Coffee Talk

Tuesday was another rich, full day.

Dear family and friends,

Tuesday was another rich, full day. We started at the house of a sponsored child. Listen to the very condensed version of this amazing true story. There once was a woman named, Beatrice. Her husband was in prison for killing Tutsis in the genocide. She lived on some land at the top of a beautiful hill but the rains were killing her and her daughter. They lived under a tarp and it was not sufficient shelter to protect them. One day, she heard that World Vision was coming to the village and looking for “the poorest of the poor.” She signed up and the community chose her daughter to be registered to be sponsored. Somebody sponsored the little girl. The support money bought them food and World Vision determined that their most dire need was shelter so they decided to build them a small house. They even hired Beatrice to help build it. With the money that she made, she bought a single chicken. That chicken laid eggs and she fed her family and sold the rest of the eggs. With the money she made, she bought two pigs, who quickly reproduced and she sold them at market. With that money, she bought a cow. She used the milk to feed her family and the manure to fertilize the ground so she could plant a garden. Now, she is organizing a co-op with other women in the village. Isn’t that incredible!

]]> Her husband is home from prison now and she has three more children. I fell in love with her youngest son, who stuck to me like glue through the whole tour. He was fascinated by my fake nails. Just before we drove off, his mother came to the van and, through a translator, asked for my address. I so hope to hear from my little friend again. I may not be sponsoring him but he feels like another one of “mine.”

Next we drove to a group of houses built by World Vision for families affected by and infected with HIV/AIDs. We met, Klarissa, a gentle caregiver who was giving a sponge bath to a young woman and her baby boy. Klarissa was purposely raped during the genocide by a man using his AIDS as a weapon. She told her story and it was almost too hard to hear as she was barely able to finish telling it. At the end of our visit, Luci sang the old Negro spiritual, “Nobody Knows the Trouble I See. Nobody Knows but Jesus.” Somewhere in the middle of the song, Klarissa turned from a prematurely old woman, carrying the weight of the world, to a beautiful, young woman with a trace of joy expressed through a light-filled smile.

We went back to the Karaba ADP for lunch and to meet our friend, Ney Bailey’s sponsored child, Valentine. She was absolutely adorable. She was hungry, too, but she was more interested in posing for the camera. Every time the lens was pointed her direction, she would tilt her head to the side, smile with her bright eyes and dazzle us with her shiny teeth (a hallmark of the Rwandan people.) Ney had sent her gifts but the most treasured was a letter she wrote for her. Polycarpe translated it for her and you could tell that she, and her mother, were very touched. It made Ney’s picture become real as her “sponsor from America.”

Our last official stop was to a World Vision school with almost 1,500 students, either sponsored by World Vision or with a sibling sponsored. The students had prepared a little show for us, complete with lots of native dancing. They even “volunteered” me to dance with them. It was so much fun but it was very apparent that I was an “Uma Zunga” (white person) and have no rhythm. The thing that struck me the most about this visit, other than the obvious incredible work World Vision is doing providing education for so many children, was the commonalities we shared. Yes, they were black and on the other side of the world, and living in little huts…but they were first, and foremost, children. Children just like the little ones I know in America. Giggly, mischievous, affectionate, curious, playful and, in a word, childlike.

I had experienced so much in two short (long) days and had much to say when it came time to do our individual videoed interviews. We set up beside the road and Luci went first, then Marilyn, then me and then Mary. I stood (well, actually, sat) in awe as I listened to these interviews. It is truly amazing how impacted we have all been by this visit.

It was finally time to go back to Kigali so we loaded up the caravan for the three hour drive back to the hotel. I ended up in the car with only Marilyn and we talked nonstop. I must admit, that on a personal level, my conversations and connection with the other woman, including the ones from the World Vision team, have been one of the highlights for me. God did a very sweet knitting together of our hearts, for which I am especially grateful.

It is good to be home now but I’m loving reliving the trip with you and extending the experience a few more days.

I can’t wait to get home-home,
Lisa

Click on this picture to see
more pictures from the day!

If you are interested in learning more about World Vision and the possibility of changing a child’s life forever, then click here.

2-27-2009 Images

The longest travel day in history.

Dear friends and family,

It is actually Thursday and I am in the middle of the longest travel day in history. I left Rwanda yesterday around noon. After landing in Nairobi, we spent a seven hour layover in the airport waiting for our next flight. Then we flew eight hours overnight to London. Luci, Marilyn and Mary are spending the day and night there but I need to get home because I leave tomorrow for a speaking event in Fresno. So…I spent another five-hour layover in the airport until my connection on to Dallas. I am now in hour six of a ten hour flight. Oh my goodness, I can’t wait to get home!

]]> As I mentioned in my last email (on Sunday,) I didn’t have Internet service in the village so I am just now writing the remaining updates from my trip. It has been an extremely full three days so I will send the report in three separate emails on consecutive days so as not to completely overwhelm you.

We departed Kigali early Monday morning and drove three hours in the nonstop rain to the village of Karaba just past Butare. The rain stopped just as we stepped out of the jeep at our first location where we were set to watch a bread making demonstration. World Vision has a program to teach orphan children, ages 16-21, a trade in order to make money to support their child-led households. In this location, they provide the house, supplies, equipment and training to make and sell bread in the market.

This was my first encounter with the children and as much as I was fascinated by the demonstration, it was difficult for me to keep my mind on anything but the beautiful, dirty, bright-eyed, faces all around me. Many of them snuggled right up to me and soaked up the loving touch of a mother. We brought Tootsie Pops to hand out and they were so adorable and grateful to receive them when we had to leave.

Next stop was at the Karaba ADP (Area Development Project.) The most impactful part of this visit was learning ALL that World Vision has done in just 15 years. It was so encouraging to hear the director, Polycarpe, talk about the work that needs to be done before the area is ready to be on their own in six years. I love that World Vision works toward self-sufficiency rather than perpetual dependence. The illustration that helps me describe how this changed my perspective is so small and typical American, but it is the best way I best can describe what I mean.

I have gained about 15 pounds since last year. On this trip, I thought that what I would do was put a current picture of me on my iPhone and then one of me from last year when I could fit into my clothes. And then, whenever I was tempted to eat another carb or two or 75, then I would look at the picture of what I was working toward. The hope of picture number two will motivate me much more than the despair of picture one. The Karaba ADP is a “picture number two” of World Vision’s strategy. More often than not, we see the overwhelming need and poverty in the world and think, “What can one person do to make a difference.” By visiting Karaba, I “see” what each “one person” can do and it gives hope and meaning to the small sacrifice of a few dollars a day.

One of the biggest treats of the whole trip came during lunch time when I got to meet one of my sponsored children. Before I left the States, I purposely sponsored a child from Rwanda so that I could meet her and have a personal connection with her so that when I write to her and send her pictures, I will be more than a name to her. What I didn’t anticipate was the impact she had on me. She was suddenly more than just a picture on a envelope. She was sweet, shy, four-year-old, “Josianne.” I brought her a few tiny gifts but she was so quiet and barely received them. Then someone brought her mother a plate of food and I began to feed her. She was so hungry, (but not hungry enough to eat her peas. I guess children are the same everywhere.) After her tummy was full, she nestled into my chest and I rocked her to sleep. I held her for over an hour and she never moved. I am still processing what that feeling has meant to me. I believe there is a part of all of us that longs to be fed in our emptiest places and then held until we nestle into a quiet rest and peace.

I prayed quietly for her before she had to leave. This may have been the biggest lesson of all for me. I was struck in a fresh way what a powerful privilege prayer is. I prayed that God would keep, bless and heal her. I prayed for her family, her future spouse and her future children, that the legacy would be different because of World Vision and these simple prayers, prayed in faith. From now on, I know that I will include Josianne, and our other sponsored children, in my prayers for my own three children. After meeting her, I feel a much deeper level of responsibility for her, not just financial support, but prayer investment, as well. I believe that the prayers are so critical, because if God doesn’t answer them, she has very little hope for a different future than a life of barely surviving.

The next stop was very hard, the Murambi Genocide Memorial. This was thought to be a place of refuge but ended up being a trap for massive slaughter. We were taken into room after room of dead bodies whose skeletons have been preserved with lye. The images and the smell made me sick. I wondered why we needed to see such graphic violence. The guide reminded us that it was so that we would never forget what can happen. The perpetrators dug mass graves and threw the bodies in and then covered it up and made a volleyball court. They wanted to pretend it never happened. I learned that denial is a hallmark of genocide.

Thankfully, that was the last stop of the day. Good thing because I was physically and emotionally exhausted. We checked into our hotel, “The Golden Monkey.” It was perfect. (Except for the tiny beds, bugs, and no hot water.) But, I loved the experience. It felt very African, complete with mosquito nets around the beds. Lara Dulaney, the VP of finance for WOF, stayed with me. We were awakened at 5 A.M. by the Muslim call to prayer over the loud speaker outside. So we stayed awake and had some girl talk until time to meet for breakfast.

But, I jumped ahead of myself. I forgot the last part of the day, which was one of the most personally life-changing experiences of the trip for me. Over dinner, we heard the testimony of the WV national director, Shawntel. I wish I could tell you all of the unbelievable pieces of her story but you will just have to read the book, which I’m sure she will write and Thomas Nelson will publish! Her husband was killed in the genocide when she was six months pregnant. She took her four-year-old daughter and was on the run for five months. During that time, she was beaten, lived in the bush, starved, delivered her baby on banana leaves, lost her daughter, found her again, escaped death, then asked to be killed…all the while running for her life with a child on her back and a baby in her arms.

She then told the story of murder in her heart for the man who killed her mother and father. Her choice to meet him in prison, break bread with him, and experience the power of forgiveness. (They are now closer than a brother and sister.) In the meantime, she began working for World Vision and went through their program teaching healing and reconciliation. She was taught how to “tell her story” and experience deep emotional healing. Shawntel, is the picture of the good news of the gospel and the verses in Isaiah that tell why Jesus came, to heal the broken hearted and to set the captive free.

Believe it or not, as long as this email is, and as many words as it contains, it can’t even begin to tell the story of today. I can only pray that I will live out a different story for having experienced it.

More tomorrow,

Lisa

Click on this picture to see
more pictures from the day!

If you are interested in learning more about World Vision and the possibility of changing a child’s life forever, then click here.

2-27-2009 Images

Today was a leisurely day

Dear loved ones,

Tonight’s email will be shorter…today was a leisurely day. We had a beautiful breakfast in the hotel restaurant but sat in the area that is open air. I had the prettiest fruit…it was so delicious to the eyes that I took a picture of it to show you.

]]> I’m so thankful that I didn’t follow the original plan that had me arriving tonight. I would have missed soooooooooo much. I have had some wonderful times and conversations with Mary and Luci and Marilyn. That will make me feel so much more at ease when we start the Women of Faith season.

After breakfast we had a break until we were to meet a few of the team from World Vision. I enjoyed some quiet time and spent most of it thanking God for this opportunity. I am so beyond words grateful.

We met Jenny and Jess and Pamela and Shantel and had a long lunch (so far, most of the meals here have been long. I think that is a combination of the African philosophy of not doing anything quickly and the women’s propensity and love for conversation.) I ordered homemade cottage cheese, cubed, and served in a curry sauce with rice. It wasn’t terrible. I have been trying new things since I’ve been here. So far I’m 0 for all of them, but I would hate to miss something wonderful that I could only find in Africa.

After lunch, we had another short break and I read up on the history of Rwanda. I know that I will never hear of a tragedy happening on the other side of the world again and go about my business thinking that it doesn’t affect me because it is on the other side of the world.

We were supposed to go to a coffee plantation but it was too far away. I was bummed. Thankfully, they did stop at a local market where we could purchase “the best coffee beans in Rwanda.” Then they took us to a little artisan’s village which consisted of about twenty little connected shanties filled with local craftsmanship. I bought a couple of necklaces and a couple of bags made of African print for my girls. I bought a necklace with a tribal mask on it for Tucker…and a necklace with a tooth on it. (His request.) I bought Aaron and Kevin a couple of rings made out of some kind of material from here. And I bought a baby doll for one of my sponsored children. I will get to meet her on Monday and that is also her birthday! On the drive back to the hotel, I was struck with how lush and green Rwanda is. So much lovely foliage and vegetation. And it is very clean. Not what I pictured in my mind.

As we walked into the lobby, Marilyn asked if I would like to join her for a cup of tea so we could debrief and catch up. We stayed in the lobby until time for dinner. Yes, we have been doing an awful lot of eating since we’ve been here. But, from what I hear, we will want to fill up before we head out to the villages on Monday.

We enjoyed another long dinner and went around the table answering the question, “What do you hope to come away with on this trip.” I answered that I wanted my eyes to be opened to the degree that I could say, “I once was blind, but now I see.” The founder of World Vision’s original hope was that hearts would be broken with the things that break the heart of God. That is my prayer.

At the end of dinner, Marilyn got up to go to the bathroom. I said, “Let’s all be gone when she returns.” We hurriedly gathered our things and raced around the corner to await her reaction and giggle. What we didn’t take into consideration was Marilyn’s extreme socialness. She came out of the bathroom and immediately began a conversation with the table nearest her and didn’t even notice we were no longer in the restaurant until we couldn’t wait any longer and had to go get her. She never knew we had left. The joke was completely on us.

One of the best parts of the day was returning to the room and getting on AOL IM with Steve, Haven, Clancy, Aaron and my mom. For awhile, I had five open windows and was carrying on five different conversations. Thankfully, before my fingers fell off, Clancy set up a chat room so we could all talk at once. I don’t know what I would do if I hadn’t discovered Instant Messaging. I was able to catch up on everyone’s day and fill them in on mine and tell them I love them and miss them a million times.

It is after eleven at night here, so I will wrap this up and try to stay on this time zone. Tomorrow we have a little church service and then we visit the Genocide Memorial Museum and then we have a meeting with the World Vision team for them to tell us about their ADP’s (Area Development Projects) in Rwanda. They will also tell us their focus and goal for this season.

I cannot believe I will only be in Rwanda for three more days before I get on the plane on Wednesday and get home on Thursday. It has gone very quickly for feeling so long.

Hakuna Matata (They actually do say that here,)

Me

Click on this picture to see
more pictures from the day!

If you are interested in learning more about World Vision and the possibility of changing a child’s life forever, then click here.

2-27-2009 Images

Finally made it to Kigali, Rwanda!

Dear loved ones,

Well…we finally made it to Kigali, Rwanda! What a looooooonnnnnngggg trip. We left Dallas Tuesday evening and arrived Rwanda Friday afternoon! I have a lot to catch you up on since I sent the last email.

]]> Thursday morning we flew out of the gorgeous Heathrow airport to Nairobi. Steve was able to use his frequent flier points to get me upgraded to first class (the other women did the same thing.) Oh my goodness!!!! What an experience. I’m almost embarrassed to describe it…aren’t I supposed to be on a mission trip?! First of all, the British Airways First Class lounge was decadent. So beautiful and with little platters of pastries and tiny shot glasses of fruit smoothies (my favorite) scattered about. First I ordered Earl Grey tea since I was in England, after all. Then I ordered a cappuccino. (I know this is way too much detail but everything was so special…even the coffee…it looked like something out of a magazine.)

Then we boarded the flight and I thought I had died and gone to Heaven (or at the very least, I was flying on this plane to get there.) The flight attendant asked me if I would like a pair of pajamas! Yes, she really did! Of course, I did! (On a sad note, I accidentally left them on the plane when we landed. L) I then switched seats so I could sit across from the other women. I was on the left side window. Marilyn was on my right in the middle, with Luci to her right, and then Mary on the other side of the plane by the window
(I just realized that I have two days to catch up on and at this rate of detail I will have nothing to write about tomorrow except…”I wrote an update email to you.” I will scale back on the verbosity.) Dinner was a four-course delight. My favorites were the assortment of tiny appetizers. And dessert was some kind of apricot/almond scrumptiousness.

After dinner, I had “turn down service!” Truly. The flight attendant, fixed my seat into a full blown bed complete with a mattress pad on the bottom and fluffy comforter. While she fixed my bed, I changed into my new pjs, complete with velour slippers and eye mask. I took a two-hour nap and dreamed the most colorful, complicated and significant dream ever. When I woke up, I told Marilyn my dream and she “shrunk” me, which led to the most delicious two-hour conversation. It was even yummier than the dessert and cozier than the new pajamas.

The flight attendant informed us that it was time for High Tea. She suggested that Marilyn and I could fix our trays and seats so that we could share ours and have our own little tea party. Oh my goodness!!!! Everything was delectable. All of us agreed that this was our favorite part of the whole flight. After tea, I changed back into my clothes and nestled into my seat to read some more of my book until we landed.

We were all grateful for the rest and refreshment…little did we know that we were going to need all of that fuel to make it through the next many hours. We arrived Nairobi and immediately ran into roadblocks. We were stuck at the airport until after midnight as Mary valiantly did all she could to fix every problem. Needless to say, we missed our connection to Rwanda. But, as Chuck Swindoll says, “God is not almost sovereign.”

While I was sitting in one area of the airport talking to Luci and watching the bags, and while Mary was juggling details, Marilyn was being Marilyn and meeting people and asking them if they knew Jesus. The young man who was helping Mary from British Airways asked Marilyn why we came to Africa. Marilyn explained that we were working with World Vision. This wonderful 20-year-old boy exclaimed, “Oh, they saved my life!” Come to find out, his parents both died of AIDS when he was 14. His younger brother became a sponsored child and since World Vision helps the entire family, this boy, “Sospeter,” was also sent to high school to get an education. He graduated and took a two-year tourism course and has changed the direction of this family tree for generations to come. He was remarkable.

He helped get us to a hotel in town. (That sentence sounds so benign considering this, in itself, was a two-hour ordeal.) We finally all piled into to the van that looked like something you would find abandoned on the side of the road and prayed that the men driving us were not taking us somewhere to steal our almonds and Tootsie Pops from our suitcases and discard us by the side of the road. They turned out to be just what they said they were, very nice and helpful men, and we pulled up to a lovely hotel.

But the drama didn’t end there. It didn’t end until almost two o’clock in the morning when we finally all gave Mary all the cash we each had and paid the bill up front. 4 hours later, we were meeting downstairs in the lobby to eat breakfast and head back to the airport. Sweet Sospeter was there waiting for us even though it was his day off. He helped us get through all the myriad of lines and forms and luggage issues (turns out Kenya Air didn’t care that the 20 pounds of candy were for the children of Rwanda…our luggage was too heavy and we would need to find a solution.) We stuffed candy and snacks in all available pockets , including my pillow case, and made it through to the gate.

We hugged Sospeter goodbye and Mary handed him a tip. His eyes filled with tears and he said, “Oh no. This is the least I can do. You saved my life. I will not take that money. I am doing this to thank you and God and please tell World Vision that I want to help anyone who ever comes through this airport. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.” I asked him if we could at least pray for him and ask God to bless him in ways that our measly money couldn’t touch anyway. He agreed and as I said Amen, he looked up from our little impromptu prayer circle, and he had the sweetest, most grateful tears in his eyes. We all lost it. And we all knew that this had been a divine interruption.

We boarded the plane and Marilyn and I had another deep conversation high in the sky. (I consider these wonderful connections such a personal gift from my Father who knows exactly the way to my heart.) Flying into Rwanda, I was surprised at how green and beautiful the land is. We were met at the airport by the World Vision representative and taken to our hotel. We immediately met for lunch but it was all I could do not to fall asleep in my (very foreign tasting) meal. I had to excuse myself a little early and go to my room and take a nap. I so didn’t want to get out of bed two hours later but I knew I had to or I’d be up all night. So…here I am now, writing to you and counting down the minutes until I can get back in that bed and get back to sleep. By the way, it is eight hours later here.

We will be here for two more days and my plan is to write each night. After that, we will be in the villages for a couple of days and, of course, there won’t be any Internet service. But I will write again before we leave to come home on Wednesday.

I am so grateful for this opportunity and my life has already been changed and enriched but it does come at a cost…I miss my family very much. It is so hard not being able to talk to them on the phone. I pray the days go slow enough to soak up the moments and fast enough to outrun the ache of being away from the ones I love.

God is so big,

Me

P.S. I attached some pictures, too.

Click on this picture to see
more pictures from the day!

If you are interested in learning more about World Vision and the possibility of changing a child’s life forever, then click here.

2-27-2009 Images

Dear loved ones

Dear loved ones, (These were originally emails home to my friends and family)

Because Tucker asked me to, I’m going to send you an email every night that I have Internet service and tell you about my day.

]]> The flight was long but easy. I nestled in to my business class seat (thank you, God and Steve and AAdvantage Miles free upgrades) and started reading a manuscript that I need to write an endorsement for. It is by my friend, Lisa Harper. She is a phenomenal writer! And I love everything she is saying.

I ate a nice dinner (the steak was good even though I only ate one bite of it.) The hot fudge sundae was yummy! Then I took my malaria medicine, my anti-inflammatory for my hand, and my Ambien to be able to sleep on the plane. Medicare, I’m on my way!

I flattened the seat out to sleep but the bottom part sloped down. I woke up twice, having slid down in the fetal position almost in the floor. I woke up just as we were landing so I missed breakfast. I brushed my teeth, read some more and then we were at London Heathrow airport.

We took the shuttle to the airport Marriott and all rested for a couple of hours. Then Luci, Mary, Marilyn and I met downstairs to eat lunch at 2:00 and then sat there and talked until 6:30. You know I was in Heaven! I LOVE that kind of thing so much. The biggest compliment came as we walked back to the room and Marilyn said, “I was thinking to myself, this little girl could make a good shrink.” I do like to ask questions and find out what makes people tick. But I don’t want to go back to school for that long. So, I’ll just write books and pretend I know what I’m saying.

The funnest part of the night was talking on AOL Instant Messaging with Steve, Haven and Clancy. Soooooooo much fun. This is going to make being apart without cell phone capabilities easier. I hope we can do that every night. Tucker, that means you may need to wake up by the afternoon so you can join us, though.

Now, I’m ready to take all my pills again and go to bed. We meet downstairs in the lobby at 7:00. Our plane leaves at 10:00 in the morning and we will arrive in Rwanda at 10:40 PM. Long day but I have lots to read. Plus, I brought the DVD “Hotel Rwanda” to watch on my laptop. I know that will be hard to watch but I want to know better what the people I will be visiting have gone through.

I miss you all and love you so much.

Sleep sweet,

Me

Israel Trip - Sunday, July 15, 2007

A sip of “Coffee Talk!” This is the first I’ve journaled for my website since I began my sabbatical. I’ve missed talking to you!

I’ve decided to write every night when we return to the hotel after our days of touring. This holy pilgrimage for our family is too much of a blessing to chance forgetting even one moment. (Which I am apt to do if I don’t write it down.) Experiencing something memorable is always more fun when you can share it with someone. So…join me and my family as we take this journey together.

]]> But, first, let me tell you about the last couple of days. Even before we begin our trip, God has overwhelmed me with special moments I don’t want to forget. Friday morning, I caught a flight to Houston to attend my friend, Priscilla Shirer’s, “Going Beyond” revival. My goal was to simply stand beside, support, love and pray. But, of course, I ended up receiving more than I gave.

Although we talk on the phone almost every day, it had been awhile since we could sit across from one another and download. I am learning that there is no more valuable way to invest my time than in relationships. I had a million things to do before leaving on this trip and hadn’t even begun to shop or pack but I would have flown to Houston for that one lunch all by itself.

But the blessing was only beginning. Oh my goodness! Let me just tell you right here and now. You must immediately click on www.lifeway.com/women and see if this incredible event is coming anywhere near your city next year. (They only have one more weekend scheduled this year and it is in Irvine, CA.)

As I told Priscilla just before I boarded the plane in New York, “It is a good thing I knew you first as my dessert-sharing, Galleria-shopping, “What are you doing. Nothing; what are you doing?” phone buddy, before hearing you speak or I might be too intimidated to be your friend.” This girl can preach!

The word she brought was incredibly insightful. I learned so much about God purposefully leading us into the wilderness so we can experience His miraculous rescue, satisfaction of human hungers, and intimate encounters with Him. The worship, too, was electrifying. Vicki Yohe, the special guest singer was…well, there just aren’t words. I was crying from the moment she stepped onto the platform.

Then, Saturday morning I received a text from another friend, Beth Moore, whom you know that I’m crazy about but we rarely get to see each other because of our travel schedules. She wanted to have lunch after the event. I was supposed to jet to the airport but I decided to go standby on a later flight so I could catch up with her. What a sweet gift from God. I needed that conversation more than she could know. Priscilla joined us after she had lunch with another couple and then the three of us talked about as fast as we could before we all had to run in different directions.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Monday morning we flew from Dallas to New York where we had a 5 hour layover. The girls played Charades, Tucker talked on his cell phone, and Steve and I caught up on conversations that we haven’t been able to have because he’s been busy getting ready for this convention. We finally boarded the 747 bound for Israel only to stay on the tarmac for 2 hours before even beginning the 10-hour flight. We flew El Al Airlines. Tucker thought it was very funny that the highest level of elite airline travel was the “King David” class. I told him that the lowest level must be the “King Saul” class. (Look for them with the luggage.)

We arrived in Tel Aviv and fought to stay awake for the interesting drive to Jerusalem. We traveled through the Gaza Strip with the stone walls lining the highway to prevent sniper fire on the cars. Just a little bit freaky feeling. We checked into the hotel and our room has the most incredible view of the Garden of Gethsemane and The Temple Mount. We took a short nap to help with the jet lag adjustment and then ate dinner at the hotel buffet which we later decided was really all-you-can-eat-of-nothing-you-really-want!

That evening we went to the hotel pool and spa. The coolest thing was the Turkish Bath. This place is kind of like a steam room but it has hot water dripping from the walls and on the floor and on a large heated marble slab in the middle. It also has fountains of cold water and bowls to splash yourself (and your sisters.) This was really fun especially since I have read a million books set in Roman during the first century A.D. and they all talk so much about the bath houses. This is what I imagined. Especially at the end when four men in Speedos walked in and started bathing each other with loofahs. Gross!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Today was a leisurely day. Steve worked all day getting the convention office set up. The kids and I went to the hotel buffet for breakfast and encountered our first encounter with non-kosher. Not only was there not any bacon but there was no meat at all because they serve dairy for breakfast. We quickly got used to lots of fruit and cheese for breakfast.

Later in the afternoon we went to the Jerusalem mall. The weirdest thing was the food just sitting out on counters. You could simply walk by and pick up a donut or handful of candy and pay for it. We chose KFC. It was also jarring to have to walk through metal detectors before entering in most of the public buildings.

Before dinner, Clancy and I went down to the hotel fitness center and took a resistance class. The instructor had to give all the directions in both English and Hebrew. Steve joined us for dinner and we went into the city. It was a little disconcerting when the driver pointed down a street and told us that was where a car bomb had exploded.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

We took an early bus ride to Tel Aviv where we met my brother, Justice, and his wife, Maria, who had just arrived the night before. We also met our group for the first time. Somehow we got put on the European bus which we absolutely loved. Other than two other guys from Arizona, we were the only Americans. Everyone else was from Norway, Great Britain, Nigeria, Australia, Sweden and Ireland.

Our first stop was Herod’s Palace at Caesarea. Then we went to Mt. Carmel, the site where Elijah called down fire on the gods of Baal in a dual and God won. Next was overlooking the Valley of Jezreel/Armageddon. It was here that we began to get our first idea that we had really been blessed with an incredible tour guide.

His name was Rami and he is a Messianic Jewish pastor. I can’t even begin to tell you all the incredible insights he brought to our tour. He made every stop come alive with fascinating history and excitement for the fulfillment of prophecy.

We also went to Nazareth but it was so built up with homes that it was hard to imagine it as the little town where Jesus grew up. Our last stop was Mt. Precipice. This is supposedly the site where Jesus escaped stoning by slipping through the crowds but Rami said that he didn’t think this was the place where that actually happened. That is another thing we loved about Rami. He wasn’t afraid to tell us when tradition overlooked historical facts just so a church could be built there.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

We’ve been really looking forward to today because we knew we were going to get to take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. The lake is small enough that you really get a sense of wonder when you realize that you really are walking where Jesus walked. Well, actually, we just floated where Jesus walked but it was still cool. It was a great little trip with a wonderful teaching and then one of the local guys showed us how the disciples would have fished back then.

On the other side of the lake we went to the site of the Sermon on the Mount, Mt. Beatitude. Rami gave another great teaching and we had free time to simply find a spot in this beautiful place and meditate on these famous words. Rami showed us why this was the perfect spot acoustically for Jesus to deliver this message and how hundreds really would have been able to hear him. Fascinating.

Then we went to the shoreline where they believe Jesus most likely met the handful of disciples after his resurrection and cooked fish for them. We even ate fish caught in the Sea of Galilee.

Next, we visited Capernaum where Jesus did the majority of his speaking. It was really cool to see ruins from an old synagogue and envision Jesus teaching with lively debate raging from the seats all around the walls.

Then we went to the “Jesus Boat.” This is where a group of young people from the local kibbutz discovered a fishing vessel that dates to the time when Jesus was walking the earth. Of course, they don’t claim that Jesus actually fished from this boat with his disciples but when we are imagining them in our mind’s eye this is the kind of boat we should be envisioning. This place also had a great gift shop so I bought olive wood bottles of anointing oil and mezuzahs from my friends at home.

Last stop was the Jordan River where my whole family decided to get rebaptized. As I wrote in my Cyber Prayer Letter last month,

“God is doing an indescribable work in my heart. When I look back, this revival in my life actually began 19 months ago, sped up last fall and then went into overdrive at the beginning of this year. I have been a Christian for 34 years and yet this is by far the most intense season of grace I have ever encountered. It feels more like a born again experience than when I was saved at the age of ten. That is the reason I have decided to get rebaptized in the Jordan River tomorrow. I’m sure I will eventually write more details sometime in the future but part of the work God is doing is revealing my sin of self-suffiency and self-protection. I have lived much of my life attempting to gain as much knowledge as possible, so I would make the right choices, in order to stay in control, so I could protect myself from getting hurt. In essence, I have desired to be my own god, rather than trust God with my wounded heart. Now, nobody would have seen this on the outside. I didn’t even recognize it in myself until recently.”

I am learning so much about the freedom to really enter into the rest of God by grace rather than striving to earn God’s love and approval through the law. I wanted to be baptized again to make this statement to myself.

Friday, July 20, 2007

I’m exhausted. I don’t know if it is the jet lag or the all-day touring or the 120 degree heat but I’m pooped out. I don’t have much gumption for writing so my photo captions are going to be short and sweet tonight.

The first thing we did today was visit the ancient city of Bet Shean and then drove to the top of the Golan Heights.

After viewing a movie on the mysterious Jewish sect called the Essenes, we were able to see a handful of the actual caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

Gideon Springs is one of my favorite spots so far. I love the Bible story but Rami really deepened its meaning for me as he described the process and significance of the shofar and the broken torch pots used to scatter the enemies before battle. This was one of those places that it boggles the mind to realize this is exactly where the story happened.

Shabbat began just as we were driving back into Jerusalem from the Tiberius region. We had a short devotional service overlooking the city and praying for the peace of Jerusalem.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Wow! I can’t believe we were so close to the actual cave where David cut the piece off of King Saul’s robe when he was “doing his business.” Like yesterday’s visit to Gideon Springs, it will be so cool to be able to envision the real spot in my mind’s eye when I read these Scripture passages.

After a very hot visit to Masada (120 degrees) Tucker and Justice ran down the mountain! They are crazy. I can’t wait to rent this movie and watch it again after having visited the actual fortress.

Okay, this is the funniest thing I think I’ve ever done – floating in the Dead Sea! It is so weird how it is actually impossible to go under water. You really can sit down like you are in a chair.

One of the pastors on our bus gathered a bunch of the mud and we had too much fun! And our skin really did feel fabulous after we rinsed it off. I bought packets of mud and jars of the sea salt to take home to my girlfriends. A little Dead Sea spa party in the comfort of home.

Our last stop of the day was at a great gift shop that specialized in selling olivewood nativity sets and other traditional Jerusalem souvenirs. I really wanted to buy a shofar but they were very expensive. Tucker had the best time of all just playing with all of the stuff for sale.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Our first stop today was the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. We all followed tradition and wrote down prayer requests on little slips of paper and then put them in the wall and prayed.

The Garden of Gethsemane was one of the most meaningful stops so far. Rami presented another wonderful teaching and then gave us 20 minutes to each find an olive tree to sit under and have some quiet time with Jesus.

I was so glad we got a chance to ride a camel while we were in Israel. Even if it was just long enough for a photo-op.

This was really cool. These streets next to the temple walls have been discovered since I was in Israel 18 years ago. Now you can say with integrity that you walked where Jesus walked since there is no question that He would have taken this road many times.

These are the Southern steps where Peter is believed to have preached his famous sermon at Pentecost.

The Foursquare convention (the reason we are here in the first place) started tonight. Oh my goodness, from the moment the shofars were blown from every corner, the air was electric. It is such a privilege to be in the presence of the Lord with the Body of Christ.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Today begins our shorter tour days. We went to the praise and worship service at 8:30, then the first session was at 9:30 and the second session was at 11:00. We boarded the tour bus at 12:30 and ate our box lunches on the way to the Old City.

We entered through the Lion’s Gate which is also the gate that was penetrated to start and ultimately win the 6-Day war.

We walked through the Muslim Quarter of the Market and down the traditional Via Dolorosa stations. We visited the Holy Sepulchre Church which is where tradition has the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. I don’t know if it is or not but it is so gaudy and religiousy that I could barely even stay in there very long. It gave me a creepy feeling.

The last stop of the day before the evening session of convention was St. Anne’s Church just outside the Pools of Bethesda. My sister-in-law, Maria, sang “The Via Dolorosa” a capella within the beautiful acoustics of this church. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Another short day of touring but packed with incredible times with the Lord during the convention sessions.

We visited this model of the Old City and that was fascinating. A part of me wishes that we had seen this place first because it really helps to put all of the different pieces together.

Yesterday, we visited the traditional site of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Today we visited the other contenders. Gosh, these were so much better. The Golgotha site really did look like a skull and the Garden Tomb was beautiful.

The convention session this evening was a musical called, “The Covenant” chronicling the history of promise of the Jewish people. It was stirring.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Today was our last day of touring and the convention and we packed it full to the very last possible minute. This morning session was the most meaningful of the week for me. The message was exactly what the Lord has been speaking to my heart. The text was Acts 1 and Joshua 1. Pastor Glenn Burris, Jr’s three main points were ones that I’m going to continue to hang onto during this season of my life. In talking about God’s relationship in the lives of the Jewish people, and ultimately, in ours as believers he says, “In the brokenness, God sent a promise. In the barreness, He sent His presence. In breakthrough, He sent the power.”

The convention wrapped up with a beautiful time of taking communion together and powerful prayer for Israel.

The first touring stop of the day was Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum. I have visited other Holocaust museums in various cities but this one is, by far, the best one. I wish we could have stayed here all afternoon.

The next stop was St. Peter Gallicantu church which is the traditional site where St. Peter denied Christ. It is right beside Caiaphas’ house. My favorite part of this stop was the road leading up to the house because I could better imagine Jesus walking on this road toward Jerusalem than imagining he or Peter somewhere in this church building. I really wish they hadn’t built so many churches at all of these sites, it messes up the picture.

Okay, so this was the surprise highlight of the whole trip. At the end of the day, one of the guys in our group suggested we go see if we could just walk up and get a tour of Hezekiah’s Tunnel. This is the tunnel that was built from the water source into the temple during Hezekiah’s reign. Then David used it later to retake the city by bringing his army through the tunnels and up through a shaft into the city walls.

Our friend, Ray, brought glow sticks for our little group and we got to walk the length of the tunnel in water that was usually up to our shins but reached to my thighs when the tunnel got really narrow. We had so much fun.

At the end of the tunnel is the traditional site of the Pool of Siloam where the blind man washed his eyes as Jesus healed him. Nowadays, most experts don’t believe this was the real site but it was fun to wash our eyes in it anyway.

After Steve got the convention office boxed up, he was finally able to join us for one last touring stop. We met at the Western Wall and then took a very late night trip through the “Rabbi’s Tunnel.”

This tunnel takes you to the closest place the Jewish people are able to go to the Holy of Holies. The highlight of this tour was a very enlightening model of the temple mount and what it has looked like through the ages from the time Abraham offered Isaac on the altar, to the time David bought the threshing floor, to the temple sites, and now the home of the Dome of the Rock.

July 26, 2007

Yea, tonight we get to go home! We’ve have had the best trip ever but we are ready to get home. We all got to sleep in this morning and then we spent the day gathering some last-minute souvenirs. We went back the olivewood shop and bought a beautiful nativity set for our family. Then we went shopping in the Christian Quarter where the girls picked ups some trinkets for their friends. Then it was time to begin our long journey home. From the time we leave our hotel ‘til the moment we walk through our front door we will have been traveling over 24 hours. It sure is going to feel good to be home.

Sabbatical From Writing

“Dear friends, I am taking a sabbatical from writing for awhile. Please read through some of my archived “Coffee Talks” and don’t miss out on the journal entries from the “Family Dream” trip around America. Thanks for understanding and for your prayers during this time of being still and seeking to know Jesus with deeper intimacy.”

Blessings,
Lisa

]]>

Sabbatical

At long last, I finally have a few minutes to talk a little bit about why I’ve been so flaky with my journal entries lately. For you, my faithful friends, who meet me regularly for a cup of “Coffee Talk” you know these last few months have been crazy busy. The insanity really peaked last fall when I was writing two books at the same time, speaking on the weekends, and trying to get my family started out right for the school year. As you’ve probably noticed, I haven’t been able to recover as quickly as in the past. I feel like I’ve been playing catch-up ever since.

]]> Let me back up a bit. Not only was my schedule out of whack last fall but God, in His infinite wisdom, chose to use that season of my life to do an emotional and spiritual makeover in my heart at the same time. I’m fairly certain it wasn’t coincidental. It takes a lot for me to crack under pressure. Since I’m pretty sure that brokenness was the goal, God allowed the stress to come at me from all sides to breakthrough my strength so that He could reach the most protected parts of my heart. He started a deep work that still feels like it is in the beginning stages.

Toward the end of 2006 I felt like the Lord was calling me to a Sabbatical. At first I thought it meant that I wasn’t to write a book in 2007, other than “The Busy Teacher’s Guide to Prayer” which was due in the spring. (Which really boiled down to a 7-month writing sabbatical.) Over time, He revealed the depth of His plan. First He made it clear that it was to be a full year off from writing – from May 2007 to May 2008.

Then, out of the blue, (yea right!) my publisher asked me to reconsider writing the Teacher Prayer book. They wanted another title but I suggested that we shelf the idea of another book altogether until after God was finished with whatever He was up to in my life. They sensitively and graciously agreed. Which means my sabbatical has come sooner that I even imagined. I am free from all book commitments! Praise the Lord.

Last fall, the Lord gave me the passage from Ephesians 3:16-21 as my focus for this sovereign work of grace that has begun. I have personalized it for myself and say it every day this way,

“According to the riches of God’s glory, I am strengthened with might through His Spirit in my inner man. Christ dwells in my heart and I am rooted and grounded in His love. I comprehend with all of the saints what is the length and width and depth and height of His love that passes knowledge. I am filled with all the fullness of God! God is doing exceedingly, abundantly above all that I can ask or think according to His power that works in me. To Him be the glory in me, the church and my family to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

That is my goal…to know, really know and experience, the love of Christ. Another key verse for this season is Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” As I slow down from busyness and stuff, albeit good stuff, I am redirecting that time and energy into being instead of doing. My focus these next 13 months is on relationships. I want to know myself better, go places in my heart that I have been too afraid to approach up until now. I also want to know my family and friends more intimately and be able to have the love of Christ flow through me to the people I am called to serve and encourage, namely you!

This takes time, hence, the sabbatical. Which brings me back to you. I still plan to journal but not as regularly and consistently. As I have time and as the Lord stirs things in my heart and life that I put down on paper (or a Word doc) I will be excited to share them with you. On the weeks when I’m too busy being and don’t feel like doing then I will post an archived journal entry from the last six years. Hopefully, they will still be new to you, or at least feel new.

My goal is to be more consistent with my monthly E-letter but I can’t even guarantee that. I just promise to be true to whatever pace God is working and hopefully that will mean keeping up regular communication with you in some form or another over this next year. Who knows, God may start speaking so fast that I have more to write about than ever and my journal entries won’t slow down at all. I really don’t know.

But if I slow way down, just know that I will miss our weekly “talks” and that when I do have something to say you will be the first to know and I will be full of excitement to share it with you. Please pray that God will complete the work He has started in me and that I will have the courage to go as deep as He desires. I have a feeling that my life and ministry won’t even look the same when this heart work is done. I am filled with holy expectation for what is ahead. I hope you will still be here waiting for me. I miss you already.

Favorite Blogs

Let me just start out by admitting that, yes, it is Saturday afternoon and I am being picked up from the hotel in 30 minutes to go to the convention center where I will be speaking for the fifth time in two days at the incredible “Hearts at Home” convention and that means that since I have not yet written a journal entry for this week that I’m going to have to punt - again. (I will be writing a more thorough explanation of why I’ve been such a terribly unreliable “Coffee Talker” in an upcoming journal entry.)

]]> So…what I would like to do is connect you to some of my favorite blogs. I’ve already introduced you to my friend, Sarah. (Just today I met a lady who told me how much she loves Sarah and her beautifully written blog.) For those of you who haven’t had the privilege, you will definitely want to click on her blog link below. You will adore her as much as I do.

In The Midst of It

I’ve also introduced you to my other blogging friend, and Bible Study DVD co-star, Dee Dee. I just spent the last 30 minutes catching up with her adorable family by reading her delightfully funny blog. I know you’ll love her, too.

It Coulda Been Worse

Did you know that Beth Moore has a blog? A real one, too. Not some assistant promoting her ministry kind of thing. No, this is a blog about a proud grandma (and a few other lesser things.) Her quietly talented and infinitely sweet daughter, Amanda, (the mother of said wonder baby) has done a masterful job of designing, writing and administrating this sight. They say that the mother sets the tone for the home. Well, Amanda establishes the kind of genuine environment at this blog that says “welcome to my home.”

LPM Blog

Finally, the mother of all bloggerss, “BooMama.” I list her last because she is so famous in the blogging community and because once you visit her site you will not have time to return to this journal entry. First of all, you will be lost in the hall of archives reading her past blogs. Then, she has links to all the best blogs. Trust her opinion and explore the wonderful world of blogs listed under her “Good Reads” section.

BooMama

I hope after you visit all these incredible sites that you it will be easier to forgive me for not brewing up a cup of fresh “Coffee Talk” this week. (Again.) Thanks for your friendship, even during the lean months.

New Scrapbook Pages

Instead of writing a journal entry this week, I used the time to scan some new scrapbook pages for the website. So, this week’s Coffee Talk is in pictures. Hey, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, right? I hope you enjoy the stroll with me down memory lane. This was what my life looked like in 1996!

1996 Cauble Family Scrapbook Album – click here

Busy Teacher’s Guide to Prayer

Calling all Teacher friends! I am writing a new book entitled, “The Busy Teacher’s Guide to Prayer.” Yea, I know, what am I doing writing a teacher’s book? Good question! I’ve asked myself the same thing. I don’t know if you are very familiar with my other two books in this series, “The Busy Mom’s and The Busy Grandma’s Guide to Prayer.” The basic premise is taking 120 prayer focuses in six different categories in order to pray for six things each weekday for a month.

]]> Off the top of my head, not being a teacher or having any idea what a teacher needs prayer for, these are the six categories and examples of prayer focuses I’ve come up with so far.

Teacher (eg; Patience, Wisdom, Creativity…)
Students (eg; Desire to Learn, Focus, Confidence, etc…)
School (eg; School Board, Finances, Safety, etc…)
Faculty (eg; Fellow Teachers, Principal, Teacher Aids, etc…)
Department of Education (Funding, Textbooks, Laws, etc…)
Other Learning Opportunities (Homeschoolers, Private Schools, Field Trips, etc…)

This is where I need your help. Can you think of any other categories that would have 20 individual things to pray for under it? Within these categories I’ve listed can you help me come up with at least 20 prayer focuses?

I’m going to start writing this book next week so if you have any time between now and then to be thinking about this and get back to me I would really appreciate it! You can use the email form on this website by clicking the link below. I’m not being humble when I say I can not do this without you and my other teacher friends!

Email Link

P.S. Please forward this link to as many teachers as you think might be interested in helping. Thanks.

P.S.S. I’ve already received enough responses to learn that “Parents” needs to be a category all by itself. So, I will definitely add that. Please send as many prayer focuses for each category as you can think of. Thanks again!

What Do You Say?

Yesterday, a close friend of mine’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. When she called I just didn’t know what to say and I so desperately wanted to say the right thing and not say the wrong thing or not not say something I should say. I’ve never been through anything like this personally. And I’ve walked through enough things to know that you don’t know what you don’t know and you certainly don’t know like someone who knows so don’t pretend to know.

]]> So after I hung up the phone I did four things. I went directly into my walk-in closet and prayed. I know that sounds so godly but the truth is, because I love this friend so much, it felt like I had been kicked in the stomach with this news and I needed to get away and get alone and just be doubled over with the Lord.

I didn’t know what to say to my friend but not having the words didn’t limit me with the Lord. I could pour my heart out to Him and He understood. I could pray with words that failed and then I could groan when even those words failed. I could bring this extended family that I know so little, yet love so deeply due to the mystery of friendship, before Him and He knows each one of them intimately. All I knew to do was ask that He hear the cry of my heart to answer the cry of their hearts even though I don’t know the particulars of their secret soul-tears.

Even though I know God knows, I want to know, too. I want to know how to pray specifically. I love that about God. Yes, we can groan before Him and the Holy Spirit will listen to our yearnings and deliver the messages we’ve attempted to express in our heart-broken English to the Father. But He is also a detail God and He loves it when we ask Him for specifics so He can show Himself intimate and personal in His bigness.

So the next thing I did was get on the Internet and learn as much as I could learn about this kind of cancer. I want to fight this battle in prayer with my friends. To do that, it helps to know what we’re up against. It would be foolish to go to war without knowing your enemy and having a strategy to win.

I not only want to know how to pray but I do want to know what to say. So the next thing I did was call another friend of mine from California who had just left my house the day before. We’ve been friends for over 25 years and yet, due to a God set-up, this trip drew us closer together than ever before. Who knew I would need her again so soon? While she was here we spent some time talking about the personal journey I have been on these past few months. She informed me that I had boarded “The Truth Train.” She’s been on this train many times in her life, most recently when she walked beside her best friend through cancer and to the gates of Heaven.

I asked her what kind of friend she would have wanted to walk beside her as she walked beside her friend. What can I say to bring comfort? When will I know when to simply be quiet and listen? How will I know when to be there for her and how will I know when to just be here for her? I received the following email last night filled with such gentle wisdom that I wanted to share the whole thing with you.

Hi Lisa,

Yesterday after you called I had to go to the hospital, a friend of mine's daughter had a baby that was stillborn...drama. Which brings me to your friend. You know, Lisa, it is funny that you are trying to feel your way through some things, and so many of us would like to not feel so much.

The thing about cancer is everyone has a story of somebody that they have heard of that...those stories are of no comfort and nobody wants to hear them. This is your friend’s mom's story. I will call her Linda. Linda is Linda. Linda is not a lady with cancer. Cancer is just a small part of her existence. It may be so that this diagnosis will mean that she will be gone sooner than later, but there is so much of her that has nothing to do with cancer. Mostly that she brought your friend up, and what a significant part she has played in her life and who she is today.

If I were you, I would keep reminding your friend that we don't know what tomorrow holds, but today...Linda is here. Hopefully like you with your mother, Linda has built a relationship with her daughter that will contain this new information, but will not be defined by it.

You and your friend are close and everything will go on just like it did before the diagnosis. Now, she will share all there is about her mom with you and all you can do is listen and give advice as if you were talking about your mom. None of us know what is right to do or say. The waters are unchartered. Just like the baby today, who knows what to say when a mother holds a dead infant and tries to make sense of her pregnancy and loss. You know...we can't see the end of the road but your friend will be fine.

Another thing, nobody wants to be a statistic of any kind. We all want our story to be about us. Linda's story is written, you just get to read it a page at a time. I would encourage your friend not to skip any pages and absolutely not to read the end first! Each day is precious. We will all die. We just don't know what day.

Isn't it strange how you were put into your friend’s life to be with her during this time? God chose you to be a comfort and confidante to her. I know you will be just what she needs. I love you. By the way, the Truth Train doesn't travel on tracks so hang on. I will write more if I think of things that helped me.

Always, your friend.
XOXOXO
PS-The fact that you are calm and not dramatic sounds perfect to me. I love that in people. There is quite enough chaos during illness, calm and not overly emotional is good.

The last thing I did was send my current favorite CD and a card to my friend and her mother. This CD, “Sing Over Me,” has been the soundtrack of my life while I’m on the “Truth Train.” It is a collection of gentle, tender reminders of worship. I want to be with my friend and her mother on this journey but the fact is, that will not be possible for the majority of it. I can be there in spirit, I can carry them in my heart, we can meet before the Throne in prayer but, physically, I will be here and they will be there.

If I were there I would want to hold them and encourage them and just sit there and be with them in the stillness of not knowing. And yet, even if I could, my touch would be so limited. At best, I can embrace from the outside-in. God can hold us from the inside-out.

The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people. My prayer is that as these dear ones whom I love so much listen and enter into the atmosphere of worship on this CD that they will experience everything I long to say from the very incarnation of the perfect Word.

I share this journal entry with you today knowing that, like my friend’s email said, everyone knows someone who has a story or is living the story where cancer has become a major character in this chapter of their lives. I still don’t know what to say but I will say it anyway. Jesus is the Word of Life who became flesh for us that we might be able to touch Him and receive His touch. We are to become like Jesus in all things. Let’s risk wrapping our hearts in words so that we, perhaps especially in our humanity, may walk beside our friends able to hold hands on our journeys.

Surprising Kim

A couple of weeks ago I was running on the treadmill at our local fitness center. I was listening to my iPod but I look up at the television to catch a picture of Kim Fields. “Good Morning, Texas” was advertising that she would be a guest on the show the next morning. When I got back home I called my manager and asked him to call the producer of the show to get a message to Kim for me since she recently moved from L.A. to NYC and I didn’t have any of her new information.

]]> The producers asked if I would be willing to come down to the studio the next morning and surprise Kim on the air. I thought it would be a really fun idea. So the next morning I drove to the studio, hid out in the make-up room until Kim was on the set and then walked onto the stage at the end of her interview.

I never could have imagined her wonderful response. She started crying and jumping up and down and fanning her face and laughing and hugging and it was so much fun! I immediately planted a kiss on her big belly where baby “Sebastian” is growing. It was so very good to see her. There’s just nothing like old friends!

Kim was on the show to promote a fabulous play she is touring with and starring in called, “Control Issues: We All Got ‘Em.” The writer and director, LaTerras R. Whitfield, was also on the show, as well as one of the other stars, Darrin DeWitt Henson. You may recognize him from the ShowTime show, “Soul Food,” or the current movie, “Stomp the Yard.”

Kim had to run off to rehearsal and I was on my way to my Thursday morning Bible study so we traded numbers, took a few snapshots, and promised to spend as much time together as possible while she was in town. I had to leave town the next day but Kim set tickets aside for me to see her play the following Wednesday evening. I brought my dear friend, Priscilla, with me and we both thoroughly enjoyed the play. I highly recommend you visit the director’s website to see if it is coming to a city near you. You will love it.

The next day, I met Kim for lunch and spent the whole afternoon catching up and then did a tiny bit of shopping. Kim’s baby is due in May and she looks even more beautiful than ever. And that is saying a lot! By the way, Nancy had her second baby at the end of December. Yes, we are all growing up, but we will forever be childhood friends at heart.

Last of the 2006 Reflections

Finally, we’ve reached the end of my personal 2006 Bible study journal. Next week I’ll catch you up on what’s been happening these last few weeks while I’ve been look in the rear-view mirror.

]]>

Proverbs 27:11 – “My son, be wise, and make my heart glad.” Solomon was probably the best dad ever in regards to wisely teaching his son everything he needed to know. But apparently, that wasn’t enough. His life and actions spoke louder than his words and his son ended up following hi example rather than his teaching. His son looked to his peers for wisdom and rejected the wisdom of his elders. Where was the breakdown between the wise and concerned father who taught and the holy and engaged father who walked beside in upright relationship? This is a sobering reminder that teaching is not enough.

1 Kings 12:8 – “But he (Rehoboam) rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.” What a great verse for anyone, but especially young people. This verse will preach! By Rehoboam listening to his friends, rather than respecting and receiving the wisdom of his elders, he lost the whole kingdom. Tragic, irrevocable mistake.

John 16:7-8 – “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” John 14:26 – “ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all tings that I said to you.” I must step out of Tucker’s life as the main voice in his ear. I must remember that it is to his advantage that I do this. I must trust that when I walk away, and die to this place of priority in his life, the Holy Spirit is willing and able to step in to convict, teach, and lead him. If I remain the dominant voice in his life he will never learn to listen for the still, small voice of the Spirit.

Psalm 15:7- 8– I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; my heart (literally kidneys) also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” This verse tells me that God will instruct us in, at least, two distinct ways. He, by His Holy Spirit will give us counsel and directions. But He also tell sus to go with our gut instinct when we are in the dark about what to do. I believe the second verse explains when and why this is a safe thing to do.

Psalm 33:13-15 – The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.” When my mom and I were driving through Vermont we were, once again, struck with the unfathomable awesomeness and bigness of God. Just to think that inside each house we passed there were people and families with dreams and challenges. Multiply this across the globe and it is mind-boggling. Later that night I read this Scripture which brought the fear of the Lord. He sees all the sons of men individually and considers them!

Ephesians 3:16-21 – “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; the you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.” THIS is my hope for 2008. My desire to know God’s love that passes knowledge is intrinsically intertwined with my desire to share the power of that love encounter with others. I don’t think they can be separated.

Even More 2006 Reflections

Well, we’ve made it to June 2006 in my personal Bible study journal. I’ll start choosing a few random ramblings to share with you and continue to reminisce by including photos from that same time period. Who knows, we may even be able to wrap this up this week.

]]> 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” – I realized today that I have been struggling between two tensions in my ministry. 1.) I often feel inadequate and shallow because I am not a “Bible teacher” as much as a storyteller. (Greeks/Wisdom) 2.) I have been wanting to see the power of God fall and the presence of God show up when I speak. (Jews/Signs) Dear Jesus, Please forgive me for looking beyond the work You did on the cross and resurrection as enough. Not only when I speak, but also in my family. In my ministry, rather than look for signs or impressive teaching I should keep the focus on Your ability to forgive sins, set free, bring newness of life and hope for tomorrow and eternity. In my family, rather than focus on works, I should always bring the answer back to You alone, the forgiveness of sins and power over the threat of death to the abundant life You have planned for us. Holy Spirit, please remind me and adjust me when I start looking anywhere else but to the cross! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

James 1:14-17 – “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shallow due to change.” I needed to be reminded that we are more prone to sin when we aren’t satisfied with what God has given us or provided or promised us. We think there is something more or better or sooner, even, and so we go after that. We are drawn away by our own desires and this usually leads us to sin, rather than be content and believe that God gives every good and perfect gift and trust Him that not only is that enough but it really is also the best.

Matthew 24:12 – “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” – Although, there are many excellent shows on television that appear acceptable for me, as a Christ-follower, to watch, I need to be more prayerfully discerning. I love the show, “24,” but I’m concerned about the effect the violence may have on my heart. Because we see so much violence on TV and hear about so much of it on the nightly news, it no longer touches us like it should. We become detached from the fact that these bad things are happening to people! God’s children! We should be broken-hearted.

2 Chronicles 7:1 – “As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” – When they dedicated the temple they offered thousands of sacrifices and then the glory, the presence, filled the temple. When we offer the sacrifice of praise, the glorious presence of the Lord invades my heart and life. I didn’t make up that connection. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.” It is a sacrifice to praise, to lay down my busy schedule, my “feelings,” my inhibitions to offer praise. And I should offer Him my best, the beginning of my day and my first response to every situation, just like Solomon offered the best animals, not the mamed or lame. The reward is the glorious presence of God, for goodness sakes. Why do I hesitate for even a minute?

Luke 6:45 – “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” – I feel so badly for what I said to Steve. Why do I always say things that I know I’ll regret later? My problem is, I can be “good” for months and not blurt out what I’m thinking, only to, in a moment of weakness, eventually say it. At that point, what was good in even having self-control for any length of time. The damage was done, only later. Perhaps, it all goes back to “thinking.” I must start by being more careful with the thoughts I’m thinking, knowing that eventually they’ll come out of my mouth. With that in mind, when I catch myself thinking thoughts that I know I would regret if they ever came out in the open, or if I ever said them out loud, I need to do business with them right then until they don’t come back again. I need to repent, nail them to the cross and bring resurrection life through Scriptures that are filled with life.

Proverbs 27:7 – “A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.” This verse defines the answer I’m so often asked in interviews, “How come your life turned out so differently than the typical child star?” I believe it is because the emptiness in my soul was filled with Jesus, I was not enticed by the sweet things the world had to offer. But to someone without Christ, they will often consume bitter things just to temporarily stave off the gnawing ache of emptiness. I’m so grateful for God’s grace to fill my heart so completely from the time I was a little girl.

Well, it looks like we are going to need one last journal entry to wrap up 2006. Doesn’t it just blow your mind that the Ancient of Days wants to speak to us so personally through His eternal Word today?!