Let the Unwrapping Begin

Bill Hybels says in Communicate with Power, “We find that much of what we have to do is attempt to speak to people’s brokenness, their addictions, their wounds, their victimizations. We’re finding that instead of just discipling people we lead to Christ, we have to almost re-parent them before they’re capable of being discipled because they have lived with so much trauma. They have been wounded and broken so badly that most of the time some form of counseling is necessary.”

Discipling is not an easy or quick process in view of the condition of the world. Jesus told the disciples to unwrap Lazarus from the grave cloths. Lazarus had been raised from the dead but he was wrapped tightly in grave cloths. We too have been raised from the death of slavery to sin. We wear the grave cloths of shame, rejection, victimization, addictions, pain and trauma. Who will unwrap the grave cloths from our souls?

We need those of you who have been freed from your grave cloths to help unwrap others through mentoring, coaching, friendship, small groups, prayer and testimonies. So much has been given to us and to whom much is given, much is required.

What is God birthing in you? Is there a desire to see others freed as you have been freed? If so, pray that God will lead you to someone who needs the grave cloths removed. Give them your friendship, your time, your story as you unwrap the cloths binding them in their shame, fear, pain, addiction, victimization or trauma. Yes, I know that it is scary and you can only do so much. But God in and through you can do mighty things – Zechariah 4:6 says “'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.”

If the situation is too much for you there are counselors among you who could volunteer to help one person at a time walk through their healing. Maybe God wants you to share your testimony and pray with them and another person to counsel or coach. Discipling is a multi-layered approach that is required in the midst of a healing community of believers. It cannot be done without you.

Did you feel something fluttering within as you read about this? Is God stirring your heart? Or are you one of those who need the help? Let’s circle around those who need a hand. Let the unwrapping begin…

Seeing Beyond the Usual Again

Sitting on the beach and being a Choleric on vacation I was relaxing but alert to possibilities of seeing beyond the usual. Suddenly hearing a small child screaming I looked around and saw a man carrying a cutie kicking and screaming ferociously. She was either scared to death to go down to the ocean or manipulating her father. The father put her down and immediately the screaming stopped. Having a sense of control she plopped down in the sand as her father marched toward the ocean.

The father turning to see that she hadn’t followed yelled and cajoled with no success. He then proceeded to stomp back, pick her up and forcefully take her down to the ocean. She reciprocated with her blood curdling screams and kicking. After a couple of smacks with no success the persistent father marched back toward their place on the sand. I had just witnessed the struggle between two Choleric personalities going head to head and though the father was older and larger in stature the little girl won.

A few minutes afterward I saw this same kind of scene played out in another family. A mother was taking her two children to the ocean. The younger girl stomped her feet whined and cried “I want to go to the pool.” This went on for about five minutes until her mother came back and took her to the pool. The father sitting right there never moved, never spoke and continued to just bathe in the sun. Being a Phlegmatic he didn’t want to get involved in the conflict and his wife had no choice. Once again the child won.

The turmoil was over so I picked up my book and continued relaxing in the sun. A few minutes later I heard a man talking loudly. I looked up from my book to see him standing in front of a semi circle of sun bathers demonstratively waving his hands and arms as he entertained his audience. That was the first clue that he was a Sanguine.

Later as I moved my chair closer to the ocean I heard the same man complaining about something as he took charge to correct the situation. I then realized that he was not only Sanguine but Choleric by nature too. There's always more than meets the eye if we look beyond the usual. A few days ago I observed ingenuity on the beach (the previous post) and today the personalities. What are you observing in your situations at home or work?

If you are confused about the personalities I described above you might want to attend the Uniquely His seminar during the Family Enrichment Week at Calvary Assembly of God in Dover, DE July 30 through August 3. Hope to see you there.

(picture of Grandpa Coon and 2 month Maielle)

Seeing Beyond the Usual

Sitting at the beach in my chair reading an article about writers I remember that I’m supposed to be observant. Being observant gives you ideas from which to write. So putting my magazine down I begin looking around. I see sand, people, children playing, beach chairs, umbrellas, water, waves -- it all looks pretty usual to me.

But then I observe something quite ingenious. In fact when we first settled in our family circle on the sand I had noticed this bit of ingenuity and was quite intrigued. Next to us in the sand a couple had carved out their own beach chairs made of sand. They dug a whole deep and wide enough in which to sit. Then they took the displaced sand and piled it high enough to lean against as if it were the back of their chair. They laid their colorful beach towel the length of the sand chair thereby making a comfortable custom made beach chair. Lying comfortably back they sat as if in a lounge chair. Ingenious, that’s what it is.

I then begin looking around for more signs of ingenuity. There are Wonder Wheels all around us – carts that could hold lawn chairs, beach bags, umbrella, coolers and almost anything you could hang from the side or pile on top and then you just push or pull it back to your car. How ingenious is that? No more multiple trips back and forth from the car to beach.

Next my eyes fall on a tent umbrella. Two small children are napping under the umbrella with tent-like flaps weighted in the sand to protect from wind, sand and sun. One umbrella has a four-cup rack surrounding its stake. What will they think of next?

Beach chairs are all around me but I had never noticed the ingenuity of their evolution. Years ago the chairs were just like our lawn chairs and high off the ground. Now you sit close to the sand with many styles and variations – cup holder in the arm, cup holder on the side, umbrella attached to the back, mesh pocket on the side in which to put spray lotion, pen, magazine; or there’s the backpack like pocket the whole width and length of the back of the chair and a chair bag in which to put the collapsible chair so you can sling it over your shoulder. Hmm, I can’t wait to see the next evolutionary aspect.

I pretty much thought I had seen it all when I turn my chair around and sitting in front of me is an older couple with identical chairs. Between them is a small teal table the style of a TV tray but shorter, and on top are two bottles of soda. Maybe it’s not convenient but it’s ingenious.

How many times do we miss the obvious among the common? Our perceptions are stuck on automatic so we assume our normal thinking patterns. All the while there is another perception, another view or a deeper meaning waiting to be observed. You don’t have to be a writer to be observant; just alive and alert. Who knows you may break out of a rut, see something wonderful in your husband, or come up with a brilliant idea. Try it today and see what lies beyond the usual.

Rain is on its Way

Participating in The Call Delaware this past Saturday for a few hours was a great way to end forty days of prayer and fasting. The crowd was small but sincere and fervent; certainly not discouraged by numbers. We marched around the stadium a few times, agreed in repenting prayer for our nation, worshipped together, and had times of meditation and personal prayer. There was a sweet presence of the Lord.

I was reminded of the devotional I had written earlier in the week when Elijah was the lone prophet at Mt. Carmel. Numbers didn’t matter. God was with Elijah and had promised the rain. Four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal chanted, cut themselves, frantically plead for Baal to send fire on the altar but nothing happened. After a very short prayer the God of Elijah immediately sent fire. One man, one prayer and a king and nation were convinced that Jehovah was the one true God.

What could fifty people accomplish after forty days of praying and fasting? Only time will tell. But that wasn’t the end of the story. God had promised rain and Elijah told Ahab to hurry home to celebrate because rain was coming. However, Elijah didn’t just sit around and wait for the rain, he knelt and prayed fervently for the rain. I believe God has promised us the fire of his cleansing, refining and then the rain of his refreshing. He has promised to birth His will and purposes in us. But, we must keep seeking His face humbly and fervently in order to see it come to pass. Keep praying until we hear the thunder. Keep doing spiritual warfare.

The servant kept looking for rain for seven times and then only saw a small cloud. But then there was a suddenly – “things happened fast.” God always has a suddenly in our lives. Don’t’ get discouraged if it doesn’t happen as quickly as you expect or want. Don’t give up on the thing God has promised. Don’t give up on the move of God in your life, your family or church. Keep believing. Keep expecting. Keep praying. Keep watching. A suddenly is about to happen. What suddenly are you expecting?

Freedom's Child

As a child, the Fourth of a July was an exciting day. I awoke to the smell of chicken frying and Mom scurrying to get everything ready for our picnic. Excitement mounted as we packed the car with lawn chairs, fishing gear, beach toys and food. The ride to Northeast, Maryland seemed so long but quickly forgotten as we swam in the Chesapeake Bay while Dad fished to his hearts content. Friends from Dad’s workplace accompanied us and we stayed from morning to sundown playing in the sand, swimming, gathering shells, boating and, of course, eating Mom’s delicious Southern fried chicken with potatoe salad and baked beans. We always looked forward to the cotton candy, popsicles or ice cream bars at the food stand. The fireworks were the highlight of the day and then we’d fall asleep on the way home. I can’t say that I gave freedom much of a thought during those days. The Fourth of July was an excuse to do something special with family and friends.

As an adult, I now appreciate the freedom I had has a child. Freedom to sleep in while my mother cut and diced potatoes, boiled and sliced eggs, floured and fried chicken, turning it from time to time while gathering all the supplies for the picnic -- towels and toys, Coppertone and sunblock, fly swatter and bug spray, salt and pepper, napkins and paper plates and the list goes on and on. How did she remember it all? I had freedom to go play while my mother cleaned up the paper plates and packed the leftovers on ice again. Freedom from worry and anxiety. Freedom to play and explore while Mom watched to make sure we were all safe and secure. Freedom to fall asleep while Dad drove home. Freedom to just go to bed while Mom put everything away and started a wash of clothes from the day. Yeah, the Fourth of July is a celebration of freedom alright. I’ll always remember those carefree days with great delight. Now I know the cost of my freedom and I’m not about to forget it.

Celebrate Freedom!

Today is the Fourth of July and we're celebrating with our family and friends. I can smell the barbecue shish-ka-bob now and my mouth is watering at the thought of corn on the cob ,sweet watermelon and cantaloupe. Hmm, hmm delicious. But tonight we celebrate with fireworks!! It's a family tradition and we dare not break tradition.

These are a few of the blessings we enjoy because of freedom. Family, friends, cookouts, great food, freedom of movement and gathering, fireworks, celebrations and traditions. Our freedom, like so many other countries, has come at a dear price -- the price of the lives of our children, fathers, brothers and sisters, mothers, aunts and uncles, grandfathers. We're celebrating their sacrifice and celebrate we should.

However, I'm also reminded that there are other freedoms that came at a very dear price -- the shame, beating, blood and life of one called Jesus. Spiritual freedom wasn't free either. How do we celebrate that freedom? Freedom from the power of sin.
Freedom from being a slave to addictions,
Freedom to make new choices out of our new nature.
Freedom to respond to God.
Freedom to live and breathe and have our being in Christ.
Freedom from captivity.
Freedom from the prison of spiritual darkness.
Freedom to see as God sees.
Freedom from the chains that bound us.
Freedom from the garment of heaviness to receive a spirit of praise.
Freedom to have an audience with God anytime or anywhere.
Freedom to pray with assurance in knowing that we have been heard.
Freedom to walk away from the identities of the past.

Freedom to receive and live out of a new identity in Christ.
Freedom from the ashes of rejection to receive a crown of beauty.
Freedom to be all that God has designed us to be.
Freedom to to fullfil His plan for our lives, His purpose and destiny.
Freedom! It's already been purchased; it's ours. Celebrate by walking in it. Celebrate by walking it out in our everyday lives.

Today I proclaim FREEDOM!!! (Isaiah 61:1-3) What freedoms are you thankful for?