how the light gets in

Category: Uncategorized

• Moses, God, Me & You…

  Posted at 1:35 pm by How the Light Gets In, on March 13, 2019

  Lily’s been home sick with the flu this week. We HAD to get out of the house to pick up groceries at Walmart. I told her this would be the easiest “job.” We park, we wait, we get the groceries and off we go.

  “Moooooom. That’s the hardest. Waiting is the hardest. Waiting feels like hard work.”

  Doesn’t it though?

  The hard work of waiting makes me think of Moses. Everybody knows Moses. And while we could look to his story for so many reasons; for now, let’s focus on his relationship with God. The connection Moses has with God is goooooooood. In fact, it is so goooooood; Jews, Christians AND Muslims recorded his walk with God into words on pages for you and me to read.

  So, let’s do this: Moses and God. Me and God. And yes, You and God.

  Exodus 14:21-22 describes this scene: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the seas into dry land. So then waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left.”

  Moses stretched out his hand over the sea.

  Right this moment, would you stand up and stretch out your hand? I dare you. Hold your hand out there for a moment.

  In this story, Moses is struggling but Moses is trying. He’s all vulnerable, stretching his hand out away from his body over a mass of dark water. God told Moses to stretch his hand over water and Moses is listening.

  The next sentence reads “the Lord drove the sea back… all that night.” This is profoundly beautiful and powerful. At Moses’ darkest, God himself is working right alongside him. Moses wasn’t able to see it happening but God was working.

  Moses does his part and God is right next to him. Moses’ blind faith and God’s almighty power working together so “the waters were divided and the Israelites went THROUGH the sea on DRY GROUND.” Come on. There is real power when we say yes to God.

  Now, there is another element to Moses’ life story that is so worth lingering with just a bit longer. When Moses couldn’t hear God, he didn’t give up on Him. And because God wasn’t showing up in a burning bush or booming voice, also doesn’t mean that God wasn’t still right alongside Moses.

  And just a few chapters later, we read about one other way God works with us, for us. While the Jews were still recovering from their escape, they came under attack by the Amalekites. Moses ordered Joshua to choose a group of elite soldiers to go fight. In the meantime, Moses would go stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hands to pray with his friends, Aaron and Hur.

  Standing on the top of that hill, watching Joshua and his men fight the angry Amalekites; Moses holds up the rod and prays to God. But war takes time. And over time, the three men noticed something interesting.

  Exodus 17:11 “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands the Amalekites were winning. When Moses hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Then, Aaron and Hur held his hands up — one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady…”

  The outcome of war depended on Moses holding his hands up. That’s a lot of pressure. And when the weight of the waiting and war became too much, God sent Moses a few friends to carry the burden. So they “held his hands up… and his hands remained steady.” The Amalekites were defeated.

  Sometimes, when we’re looking, trying, holding our hands up; God sends a friend. I see it over and over in my life. I’m sure you do too. After I shared about Grounding and my pain, you showed up in the most beautiful ways – with carefully mixed essential oils for my pain, with a mug that says “Stay Grounded,” with fun earrings, with messages of encouragement. You, my beautiful friends, reflect God in the sweetest ways.

  

  

  The detailed, loving ways YOU show up for me give me glimpses of the way GOD cares for me.

  Here’s where it all comes together.

  The God who helped Moses – the God who worked right beside him, the God who sent Moses a friend, the God who split the sea, the God who listened, answered, kept showing up – Moses’ God is your God.

  Present tense now.

  That means God works right beside you, God will send you a friend, God will make a way for you, God listens to you, God answers you, God keeps showing up.

  Maybe you’re still waiting. Maybe you’ve seen or heard God before but it’s been a while. Maybe you’ve never seen or heard God. Scroll through some of my older posts. Let my glimpses be your first glimpse.

  This is where I WISH I could fade in the music! But I can’t so click on this link.

  CLAP. YOUR. HANDS.

  God did it for Moses. He is doing it for me. God wants to do it for you.

  Posted in MARCH 2019, Uncategorized | 3 Comments | Tagged Elevation Worship, Exodus 14, Exodus 17, Moses

• Grounding

  Posted at 10:24 am by How the Light Gets In, on February 8, 2019

  Any of you in therapy? You should be. Now now, it’s not just for crazies like me.

  Think of therapy as investing in a life coach to unravel your layers of crap so you can start moving; or in my case, start Grounding.

  Seeing that I am a 2 on the Enneagram, aka The Helper (generous, demonstrative, people-pleasing, possessive); it only makes sense that I would gift you the How-To on Grounding because I want to help. Also, I am an external processor.  Okay, I’ll stop now. I’m just transparent and it’s important to me. (Dang this self-awareness.)

  This is how I practice Grounding:

  First, I look down at my feet and make sure they’re planted firmly on the floor (car floor, hospital room floor, lacrosse turf, Trader Joe’s, etc).

  Next, I look around me to SEE what I see; sunshine, or an anxious kid, or a table full of family around the table, or maybe a sad friend.

  Then, I take a deep breath in and relax my hands.

  And last, I make a mental list of where I am.

  That’s it. Just like that, I end up aware of where I am.

  In an easy scenario, my feet are flat on my kitchen floor, I’m sitting next to Lily at the table. We’re making a play-doh “feast” for her Calico Critter families. I notice one of her bottom teeth looks slightly off; which means my baby will be losing a baby tooth soon. And, then I notice her soft round face. I take a deep breath in and feel so grateful to have my hands in play-doh, at 43 years old, next to my 5th healthy child, in a great house, with the machine gun rattles of Fort-Nite coming up from the basement, Luci strumming her Ukelele and Honey begging for food.

  I lock it into my heart’s memory.

  In a not so easy scenario, my feet are flat on the kitchen floor but this time I’m watching Joseph hold his head, telling me “I can’t focus my eyes, Mommy.” Fear from the past claws to the front, trying to force me into diagnosing him, making a note of which doctor I will call to demand imaging. But, no. I remember, he’d just been sick the night before. He needs water. Maybe I do too. I relax my fists and take a deep breath. And remember, we’re not in 2017 anymore. This is 2019.

  Grounding is a practice that literally makes a present out of the present.

  Grounding is not where you were, not where you will be.

  Grounding is about where you ARE right now.

  Grounding is a way of noticing where you are rooted and how you’ve established patterns in your life.

  I don’t know where you are physically in this very moment. But you know what I DO know about you?

  You are rooted in God’s love. You are established in God’s love. And that love is so wide and so long and so high and so deep; right where you are.

  Remember that the next time you plant your feet on the floor.

  Get Grounding.

  Posted in JANUARY 2019, Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Tagged enneagram, Ephesians 3:17-19, Grounding, How the Light Gets In

• Geek for Ancient Greek

  Posted at 10:46 am by How the Light Gets In, on January 17, 2019

  NERD ALERT: I love digging for word meanings. 

  You say ‘Ancient Greek’ or ‘Hebrew’ and I am all in. When there are those extra layers to word meanings, I get giddy. Like, nerd giddy.

  The word right now that has me excited is ‘clouds.’ Random and seemingly insignificant, yes, but I’m digging into clouds (and the Ancient Greek definition) because of my 2019 Word.

  I don’t want to lose you here. But, if you remember, I don’t do New Years Resolutions. Instead, every year I pick ONE WORD — my one word

  My one word for 2019 is PERSISTENCE.  As tradition goes; once I find the word, I pick a scripture to go with it.  The verse should encourage, define and propel my word. And so, I chose Hebrew 12:1-3.

  Now that you have the backstory, here’s where clouds come in. Take a look at the verse I chose.

  •Hebrews 12:1-3 says “Since I am surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let me throw off everything that hinders me and the sin that so easily entangles me.  Let me run wih perseverance the race marked out for me, fixing my eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of my faith… Consider Jesus, so that I will not grow weary or lose heart.”

  When it comes to persistence, this verse is perfect with phrases like “let me run with perseverance” and “fix my eyes on Jesus.” However, it’s the cloud that grabbed me.  What kind of cloud do you think of when you read this verse?

  THIS

  

  Cloud 1

  OR THIS

  

  Cloud 2

  I have always believed the cloud in this Hebrews verse to mean a small fluff, floating in the sky representing loved ones who have passed on or even Saints who are praying for me from above.

  And yes, clouds are fluffy, floating things. But the Greek word for cloud, Nephos, has another meaning. Ready? Can you feel my excitement? Nephos, according to one of my faves Ancient Greek, also means the highest seats in the bleachers of a stadium. {Thank you Rick Renner renner}

  And that right there is why I knew this was the verse for me and my goal to persist this year.

  There is a stadium full of people who are watching, encouraging, texting, loving, challenging, laughing, crying, running this race of life with me. And that is how it should be! Life is not meant to be lived alone.

  You’re in my stadium.

  And I am in yours.

  Now, I am NOT a theologian or bible expert. I only know me and how God moves in my life. Based on my knowledge, I believe with my whole heart that the cloud Paul writes about in Hebrews 12:1 is not some fluffy white poof.

  Instead, Paul is saying (again, my thought) that God has built a stadium around you. And you are choosing who sits where.  Not only that you are deciding who gets the loudest voice. That is powerful so let’s make it bold and centered.

  You are choosing who sits where and who gets the loudest voice.

  The seats in my bleachers are filled with so many kinds of people. I like to think there’s a suite for my loved ones who have passed but whose encouragement I still hold.  There’s a 20-something section, where Allie and Barb and Taylor stand and cheer and I can’t believe I am lucky enough to call them my friends.  I have a middle school section where all my Wyld Life peeps listen to my voice and they don’t even know the impact of their voices on me!  My girls and the friends in my life from forever ago to this moment, my friends fill my stadium with their love. Jake Cox, you have a special seat bud.

  I have my family, front and center – front and center.

  Who’s in your stadium? Fill it well.

  Who’s stadium are YOU in? Cheer them on.

  Don’t you forget, Jesus is on the field, beside you. He always has been.  He already ran the race. That’s why I’ll be looking to Him on how to live PERSISTENCE well and to all of you to keep me going.

  [Remember, Lily chose AAIOIPATPIOIPEAO for her ‘one word’ last year? I’m happy to report Kindergarten is serving her well and she chose ‘Organize’ for 2019. Not sure what the elephant, lion or frog with a Santa Hat have to do with her word. Maybe 2020 will bring ‘clarity’]

  

  Posted in JANUARY 2019, Uncategorized | 5 Comments | Tagged 2019, Ancient Greek, Clouds, Hebrews 12:1-3, How the Light Gets In, Nephos, One Word, Persistence, Rick Renner, Stadium

• bare minimums.

  Posted at 6:20 pm by How the Light Gets In, on December 10, 2018

  Our Christmas tree is not up yet.

  And we’re in the double-digits of December.

  If you know me, you know enough to gasp and drop what you’re holding. Fair? Fair. Dramatic? Sure, but this is me.

  Every year, every single year, the house is decorated for Christmas and the tree is up THE Saturday just after Thanksgiving.  As in 48 hours after gathering around the turkey and the stuffing and the pie, our house is transformed by the tall Frasier Fir a glow in the piano room.  I love the anticipation of it. Swapping the leaves and gourds for ribbons and garlands and lights and ornaments.  The kids now expect it too.

  

  one of my favorite traditions

  And right there are the two words I’ve been sitting with the past few weeks; anticipation and expectation.

  It’s the holiday season.  And for a lot of us, the holidays bear more tidings of heavy expectations than joy.  Are you feeling the weight of expectations?  I am.  The lack of a Christmas tree is hard for me. So difficult, in fact, I brought it up to my therapist.

  Hey, are you laughing at me?

  ‘Tis the season of giving so I want to share my latest life lesson with you (even if you did laugh).

  ∞B A R E  M I N I M U M S ∞

  Using Bare Minimums requires a shift in thinking, for sure.  Here is how it works: BEFORE going into a conversation, on a trip, on a date, sitting down to a family get together; you think of THREE things in your control that will make it a good experience.

  It’s so simple and ordinary but the results are beyond that because you’re making room for something more. Releasing the grip of how things should be done or have always been done, can feel like you’re handing over control.  Let it go.  Bare Minimums help you let it go and make room for something more.

  Here’s an Andrea real-life example. Over Thanksgiving Break, we went to Disney!  This was going to be Lily’s first visit.  And we had one day.

  Here is what a list of “Smithbergers are going to Disney Expectations” could have looked like:

  1. We wear somewhat coordinated outfits.
  2. We would get the perfect Christmas card picture because…
  3. We would all be happy.
  4. We would get a picture with as many princesses as we could!
  5. The weather would be mild.
  6. I wouldn’t hurt.

  See how I don’t even really have control over a lot there? Luckily, I had my 3 bare minimums because as for #1, I didn’t pack card-worthy coordination, just comfort. And believe it or not, we didn’t even see a single Princess!

  Here were my Bare Minimums for our Disney visit:

  • First, that we wouldn’t rush through.
  • Second, We would bring snacks to avoid hangry Smithbergers.
  • Third, I would try at least one ride.

  And off we went. 6 of the 7 of us arrived at Disney, in unmatching yet comfy outfits, on a cloudy day with some snacks. And we had the best time!

  Remember how I said the Bare Minimums can make room for something more? The simple list clears space so anything that happens beyond them becomes a bonus to tuck in your hearts memory.

  Like this face.

  

  Seeing the Castle for the first time

  Bean had no expectations. She walked in. Her jaw dropped.  I cried.

  Expectations and anticipations aren’t altogether bad. But my thought is that maybe they can hold us captive in the ordinary.  And those disappointments trap us from the extraordinary, especially at Christmas time.

  God and his love for you and his plan for you are simple. We’re the ones mucking it up. I know I am. The tree will go up when it does.  And it will be special even if Jason doesn’t cut down the family pick at Mary’s Meadows and we just all agree on one from Home Depot.

  What are good Bare Minimums for this season? Hmmmm… I’m working on my list.

  Let’s clear it out.  Spot what grips your heart, what makes your mind race and clear it out. Don’t let the ordinary keep you from the extraordinary.

  Make way.

  Make room.

  The story of Jesus birth tells of how Mary and Joseph went knocking door to door, begging for a room.  But one person after another said, no.

  Don’t say no because it doesn’t fit your plan, it isn’t on your list, there’s no time or that’s not what you do.

  Hold space in your sweet heart for the most extraordinary Hope of Christmas.

  Jesus.

  Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged bare minimums, expectations, How the Light Gets In

• Go To

  Posted at 3:44 pm by How the Light Gets In, on November 5, 2018

  WHAT is your Go To? The recipe you turn to when people come over because it’s glorious every time.  Or the outfit you pull from the closet when you’re going out because you know you look goooooood! What about the playlist you put on repeat to get good and sad? We all have one.

  WHO is your Go To? The person you call to celebrate a victory because you know their reaction is straight up confetti.  The friend you pull in to be the first to hear your news so it feels real.

  WHERE is your Go To? The place you can settle in and immediately feel like everything is going to be alright.  Or maybe it’s the place just loud enough for you to forget it all.

  Thinking over my own Go To makes me squirm a little. What’s your Go To?  You don’t have to tell me yours.  But, I’ll tell you some of mine. When the calendar is bursting with schedules/agendas/commitments/practices, I go on a “cleanse” of sorts. I’ll tear through the house, fill several bags, load up the Suburban and head to Salvation Army and the dump. I guess because I can’t clear the schedule, I clear the closet?  I don’t know.  But it works.

  Or how about my big necklaces?  Oh man.  When the medical whatever with my body is feeling completely out of my hands, I put on a big necklace.  I can’t say what’s happening inside my body but dang it, I will put on strands of coral beads to off-set the self-pity.

  

  Thinking over my Go To reveals a lot about my patterns, my reflex.  I’m pretty transparent, right?  I know.  I have control issues.  My weekly purges and bold necklaces are harmless but not THE Go To.

  Now, Jesus, on the other hand, surprise surprise, he has it down.

  Jesus’ pattern, his reflex, his habit was simple and powerful.

  Jesus’ Go To: 

  1. Love Everyone

  2. Talk to God

  His habit was to Love Everyone and Talk to God.  There are so many examples but here are just two.

  In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 11- Jesus is with his disciples. They’ve lived and walked beside Jesus long enough to take notice of his patterns.  And so they ask him, “Lord, Teach us to pray.”

  So, Jesus says, “When you pray, say: Our Father, holy is your name…” Jesus pull his listeners in with love, to teach them. And notice, he doesn’t say this is how you pray to my father, Jesus starts with “Our Father” – mine and yours.

  In John’s Gospel, Chapter 14 – The scene is of Philip asking Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Awww, poor, sweet dumb-dumb Philip. The guy has seen, with his own eyes, Jesus feed thousands, give sight to the blind with mud, heal lepers. And still, Philip can’t see who is in front of him. Jesus could have grabbed his face and said, “Seriously?!?!”

  But Jesus asks “Phillip, don’t you know me?”  He might have been so angry but he didn’t show it. He might have used EXTRA punctuation to make the point!!!! But he didn’t.

  I feel like Philip. This dumb dumb keeps looking for necklaces and making donations instead of seeing the simple example of our beautiful Jesus. Let love be the reflex and talking to God the habit.

  Jesus Go To is THE How To live.

  Let love be the reflex and talking to God the habit.

  Let love be the reflex and talking to God the habit.

  Go To Homework for real life: so, when we’re in the car on our way to lacrosse and a certain child discovers she has field hockey gear instead of lacrosse gear……. I will respond with LOVE-ing patience and TALK TO GOD about how I didn’t smack her.

  Jesus’ Go To: 

  1. Love Everyone

  2. Talk to God

  We got this.

  Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Go To, How the Light Gets In

• Inside Jokes

  Posted at 9:47 am by How the Light Gets In, on October 15, 2018

  Banana Butt has become a thing.  At least for me it has.

  Remember, it’s the game that you yell out “Banana Butt No Slapbacks” whenever you see a yellow car on the road? When our family plays it, Luci usually says, “God loves you.” Without her knowing, I’ve now associated seeing a yellow car with believing God says, “I love you.”

  There’s also the connection that when you go looking for God, He will meet you.

  Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

  In my case, God meets me in a goofy game.  It’s as if we have an inside joke, just me and God. But, I’ll share it with you.  Every time you see a yellow car, believe God is saying “I love you.”

  But the goofy game is just one example.  You have to know that.

  “Earth’s crammed with Heaven.”

  – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

  I read that the other day on someone’s insta post and immediately loved it. I like the visual of our big, vast Earth; the roads we take to work, the paths we walk to get to classes, the grocery stores, the Targets, the games, the offices, the friends we meet with, our dogs have little messages from Heaven tucked in them.  And it has become my JOY to find them.  To find God meeting me.

  Earth is crammed with Heaven.  What a beautiful thought. Our divided, hurt world has sprinklings of light and hope.  I also believe, if you are bold enough to ask for a message, you will see God.  What you laugh off as a coincidence may just be so much more.

  I am at a crossroads again with my medical SHtuff (typo intended!).  Yes, I still hurt.  I don’t want to go into it though. This weekend, I scribbled out my frustrations and fears and penned my prayer in black ink, “Guide me Father.” There’s my ask. Here’s the answer.  The first words of my devotional were “I will be your Guide to the end.” Heaven typed out in a devotional, timed just for me.  See how special I am? haha

  It gets better. The 3 readings for that day Psalm 48:14, Psalm 78:23-24 and Psalm 25:5 – all have the word GUIDE in them.

  Then there’s Honey. Pain came creeping in and put me to bed early.  Honey hopped up next to me and snuggled close.  She provided just enough pressure and warmth to comfort me. I was trying to withdraw from everyone and that fluffy Golden sought me out.

  It’s powerful and overwhelming to discover your message.

  look.

  listen.

  share.

  Google “Lauren Daigle Rescue.” Pull up the song on You-Tube and close your eyes while you listen. It feels like God has a woman’s voice and She is singing hope over you.

  If these detailed, tailored-just to you messages can make you smile, comfort you, put a pep in your step, encourage you; KNOW that God is that good, that aware, that concerned, that strong, that funny.

  God isn’t contained in a 4 walled building, with or without kneelers.  God is bigger, more creative and more present than that.

  This post, by the way, is inspired by God taking our inside joke to the next level. When I picked up my groceries at Walmart, here is the gift they gave me.

  

  I see you God.

  Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged banana butt, How the Light Gets In, inside jokes