For Such a Time as This...

I'm reading a book by Karen Hughes called, "Ten Minutes from Normal." (Kind of sounds like where we all are, doesn't it?) Karen was advisor and spokespersons for President Bush during his first administration, and was also with him for six years while he was governor of Texas. She and two other persons ran his 2000 presidential campaign. A few years ago, she gave up access to the most powerful office in the free world to return to family life in Texas.

The title of her book came from a time on the campaign trail with the team was on the train making its way across America. The conductor came through and said, "Ten minutes from Normal, ten minutes from Normal." He was referring to a small town they were approaching. Karen said, "That's the way I feel most of the time and if I ever write a book, that will be the title!"

Karen is an amazingly gifted communicator and strategist, and had personal and unlimited access to the President of the United States. She is also a strong and faith-filled Christian. All through the book, she gives examples of how her faith and the faith of her "boss" came into play throughout the Bush administration.

In particular she shared her feelings during the tumultuous days surrounding 9/11. When the planes hit, the first thing Karen did was to go to her knees to ask for comfort for the families and children of lost loved ones. The next few hours were spent discerning what had happened, what to do next, how to orchestrate the next steps for the President...

Through it all, Karen was reminded of the story in Esther when Mordechai begged her to go to the king to ask for mercy for the Jews--even at the possibility of losing her own life. Because of how well she knew President Bush, Karen couldn't help thinking of her "boss" when Mordecai said to Esther, "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Karen believed that President Bush had the strength, resolve, character and faith to keep the country safe and to respond appropriately.

Have you ever felt that you were in the position to encourage someone who was sent "for such as time as this"? Have you ever felt that YOU were sent "for such a time as this"?

How do we equip ourselves to stand up for the godly way over the foolish or evil way? How do we keep ourselves strong so that our reactions in time of crisis show that we are rooted and grounded in Christ, and we don't revert to wordly verbal assaults?

I would challenge us to look for those times when we might say to ourselves or someone else, "who knows but that you have come...for such a time as this." Look for times where you can intercede, where you can make a positive difference, where you can defend the weak, where you can turn defeat into victory and a negative environment into celebration.

I pray that there will be many "for such a time as this" opportunities for you and for those around you who need your encouragement.

Who knows?

Prayer: Does it make any difference?

"Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, that calls me from a world of care. And bids me at my Father's throne, makes all my wants and wishes known. In seasons of distress and grief my soul has often found relief, and oft escape the temptor's snare by thy return sweet hour of prayer."

Prayer really does call us from the things of the world so we can focus on God...and prayer is the only way to escape the temptations this world's snares can bring.

Imagine, though, being a disciple with Jesus walking along side you in the flesh, and having him there to talk with as a "person." What reality! What joy! All the more puzzling when, during the Last Supper, anticipating his death, Jesus said, "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away."

What? How could that be good? Why not stay and solve world hunger? Why not cure all the strains of virus and bacterial infections then and now? Why not eliminate the possibility of terrorists and global bullies?

An excerpt from Philip Yancey's Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference says:

"Soon the disciples who were accustomed to presenting their questions, complaints, and requests to Jesus in persons would have to fall back on a different approach: Prayer. Of all the means God could have used, prayer seems the weakest, slipperiest, and easiest to ignore. So it is, unless Jesus was right in that most baffling claim. He went away for our
sakes, as a form of power sharing, to invite us into direct communion with God and to give us a crucial role in the struggle against the forces of evil."

Prayer is a relationship and conversation with God. We can listen to the negative and scoffing voices of the world, but with the same ears, we can listen to God. And with the same voice we can share with God our lives, our joys, our commitment, our weakness, our families, our victories, our praise and our worship...or we can can use our voice for gossip, inuendo or not being as graceful as we should be with other children of God.

Prayer. It does make a difference. It changes us. It gives us a voice over evil. It gives us a desire to have God at our side to resore relationships. It reminds us of who is in control. And as Christians it allows us to stay strong in the reality of God's love, grace, death, resurrection and promise of eternal life.

Make a difference today.

Faith's fundamentals in a rare and extraordinary book

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. Proverbs 10:25



What a great promise and hope we have from God that he will keep us close to him as our anchor...our soul firmly grounded in his love forever no matter what storms life brings. But what sorrows come to those who are swayed and distracted and take their eyes off of him, and when the worst of life sweeps through, there is nothing left of them but defeat. Thanks be to God he will stand by us when the storms of life are raging!



My friend, Rebecca, and I have been reading Proverbs for some months now. Proverbs has 31 chapters, so it lends itself to reading one chapter each day...give or take for those months with 30 or 28/29 days. We re-read the Book of Proverbs every month for new insight, so this is our seventh month for this study. Rebecca and I meet at least once each month--usually more.



It's amazing how much insight there is for the day from the wisdom of Solomon--the wisdom that comes from God, which is the wisdom that has been here for all time. There is a verse each and every day that will be an absolute nugget that will hit at the heart of where you are, and I encourage you to try this "experiment" along with us.



Grab a few different translations of the Bible to use for different readings, or click on the Bible Gateway link and get those translations online. And perhaps get a commentary. Rebecca and I have used the Crossway Classic Commentary Series, The Book of Proverbs, by Charles Bridges (1794-1869). The description of his commentary says:



"With Bridges' stimulating insights as a guide, you will find Proverbs to be a rare and extraordinary book that impresses on your heart:

• the importance of faith's fundamentals,


• the value of self-discipline, and


• the impact of bringing everything under the Word of God.

So grab your Bible, a commentary, and a friend, and know that Rebecca and I will be reading Chapter 11 of Proverbs along with you on Saturday!

What's the big idea?

What do you do to keep your focus on Jesus Christ each and every day? Wow. That one was out of the blue, wasn't it? But really, if you could make an actual numbered list of how you "live the life of faith," what would be on that list?

We know how to make a list for what we need to get at the grocery, we know the errands to run, we know how to schedule ball games, haircuts, play dates, sleepovers, swim lessons, home repairs, outings, lunch with friends, weekend getaways...well, you get my point. All these require their own level of detail, time, focus, interest and desire to see through. But do we give the same time and attention to how we focus on Christ and live our life for Him?

Perhaps it comes down to making Him first in your life, then letting all other actions and words be formed around His guidance. Simple, huh? Maybe not when the world starts closing in around us wooing us to compromise our beliefs. If you're struggling with this like everyone else, call on the simple words of love from the Bible that Jesus distilled from a very complicated set of rules for living.

Start with: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30 NIV. This is what has been called through the years as "The Great Commandment" (part of it!) It condenses lists upon lists of how to live, move, act and be that were in place when Jesus walked among us. But he gently handed them to us in this one beautiful way to prioritize our life.

That's the big idea. And it's so simple.

I'm so glad you're here...

If you're reading this, that means you're reading my very first blog! It's amazing what responsibility you feel when posting a few words under your own pen on an Internet that has millions and millions of addresses and links. I guess it shows that nearly everyone has something to say whether we ever see them or not.

Which brings me to my first nugget to ponder: Do you see persons for who they are or for what they can do? And further, what they can do for YOU? Do you see them as "filling in the blanks" for things you don't want to do, or things you just think someone else should do?

Or do you say, "How can I lift that person up today? How can I honor God when I talk and relate to this person? How can I work with this person so that we each feel fulfilled in Christ?"

I have observed persons who can turn someone's day around by "loving their neighbor" and seeing people the way Christ sees them. But I've also witnessed those who have only one mindset--what can YOU do for ME? You can visibly see the recipient of that attitude become downcast and lacking in any ability to relate or be a friend.

It's simple..."love your neighbor as yourself." But have we really learned to love ourselves?