Tag: healing

• Healing Notes

  Posted at 12:53 pm by How the Light Gets In, on November 8, 2022

  Three years ago, I was deciding between two options: Pain or Paralysis.

  Which one would you choose?

  Option 1 meant debilitating pain, lots of meds, laying on the couch in the fetal position trying not to take too deep a breath because you don’t want to wake up the pain monster inside, and filling your calendar with one doctor/therapy/acupuncture appointment after another.

  Option 2 meant surgeons going into your abdomen to pull out 8 tiny metal coils left behind from a previous surgery. You should know this surgery had a 97% chance of paralyzing your left leg.

  So, which one would you choose?

  I didn’t go with either of those.

  Instead, 3 years ago today, I walked away from those options and walked into a room at church.

  Opening the door, I was greeted with equal parts sunlight and hope. 

  Lavish and Crazy. Three years later, I stand by those words with a whole bunch of awe and gratitude and “what the heck” mixed in.

  I experienced a miracle – a full, miraculous healing.

  It doesn’t make sense to me either. To be honest, it feels uneven in this wonky world to have been healed when I see and love so many others that I want healed.

  Still, the past 365 days of living, breathing, walking, loving, cooking, driving, celebrating, listening, crying, lighting candles, singing, watching, grieving, yelling, praying, laughing, cleaning, traveling, hiking, sleeping, waking up, hugging, writing, learning, cheering, consoling, baking have felt like a lavish and crazy, what the heck kind of gift.

  We’ve learned a lot together over the years, haven’t we? We’ve learned about waiting and trusting and hope.

  I wonder what your healing looks like. Have you brought it to Jesus yet?

  One thing I’ve learned about hope and healing this year is to live IN expectation, not with expectation.

  My own expectations with my own timetable and my limited vision have held me back.

  Living IN the promise of God, believing He works in the abundantly more kind of way pushes me out in the wild wind of hope, up on my tippy toes, searching the horizon.

  In Mark 5:34, Jesus says, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

  In Luke 7:50, He says, “Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace.”

  Then, in Luke 17:19 “Rise and go, your faith has made you well.”  

  And again, in Mark 10:52 “Go, your faith has healed you.”

  In each of these stories; Jesus has just healed someone and then told them to go and live life because their faith had healed them.  

  The back stories are all different.  The woman in the Gospel of Mark suffered from bleeding for a dozen years.  In the Gospel of Luke, a known adulteress barges into a dinner hoping for a blank slate from Jesus.  Later in Mark, we hear of a blind beggar seeking sight.  And in Luke, the group of lepers asking for healing.  

  The approach in each situation is vastly different.  The hemorrhagic woman quietly touches the edge of Jesus cloak.  The blind beggar screams out repeatedly in front of everyone.  The adulteress walks right into a house full of her biggest critics.  And the lepers, a big ol’ group of them, approach Jesus as one. 

  How would you approach Jesus for healing?  

  Why would you approach Jesus for healing?  

  Why don’t you approach Jesus for healing?  

  RUN OFF TO MEET JESUS. TELL HIM THE PROBLEM. ASK HIM WHY HE DIDN’T COME SOONER, WHY HE ALLOWED THAT AWFUL THING TO HAPPEN. AND THEN BE PREPARED FOR A SURPRISING RESPONSE. I CAN’T PREDICT WHAT THE RESPONSE WILL BE, FOR THE VERY GOOD REASON THAT IT IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS A SURPRISE. BUT I DO KNOW THE SHAPE IT WILL TAKE. JESUS WILL MEET YOUR PROBLEM WITH SOME NEW PART OF GOD’S FUTURE THAT CAN AND WILL BURST INTO YOUR PRESENT TIME, INTO THE MESS AND GRIEF, WITH GOOD NEWS, WITH HOPE, WITH NEW POSSIBILITIES. – N.T. WRIGHT

  Happy Anniversary to all of us.

  Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged Church of the Nativity, healing, HOPE, How the Light Gets In, Jesus, Miracle, NT Wright, Pain, stories

• Stacking Stones

  Posted at 12:29 pm by How the Light Gets In, on November 8, 2021

  Stacking Stones Podcast Episode

  Two years ago this very day, I walked away from surgical options and walked into a room at church. That room was flooded with equal parts sunlight and hope.

  Two years ago, at this time I was laying it all down at your feet Jesus. I walked in hoping for a miracle and walked out with so much more.

  So, do you know what we’re doing today?

  On this 2 year Anniversary of my HEALING, we are stacking stones.

  That’s right. Oh, that’s not how you celebrate? Maybe you should start. Because in my experience, in order to appreciate a gift, you have to acknowledge the pain. Stacking Stones is a practical way to do both.

  Nobody teaches this better than Joshua. So, before you head out to find some rocks. I want you to hear this story. Pay attention to the details. Remember the details.

  For some context, we are picking up after the crazy miracle of God splitting the Jordan River so the Israelites could cross on dry land. Again, huge miracle in and of itself. But let’s get to the lesson and pick up the story in Chapter 4, appropriately called:

  The Memorial Stones

  4 After the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua: ² “Choose twelve men from the people, one man for each tribe,³ and command them: Take twelve stones from this place in the middle of the Jordan where the priests are standing, carry them with you, and set them down at the place where you spend the night.”

  ⁴ So Joshua summoned the twelve men he had selected from the Israelites, one man for each tribe, ⁵ and said to them, “Go across to the ark of the Lord your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder, one for each of the Israelite tribes, ⁶ so that this will be a sign among you. SO THAT THIS WILL BE A SIGN AMONG YOU In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ ⁷ you should tell them, ‘The water of the Jordan was cut off in front of the ark of the Lord’s covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan’s water was cut off.’ Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites.”

  ⁸ The Israelites did just as Joshua had commanded them. The twelve men took stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each of the Israelite tribes, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the camp and set them down there. ⁹ Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing. The stones are still there today. The priests carrying the ark continued standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything was completed that the Lord had commanded Joshua to tell the people, in keeping with all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried across, and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the Lord crossed in the sight of the people.”

  That’s a lot. I know. We’re focusing on God’s request to set up some stones.

  

  Those Israelites were so freaked out they hurried right through their miracle. I would have too, totally. But God gave them another gift (that’s just His way). He knew they’d rush through so God gave the priests and Joshua a command to stand; giving them a chance to watch all of them pass by, making eye contact with so many faithful followers and encouraging them to keep going while they held the ark.

  Do you remember where Joshua set up his own stack of stones? Right in the middle, like a secret just for him and God to remember together.

  Imagine Joshua looking for those rocks and piling them right there in the middle of his obedience. He should be drowning but God made a way. I bet with each stone he’s thinking of the names of the people they lost along the way. Because even on the way to a miracle, there will be loss and there will be things you need to grieve. And you must. I’m sorry but you must grieve the sad and the hard. Take the time to fully understand and name the hurt.

  “We don’t remember the past great works of God so that we can live in a dreamland of the past, thinking that the best days of our Christian experience are behind us.  We remember them as a point of faith, so we can trust God for greater and greater works in the future, because we have seen and experienced His past faithfulness.” If you just watched the video of me, you need to move right on out of dreamland and recognize the living, powerful, right next to you God that is capable of greater and greater works.

  Two years ago, I walked away from pain and possible paralysis and I am walking in power. It’s not just for me. It’s for you too. Remember who you are, to whom you belong, remember the plan is good, not easy but it is good and full of hope. Remember, God doesn’t work according to this world’s economy of shortages. He works in the Abundantly More kinda way. Get out of your head. God wants to make a new way.

  C.S. Lewis wrote “Most people don’t need to be taught, they need only to be reminded.” Stacking stones is a beautiful way to remember that Eternity is written on your heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The Spirit of the Lord is on you because the Lord has anointed you (Isaiah 61). You were chosen before creation (Ephesians 1).

  You just need to be reminded.

  This is me reminding you.

  If I were to stack Memorial Stones right now, it would look like a heap of pain pills, medical bills, cards of sympathy and encouragement, scriptures, time-lapse videos of sunrises, white boards in hospitals with my nurses names on them, a stack of journals, a bunch of blog posts and a lot of you. Those help me remember my pain. They help me say thank you.

  

  If I were to stack some stones for November 8, 2021, celebrating two years of healing; it would look like hiking trails, picking out which torpedo or slam ball to lift, white boards with crazy workouts written on them, standing at soccer games, deep breathing, no more pills, plenty more journals scribbled with scripture and questions and gratitude, Jesus showing up in all the beautiful ways and a lot of you. It all helps me remember my pain, be blown away by my health and helps me say thank you even louder.

  

  Today, would you go out and find 3 or 4 rocks? Look, if you need to go to the craft store and get the smooth ones; that is all good. Spend some time stacking stones. You can choose to make each rock represent someone in your family and make a pile praying for them. You can lay out that big hope on your heart and let each rock be part of the prayer. Display your Memorial Stones. Let your friends and family ask you questions. “Let them be a sign among you.” and “When others ask, what do these stones mean to you? You should tell them.”

  Stacking Stones is a powerful way of letting the light in.

  Stacking Stones playlist

  Posted in NOVEMBER 2021, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged healing, How the Light Gets In, Joshua 4, Miracle, Stacking Stones

• Imprinting

  Posted at 1:57 pm by How the Light Gets In, on September 10, 2021

  Imprinting Podcast Episode

  Almost as quickly as a zebra is born, it disappears. Do you know this? The wobbly, striped baby and his momma steal away from the herd for the first two days of the foal’s life. The two stay close to one another, limiting direct contact with other zebras so he can learn to identify her by sight, smell and sound. This process, this special time is called “Imprinting.”

  Stripes are as unique to each zebra as a fingerprint is to you and me. That makes imprinting a powerful and important time for the baby to learn where he comes from and to whom he belongs.

  Sitting nose to nose with his momma, the baby zebra will notice the rich blackness in her markings. He will become aware that her white hair is soft, almost creamy. He will learn how her stripes drip into a diamond pattern just between her beautiful, big eyes. Sitting this close to her, he will breathe in her scent and unknowingly lock it into his heart.

  

  When the imprinting is done, momma will release her baby back into the herd. Can you imagine the overwhelm of black and white and neighs and manes? That’s where the imprinting is key – in the midst of the chaos, he can lift his head, look for the diamond on her face, the cream in her stripes and breathe in until he finds his momma.

  Leave it to one of my favorite bible teachers, Priscilla Shirer, to point out the way imprinting is just as important for us and our connection with Jesus. I’ll let that settle in with you a moment. I just think it’s so good.

  Taking time to focus in on the character and promises of the One who loves us the most is powerful imprinting for you and me as we head out into the “herd.”

  So, let’s do it. Right now. Together, let’s steal away for a moment with the One who loves us the most to get up close to His voice, His breath, His words.

  If you’re walking, slow down. If you’re waiting in carpool, pull your windows up. If you’re waiting on an appointment, this will only take a moment.

  Rather than list a bunch of scriptures, let’s pay attention to this one story from the Gospel of Mark:

  Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you!” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”

  Mark 10:46-52

  What do you notice about Jesus in this short story? He was traveling. He was with his disciples plus a bunch more. Jesus sought out friends and welcomed everyone. Also, how about Bartimaeus? The reputation of Jesus’ power was so compelling that this blind, beggar would be bold enough to shout out his name. And, Jesus hears him and sees beyond Bartimaeus’ blindness, stench, dirt straight through to his willing heart. If a cloak was all that man owned, Bartimaeus threw it aside the moment Jesus called his name. Now, this could have been a fantastical scene of power, drawing all sorts of attention with a big booming voice and fanfare. But, instead, Jesus called Bartimaeus in close to ask him a question. “What do you want me to do for you?” I wonder if the blind man was breathing in the scent of his Lord and recording the inflection of Jesus’ voice on his heart. Deflecting any honor, Jesus tells him, “Go, your faith has healed you.” Immediately, he could see. And released into the bustling world, what does Bartimaeus do? He looks for the one who loves him most – Jesus.

  This world is crazy and awful and hard and loud and fun and beautiful.

  When you find it’s all too much, try doing what we did here just now. Choose a story from the gospel of Matthew or John and pull out the details that tell you about Jesus. Or ask what Jesus is saying about you. If you feel like you don’t know who you are; read through Ephesians 1-3 a couple times to understand how purposeful and spectacular and powerful and necessary God says you are. If you’re suffering through a series of hard blows and find yourself asking why over and over; then read through the story of Job. If you have a lot of feelings, google a Psalm about those feelings and read what you find. You have a God who is for you, beside and waiting to hear from you. You have eternity written on your heart. And His plans for you are good. Take that into the herd.

  Don’t let the noise around you confuse you. Don’t let the chaos make your legs buckle.

  Steal away with the One who loves you the most and let imprinting be the way the light gets in.

  Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Bartimaeus, Bible, healing, How the Light Gets In, imprinting, Jesus, Mark 10, priscilla shirer, zebra

• What if

  Posted at 1:03 pm by How the Light Gets In, on March 11, 2021

  If you’d rather listen, click here for What If

  How the light gets in is the name of this podcast and my blog but what we do here is so much more than taking in pretty sunrises and silver-lining type ideas. You know that though.

  Do you remember how we went looking for light back in November? If you don’t, go to the blog (it’s not super organized, sorry) but, there you’ll find a bunch of words ending in -ing.

  Those words represent a random idea that sort of hatched in the fall of 2020 – when the country was throbbing with growing racial tension, divisive politics and of course Covid. And, as if the world couldn’t feel dark enough; the actual amount of sunlight was going to be cut short starting November first. 

  Where I live, we set the clocks back an hour in the Fall for Daylight Saving Time.

  Watching the news, setting the clocks back and losing an hour of sun was just the push I needed to find the list.

  Then, we began what I thought would be a month long exploration of that list. As it would turn out, writing out all those verbs was a good exercise for my mind to be aware of all the ways I could think of. But on November First, when I started the self- assigned work, I quickly realized the words, the ways, the verses, the images, the memories would be put on my heart one light filled day at a time.

  Do I believe God put this assignment on my heart? Yes. Just stick with me.

  We took it one day at a time starting with the word Honoring on November 1. The next day was Signaling, then Revealing, Reminding, Reflecting, Changing, Surrounding, Healing, Filtering, Spreading, Unveiling… For each word, I would look for a picture to go with it and a scripture or share a lesson I’d learned.

  It didn’t take long for me to realize this work and the words were all leading to what I’ve come to learn about Jesus.

  I know you know I love Jesus but I promise this wasn’t supposed to be about anything other than looking for light.

  But it ended up being about so much more. And I think the work is beyond me, that it is for you too.

  It’s been a few months now since we wrapped it up. And, I’m feeling another tug. Maybe it’s because we’re about the change the clocks again. This time we will “Spring Forward” and set the clocks ahead an hour. While we are losing an hour of sleep, we are gaining more light. 

  In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden light.” 

  I’ve always thought Jesus was saying “my yoke is easy and my burden isn’t that heavy.” 

  But now, I’m wondering WHAT IF, what if Jesus is saying, “My yoke is easy and my burden is LIGHT.”  Reflecting, healing, honoring, nourishing, reaching, growing, comforting, unassuming, beckoning LIGHT.

  To me, Jesus is all those things. And after exploring all the ways the light gets in, I’m wondering what if He was saying “my burden is light.” It is hard, heavy, intentional work trying to reflect, hoping to honor, reaching out to comfort others.

  Jesus is light.

  Your burden is light- when you think about it; It feels like a great privilege and a great burden.

  According to the Farmers Almanac, the general idea behind Daylight Saving Time is that it allows us all to make better use of natural daylight. 

  So, how will YOU let the light in?

  There are so many different ways: Delighting, Leading, Challenging, Reaching, Igniting. The list on my messy blog is just the beginning. Jesus shows us.

  Your burden is light.

  Literally.

  Light is not easy. It can be heavy lifting these days. 

  In our world, at this time, where darkness is so heavy; what if you can look to Jesus and see how your burden is light?

  Posted in March 2021, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Beckoning, Burden is Light, Challenging, Changing, Comforting, Delighting, Distinguishing, Filtering, growing, healing, Holding Space, HONORING, How the Light Gets In, Igniting, introducing, Jesus, leading, Matthew 11:30, Nourishing, Reaching, Reflecting, reminding, Revealing, Reviving, Shining, signaling, Spreading, Stunning, surrounding, Unassuming, Unveiling

• Unwrap a gift with me

  Posted at 10:50 am by How the Light Gets In, on March 4, 2021

  Time and Distance lovingly offered me a present. It feels too special and beautiful and too big for just me. So, would you unwrap it with me?

  There were more than a thousand days in 2016 through 2019. Looking back through journals, it feels as if each one of them was blotched with dark, angry pain. Plus, I was bitter. There was a lot of shame and hurt on one very specific area of my body; spanning my hips, left to right, from my waist to my knees. And that very specific area was exactly where every doctor and nurse and specialist wanted to put their focus. It felt cruel that an area of my body that I wanted to avoid, that I had spent my life avoiding, was now the exact place I would be scanned, injected, cut through and pondered over. It’s as if the universe was taking my face in it’s hands and directing it at my pelvis in what felt like a staring contest. The body always keeps score, right? That staring contest took 3 years, 5 surgeries, 13 scars, lots of meds and a bunch of metal coils in my side wall (which is part of the pelvis). My body was up by 1.

  I was seeing three specialists during this time; Dr. Steven Adashek (surgeon) and Dr. Sam DuFlo (Physiotherapist) and Jamie (Therapist). At the time, I couldn’t see it. But looking back now, I see how each of these spectacular humans was vital to my healing. Dr. Adashek offered me the anatomical explanation and cutting through things like my nerve entrapment and scar tissue. Dr. Sam DuFlo gently pushed and pressed on my stomach stretching the physiological and metaphorical anger inside, teaching me the gifts of stretching and breathing to care for my body. Jamie listens and coaches my heart towards the courage it needs to go places I didn’t want to go before. They were and still are my “Dream Team.”

  Looking back, with just enough distance I can see God was doing a thing. He was setting the stage for healing.

  While the process was in motion, I was hoping He was going to take the pain away.

  But this is God we’re talking about.

  God was working with me through Dr. Adashek, Dr. Sam and Jamie to do more than just take the pain away. God was working to restore, redeem and repair. Have you heard the phrase “abundantly more”? THIS is how God operates, in an EXTRA sort of way.

  What are you battling, hiding, avoiding, white-knuckling? Can you step out of it just for a moment? Can you hit pause and breathe? Will you allow Time and Distance to present you with their gifts? If you journal, take some time to flip back and take note of the people and situations and “coincidences” along the way. If you have a billion photos, take some time to scroll through the past year and see what memories stop you.

  I may not be on anyone’s dream team but whether you like it or not, I’m your cheerleader. I’ve got a megaphone and a big story and loud voice to tell you this: God has assembled a Dream Team for you. God is working on the details to teach you, equip you and encourage you to full healing beyond what you’re hoping for. I don’t know what it looks like, who’s involved or when it will happen but

  GOD

  IS

  WORKING

  FOR

  YOU.

  Keep your eyes open, ears alert, heart ready.

  GOD

  IS

  WORKING

  FOR

  YOU.

  Posted in March 2021, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Brene Brown, God, healing, How the Light Gets In, Indigo Physio, Miracle, Pain, surgery, Therapy

• As you go

  Posted at 8:17 am by How the Light Gets In, on January 30, 2021

  I’ve read and heard Bible stories my whole life.  And still, every now and then a detail pulls me with an invitation to look again.

  Today, the invitation comes from the story of Jesus healing the Lepers in the Gospel of Luke.

  It goes like this:

  A group of 10 men with leprosy call out to Jesus as he was coming close.

  “Master heal us.”

  He answered,

  “Go present yourself to the priest.”

  They went.

  Super simple: They Ask, He Answers, They Go.

  It’s verse 14 that is pulling at me though.

  “As they went, they were cleansed.”

  Recap: They ask for healing, Jesus says go to the priests and they start walking. Do you think they walked away in grateful confidence that, YES, it would be the priests who would cure them – “Of course, why didn’t we think of the priests? Let’s go!” 

  But, the priests wouldn’t be the ones to clean their infections, restore their wounds or give them the wholeness they needed. 

  “As they WENT, they were cleansed.”

  I wonder what the Lepers heard “as they went” through town – screams of fear from onlookers, angry threats from neighbors? I don’t know but I do know they kept going.

  Back then, people with leprosy had to wear bells around their necks. The clanging would warn others of their presence giving them time to get out of the way.

  I wonder about the people hearing the bells. Would the ones who usually stared from behind a curtain peek out just in time to see? Would they stare long enough to witness the miracle of 10 grotesque, outcast, hurting lepers HEALING “as they went”?!?

  The bell around your neck; it might be old shame, might be doubt, could be regret, even anger. The clanging will be loud as you take your first step. I know this to be true for me but keep going. And, what other people do as you respond to Jesus – whether they slowly disappear or make their disapproval loud or laugh in judgment – is up to them. You keep going.

  It’s super simple, right? You Ask, He Answers, You Go.

  It’s just both; simple and not so simple.

  Maybe you’re too afraid to ask by yourself. [There were ten lepers in the same kind of pain and they asked together.] Then, get yourself a circle of people and ask! Maybe that’s your first request: “Jesus, I need a circle of people who know me, love me, hear the bells clinking and clanging around my neck and push me to keep going.”

  Maybe you have a hunch what direction you need to be heading in that relationship, that job, that decision; but the bells are too much: “Jesus, you know my heart. And I think I know the way to go but the fear/doubt/criticism/worry/shame/regret is so loud. Help my feet to keep going.”

  Ask. Listen. Expect the bells and the outside noise. Keep going.

  Now, off you go.

  Posted in JANUARY 2021, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged bells, healing, How the Light Gets In, Keep Going, Lepers, Luke 17:11-19

• Day 28: Introducing

  Posted at 9:01 am by How the Light Gets In, on November 28, 2020

  I feel ready now. You should too. For 27 days, we’ve been looking for how the light gets in. Our hearts and minds and eyes and ears have all been in training for the next step. And it starts tomorrow.

  Advent means “the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.” In other words, Advent is INTRODUCING the light.

  INTRODUCING

  Jesus.

  All along, the sunbursts, sunsets, candle glows, light switches; the way we looked for them and found them or they found us and were dependable and beautiful and magical and powerful and small and overwhelmingly huge – it was always leading us to Jesus.

  Advent is about honoring the God made man, King born as a baby. Advent tells us about the star in the night sky signaling to 3 wise men where to find the King of Kings. And when they followed it, they found their way through the dark and doubt to a manger revealing Jesus. Their story alone about following their heart and ancient writings reminding us that faith is more than a tradition but action too. Advent is a time for reflecting on how you’ve seen light these past few weeks and to keep that going. It takes 21 days to make a habit, we just went beyond that together. So, if you need to see more than a changing in your patterns, if you need a transformation; you can start now. This is the time of year to remember those words, “God so loved YOU that He sent His only Son.” It wasn’t enough that God would be an Old Testament tale, He sent Jesus for us. And he promises us to go ahead of us, surrounding us in our pasts, present and futures. We are human beings and life offers many ways to break us, doesn’t it? Those stories in the Gospels of Jesus healing hurt and broken people are true. He didn’t stop there. I am living testimony to that. He isn’t done. Jesus is the Peace filtering through the noise of the world with truth. The story of Jesus goes beyond the pages of an old book, spreading love for all. Cable networks pack on layer upon layer of lies, wrapped in their own spin. We are living in a culture determined to spread misinformation and cancel anything and everything. Why not use this season to turn the tv off for a bit and read through the story of Jesus? Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all offer their own perspective. Allow the details and differences to be an unveiling of the connection He wants with you. Through this month, together we’ve seen God’s word distinguishing, challenging and nourishing our hearts. To think that the same God who pushed up mountains and knows every star by name didn’t arrive in a robe, surrounded by lights, wielding a scepter but would come to save us through an unassuming baby… I mean. It’s that kind of gentle power I want leading my life. Do you remember my “banana butt” story? Our God is so old and powerful and real and here that He sees every detail of your life and mine, delighting in them to dazzle us. Jesus is God’s way of reaching us on this Earth. Jesus was both human and God. He came to give us an example of how to live. It is our holy obligation to keep shining His truth and light for ALL to see and feel welcome. You are made in God’s image. Therefore, if He is light, you are light. Do you know that? Do you own that? That should make you stand taller knowing you bear the image of a beautiful, spectacular God. So, image-bearer, use this time to read and hear more of God’s word for you, about you, over you. It’s time for your heart to start thumping with the reviving knowledge of who your God is. If this time of year is heavy for you, a friendship with Jesus might be just the comforting you need. Jesus is a master of holding space for you; only stepping in when you want, asking good questions and praying for you all the while. There is a calling for you to come closer. Jesus, the Light of the world, is beckoning for your heart. Can you hear Him? If it feels stunning, sit with it. Take a deep breath and let it all sink in, igniting the fire you were born to share. My gosh.

  Allow me to introduce Jesus.

  Blessing, Teaching, Listening, Loving, Defeating, Healing, Inspiring, LIVING

  Jesus.

  Posted in November 2020, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged Advent, Beckoning, Challenging, Changing, Comforting, Delighting, Distinguishing, Filtering, healing, Holding Space, HONORING, How the Light Gets In, Igniting, introducing, Jesus, leading, Light, Nourishing, Reaching, Reflecting, reminding, Revealing, Reviving, Shining, signaling, Spreading, Stunning, surrounding, Unassuming, Unveiling

• Day 18: Reaching

  Posted at 10:05 am by How the Light Gets In, on November 18, 2020

  Day 18; the light comes in REACHING high, low, across, down and through.

  REACHING

  

  

  

  We can see how far-reaching the light is.

  For now, let’s consider what happens when we are the ones doing the reaching.

  

  Reaching out to God -for hope, an answer, for peace, for healing- it can feel vulnerable and shaky.

  Consider who you’re reaching to though.

  I just found this verse I’d underlined in my bible.

  Is anything too hard for the Lord?

  Genesis 18:14

  

  Shaky hand, somewhat steady heart – I reached out to God to ask for healing.

  Who knew that just three days later I would be completely healed from layers of deep pain and trauma and metal coils?

  He did.

  That’s the thing about God; He’s always behind, before, beside us. He’s just trying to reach you any way He can.

  God, Master Artist and Sweet Friend, I pray for my friends reading today. I pray they would put aside their fear and doubt. I pray they would push through their anxiety and reach out to You. Whatever is deep in their hearts, Father. I pray they would reach in and name it then offer it to you. I pray my friends are surrounded by and so overwhelmed by Your light, God, that after they roll their eyes and take a deep breath, they can say “Okay, here it is God. Do your thing.”

  Posted in November 2020, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged Genesis 18:14, healing, How the Light Gets In, Reaching

• Day 8: Healing

  Posted at 8:45 am by How the Light Gets In, on November 8, 2020

  Day 8: Oh my goodness. I’m excited and nervous to share this.

  Being honest, I don’t know why I got this and others haven’t.

  That’s a reason I didn’t want to share this story.

  It feels uneven because it is… but it doesn’t make it any less true.

  “Still, what I want in my life is to be willing to be dazzled – to cast aside the weight of facts… and maybe even to load a little above this difficult world, I want to believe I am looking into the white fire of a great mystery. I want to believe that the imperfections are nothing – that the light is everything.”  

  Mary Oliver

  HEALING

  O my soul, bless God.
      From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
  O my soul, bless God,
      don’t forget a single blessing!

  ^3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
      He heals your diseases—every one.
      He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
      He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
      He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
      He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.

  ^6-18 God makes everything come out right;
      he puts victims back on their feet. -Psalm 103

  It’s been one year God. I can’t thank you enough. Why me? I don’t know. I pray anyone and everyone who sees this feels hope stirring in their hearts. I pray they push past the idea that hope should feel solid. Hope is fragile and shaky and true. You God, promise healing and light and love. Your promises, better yet, YOU never change. Thank you. Thank you.

  Posted in November 2020 | 2 Comments | Tagged healing, How the Light Gets In, Mary Oliver, Maverick City Music, Pain, Psalm 103