My husband Caleb wrote a blog for families last year with some practical tips for gearing up for the new school year. Of course these are just a few ideas, and there are plenty more, but as you enter your new school year, may you experience the rhythms of knowing Jesus together as a family in the seasons of this school year.
Click here to go to Caleb’s blog.
—Sarah Howard
This week I would like to recommend a good, provocative read provided by Paul Tripp. In this article, Paul states that "your hope is not to be found in your willingness and ability to endure, but in God’s unshakable, enduring commitment to never turn from his work of grace.” Are you called to endure these days in the face of some particular situation, relationship, conflict, illness, financial need or a particular kind of loss? Consider reading this short article to rally hope from someone who never fails at giving exactly what we need. Click here to read more.
Pastor Diego
Community can look very different from what it used to look like in our society. Technology and social media have become the go-to means for many individuals. As someone who has lived between 35-45 minutes away from our church since we began attending 10+ years ago, I can appreciate that there are both pros and cons to this. Face-to-face interaction has been difficult because during that time I’ve walked through so many different stages of life, being home full time with my “littles,” going to school, or working (full-time or part-time). I have become beyond grateful for modern means of communication such as social media, internet, podcasts, texting, etc. I know it’s not for everyone, but for those who find it as a refreshing access point to community they would otherwise have to do without, it can be a glorious blessing from God.
This past spring I joined thousands of women around the world in a Bible Reading Challenge of reading through the New Testament from June-September. It was something that was brought to my attention through the social media page of a church’s women’s ministry based in Idaho. I happened to stumble onto that particular page because it was linked to a favorite Christian author of mine.
The focus of this particular reading plan was to develop a habit for the daily consumption of the Word of God. This daily habit of reading larger sections of Scripture (typically 4-6 chapters a day) has resulted in God blessing me with an increased love of and desire for His Word and has similarly affected the other women who are part of this online community.
When I began this reading challenge, I used my own social media account to invite women to join me. This smaller group now has 17 women who have given their yes to “just reading” God’s Word every day! On this journey we have asked questions, made new observations, understood the context of Scripture passages in much more depth, and we have dispensed and received Godly encouragement to one another...all through a Facebook group. It’s not a study of God’s Word, there are many things I know I’ll need to dive into at another time to better understand. Instead, it’s a reading of God’s Word where even in 15-20 minutes of reading through a handful of chapters God pours out abundant blessings.
Earlier this year I wrote some thoughts on what it looks like to “just read” the Bible (to read that post click HERE) and to discuss what I meant by “just reading” the Bible, not necessarily studying the Bible. Now, after a statement like that, I want to be sure I clarify what I mean and so again I refer you to the above link to my earlier blog post where I explain my thoughts more extensively.
This summer my new perspective has given me the freedom to come to the Scriptures each day regardless of what my environment looks like, regardless of what my intellectual capacity feels like, regardless of what my emotions or heart feels like, regardless of what particular version I use, or whether I read it at a table with a highlighter in hand or listen to it on an audio version in a car with bickering children in the backseat. I have a newer, more realistic point of access to the Bible than I had previously constructed in my mind...and it has been life changing for me and for some fellow LFA women who have joined me in this summer reading challenge.
I could fill an entire second blog just about my own experiences in this challenge and the ways it has impacted my mind, my heart, my emotions, and my family. I could talk about how God has guided me into the depths of what it looks like to be more fully obedient, more fully trusting, and more fully submitted to His authority over my life. But I would rather show you some excerpts from the Facebook group where fellow LFA women are working through this reading plan:
“Love this verse from today, God chose me!!!! like seriously. He knows me and chooses me! how cool is this reality and humbling (John 15:16). ALSO love the wording in The Message for John 16:31-35 "unshakable and assured, deeply at peace."
“I’m a very visual person and I could really paint a picture in my mind of John 15:5 where Jesus is explaining that he is the vine and we the branches. Makes so much sense that we just can not amount to anything as branches alone, without the vine.”
“In my devotions I do with the First5 app we are reading through the second half of Psalms and today was the middle of Psalm 119. This was the intro, thought it fit with what we were doing here:
"Satan's greatest desire is to separate us from God. And one of his favorite tactics? To make us think we don't have time to read God's Word. Or that we're not smart enough to study and understand God's Word. And it's impossible to live out the truths in God's Word.
Why?
Because the enemy knows how powerful Scripture is. He knows Truth equips us to resist his plans and overcome temptations. And that means he knows if my Bible is collecting dust and my conscience is being hushed, then my heart is in danger of being crushed. "
“I literally say the scripture of Philippians 4:6 to myself every day! It speaks to my heart, especially in a world where there seems to be so many challenges and so many things I just don’t understand.”
“Yes...I love reading scripture and I find I just want to keep reading...I crave the alone time with Him…”
“This group reminded me that it's about coming back to God's word and meditating on what I read more than the amount of chapters I read. I'm slowly winning the battle over not reading because I'm not on track. Like it was said: if you're reading, you're on track.”
Isn’t that encouraging? Isn’t that a hallmark of the faithfulness of God that He is drawing precious women into increased communion with Himself?
I have an invitation for YOU. If you are a woman reading this, then I am speaking to YOU. Would you consider joining me and others in a new reading plan that will kick off on September 9th? This plan is a whole Bible Reading Plan, called “Keep the Feast,” and it will go from September to the end of May. Each day will have a few chapters from both the Old Testament and the New Testament and average about 6 chapters a day (no readings on Sundays and interspersed “catch up days” if you want to go back and read portions that you missed).
Here are a few ways you can join us. There are two Facebook groups that will post the reading schedule when it becomes available. One created specifically for LFA women and their friends and a larger Facebook group for all participants of the reading plan across the world. I’ve added links for both below. Please feel free to join us in the LFA women’s group, the other group has been an added resource and point of community for me so consider joining that one as well.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ccLadiesFellowship/?ref=share a community of over 13,000 women reading the whole Bible reading plan together.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/694201211012238/?ref=share LFA Women Keep the Feast
You can also follow the #keepthefeast on Instagram or #LFAwomenkeepthefeast
Or beginning in September #keepthefeast will be a reading plan offered on the YouVersion Bible app. This has been a helpful resource for me because each day’s readings are pre-loaded and tracked, and there is the option to listen to an audio version of the passages as well.
I can’t wait to see how many of you jump on board with us (and invite others to do the same) and to see how God uses this to build increased community with each other and increased communion with Him.
—Lindsay Thompson
He wanted his sausage, egg and cheese biscuit…and he wanted it NOW!
And not a Jimmy Dean one from the basement freezer. He wanted one from McDonald’s. The one in Malaga.
My poor father-in-law! It had been a long and confusing couple of days around here.
Let me tell you about it. I really do have a point. And it’s not a plug for McDonald’s.
Kenny’s parents, both in their early 90’s, have lived with us just short of two years. The months have flown by and I am stunned when I realize how long we have shared a home. It has been delightful. Honestly.
But a couple of weeks ago, Mom began to stay in bed a lot, very much out of character for this spunky, no nonsense farmer’s daughter. I could tell she wasn’t feeling well at all. She also was barely eating and so she was very weak and shaky. Now she is just not a complainer and she doesn’t want to bother me, so it was pretty hard to get a lot of information. She also doesn’t like to go to the doctor and she knows how I feel about that. Bit by bit, though, her daughter and I pieced together enough information to be quite concerned. I’ll spare you the details!
And, sadly, this all began the week of their SEVENTIETH wedding anniversary! I told you she was spunky! And so is he.
We did some scrambling to accommodate our various party plans. The evening of July 25, seventy years after they had so innocently repeated their vows to stay together forever, Mom valiantly managed to sit, a bit wobbly, at my dining room table. She and Dad basked in the love and gratitude of several of their children, celebrating that very special, remarkable day. She ate very little. But she smiled a lot.
Dad enjoyed the evening. He loves having his children near. But he was clueless. A nasty stroke several years back left him with some frustrating memory issues and word retrieval problems. Mom said he had no idea it was their anniversary. He ate a lot and he smiled too. It was a joyous occasion whether he understood its purpose or not. They went to bed early, tired and happy.
But it took its toll.
Mom was terrible in the morning (Friday). She couldn’t even lift her head off the pillow without a lot of effort. I really thought we should go to the ER, but she adamantly refused. Her doctor would be back from his vacation on Monday morning, and she agreed she would go in to see him then. She let me call and make an appointment. The weekend loomed in front of us, though, and I was nervous about waiting that long. Something was very wrong with her. I know it sounds dramatic, but I am an experienced caregiver and have served quite a few ill and elderly ladies. I hoped she could last until Monday.
Slowly, with me supporting her, Mom quite literally staggered to her chair. We agreed she should try to drink something and attempt to eat some toast. Dad just hovered about like a frail and anxious helicopter. I fixed him some coffee and juice and got him his morning pills. Mom does everything for him, including driving him around in their pickup truck. That day, though, she couldn’t help him; she couldn’t really even do for herself. He was unhappy. The news was on and they wanted to watch it; that is their morning routine and they settled in. I went to get dressed.
When I returned, I thought Mom was a bit better. Relieved, I told them both that I had a 10 o’clock mentoring appointment in Vineland and another one at noon. I was conflicted, uncertain what to do. I hated to leave them. I told them I was happy to cancel if they wanted me to stay, but they assured me all was well. Mom just wanted to rest. And she was tired of us both fussing over her.
I reluctantly decided to go. I suggested I would bring Mom some chicken soup from Chick-fil-A when I came home in the afternoon and asked Dad what I could bring him. That’s when he told me he wanted me to go to Malaga. It took us a few minutes to figure out what he was trying to communicate. Finally it was clear. He wanted a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit. From McDonald’s. From Malaga. Mom started to object, reminding him I was going somewhere else, but I assured her I would be happy to indulge him and get what he wanted on my way home. I did fuss around a bit more and then felt a little better about leaving. As I kissed them goodbye, I reminded Dad I would be bringing him the sandwich later on, thinking he would be pleased.
“Oh, no,” he said, clearly annoyed. “I want it now. Go to Malaga now.”
Well, it was nearly 9:30. Mission: Impossible. Not if I needed to be in Vineland by 10. I live in Pittsgrove.
And I had just gotten a new phone. My contacts were not downloaded correctly. I wasn’t sure I had the information necessary to cancel my first appointment in time. Mom and I tried to explain that I would be bringing the biscuit home for lunch or dinner, but Dad stubbornly repeated that he wanted it now. I sat down, conflicted, thinking what to do, when Mom pushed forward in her chair and said sweetly, “Well, I guess if you could help me out of this chair, I could pull on some clothes. I think I could get us to the Drive-Thru.”
Now, mind you, she was sicker than I have ever seen her—and I have been in the family for 49 years and a friend of the family’s for much longer than that. She had basically been in bed for over a week with few exceptions. She had quietly talked to her daughter and Kenny about some end of life matters. But this dear wife, not trying to manipulate me, not just sucking it up, not simply being a martyr, wanted to set her own personal and significant problems aside and sacrifice herself to please her man. Willingly. Readily. He wanted a biscuit. She would take him to get it.
No wonder they’ve lasted seventy years.
Sometimes I don’t feel like passing Kenny the salt.
Now I didn’t let her do it. I suddenly (Thank you, Jesus) remembered that Kenny’s brother, who was supposed to be taking them to Lobster House that day as his gift to them, was coming instead for a visit. I called him to see when he was coming and to ask him to make a detour to Malaga. He was happy to oblige. Dad got his biscuit. I kept my appointment. And Mom, after a lot of poking, prodding, and testing this week, finally has a diagnosis or two and is making a slow but steady recovery. She really was (and is) very sick. And she still doesn’t like to go to the doctor.
So here’s my point...well, one of them. My in-laws, by their own admission, are not perfect people. Nor was their marriage ever a perfect marriage. But when they vowed to see it through, to stick it out for better or worse, in sickness or in health, ‘til death would part them (maybe sooner now than later), they meant it. Their lives haven’t always been easy. There have been some very ugly and difficult days. There has been fun, laughter, and music. There has been sadness, pain and confusion. But I have witnessed them pull together and cry out to their God…in joy and in sorrow. They know He is the One who has been with them from the beginning of their long journey. He is the faithful One. Hadn’t they each pledged, “…so help me God?” He did.
I was humbled that busy morning. I felt I had just witnessed something beautiful and sacred. Yes, I was convicted of my own selfishness and laziness. Yes, I was embarrassed that I don’t always want to love and serve Kenny like that. No, I don’t want to be uncaring and egocentric. Yes, I want to have a good marriage. There is much to be learned from watching their tender care of each other, and I want to be a good student.
But there was so much more. And this is my most important point. You see, I don’t think that touching scene from the lengthy story of their marriage was really about Mom and Dad at all.
I think it was a God moment just for me.
In the unselfish, unconditional, sacrificial love Mom displayed to a rather cranky, insensitive man whose mind betrays him, I saw my Father’s perfect love for me, one, oh, so undeserving: weak, ungrateful, forgetful, selfish, broken, demanding and miserable. Yet He unconditionally, selflessly and lavishly pours out His love to me over and over. It is simply unfathomable.
And it has and will last much, much longer than 70 years.
Doesn’t He do that for you, too?
Yes, He does. Look no further than the cross.
It’s His love that compels us to love.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. John 13:34-35
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8
Consider the words from the beautiful hymn, How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
—Eileen Hill
