Big Eyes and Belly Laughs by Melissa Driggers

Photo by Creative Commons

Shouting “Happy New Year!” to welcome in 2014 was a bittersweet moment for me, because although I am so excited at the promise that a new season brings, this new year also brings some already-known challenges for which God has so lovingly prepared my heart.  I walk into this year taking deep breaths, with eyes fixed on the One who loves me more than I could ever even imagine, holding on for dear life. Very recently, during one of those tough days, God brought to mind a past experience which I wrote about in June, 2012 on my personal blog.  So friends, I’d like to share it with you here as I remind myself again that I can look forward in this new season and find streams in the desert.  I can forget what is past and face the future not with fear or anxiety, but with big eyes and belly laughs!

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In the waiting room of the hospital, a very curious little three-year old approached me, with her head tilted, and asked, “What happened to your leg?” So I explained to her that I had surgery and was still healing. We had a lovely conversation, asking each other about our favorite colors, favorite cartoon characters, and favorite games. Before I knew it, she crawled up in my lap. Her mother apologized and moved forward to retrieve her, but I assured her it was fine with me if it was OK with her. And I was so grateful that it was.

As Eva sat on my lap, I decided to try out one of our little family traditions on her. Mom used to do this with us, and in all of her years teaching children has had a 100% success rate with the giggle factor on this little gem. Some of you may have heard of this little song/game. I have no idea of what original context the song was written or when it was written…but it goes like this…

I had Eva hold her cute little hand out, palm up. I gently traced a circle on her palm with my finger as I sang, “Round round circle, put a penny here…” and then, slowly…very slowly, “walking” my fingers up her arm toward her shoulder, I sang “one step…two steps…” and then, unexpected to Miss Eva, I sang “tickle under here!” and tickled Eva until I heard the BEST SOUND IN THE WORLD…the belly laugh of a child!

Of course, you know what happened after that, right?

“Again, Miss Missa!” (She had a little trouble pronouncing my name – so sweet.) So over and over again we went, and each time, when I got to the “….two steps”, I would pause dramatically, purposefully making her wait until she was about to come out of her skin with expectation. Her eyes were huge with anticipation about the best part — the inevitable tickle-fest to come! She knew that after that second step up her arm was done, it was all about belly-laughing joy.

I drove home thinking about Eva’s big eyes and belly laughs.

Do I anticipate the next move of God’s hand with that kind of anticipation?

Eva knew the game. She knew after the first time that the outcome resulted in her joy. In her mind, it was simple: “Miss Melissa did it last time, so she’ll do it again.” And each time, she believed the outcome was going to result in her joy. She trusted me to deliver it. So every single time, her eyes grew big in anticipation of what was to come. Because she remembered the last time.

God has always brought joy from waiting, uncertainty, or darkness in my life. There has not been one single time in my life when I have sought Him and not found the doorway out of the valley and into hope. I’ll bet you can say the same thing. How quickly we are to forget it. Maybe it’s just me, but it doesn’t take long for me to lose my focus on Him and gaze at the struggle instead.

How quickly I forget that I’ve been here before.

How quickly I forget to look into His eyes and remember that He has never, ever let me down.

How quickly I forget that I can be confident in my current circumstance because of God’s past performance on my behalf.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! (Eph. 3:14-21, NIV)

This morning I caught myself belly-laughing in anticipation of what God has waiting for me on the other side of the door.

Because I remember the last time.

www.infieldsofgrace.com 

About Me:  Reminded daily that I’m being chased by the One I pursue. Cancer survivor,  encourager, teacher, speaker, blogger, writer.  Passionate about relationships, coffee, books, my kids (who are “technically” canine but they think they are human), and cooking for the people I love.  

Contact: infieldsofgrace@gmail.com

Matt Maher, Empty and Beautiful    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE5QdEgQw9Y

Being Uniquely You ~ A Guest Post by @JenniCatron

Team C4C is thrilled to have Jenni Catron, 
author and Executive Director of Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN, writing for us today!

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Photo by Church 4 Chicks

Today as I was zipping from one appointment to another, when the noise of the radio DJs caught my attention for a few minutes.  The local top 40 station was sharing their 5 tips on what women need to do to "worship themselves", and while that phrase alone was enough for me to tune out, I was intrigued to hear what they had to say.  Their point was that women give all our time and energy to every other relationship and responsibility in our lives, and we're not taking time for ourselves. 

Sound familiar?


As they went on to share a handful of tips that seemed pretty shallow and selfish, I realized that they are only trying to help fill the same gaping hole that so many of the rest of us struggling with.

"Over the last fifty years women have secured for themselves greater opportunity, greater achievement, greater influence, and more money.  Over the same time period, they have become less happy, more anxious, more stressed, and in ever increasing numbers, they are medicating themselves for it." ~ From "Find Your Strongest Life" by Marcus Buckingham

That statement is heartbreaking to me.  It's heartbreaking because I really believe it's true.  I've begun to see this in my own life.  Our opportunities have increased rapidly, and we're adding pressure, responsibility, and activities daily, but we're not taking the pressure off in other areas.  We're just piling more onto our already overflowing lives.

One of my greatest burdens for women is helping us truly identify and understand who God has made us to be and to embrace that wholeheartedly.

I believe it's so critical that we do the tough work of understanding ourselves and how we are uniquely wired.  As women in particular, we have a tendency to allow a lot of other things in our lives to define us, and we lose sight of our God-given gifts, talents, and abilities.  

One of my favorite verses is a constant reminder of my need to evaluate who God is calling me to be:  Galatians 6:4-5 (The Message)  "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.  Don't be impressed with yourself.  Don't compare yourself with others.  Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."

  

How has God uniquely wired you?  What are your strengths and gifts?  What does it look like for you to worship Him through understanding who He has made you to be?

I'm praying that God would awaken you to the beautiful, uniquely gifted individual that He has created you to be as you allow HIS power to flow through you!

Jenni Catron serves as the Executive Director of Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN, a 10-year-old multi-site church.  She leads the staff of Cross Point and oversees the ministry of its five campuses.  Prior to joining the staff of Cross Point, she worked as Artist Development Director in the Christian music industry for 9 years.  Jenni’s passion is to lead well and to inspire, equip, and encourage others to do the same.  She speaks at conferences and churches nationwide, seeking to help others develop their leadership gifts and lead confidently in the different spheres of influence God has granted them.  In 2013, Jenni co-authored a book for women leaders entitled Just Lead!  She blogs at www.jennicatron.com and contributes to a number of other online publications as well.  Jenni loves a fabulous cup of tea, great books, learning the game of tennis and hanging out with her husband and their Border Collie.

The Power of Forgiveness - By @Emily Laney

Photo credit: Keoni Cabral 
(creative commons)

The Power of Forgiveness
 

By 
Emily Walters Laney

I love this month’s theme on the Church 4 Chicks blog: “The Power of Christ IN us”.  It’s a simple statement, but it really packs a punch, and honestly, I didn’t know where to start with this post at first.  I mean, how do you encompass such a powerful statement in 500 words?  

Over breakfast at our favorite local spot one Saturday, I explained the theme to my husband. “What should I write about?” I asked him as I took a bite of my cinnamon roll French toast (FYI, best breakfast ever, so good.) 

He didn’t even hesitate with his answer, “Forgiveness.” 

At first I was hesitant, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that he is absolutely right.  What demonstrates the power of Christ in us more than our ability to forgive?  I think about the cross, and as Christ was suffering immense pain that most of us can’t even fathom, he spoke truth over the whole world.  

“Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'" – Luke 23:34a. 

The humility, the restraint, the power that Jesus demonstrated with those words are hard for me to comprehend sometimes.  The Creator of the Universe came to walk with us, to dwell with us, and then He suffered and died for us, and he forgave us!  I know in my own life I betray Christ and deny Him in many ways.  I don’t stand up for my faith like I should.  I am quiet when I should speak up more for His truth.  I am silent about injustice when I should tirelessly advocate.  I am prideful and look out for my own interests over those of others.  I’m a mess y’all, and even though I have plenty of things to ask forgiveness for, sometimes I can be slow to forgive others. 

I wear my heart on my sleeve, so I can be pretty sensitive.  I also really love to be in close community with others, so when I feel left out, betrayed, or ignored, it hurts.  Even though I have been forgiven for so many things (see above), I still struggle to forgive others.  I was reminded of this recently as I ruminated over a situation for days.  It got to a point where I knew that my lack of forgiveness was going to hurt me more than it would hurt the person by whom I felt betrayed.

Forgiveness isn’t easy.  Life is hard, and the source of our pain is usually from people close to us. We are all human, and we all have been on the giving and receiving sides of pain.  Some of the pain that we experience in this life feels unbearable.  Sometimes the hurts committed against us feels so crippling and so intense that we don’t think we could possibly offer forgiveness. 

That’s where the power of Christ comes in.  Christ dwells in us, and it’s with His power that we can forgive.  It’s not always easy, but with Him all things are possible.  If you are holding on to hurts, know that Christ wants to take that burden.  My prayer is that all of us can encourage and lift each other up to fully embrace the power that comes when we forgive.  

Emily Laney Bio:

Emily Laney is a social worker, educator, and justice seeker.  She has worked with vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad and loves to help startup nonprofits reach their goals.  She is a Passion City Church door holder and leads a team of abolitionists at Not for Sale Georgia.  She loves her husband Brent and their rescue pup Biscuit.  Sunsets and Sushi make her happy.  

You can connect with Emily on twitter @emilylaney or on her blog www.emilylaney.com

Matthew West - Forgiveness (Official Lyric Video) from matthew-west on GodTube.

Living in the Power of Christ...as yourself! ~ By @ShelleyHendrix

If you find yourself dealing with the pull to be something you're not, in order to gain the acceptance of someone else (perhaps even God), I hope you'll take a few minutes to consider what Paul had to say to some real people who had to live real lives--just like us:

Galatians 6:4-5

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.  Don't be impressed with yourself.  Don't compare yourself with others.  Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

~The Message

"Who you are" ~ Notice that Paul said that it's really important that each one of us takes responsibility for finding out who we really are.  How can we do this? By finding out who GOD says we are!  Invest your time and energy into discovering who you really are based on what Scripture says. Read what the New Testament teaches about the Believer's Identity in Christ.  We live out of our understanding of our identity, not necessarily out of the reality of our identity, so make sure you take the time and energy needed to find out who you are.

"The work that you have been given" ~ Commit yourself to the work God has given you to do with bold confidence.  If you have embraced Christ in faith, then HE lives IN you to equip, enable, and empower you to do the task He has given you to do.  You have everything you need today to do what God has called you to do today, so "Sink yourself into that!"

"Don't compare yourself with others" ~ Oh my, this gets the best of us, doesn't it?  We are all so prone to comparing ourselves, our lives, our jobs, our homes, our cars, our kids, our marriages, our not-marriedness, our no-kids status, our bodies, our financial portfolios, our intelligence, our education level, and on and on... with others'.  This inevitably leads to a lack of authenticity in our relationships, because out of comparison rises a sense of competition.  When I set myself up as your competitor, I'm going to be guarded in how much of myself I offer in relationship (and vice versa).  If I believe we're competitors, I'll either feel "less than" you or "greater than" you.  This is NOT what God has called us to.  If I choose to trust God with who He says I am and how much He loves me just as I am, this frees my heart to be who He says I am, live out of that reality, and in turn, love you just the way He made you.

"Take responsibility...do the creative best...with your own life" ~ Choose to take personal responsibility for whatever God has invited you to be a part of.  Bring all of YOU to the table:  Imperfections, liabilities, flaws as well as your creativity, gifts, energy, resources, etc.  Have fun!  Be intentional!  Be YOU in what God has called you to do, remembering that He is in you, giving you everything you need to accomplish what He has given you to do.

In all of this, remember something very, very important:  The journey is always more significant than the destination.  Each step along the way is vital.  Even when that step is called "failure", you are never called a failure by your Heavenly Father, but sometimes failure is a necessary part of the whole journey.  It is never meant to be a stopping-forever point, though.  How you view God, yourself, and your calling in the midst of failure will determine how long you hang out at that stop sign.

Know who you are; discover your purpose; give yourself fully to it; be responsible to do your best; and trust your very good, very loving Heavenly Father with every single bit of it, and then enjoy this never-dull-often-frightening-adventurous-hang-on-to-Jesus-for-dear-life-that-will-outlast-you Life!

My name is Shelley, and I get to write books, teach God's Word, host a Christian TV Show in the Atlanta area.  I also get to be a part of Church 4 Chicks.  In all honesty, none of that compares with the relationships I get to enjoy because of God's goodness and grace, a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ and relationships with family and friends because of His love poured out to us and through us. 

I'd be honored to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and my personal website at www.ShelleyHendrix.com 

Cape Tribulation

Photo by Amelia Grace photography

Cape Tribulation 

By Debra Courtney

“That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.” 

Luke 12:21 MSG 

It is easy to justify maintaining a larger savings accounts for the sake of security; however, for the heart hungry for God, security is in Christ, not a bank account.  Future uncertainties are submissive to faith, not wealth.  Yes, to be rich toward God is to be rich in faith that exhibits generosity.  True riches are found in the trust that you place in Jesus and that leads to charity in Jesus' name.  To build an excessively bigger bank accounts builds an ego and creates fear, but a life rich toward the Lord wisely gives away as the world wonders.  To truly be a giver of my time, talents, and treasures is the richest thing I can possibly do.  I have found that the more I sow, the more I reap the sowed seed. 

How is our degree of richness toward God defined?  Are we overly cautious or aggressively generous?  Perhaps we defer a major expenditure, so we can give away some of our excess to those who hunger to hear the gospel.  Professionals and poor alike need regular reminders of the love, forgiveness, and justice of Jesus.  Our intentional investment in the Kingdom bears big fruit. 

“And a windfall, if it comes – don’t make much of it.”  Psalm 62:10 MSG 

It’s our inheritance in Heaven, not on Earth, that captures the heart of focused followers of Christ.  Fortunes fade away, but treasures sent ahead to Heaven are never lost, only compounded in value.  Yes, the development and deployment of our spiritual resources are the most strategic use of wealth.  Human accolades over our earthly accomplishments are hollow compared to our Heavenly Father’s smile and affirmation over our richness toward Him.

We can’t out give God!  There’s a song that I love to listen to on occasion, and I change the verse to go something like this: “When I see you smile, Jesus, I can face the world; you know I can do anything.  When I see you smile, Jesus, I see a ray of light; I see it shinning right through the rain.” When I participate in the things that interest God and His agenda, I can just imagine Him smiling right down on me, and it makes me feel so good that my Abba Father is pleased with me.

Perhaps we draft a portfolio of generosity before we experience abundance, so we predetermine aggressive giving.  Preplanning protects us from the temptation to trust in stuff over our Savior Jesus.  The best remedy for greed is radical seed sowing.  Hoarding feeds a life of miserable misery, but significant eternal investments enhance a life engaged in the Almighty’s agenda.  Be rich toward our Heavenly Father, since He has already given us His riches in Christ Jesus!  We will ultimately be the richer for it! 

“He valued suffering in the Messiah’s camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead, anticipating the payoff.”  Hebrews 11:26 MSG

On June 10, 1770, British navigator James Cook’s ship hit a reef off the northeast coast of Australia.  He sailed the ship out into deeper water only to hit the reef again, and this time the collision almost sank the ship.  This experience moved Cook to write in the ship’s log: “The North point [was named] Cape Tribulation because here began all our troubles.”

Many of us, living and breathing on the face of this Earth, have experienced a trial that has seemed to trigger a string of other trials.  The loss of a job, the death of a loved one, an unwanted divorce, or a decline in health could all be part of the list.  Even though a crisis may seem to be our “Cape Tribulation,” God is still sovereign, and He most certainly is in control. It is His purpose to use tribulation to build resilience into us.  We can smile through the rain.  In the midst of our life-changing trial, remember that God is still at work.  He wants to use our “Cape Tribulation” experience to build our character.  He has promised His grace to see us through (2 Cor. 12:9).

The Afters - Every Good Thing (Lyric Video) from the-afters on GodTube.