A Truth I Live By ~ Together

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:20-21

It's hard to have favorites in a work of excellence and beauty, but I would have to say Ephesians is a favorite of mine. God's plan for his people sweeps out in brush strokes that are both intimate and grand. 

How are we made right with the Living God? Through his ancient plan of shed blood for you and me. How are we made holy and fit for eternal union with him? Through the power of his Spirit alive in us. How do we live a life of meaning and power, fulfilling all he intended us to be? Together. 

There is no way around it. Your story, my story, our spiritual maturity are all wrapped up together. People who say they don't need to go to church to know God, and worship him just as well out in the forest haven't read Ephesians. That is not God's plan for his people.

But let's face it. We drive each other crazy. At least sometimes. Is this the only way to have the full empowering of the Holy Spirit? As a community of faith walkers? I believe it is. 

This passage in Ephesians hearkens back to another temple. In the old testament God's glory, his empowering presence dwelt with man, first in the tabernacle and then the temple. His presence was evident, palpable, undeniable, bringing glory to himself and favor to his people. 

That same powerful presence is available to us as well. Certainly the Holy Spirit indwells us individually, but to stop there would be to fall short of God's plan and full blessing. How do we know the fullness of God? How do we see God from every angle and know the rich textures of his character? How are we connected to Jesus, the cornerstone? By being connected with each other.

This is a truth I live by. When the crabby older lady criticizes my parenting, when the pastor's words convict, when relationships challenge my cool, I remember God would have me know him more deeply and become more holy by being connected to them. Being connected to those growing in faith, those who are younger, those who are hurting or confused, those with stronger faith that hold me accountable, is good for both my faith and theirs. 

Of course it's not all difficult, there are plenty of sweet moments, breathtaking aha moments, Holy Spirit resonating moments too as we share our hearts and lives together. Is it challenging to live "joined together"? Absolutely. Is it worth it? Beyond question!

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16

So do your part! Let's work together and see the fullness of God dwelling in us so that we are full of love.

{I'm linking up with Ellen Stumbo, whom I am excited to be connected to in faith, for her Monday writing prompt.}

Different than Expected

Almost five years ago now, when I was growing little Maggie in my tummy, I prayed a strange prayer. I remember telling God that if he wanted to give us a child that had Down syndrome it would be okay with me. Secretly I even hoped he would.

Isn't that strange? To ask for a child with a disability. I reasoned in my prayer that I wouldn't mind at all if my child had Down syndrome, while another parent might find it a burden, "so God why not give them to me", I concluded. You see I had known for a while that children with Down syndrome are a treasure. Whenever I would see one I melted and would stare longingly. I still do.

But God had other plans. We celebrated the birth of a perfectly healthy, wonderfully precious baby girl. I was content, our family complete. I put the notion of having a child with Down syndrome out of my head. For a time.

I don't know if I've ever told anyone of that conversation with God, of that secret desire. It sounded a little strange, even to me, and I'm thoroughly aware of my oddness. The thing is I don't think that longing came from any other heart than God's.

I don't have a child with Down syndrome, and I may never, although it is an ongoing petition. But perhaps God answered that prayer anyway. His solution? If I couldn't have my own then I would make the unwanted ones of the world mine; through prayer, by serving those I can, and one day perhaps through adoption .

It is different than I expected, but I purpose to take joy in all of the precious children and adults around the world who have added a different shade of beauty to our lives. In just a few short weeks my arms will get their fill of little ones with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, etc. Little bodies needing hugs as much as my arms need to give them!

What in your life has been different than expected?

{I'm linking up with Ellen Stumbo for her Writing Prompt on Mondays.}

Holding Hands ~ A link up and update

I'm linking up with my friend Ellen Stumbo. She offers a writing prompt every Monday. This week the prompt is; Holding Hands.

Today hands I've never held fill my mind. Hands of scrawny children that reach between the bars of a crib that might as well be a prison. Hands of adults that behave and think more like children. Who need people to have courage to love them and offer them the gift of touch.

I contemplate my reservoirs of courage and compassion and wonder if they are full enough. Certainly not. I'm trusting Jesus for that.

It's so hard for me to imagine vulnerable, needy children laying in bed at night without a mother to dry their tears or chase away bad dreams. Does their whole life stretch out before them as one long nightmare? I can't imagine days without a daddy to pick them up and hug them, without the hand of love to clasp little fingers, without a gentle voice to teach them.

If you've followed my blog for long you know that God has put the need of Serbia's disabled orphans on my mind. It's been a long journey and I still have far to go but I'm getting closer. I have been welcomed to visit an institution in Veternik, near the city of Novi Sad. God has been so faithful to open doors along the way and I'm trusting he will continue to lead!


For those of you who have prayed and encouraged me, thank you! I hope you will continue with me on this journey of love for the least of these.

Here are some ways you can pray:

- For continued open doors and contacts as plans are made. For soft hearts that are open to the love of Jesus, new ideas, and changes in the institutions.

- For resources, financial and otherwise. It will cost several thousand dollars for myself and a companion to travel to Serbia and spend a couple of weeks there. I'm also planning on taking physical resources to the institution; clothes, bedding, diapers, medical supplies, etc, which will need to be shipped.

- For the disabled children and adults we will meet. My prayer is "Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them." Psalm 10


- For courage as we go. I've never stepped so far outside my comfort zone, while at the same time been so sure of God's leading. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and fearful even in the excitement of following God.


- For God to raise up people to respond to the needs we find in the institution. People to go on short term mission trips, people to support financially, to support in prayer, and to give other resources the institution may need.


Thank you for praying and stay tuned for updates!