?

We tend to remember exactly where we stood and who stood with us when we couldn't stand anymore.

Ordinary days take on HD clarity at such moments. Vivid details that stun our mind and silence our mouth.

   In awe.

      In wonder.

         In grief.

            In joy.

And yet, God is there. Always.

It happened to Zechariah.

His moment was momentous enough, but God wasn't finished. After decades of serving as a priest in the temple, the lot fell on Zechariah for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to burn the incense in the Holy of Holies.

But he disappeared behind the curtain for a long time. Perhaps the people worried. After all, he was pretty old.

But he wasn't in there alone.

He was talking with Gabriel about a tired prayer regarding a forgotten dream: a child of his very own. And Gabriel told Zechariah,

"Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John." Luke 1:13

His brain couldn't grasp what his ears heard, so Zechariah doubted the message and the messenger.

And lost his voice for over 9 months.

God silenced Zechariah until the truth of His promise was revealed in His perfect timing: that Zechariah wouldn't just be any ordinary father, but the father of the forerunner to the Messiah.

Zechariah didn't choose to go silent.

We normally don't either.

Sometimes it takes speechless moments to still our rambling mouths so we can hear God's rich, boundless promises.

In a world that clamors for our attention, how do we hear and obey the whispers of God?

We listen in the silence.

Whether our momentous moments are full of joy or sorrow, God isn't finished with us.

Even if we doubt the message or the messenger, God still walks with us.

   Leading.

      Guiding.

         Always.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3

When was the last time your circumstances stunned you into silence? Were you able to discern God's direction more clearly?
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Engraved: When You Need a Reminder

Writing this verse on my palm felt strange. I originally intended to use this photo as a Pinterest pin. But as I scribbled, something amazing happened.

Each stroke of the pen served as a physical reminder of a profound truth:

We've been engraved by the same hand that carved the Tablets of the Law for Moses.

I wonder ... how many names are engraved across God's magnificent palm?

Notice the singular palm.

The sheer vastness.

   Of Him.

      Of His love.

         Of His pain.

Engraving leaves scars. Carving deep. Altering forever.

No worldly trophy compares to having our names engraved on the very palm of God Almighty.

Engravings made possible by the lashes and gashes on Jesus' body. And that Friday we call Good because of them.

Yet there we are. Permanently carved in the ink of His Son's blood.

Etched.

   Engraved.

      Remembered. 

So very loved.

Do you want a vivid reminder that you occupy God's thoughts?

Write Isaiah 49:16 on your palm.

But in place of the word "you" write your name instead.

Take it slow.

When you're finished, hold your hand up and gaze at those words.

In your mind's eye, can you picture your name written on His palm? Would it be scribed in Hebrew? Aramaic? A language only God recognizes?

The names engraved there are too numerous to count.

But God sees your name.

Every. Single. Day.

I wonder ... one day will He allow me to run my fingers over my name carved there? A more intimate moment I cannot imagine.

Because God is love.

And we are His precious engravings.

  

What hope and assurance does Isaiah 49:16 bring to you today? Have you ever pictured your name on God's palm before?

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The Haters of Good Friday

Photo from here.

It's been three weeks since we remembered Good Friday.

That horrible day that witnessed evil, yet we call it good.

Some believe by faith what Jesus accomplished. Others don't.

But what was true then is still true 2,000 years later: the haters still lurk.

They follow you as you follow Christ.

They surrounded Jesus wherever He went.

Projecting doubt. Frowning disagreement. Hurling insults. Questioning his authority.

Haters.

They hated Jesus.

   What he stood for.

      Who he stood against.

         Where he stood to make his points.

After three years of public ministry, the hate boiled over.

Fists raised. Eyes wild. Necks bulged with vocal strain. The crowd pressed in with crowded hearts on Jesus' last hours shouting: "Crucify him!"

And Jesus suffered excruciating pain.

Brutally flogged by soldiers. Punctured carelessly by thorns. And dressed in a robe as they mocked, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

Morbid spectators lined the Via Dellarosa watching his trail of blood toward Calvary.

   Spitting.

      Hurling.

         Taunting.

            Hating.

And the ultimate hater roamed to and fro. He and his legions tasting victory.

Prowling like a roaring lion, Satan didn't pass off that job to a demon underling.

It was the moment he'd been waiting for. Pursuing relentlessly every since the star shone over Bethlehem. To kill the Son of God.

There's passion in the hating.

Standing in direct opposition to everything God stands for stands the haters.

Can you see them? They're not the people you dislike. Or disagree with.

You can't see them because it's a battle in the spiritual realm.

Satan and his legions working tirelessly. Every day. Hating.

Satan in heaven accusing us. His legions on earth tempting, luring, and destroying hearts and lives.

But their victory rings shallow because of Good Friday and a stone rolled away three days later.

But that doesn't keep them from hating. Stirring up trouble. Causing mayhem.

That's where we stand these three weeks later. In a world tossed and torn by the hater and his legions. Sometimes we're in excruciating pain.

But because of what Jesus accomplished on Good Friday and rose to proclaim on Easter morning, that's not where we live.

Because He lives, we can face tomorrow.

   Because He lives, we will step out this perishable body into an imperishable one.

      Because He lives in us, we can love like He loves.

Despite the haters.

I pray that time hasn't dimmed what Good Friday accomplished.

The same power that conquered the grave lives in you.

"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable,
and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:
'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'” 1 Corinthians 15:54

What hope does that bring to you today?
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Your Value Doesn't Come From Bricks

Earlier this week, I watched Rob Bell's video, Everything is Spiritual. His teaching was nothing short of brilliant. Many points he made keep bouncing through my head. But one in particular caused me to stop and ponder.

About rest.

   And being.

      And doing.

In Old Testament times, the Hebrews enslaved in Egypt worked seven days a week. Even though God prescribed one day in every seven to rest, the slaves toiled non-stop under Pharaoh's whip.

One by one, they produced bricks by the tens and hundreds and thousands. Monotonous. Endless. They had to meet daily quotas or face punishment.

Basically, their value came from making bricks. They were only worth as much as they produced.

In His perfect timing, God rescued His children from slavery and reminded them of His initial instruction:

"Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during
the plowing season and harvest you must rest." Exodus 34:21

Work for six days, then rest on the seventh. Even during the busiest seasons. It likely took them some time to readjust their mental dials.

By mandating rest, God taught them that their value didn't come from what they produced. That they weren't merely brick makers.

Fast forward to today. How does your work ethic imitate the Hebrews? I don't need to guess your recurring tasks. You know them. You do them. Over and over. Every day. Feeling obligated to complete all that's been added to an already full plate. And then some.

Yet God gives the instruction to work for six days, then set aside one day for rest. To take one day each week to remind yourself that you're not a machine.

To just BE.

   Be with Him.

      Rest. Reflect. Play.

God created us to function as human BEings. Not human DOings.

God did not mean for His children to go non-stop until they drop. Depleted from lack of rest. Dehydrated from lack of refreshment by His living water.

God created us for relationship. With Him. With each other. To live in community. To develop lasting bonds.

To BE.

Even during the busiest seasons. Perhaps, especially then.

There's plenty of time for work. Setting aside one day every seven to disengage from the world's chaos makes the other six manageable. Not so overwhelming.

It may take some time to recalibrate toward rest, but we need that undistracted time with Him. And with loved ones.

God doesn't love you for what you can produce. Your value doesn't come from bricks. Or your job. Your completed projects. Your ministry numbers. Or your volunteer base.

You have been rescued and redeemed as a child of the one true God.

He simply, profoundly loves you. 

I pray you take time this week to simply BE.

"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him." Psalm 62:1 (NIV)

Do you set aside a day to rest? What gets in the way? How would your life improve by taking one day in seven to rest?
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Speakers: Learning Style Matters

Photo from here.

When you prepare to step onto the speaking platform, have you taken into account your audience's learning styles?

As a speaker and Bible study teacher, I'm always looking for ways to ensure that the content I share can be absorbed by a diverse audience. As a standard, asking the event coordinator to identify the expected audience, becoming familiar with venue layout, and, of course, prayer, play important roles.

It's also crucial to understand how different people receive information best. For example, if you're preparing to speak to a room full of children, would you use only complex charts and graphs as visual aids? If you're speaking to a room full of artists, would you make your point with business facts and figures instead of passing out the paint brushes for some hands-on time?

In short, learning style matters. There are three basic learning styles. Incorporating aspects from each style contributes significantly to how the audience absorbs your content. The three styles and characteristics of each are:

1) Visual: Learn by Seeing

• Typically neat and clean in appearance
• They sometimes close their eyes to visualize or remember something
• Take detailed notes (Do you have handouts?)
• Benefit from colorful illustrations and presentations (Do you have visual aids?)
• Like to see what they're learning
• They'll find something to watch when bored

2) Auditory: Learn by Listening

• May not coordinate colors or clothes, but can explain why they're wearing what they're wearing
• Remember by speaking lessons out loud or repeating them (Do you ask them to repeat back important points?)
• Gain understanding by reading aloud or listening to audio books
• Hum or talk when bored

3) Kinesthetic: Learn by Touching and Doing

• Need to be active and take frequent breaks (Do you speak for an hour non-stop?)
• Speak with hands and gestures (Do you stand stiff behind the podium?)
• Appreciate physically expressed encouragement (e.g., a pat on the back)
• Recall activity, but have trouble remembering what was said
• Enjoy hands-on tasks (e.g., art, craft projects, cooking, etc.)
• Find reasons to tinker or move when bored
• Sit near doors so they can get up and move easily

If you're an author, chances are you'll be invited to speak before an audience at some point. Keeping in mind your audience's learning styles proves critical when creating absorbable content for a wide range of attendees.

If you're preparing for an upcoming presentation, what learning style from this list might you need to incorporate? What tips can you share with other aspiring speakers?
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Desperately Seeking

Easter morning felt all wrong.

Not because the alarm went off at 4:00 a.m.

Not because I was running late (again) for worship sound check.

Not because the moon followed me as I drove to church.

But because I felt desperate.

For several weeks, my heart's been burdened over two dear friends going through challenging life seasons. I think about them several times a day and pray for them often.

Easter morning, those friends crossed my mind once again. A few days prior, amidst the gloom of Good Friday, I had asked God: Are my prayers even making any difference? Why must their suffering be so great? 

The proverbial angel perched on my right shoulder whispered, "God knows the purpose for their suffering. Trust Him." The devil lurking on my left shoulder hissed, "They're suffering for no apparent reason. God gets a kick out of that."

The battle took up residence in my mind and Good Friday gloom turned into gray Saturday desperation. I wanted to plant both feet, shake white-knuckled fists toward heaven, and yell at God from the depths of my soul, "JUST FIX IT!!"

But therein lies the problem. I'm a fixer. And I had determined that those loved ones had hurt enough. So I wanted it fixed. Now.

But I can't fix this. I can't stop their pain. I can't ease their suffering.

So I felt helpless. Desperate.

As the Easter service neared the end, these lyrics resounded throughout the sanctuary in musical grandeur:

     He lives to silence all my fears; He lives to wipe away my tears.
     He lives to calm my troubled heart; He lives all blessings to impart.

     He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Savior, still the same;
     What joy this blest assurance gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!

I could hardly sing for the lump in my throat. In that moment, God pierced my helpless Good Friday gloom with the reminder of His brilliant Easter assurance: We have a living Redeemer.

Not a stone idol with a vacant stare. A living, breathing Savior who cries when we cry.

I can't understand why my friends' pain is so great, but my Redeemer lives to wipe their tears. He's not forgotten them. He loves them more than I can possibly imagine. And He's certainly not allowing suffering just to watch them squirm.

It's not about what I do or don't do. It's about our Redeemer...

   ...who intercedes on their behalf before the Father.

   ...who sees the perfect plans He's created for both of them.

   ...who's already seeded the goodness that will grow lush, watered by their tears.

   ...who promises to take their shards of brokenness and mold a breathtaking vessel of His glory.

Desperation creates seekers. Them and me. Sojourners seeking the face of God.

And there's healing in the seeking.

Those beautiful melodies of promised redemption hummed courage into my soul to keep praying. To stay the course and keep the faith.

So instead of feet planted, fists shaking, and mouth bellowing, I find myself on my knees.

Palms open toward heaven.

Whispering in amazement: Thank you, living Redeemer, for the suffering that makes us desperate for You.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)

Question: Have you ever felt desperate in prayer? How did God guide you through and answer those prayers?
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