A simple process for telling the story of Joseph

As I have traveled and trained leaders in North American, Africa, and Asia, I have become concerned at the reality that few people know the full stories of key characters in the Bible. We have a rich heritage, and the stories provide wisdom for all generations. Something powerful happens when someone hears the whole text of a story. On numerous occasions, I have observed hearers respond by asking where is it in the Bible and how they can either listen to it again or go and read it for themselves? Our goal is to present the story in layers so that it can be grasped at the simplest level and for the hearer or reader that wants to go deeper, they will be able to do so as well. In either case, both will be able to provide a basic outline or summary of the story. 

The strategy is simple. 

It is said that a good teacher can bring a lesson to the most irreducible parts. As I prepare to teach a story, I will create story outlines that help me to remember the story. I have found that this is helpful to others as well. So, in this book you will find a short story outline that can be used to build the story strategy for recall. 

 

In preparation for a trip to Ethiopia, I created motions to use with the story outline. It is a mixture of American Sign Language and intuition. This is not to add to or take away from the beauty of the American Sign Language. I am simply trying to create a motion for story recall. As I shared the story in motion with Grant, Alice, and Emily, the storytellers I was traveling with when I first started this manual, they helped me refine it. I love it because they make me better at what I do. We recorded videos of them teaching the motions while in Ethiopia. 

You can watch the video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ad2Gs9GPthQ. 

I love that you can hear the jungle sounds in the background of the videos. Or if you prefer you can just read through the descriptions provided in this book. 

The story in motion is short intentionally, so we can do them quickly and capture their attention. The goal is to give them a basic outline for the story and the story plot. In the process, the story in motion also introduces the characters so that the hearer can know the key characters in the story. 

The best part is that they are reproducible because the hand motions and movement help with story recall. If you pay attention, you will notice repeat phrases to showcase patterns in the story. These are helpful in story recall as well and if done right can be turned into a song or a call and response. 

God willing, someone with the gift of music will be able to make these culturally relevant, too. While in South Sudan I asked Emily to write story song for Joseph like she did for the Esther story in Ethiopia that introduced the characters. She blew my mind away. It was so catchy and provided a quick crowd motivator. 

Here is the link for Emily’s story song: https://youtu.be/w3N9VWsFohc.

Joseph Song: A Life of Bows (Chorus). Bow-Bow-Bow 

   They Bow Down Down Down 

   To the Ground Ground Ground

    Brothers Wheat in a Dream 

    Sun Moon Stars in a Dream 

    Jacob asks: Can This Be? 

 (Chorus) 

    Sold to serve Potiphar. 

    Joseph blessed, then accused.

    In the Jail, Did Prosper 

 (Chorus) 

   Pharaoh Dreams, What’s it Mean?    

     Famine Comes, Egypt Saved.        

         Brothers Eat, He forgave. 

 (Chorus) 

   OUTRO 

   Bow-Bow-Bow 

   WE Bow Down Down Down 

   To the Lord Most High! 

There’s beauty in surrendering your life to the One who made it. We see God at work through Joseph’s life from an outsider perspective that allows us to see the result, while for him at the time was full of trials in different seasons. 

He submitted to the Lord who made Him, and God was with Joseph, and he prospered even in difficult situations. 

Through it all, God was still in control, and He is worthy of our praise. He Is the Lord Most High! 

Emily Pedersen 

South Sudan Song Composition (January 2023)

Once the story in motion has the group involved in the story, we will then present a short summary to give a big picture overview. The story summary is a mini metanarrative that is told in three to five minutes. You can watch the Joseph story summary at https://youtu.be/7cFx7wa7HRU. The story summary allows the story plot to be revealed in an overview. It helps to build the story recall. A three-to-five-minute story does not feel impossible to recall. It feels doable. Our goal is for this to be conversational and relational as if sitting and telling a family story. Sometimes, this may be all you can do with a group because who has time to sit and listen to a whole book or fourteen chapters? 

Then, we will tell the whole story in depth. Each chapter will be broken down into shorter stories and different story tellers will tell each story. This shifting of storyteller and story chunking actually tricks the mind into thinking it can recall more information because it considers each storyteller one chunk of information and thereby recall more content. 

So, what can this look like? While in South Sudan our team of storytellers partnered with Pads4Pupils (women’s hygiene) and Healing Kadi’s (medical mission team). While they did medical missions our team of storytellers would tell stories to those waiting. First, we would tell the story in a short song that Emily created. This made the group laugh and join in the fun. Then we would tell the story in motion. This helped them know the people and plot. Then we would tell the short summary so that they could know an overview what they will hear and finally we would tell the whole story of the character. When the crowd was able, we would follow this up with a basic QAR (question, answer and response time). 

They will hear the story in three ways that will build on what they know and hear. If God allows it, we will then use questions to dig deeper while going over the story a fourth time. 

1. Story outline in motion 

2. Story summary 

3. Story in full 

4. Story Q&A 

If time permits, we will have them create story dramas or skits and we always challenge the group to go out and tell the story to someone. 

If we are given only an hour, we will do motion, summary, and drama or motion, summary, and Q&A depending on the type of audience. 

You can listen to the whole story of Joseph at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCvaPbTnXHiQpnqApKZkE4jW8FPFDrxn2. Excerpt from Rye, Tara, "Joseph," 2021.

Did you know that the first recorded convert to Europe was a woman?

Okay, how is it that in all these years I did not see this until now? 

Did you know that Europe's first recorded convert in the Bible was a woman? 

We all love the story. If you are familiar with the Bible you know her as Lydia, the business woman who sold purple linen (Acts 16:11-15).

She was known for being a worshipper of God, but when Paul shared about Jesus, the LORD opened her heart and she believed in God's gift through His Son. She and her entire household were baptized that day.

Here is the deal. Her decision was followed by incredible generosity and hospitality. Her home and business became a catalyst for launching the spread of the good news of Jesus into Europe. 

Wozer! Imagine! God can take that which seems so small to change nations. 

I imagine Lydia never knew the impact of her decision. But we are told in Philippians 1:1; 4:15-16 that the church of Philippi supported global missions! 

A simple yes. 

An open home. 

A gift of hospitality. 

A generous heart. 

A catalyst to nations.

All because Paul was willing to listen to a vision by God to go to Macedonia to help. 

These are worthy things to ponder as we go into the New Year.

Father, may we listen and obey Your Holy Spirit and Your visions to go. In response, may we give a simple yes and follow through with hospitality and generosity for Your glory! In Jesus' name, amen.

Do I really trust God's ability to communicate into my circumstances?

Do I really trust God's ability to communicate into my circumstances?

I am pondering over Saul's conversion in Acts 9.

Wow! If I look at this passage solely on God's ability to communicate to us. It really shuts me up. 

These two men in this passage really represent the extremes of culture. One man, Saul, bent on killing Christians or at minimum putting them in prison. The other man, Ananias, is simply described as a believer in his home or atleast that is where I have visualized him.

God used a dramatic moment for Saul as he walked among many. They all heard, but Saul was struck blind. The intensity of Saul's conversation with God matched his personality and mood. Determined and certain, "Go and wait until I show you." A man at a fast pace forced to pause.

Ananias' conversation with God came quietly in a vision. It allowed dialogue and affirmation. It was simple and affirming, "Go. I chose this man to do my work."

Can you imagine pondering the awe of that truth? God chose the murderous Saul to go do his work and God chose Ananias to go tell him. Ananias was one brave dude!

Okay, wow! And to think, I sometimes act like God can't work in this or that circumstance. Oh I might know He can, but my words and actions do not reflect it.

What if I understand fully that if God can stop a murderer and make him a saint maker and he can take a man fearer and turn him into a bold proclaimer then GOD CAN communicate into my circumstances. God doesn't change. His plan is still the same. He wants people to know Jesus' name and that God sent Him so all could be in relationship with Him. 

Maybe the only thing stopping His communication is me talking to Him!

Worthy of pondering for sure.

Struck blind

Grant and I will tell a tandem of Acts 13:1-11 in a few weeks and as I study this crazy story, I am struck by something so profound.

Okay, this story is about a false prophet, BarJesus. His name in Hebrew means Son of Jesus. These short 12 verses gives him six descriptors: A Jewish sorcerer, false prophet, named BarJesus, called Elymas (which means wise in Arabic), and magician. Well more if you include what Paul says child of the devil, full of deceit and trickery, who never stops perverting evil.

Why so many?

He sought to stop the faith of Sergius Paulus the governor/procounsel of Paphos in Cypress.

Saul (Paul) whose name will transition to Paul in the middle of this incident. Paul realizes the intent of this man's deceit and realizes that BarJesus has attached himself to the governor Paulus, who was known to be intelligent. So he tells BarJesus, he is to be struck blind for a season because he will not stop going against what is right. 

Paul, the very one struck blind by God so he would believe strikes another man blind, and then Paul professes that BarJesus will remain blind for a season. Such an interesting connection. 

This causes the Governor Paulus to believe as he listens to Paul's teaching. 

We need to catch that it is in this very moment that Paul transitions from to the Jew to the Gentile. 

The Jewish sorcerer is symbolic of what happened to the Jewish nation at this time. They kept distorting what was right, so they are blinded for a season and will not see. The blinders will be removed at some point, but not now.

Holy wozer! My mind in blown as I caught this truth today. 

This chapter is all about transitions.

Transition from Jew to Gentile.

Transition from Saul to Paul (the use of his Hebrew name to Roman name.)

Transition from Barnabas and Saul to Paul and Barnabas.

Oh the irony of the one struck blind for a moment so he could see to strike blind the Jewish sorcerer to set off the movement to the Gentiles! 

Oh my! I am struck with awe!

Multi-cultural...Mutli-racial...Multi-socio-economic...It is all there!

Multi-cultural...

Mutli-racial...

Multi-socio-economic...

It is all there!

Acts 13 caught me this morning.

Barnabas: A Greek man

Simeon: North African (a black Jew)

Lucias: North African (Greek, Jew/ Phoenician culture)

Manean: possibly mixed, Jewish or Edomite/Arab; Idumaean.This isn't stated, but it is implied by what is stated. 

John Mark: Roman/Jew.  

Okay, this is what hit me hard this morning.

"Another was Manean. He grew up with Herod, the ruler of Galilee." (Acts 13:1). 

His race or nation were not mentioned. It was who and how he grew up. He grew up with Herod Antipas! You know, the one who beheaded John the Baptist and executed Jesus. 

Manean was one brave dude! 

Herod knew him well. Manean was raised in the royal court yard with Herod! Now, he was praying with Barnabas and Saul (Paul) as a prophet and teacher. Now Manean was enjoying the movement of the Holy Spirit as He sends out Barnabas and Saul to teach the very things that caused Herod to kill John and Jesus (Acts 13:1).

Truly, when you get it. The good news of Jesus breaks down all the barriers.

Multi... becomes a part of your being. Why?  Because our God is a God of inclusion! 

Your nation or station mean nothing to the Creator of all things. 

I have sat in rooms with tribes that included both the royal and the poor, but what blew my mind the most. They would not have sat together before, but for Christ. Because of Jesus they joined together letting go of their race, station, and tradition. Why?  Because of their common faith that God sent His Son for all of man kind. 

Our God is a God of multi-surprises for sure!

Does my soul know it's worth?

As we sang O'Holy Night at church, I caught the line "Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth," I was caught by the wonder of this verse.

Does my soul feel His worth? 

If my soul does feel His worth then my soul has felt its worth.

Christmas is my favorite time because so many will pause to enjoy the wonder and be in awe of what God has done. I have to smile inside because even the most vile cannot resist a baby. Well, unless they have a heart like Herod. 

Do you get it? 

Knowing His worth brings hope! A weary world rejoices! 

Please pause long enough to just let the lyrics penetrate you so you know His worth and your own. 

May this Christmas awaken hope in you. Much love! Tara

O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope--the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born!

O night divine! O night, O night divine!

Truly he taught us to love one another;

His law is love and his gospel is peace.

Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,

And in his name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;

Let all within us praise his holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise his name forever!

His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!

His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!

O night divine! O night, O night divine!

Merry Christmas, y'all!  

By Placide Cappeau in 1847

The Gift of Tears

I have a friend who has chosen the word "tears" for her word for next year. 

I confess "tears" caught me. 

I know tears bring healing.

I know Jesus catches our tears in a bottle. 

I did a deep dive.

There are 3 kinds of tears.

1. Reflex tears to remove irritants to protect the eyes.

2. Continuous tears that provide cleansing hydration that nourishes the eyes.

3. Emotional tears that release stress hormones that provide healing as toxins release through them. Crying actually decreases both the heart and breath rate calming our body. 

Did you know emotional tears are thicker and stickier because of the chemicals in them? 

Wait... tears protect, nourish and heal.

So, Why do we fight crying? 

Well, Greg says I cry all the time. Eeck! Lol!

This made me ask, "What are the types of emotional tears that I cry?"

In order as they came to me...

Angry, sad, frustrated, mad...

Silent, lonely...

Happy, joyful, awe, bliss, laughing...

Surrender, fearful...

Release, relief...

Compassion, hope...

Grief...

Blessing...

Connection, affection, bonding, Identifying...

The word "Identifying" made me think of the shortest verse. 

Jesus wept! (John 11:35). He identified and cried just knowing someone was grieving.

There have been moments in my life when I could not cry. The depth of of the moment was either protected or frozen. Probably, in some circumstances the protection was so I could get through it. And the frozen moments were my own brokenness needing a break through. But what always allowed those tears to eventually flow was identifying with another. It was the incredible gift of empathy. It is was in this holy connection that release would finally come and healing release would flow through my tears.

I would discover...

Comfort

Binding

Release

Balance

Connection

Dancing

Healing

Fellowsip

Love

Love is known through tears!

I love that God keeps track of every single tear. I imagine His unseen bottle gently catching my tears cascading down my cheeks. They fall in His bottle carefully captured. I imagine His bottle being biggger than any ocean because our tears are many for the human race yet small enough to be unseen and not felt. His love is shown by His holy collection of tears. A memory of our story. Precious enough to be His holy keepsake. Go read Psalm 56:8.

God sees every tear and hears every cry (Ps. 34:15).

God will wipe away every tear (Rev 21:4).

God will bless and comfort those who mourn (Matt. 5:4).

Sow in tears and you will shout with joy (Ps. 126:5)

He will turn mourning into dancing (Isaiah 61:3).

I guess praying for "tears" is quite a good word. Go ahead and let them flow! Male and female alike go ahead and cry. Remember, the gift of healing that each tear brings and that God is keeping a record in His book and storing them in His bottle. 

How precious are the tears of His children! Why, because He loves you!

How to have an evergreen marriage, Part 3

Summer is the best season of all. I realize that those in the spring season might disagree, but there is something so beautiful about having gone through the seasons and finally reaching summer together. History is how our stories are created. History is what shapes us and gives us depth of understanding. Our history of making it through a tough winter or hard fall season reveals to us our strength of enduring and standing strong regardless of what was brought before us. In the summer season of marriage, we have learned how to communicate reliably with our words and with our micro-expressions that no one else will understand. Summer is when we feel secure and satisfied in our partner celebrating both their good and bad. We can even laugh at each other’s quirks and find joy in knowing and being known. 

There is one thing I have realized that I must do if I want to remain in the summer season. We must continuously be aware of what the Song of Solomon refers to as “taking care of the little foxes” (2:15). Foxes are known to wreak havoc to a garden if not dealt with. The little foxes in marriage are bad attitudes, moments of disrespect with tone, not thinking the best of our spouse in a situation, or not daily finding ways to celebrate them as a person in the mundane. The more aware we are of the little foxes and take care of them, we will better guard the length of our summer. I would also like to suggest that taking care of the little foxes will also prolong your spring or shorten your fall and winter season. 

After thirty-four years of marriage, Greg and I have gone through the seasons both rapidly and slowly. It was the choice to choose love and service that pulled us through. Recently, as we were going about our day, I realized that our highs and lows have made us more one because it is our story. Our story has not been easy, but it is ours. Our daily choices to be respectful or just be with each other in the pain of circumstances have made us stronger. 

Early in our marriage we heard that most couples go through a major life crisis within their first ten years of marriage. We laughed hard when we heard this because God took us through seven years of intense trials in our first years of marriage. Four of them were downright painful. One of the struggles we faced included being told we couldn’t have children. This devastated me. Greg reminded me that God will give us children if He wants us to have children. He was right. God blessed us after five years of praying and waiting. I always worry about sharing this one because I have dear friends that have not moved to the blessing yet. In our seventh year of marriage when Mikayla was a toddler and we were pregnant with Grant we lost everything to a flood caused by Tropical Storm Francis. Overnight, we became homeless with one child, pregnant with a second child, two dogs, and a cat. We had to face the daunting task of rebuilding our home while trying to find some semblance of familial rhythm. I remember walking into church the Sunday after our lives drastically changed thinking, “No one here knows what we have been through or how our lives have flipped upside down!” As God would have it, on that Sunday I was expected to stand up at church and give a testimony. Somehow by God’s grace I did, and I did it without crying or telling them what had happened to us. When I walked off the stage Beth Moore came up to me and said, “Do not stop speaking! You speak with authority! God has His hand on you!” She has no idea how I held onto that word of encouragement through the years or how much it meant to me on that particular Sunday of grief. 

When Grant was barely a toddler, we discovered my mom had a rare form of non nodgkins lymphoma that only eight people in the US had survived past five years. I wailed! Greg had to figure out how to handle me and my mom processing this form of grief. Oh my! My mom is now well over 20 years in remission and lives with us as we minister to her as she faces a lung disease and the loss of her husband of 48 years. Literally, at the same time we faced my mom’s battle with cancer, Greg’s company, ENRON, collapsed and we lost all of our financial security and savings. We was relocated to Nebraska from Texas, so we lost all of our family, friends, and church connections. This caused Greg to go into circumstantial depression. I felt like we were being hit from every angle in our lives. Leaving my mom behind in Texas was excruciating. I didn’t like her facing cancer without us. Starting over in Nebraska was so hard. I wondered if we would ever know the depth of fellowship we had in Texas. 

These very things that hit us hard in our seasons of marriage are the very things that God has used to make us resilient like the evergreen tree. We committed to making choices to love, honor, and obey the LORD and one another through it all. It was not easy, but the fruit born from it matured us and made us grow stronger. As I reflect, I am in awe of all God did in us. We really needed to mature in Christ, and this was the path He allowed us to walk. I am so thankful now for those years because God has used them in so many ways to allow us to love and serve others. So, now when we face a new season, we know we can keep growing through it all. He is faithful and we see to be faithful ourselves! 

Summer is when you have passed through the seasons and found you are content to be together as you weather the seasons because you know you are better together as you go through them than if you were alone!

I am not longer using a Bible app in church

Sarah and I were talking about worship and our preferences for singing or not singing. I often prefer to listen because it is more worshipful for me. Then I said, "If a church were to provide tables and art supplies during worship I would be at the table drawing what God was speaking to me." I see images in my mind's eye when I worship. 

There is something about picking up the pen and simply drawing that causes my entire being to calm down and listen. My Bibles are always filled with notes and lots of drawings, etc.

I then thought, "So, why am I using my Bible app in my phone?" I love it when I read something in my Bible and I may not remember the book chapter or verse but I can flip and find it because a memory map remembers the space it was centered on the page. My minds eye remembers the image.

So, I bought a new Bible. I am going to stop using my phone app that robs me of the mental memory map and go back to drawing in my Bible during the worship service. 

I love a new Bible. It is like the new year. It brings anticipation and adventure. Growth. Revelation. Yes, I am filled with anticipation. 

So, if my head is down and my hands are doodling it isn't because I am not listening. It is because this is how I listen best. 

I am so excited!

How to have an evergreen marriage, Part 2

The season of winter in marriage is the season we do not want to enter because it is where the roots of bitterness start to take hold and we find ourselves dwelling on all the wrong things. We are no longer thinking well of our spouse and seeking their benefit. We find ourselves dwelling on unresolved conflicts, frustrations, or even poor story patterns that are hurting our relationship. It is critical in this season for us to seek help. This is where it is important to surround yourself with wise godly counsel with family, friends, church leaders, and even counselors when needed. It is also wise that if you have not already incorporated this in your life before you should start prayer journaling scripture over your marriage. 

I remember in one of our winter seasons when we were newlyweds, I started prayer journaling through Colossians 3 and 1 Corinthians 13 over my marriage. Our circumstances did not change, but my heart did! 

 We do not have to stay in winter for long if we work at being transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2) and dying to self (John 3:3). Early in our marriage, I remember a season after having two children when Greg was traveling a lot for work. I felt so distant and disconnected from him. One evening, I walked into the kitchen when he was doing the dishes. I was so messed up in my head that instead of being thankful for him helping in the kitchen I immediately snapped at him because I felt guilty that the dishes weren’t done. Because we had not connected emotionally or even physically for a while I was allowing a bad thought pattern to roll around in my head. I don’t even remember the poor story pattern was at the time. But, after snapping at him, I stomped off outside and sat on our porch swing and while forcing the swing in an aggressive sway I began to gripe and complain to God. I honestly do not know how I was able to hear the voice of God because my internal screaming was at an all-time high, but in His sweet and sovereign grace He allowed me to hear His voice and I heard, “Tara, you must die to self. You are only thinking about you and not Greg. Stop talking to me about Greg. I only deal with you when it comes to sin when I am talking to you. I will talk to Greg about his stuff.” And then God graciously revealed to me my sin in the situation. I was so convicted. It was at this moment that I realized that what I choose to allow in my thought life, words, and actions can cause us to go into a winter season. 

In many ways, entering winter is our own selfish actions that cause us to walk into that cold. God wants to work in us to do all we can to guard our heart, mind, soul, and spirit. When I am willing to let God do this work in me, I can become a protector of our marriage and not allow any bitter roots to take hold by giving grace, mercy, and forgiveness freely as I receive it. Doing this enabled us to move into summer much more gracefully. It is crazy amazing how fast this transition can happen!

I remember clearly one moment when Greg and I were in an argument and both of us were fighting to be right. I remembered that our pastor had once said that sometimes the best thing you can do is just allow the other person to be right even when you know you are right. So, I decided to do it. I simply said, “You are right. I am wrong. Will you forgive me?” I was so surprised when Greg paused and looked at me with a kinder look and said, “I am sorry. Will you forgive me?” We instantly hugged each other and peace was restored. It was so fast because both of our hearts were willing to humble ourselves before the other. I remember in that moment having the most incredible swell of love for Greg because I saw a spirit of humility rise in him. If I felt that for him, I hoped that he also felt the same for me. I believe his actions soon showed it!

How to have an evergreen marriage

When Greg and I walk through the park by our house, there is a blue spruce that was planted two years ago that we walk past. I love this blue spruce so much. The tips of its branches show its growth through a lighter green blue waxy color. It just captivates me. Recently, Pastor Phurba asked Greg and I to come lead a marriage conference for his church, New Life Bhutanese Nepali Church and as we walked by the tree as the sun was setting, I had the thought. “I love evergreens! They stay green all year long.” I think this is why I love them so much. I then had the thought, “What if we call the conference, How to have an evergreen marriage?” Just like evergreens, there are certain things we can do to help our marriages stay evergreen through the different seasons. 

I remembered that Dr. Gary Chapman taught a series on the four seasons of marriage. He wasn’t the first person I heard describe marriage in the four seasons, but it is the one I remembered. I will provide a basic summary of what I recall from his videos on YouTube and book. So, I decided to use his four seasons of marriage and the things I learned about evergreen trees and why they stay evergreen through the seasons to set up our conference.

Dr. Chapman starts his series of Seasons of Marriage with winter because he says that most couples show up in their winter season for counseling. But for our purposes, I want us to start with the season of spring because this is where most couples begin their relationship—SPRING! Oh, the season of spring is so glorious. You remember the wonder of it. It is filled with excitement and discovery as you begin to get to know each other. Your heart is open and full of optimism. Communication is so easy and flows without effort. Both of you delight in connectedness and communication. 

This season is often considered the honeymoon phase. It is so much fun to watch and yes, it is a little bit sickening to watch, too! Greg and I laugh all the time when we are with our daughter and son-in-love. They are young newlyweds and whenever we are together, they are so excited about their love that when we ask them a question, they will stare at each other as they answer and not even look at us. It is hilarious! Spring is simply glorious! I started here because I want couples to remember their story and the incredible glow of spring! 

The crazy cycle of marriage does not allow us to grow neatly through the seasons. They are not linear or orderly for that matter. We can be in the moment of spring and suddenly find ourselves in fall. Wait, what? How is it that spring moves so quickly to fall? What about summer? Well, with marriage it happens. It happens when we allow relationship drift to creep in. We stop communicating and we feel less connected. We might discover that we pursue things that fill our love tank, but not our spouses and suddenly we realize that we are both doing things, but they are not together. This is a critical time in our relationship because if we do not stop and find ways to connect, relate, and communicate deeper truths, we will find that our spouse can quickly become more like a stranger than our lover. We do not want to allow ourselves to drift too far into fall. If we do, we will find winter soon approaching with its cold isolation. 

The only reason I am able to write this out is because we as a couple know this reality so well. Early on in our marriage Greg would travel for training and I had to stay home with the kids. I really struggled in this season because I felt so alone and isolated in parenting. It was so hard for me to not be angry at Greg when he returned because I was envious of him traveling. The irony of it is that Greg didn’t like traveling. He was envious that I got to stay home and just be with the kids. We had to work hard to communicate and not fight during this season.

Peace as our Protector

Recently, I had this overwhelming anxiety that was robbing me of my peace. You know the kind you cannot define but you feel it in your chest and nothing seems right. I don't know if it was because of grief or because the schedule has been intensely full lately, but I felt the grip that wanted to rob me of peace. 

As I taught on prayer in Luke 11, God kept whispering to me ASK, SEEK, KNOCK. Do not stop! Walk by faith in me. So I found myself on repeat. ASK, SEEK, KNOCK. 

I then heard this short phrase, "Peace is your protector" on a prayer video. This sent me on a search. I spent a couple of days just looking up peace verses. 

Sometimes, I feel like peace is elusive like I know I am supposed to have it but at times I catch myself lacking it. But here is the deal. Peace is a gift. It has already been given to us. Peace is always with us if we are in Christ because He is the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6). He promised the disciples, "Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:12). 

Essentially, I am a peace walking person. By this I mean my heart, mind, soul, and spirit carry peace within them because I am His. 

So what am I to do when I realize that I am not walking in peace or giving peace as I walk about my day?

A few verses showed me that I have a part in being peace as a protector. 

I must choose to focus my heart and mind upon Jesus. We are promised that "He will keep in perfect peace those whose eyes are kept on Him" (Is. 26:3). Perfect peace is "Shalom, shalom" in Hebrew. I love the repetition because it feels like a double portion of peace. But it literally means that we remain steadfast and calm despite the storm or circumstances we are going through. Our focus and trust is on Him and Him alone. It is His work and not our own moving in and through it all. 

Peace.

This is when we experience and know the peace of God, which transcends all understanding as it guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7). Do you see the word guard? This is active, continous, on going like a soldier standing watch at the city gate, but in this case it is God being vigilant as our heart and mind guard. 

Peace.

A simple conversation will fly from my lips in these moments when I realize I am not a peace protector. "Hey, God! I know You are there! I am anxious. I don't know why. Help me to see Your perfect peace and know the mystery of its protection."

In practice, I am trying to live out Exodus 14:14, "The LORD will fight for you, and shall hold your peace." 

Say this next line nice and slow.

God, Almighty, will fight for you. 

Now repeat it again.

This literally means that He will devour, eat, prevail, war, do battle, and consume what is against you. Oh my!

Peace.

Now here is the grip or hold that we must take. Be still. Let go. Be quiet. Yes, silent. We do not have to fight it. The LORD will fight for us as we stay silent. 

I don't know about you, but I am a fighter. I have words. So many words. But, here I am reminded the battle is not mine. It is His. It is about letting go and letting God do His thing. I just need to surrender to the mystery and gift of peace as my protector. 

Peace guards our hearts and minds. It is our mental armor and heart guard.

We are promised that God will fight for us or atleast that is a promise He made to Israel as they fled Egypt and if God will do this for one group, He will do it for another. This type of fighting for you is considered all consuming. 

Our role is to just be silent. Be still. Or to say it another way, we are to cut and engrave Him in our heart and mind as our focus. Not all that other stuff we are thinking on. It is about trust that God has got you! 

Let go of that stinking thinking!

Open the gift of peace. It is quite simple: look to the Prince of Peace. Call upon Him to save you or speak into the situation. Then rest as you watch and are amazed at how His peace surprises you with a mystery that cannot be explained, and soon it will be experienced with certainty.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you" (2 Cor. 13:1).

Peace is our Protector!  

Shalom, Shalom! 

Human Praying Tree

My human praying tree! God gave me this drawing during a prayer retreat. I rendered the pencil sketch I made. 

Shameless Audacity: Lord, teach us to pray! (Luke 11:1)

"LORD, teach us to pray!" (Luke 11:1).

I remember the first time I read this verse and thought, "Well, if the LORD can teach them to pray. He can teach me, too."

I started boldly and confidently asking God in my young 20's to teach me how to pray. Honestly, I was a broken mess, but I wanted to honor God and do His will.

Today, as I study this passage about the disciples learning how to pray, I am caught by the phrase "shameless audacity in the NIV." 

When I look at the order of what Jesus said about prayer, I notice two things I must never forget.  Prayer starts with worship and a kingdom mindset. We must get this right!  

Worship Him! 

       Our Father, holy is Your Name.

Kingdom Mindset! 

       Your kingdom come, Your will be done.

THEN our bold confidence can be shameless and audacious because it first begins with the right mindset. 

Shameless audacity has been translated in so many ways...

Persistent

Impudence

Importunity

The Bible Stock Exchange suggests that this type of prayer is willing to disturb the peace. It ignores the cultural consideration and puts our friends and neighbors in the awkward situation of having to save face. 

The cool part is that with God, I can go without shame with this boldness because HE LOVES TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS and THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Again, here is the crux. This is not for us to get what we want. Prayer is a relationship that is full of worship and kingdom mindedness. Then it flows from a holy mindset.  We will discover that what we need to talk about will have the good and pleasing will of God. It will be full of forgiveness, repentance, and a righteous pursuit. This becomes the most important sustenance and nourishment for our daily bread.

Yes, LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY! Show us how to approach You with shameless audacity that is actively seeking You to receive and know Your good and perfect will. In Jesus' name, amen

Psalm 23: Simple sketches for story recall

As my friend read Psalm 23 in different translations for us to meditate on and draw near to God, I sketched quick sketches for the Psalm. 

Sketching or doodling is a memory tool for me. If I sit and draw I am more likely to recall what I am hearing. I think it is because it causes me to pause and be still. My mind focuses and I can hear. I can literally in my minds ear hear my friend reading Psalm 23 and see in my mind's eye where she was sitting and the light from the window.

What gives you this super power for recall? Is it music? Poetry? Dancing? Singing? Listening? Writing? Or something else like washing dishes or repairing a car? 

See if you can recall the Psalm as you look at my images.

How would you recreate Psalm 23 so you can remeber in your time of need?

This littke image makes me smile because I drew goodness and mercy (love) following me all the days of my life. 

A Royal Decree from the Soveriegn Lord to draw near to Him through prayer

I just created this prayer invite from the LORD using Chatgpt.

It is a personal invite for you and me to join Him in prayer. Please share it.

Seeking Shalom

Oh my goodness! I am so pleased. I loved this picture the moment I saw it. I saw a human Christmas tree that was praying. 

I was recently at a prayer retreat and God would not let me stop thinking about it. He has really convicted me this week that I have let too many things jump into my prayer time and become a distraction. Ugh. But this is good. It is always God when He convicts us so we can grow.

I haven't had time to paint recently. I miss the worship of the pause as I paint. I am so glad God gave me this today. 

I am so very happy with it! My heart is super joyful. I hope it inspires you to pray as well. My heart is that it will inspire you to pray peace for the nations. 

Seek shalom y'all!

A Royal Decree from the Soveriegn Lord to draw near to Him through prayer

I just created this prayer invite from the LORD using Chatgpt.

It is a personal invite for you and me to join Him in prayer. Please share it.

Evergreen

Good people

Righteous people

The godly

Flourish

Grow

Majestic 

Stable

Like palm trees

Cedars

Date palms

In

The LORD'S garden

Courtyard 

Presence

Under His personal care

Bearing fruit

Fresh

Green

Lithe 

Vital

Flourishing

Proclaiming He is...

Upright

My Rock

My mountain

My shelter

As living memorials

In trust

Love

Contempt

Amen

The gift of simple and peaceful living

This morning as I read about Tola and Jair in Judges 10, I asked them, "Why did you only get two or three sentences about you?" I wondered, "Was their lives so simple that they did not warrant further notes?"

Oh my! I just caught something so beautiful. During a time when people did what was right in their own eyes and evil in God's eyes, there were two judges that did such a good job in leading in peace that they didnt warrant to be noted other than a footnote between evil judges. 

There is something to be said about living your life simply in love and service without being noticed. Truly, these are the men and women that make life beautiful and make the opportunity for glorious things to happen.

I found it a bit odd that for Jair it was noted that he had 30 sons, who rode 30 donkeys, and they over saw 30 territories. Do you know how wealthy he was? I once read that to own a donkey back then was a sign of wealth like owning very expensive car today. His reign must have included providing well for the people in these territories because there was no drama. 

Imagine!

These two men provided 50 years of peace and they only get 5 lines as reminders to their gift of peace.

The Bible doesn't say it, but some rabbincal scholars imply that their reign is what enabled Boaz to enjoy such wealth and prosperity. This is debated so it cant be said as a certainty, but if this is the case, I had to giggle because the argument for Jair being why Boaz was prosperous sets the stage for him to be the wealthy landowner that marries Ruth. And we all know Jesus is born through their lineage. So simplicity and faithful living can bring about heavenly opportunities.

It made me think of my Greg. He is quiet, sincere, and doesn't really draw attention to himself. He remains faithful and works hard to make sure his family is faithful. He gives where he can and gives freedom to his family to go and serve. He only asks that we honor Jesus which means we are to be people of peace. Our lives are blessed because of his quiet and faithful service. 

Don't ya just love the gift of those that just do what they know what is right to do and don't invite drama into their story! 

Thank you, Tola, Jair, and Greg Rye!