What's God God In Store For Your Summer?

Remember that just because it is summer break, God is still up to some wonderful, clever things. I want to challenge each of you to seriously pray about how God is using you this summer. It’s almost like you have a short-term mission assignment, wherever you are. Y’all have each touched my life in a specific and special way; I truly believe that God intends to use each of you to touch someone else’s life this summer in a similar way. Where is the need that really tugs at your heart? Is there someone you see often who just needs some extra encouragement? Maybe you are working in a gloomy environment and God has injected your zany sense of humor at just the right time to brighten things up.

I think of my dear friend and mentor George. He was the Senior Pastor at the church I first worked at. During those two years we worked together he really took me under his wing, taught me how to have fun in the midst of the craziness of ministry, and kept encouraging me to find ways to connect with God so I wouldn’t get burned out. After those first two years he retired. He always said that when he retired he wanted to focus on doing the 30% of ministry (Bible Studies and teaching) he loved full-time instead of the 70% of church business, politics, and administration that he hated. He always said that retirement didn’t mean retiring from ministry; God still had special things for him to do. And boy did God use him in a special way. Perhaps the most significant ministry he ever gave happened in the last three years of his life, during his retirement. He was able to step into a bad situation at a church that was really hurting to provide stable leadership, loving compassion, and wise support as they healed. His legacy blows me away, and reminds me that we are never really off-duty when it come to the Lord.

That is not to say that you shouldn’t enjoy your break. This summer break is one of God’s gifts to you. He has already planned for your refreshment. In fact, you will be refreshed and renewed even as you serve Him in your new environment. It will be a joy to your soul.

I am so proud of each of you. I am so thankful for your presence in my life. Know that you are greatly loved by Jesus. I know because He has put His love for you in my heart.

Have a great week!

Sami

Love Revolution

Today several students and I handed out the care packages that everyone helped put together on Monday. Man, I love doing that stuff. It is such a blessing to help God bless others. We delivered popcorn to all the houses on our street down to the stop sign, and then we had lots left over! So we went to Cherry Hall to give away bags to pedestrians. I never knew how hard it could be to give away popcorn and kool-aid. I guess now I know what God feels like when He is trying to give away His heart. He just wants to bless us, and sometimes we say “No Thanks.”

But then I think about everyone who accepted our gift, and the look of surprise on their faces. Some asked us why we were doing this. They seemed really shocked when we simply told them God loved them and we really just wanted to provide them with a study break during finals. I pray that someone was blessed in a special way.

You know, that’s the thing about God. I think about the parable of the sower. If I were sowing seed, I would only throw it on good soil, so I would know my efforts weren’t wasted. But not God. Knowing there will only be a 25% success rate, He throws seed everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE: the road, the thorns, the rocks, places where that poor seed doesn’t even have a chance!

Yet there is always a deeper, more significant truth to God’s stories. God shares His blessings with us with reckless abandon. Every little opportunity to show us His love, He gives, whether we notice or not, whether we receive it or turn up our noses. He sends little love notes in every way possible. When I step outside on a spring day in Bowling Green, I feel it the most: sun gently warming my cheeks, soft wind mussing my hair, the sweet smell of flowers making everything nice.

What love notes has God given you lately? Are there some that you might have missed? I pray that in these next couple of weeks (especially next week during finals) God will give you the special grace to see every little way He is trying to love on you, and also that you will be blessed extravagantly because of it.

Our Lord loves you so much. I can’t say it enough. You are a masterpiece creation in His eyes. You are precious beyond your wildest imagination to Him. Somehow, when we realize the beautiful truth of who we are to Him, it changes everything.

Here’s to the revolution of God’s love.

Blessings,

Sami

Spiritual Virus Protection

God really got my attention today in my quiet time. I was spending time with Psalm 19:12-13: “But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.” What caught my eye was the note in verse 13 which indicates that “from the insolent” may be read “from proud thoughts.” So I went back and read it with the new phrasing. Check this out:

But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from proud thoughts; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

Amazing how two simple words change the meaning of the whole thing, huh? I think proud thoughts are the most hidden kind. We are least likely to think we are being obstinate at the times when we are being most obstinate. Being dominated by the need to always assert one’s rightness sure can get us into all kinds of messes. We can even turn our good living into something yucky when we start to get proud of ourselves, patting ourselves on the back for our own good behavior. I love the way David takes the time in this Psalm to ask God to do for him what he cannot do for himself, see where the hidden hang-ups are. It’s like initiating our own spiritual virus protection program. It’s a virus scan of the soul.

And the Holy Spirit is so much more thorough than Norton or McAffee or whatever thing you use for your computer system. While it can be painful to see what the light of the Lord uncovers, being made clean is as painless as quarantining and eliminating bugs from our computers. It is as simple as admitting to our Lord Jesus that the blemish His loving eyes have found in our character really does exist, and we need His help to get rid of it. And He does. We are forgiven, no questions asked, the moment we request His forgiveness to clean up our previously unseen sins and faults. We are made clean and beautiful once again. What is painful is when we never allow the loving eyes of Jesus to show us where the problems are. Then it is like those worms from the internet that can strike when we are most unprepared, wrecking our whole system.

I want to invite you to join me in making this prayer our own: Sweet Lord Jesus, show me where the hidden errors are; forgive me, cleanse me, and live in me more and more. Amen.

Hope you have a great rest of the week and a wonderful weekend. Y’all are such a blessing from the Lord.

Much love,

Sami

Remember Who You Are

In the crunch and rush it can be so easy to lose yourself. I often find this is true when I am driving. I will be rushing here and there, saying things under my breath when someone cuts me off that I shouldn’t. Sound familiar? By the time I am completely stressed out, I take a mental and spiritual look in the mirror. The person I want to be is often unrecognizable from the harried, crazy, very cranky woman staring back at me. (Of course, maybe that’s just pregnancy hormones.)

Does this experience sound familiar right about now? In the midst of the stress of deadlines and looming exams, I want to encourage you to remember you are more than just someone who produces academic output for someone else’s perusal. You are a child of God. And those sweet Heavenly Hands that formed you and gave you life want to embrace you even in this time of stress. Jesus wants to hold you so you can still hold onto the abundance of life He died to give you.

What am I saying? Don’t let this time of deadlines rob you of the who-ness of who you are. Meet your responsibilities, but remember to laugh. Remember to tell jokes. Remember to be a friend. Remember to spend a few moments with God everyday. Remember, you are not your grades. I am not saying stop studying and writing and working. But I am saying remember to say hi to your real self in the midst of the craziness. Do your best, and then offer that into God’s hands.

Sometimes I think of how I allowed my academic ambition to rob me of the joy of living. In the long run, nobody really has cared about anything I did in school (and it wasn’t all that long ago that I was there). Learn, by all means. But don’t forsake learning for the sake of performing. Know that God loves you no matter what your grades. God just loves you. Jesus is crazy about you. When He lives in your heart, the Holy Spirit abides with you. And if you do everything as if for Him, it all falls into place.

By the way, I love you right along with Jesus too. You are all great.

Blessings,

Sami

Little Green Stubs of New Life

Today I saw some baby leaves on a tree for the first time. This tree was in the beginning stages of its buds taking on the new life that spring brings. It always seems to me like a miracle when the bareness of winter is interrupted by the first signs of green. Even on a day that still feels cold, it reminds me of God’s persistence in doing a new thing.



Isn’t life just like that? Sometimes in the midst of the yuckiest, most uncomfortable stuff God is doing a new thing in us that we aren’t even aware of yet. Sometimes, God even requires that yucky, uncomfortable stuff as the raw materials for making the new thing. Kind of like trees. Just when we think they are dead, the palest green snippets of vegetation appear. We even have to rub our eyes to make sure we are seeing correctly. The good news is that winter never lasts forever. This is the good news of Jesus Christ. Those times in our lives that are difficult, distressful, arduous, confusing, defeating, discouraging DO NOT have the last word. Hope always perseveres in revealing itself in our concrete circumstances, even when things seem darkest. We may have given up. . . . on life, on ourselves, on our circumstances, on our hopes, on our dreams, on our future, resigning ourselves to just get used to business as usual. But God never gives up on being God. And when we least expect it, Jesus brings new life to the most desolate places.



So cheer up. You and I have a Savior that goes with us into every moment. In fact, He is already waiting for you in your tomorrows, just as much as He faithfully walks with you today. Oh, you are so precious to Him. So get out your magnifying glasses and look for the little green stubs of new life growing up around you and within you. The redemption of Easter’s promise is drawing near.



Blessings,



Sami

Loved and Prayed For

In light of the stress of this week, and the ending of the semester, I wanted to send some prayers your way so that you may be encouraged this week. Here’ goes:

Dear God,

You are so sweet, and so good. I come before You in the name of Jesus. I lift up to you each and every student who needs some extra help this week. Lord, You know intimately the stress each one is facing. You know how difficult it can be to juggle all of the class-work, the jobs, the relationships, and everything else that piles up. Lord, in the midst of the pressure, I pray that each person who reads this will experience Your grace and power revealed in his or her situation in a special way. I pray that You will grant added strength, wisdom, motivation, and help where it is most needed and least expected. I pray that somehow each one will experience Your special touch that lets them know You are with them, helping them to face whatever comes their way.

Lord, where the exhaustion seems to overwhelm, I pray that You would provide rest. I pray that You would calm nerves and give a correct perspective when worries threaten to rob them of peace. I pray that You would give them a sense of joy that pervades every aspect of their lives, not just this week, but everyday of their college experience, so that this special time in their lives will bless them, so that they won’t miss the blessing it holds. I pray that You will wrap each one in Your love, that Your Divine arms will carry them when they are too tired to walk. Keep them healthy, keep them safe, watch over them in every way.

And for all of the travel next week, I pray that this Spring Break will be everything they need it to be. Refresh their minds, hearts, bodies, and spirits. Help each one to rest. Fill each day with special joy and new discovery. And in the midst of it all, reveal Yourself to them in a way that draws them closer to Your heart. Help them to understand more clearly Who You are. Be with us each mile that we travel. Send Your Holy Spirit ahead to prepare the way. Keep everyone safe and protected under Your wings. It is in the sweet and precious name of Jesus that I pray. Amen.

So y’all take it easy, and know that you are loved and prayed for. I want to hear all about your wonderful Spring Break adventures. Let Jesus go with you wherever you spend your break.

Blessings,

Sami

Being Rest-Full

So, have you rested lately? I’m talking about more than zoning out in front of the TV or Video Games. Have you really rested?



Today I spent quiet time with the Lord, something I’ve neglected lately. Seems there was always something else that pushed God’s time out. It was just so good to be quiet, to open up a Psalm (notice I said “a” Psalm), and ponder what it means for God to be described the way David describes Him. Afterwards, I just sat in my (now peaceful because I rearranged it) office. I just was. I probably even fell asleep for a little while. I just rested.



Why is it that we think to be close to God we have to do a bunch of stuff? Like read a whole book of the Bible. Recite long prayers. Journal for pages on end. Today I didn’t do much except be quiet, and I feel closer to God’s presence than I have in a while. And very refreshed too.



Sometimes it’s hard to get quiet because we lack a good environment. Rearranging my office, creating more open space, and cleaning it up really helped it become a place where my spirit could rest. I realize dorm rooms and small apartment are not always the most conducive places to be quiet with the Lord. Now that the weather is nice, how about a refreshing walk outside? Sitting under a favorite tree? Relaxing on a quaint bench in a public park? Finding a favorite chair in the Library?



I know, sometimes finding a quiet, peaceful place takes a LOT of creativity! Have you ever considered coming and sitting in the Wesley Foundation chapel?



I want to challenge you to rest in the Lord, to simply be quiet in God’s presence, to not focus on what you want to say, but to allow God room to say something to you. And God may not even speak. God may just say, “Take a nap.”



Isaiah 30:15 says this:



For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved;

In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.



Isaiah wasn’t kidding, and neither was the Holy One of Israel. If you want to kick your life into super-gear, try resting in the Lord. Allow God to be God of the universe for awhile. Take a few moments off from being in control.



After my time of silence with the Lord, this is what I learned: The silence restores my trust in the Lord; it puts my worries to rest.



Hoping you have a rest-full afternoon.



Blessings,



Sami

It Really Works!

I hope your semester is going well. May seems to be approaching sooner and sooner. While that fact can cause a lot of stress, as people of faith we have a unique stress-buster that literally works miracles. I know that as Mid-Terms and Finals loom closer, many of you use access this de-stressor quite a bit. What am I talking about? Prayer, of course.

Early this afternoon I received a phone call from my Mom sharing about how God miraculously answered prayers for one of our family members. This is a situation that seemed hopeless, that has lasted for over a year, and that we have been praying about ceaselessly as a family for a long time. Just when things seemed most impossible, God came through. And in an instant, a terrible trial was over. Praise the Lord! This is something ONLY God could have done.

Just this morning I felt led to e-mail a prayer to this family that is so close to my heart, encouraging them to TRUST in the Lord, to TRUST that He has heard ALL of our prayers, and that in His mercy, no matter the outcome, He has answered in love. And then two hours later I get a phone call from my Mom confirming that God had moved in a mighty way.

Today, I want to encourage you to take inventory of your prayer life over the last few months. What have you been praying for regularly? Where has your heart been moved the most? Where is your spirit most involved and most actively petitioning God’s help? When days, months, and even years pass without seeing any “visible” answers to our prayers, it is easy to give up. But be encouraged. The One we are praying to stands alone. No one else is as loving, merciful, or WISE. Things that we may not understand He has a perfect grasp of. And He is working in ways that we cannot see. Know that every prayer you have prayed is a precious treasure in His sight. He honors and values each one, because God LOVES to hear from you. He may redirect it; He may postpone fulfilling it; He may even seem to reject the outcome you are laboring for. Yet in every case God is giving you His best. He is giving you His heart, His presence, His peace, if you let Him. Know that YOU are precious in His sight, and He hears and answers EVERY prayer you send up.

If you are struggling in prayer over a situation that hasn’t seemed to budge for a long time, know that you are not alone. My heart goes out to you. There are some prayers in my own life that I continue to hope for, even though years have passed since I began praying them. Let us labor together. Let us continue to encourage one another. Let us continue to hope, not so much in the prayers themselves, but in the One that we are praying to. God’s answers may tarry, but in the end there will be no doubt that God hand has been powerfully at work.

In the meantime, I am doing an anticipatory happy dance. God is so good; I’m going to thank Him ahead of time.

Blessings and love,

Sami

The Gift of Boredom

Dear Friends,



Hope everyone everyone survived last night’s blizzard. I woke up this morning pretty amazed. Isn’t that just like life? In the matter of moments the landscape of our lives can change drastically. If you’re like me though, it’s hard to imagine that kind of upheaval when the monotony of ordinariness keeps repeating itself everyday. Sometimes it’s even easy to get lost in the monotony, to lose one’s bearings, one’s sense of direction, ones’ sense of self, even one’s sense of God’s presence. Jeanie Miley describes this experience in her book Creative Silence:



Where are you, God?—My struggle didn’t end just because I wanted it over with in short order. It seemed to me that God had left me and I could not find Him. As I walked about, carrying on the daily responsibilities, but searching for guidance and battling my self-will run riot, I carried on the inner dialogue with this God who seemed to be hiding.

The questioning for me usually falls along the same lines, and at the core of the question is the issue of whether or not I am going to let God run the world. I question the direction I am to take. I wonder if He is going to take care of things and provide. I wrestle with Him as I work through relationships and conflicts, and yet in the struggle, I find Him and new depths of His love.



Underneath it all, the quiet abiding presence of our Lord is always with us . . . regardless of how we feel. One of the things my father told me as I was trying to figure out my future during college was that, “If we are absolutely committed to seeking God’s will, then God is absolutely committed to revealing it. God may not reveal it ahead of time, but God will always reveal it just in time.” In some ways those endlessly stagnant seasons in our lives are moments of testing and strengthening, when we discover how deep our faith really goes. It is as if our circumstances reveal how willing we really are to follow Christ, not just through the good times, not just through the exciting times, not even just through the difficult times. It leaves us with the question: Do I love Him enough to follow Him, even through the boring times?



As time has passed in my own life, I have learned a vital truth that serves to strengthen my own resolve in dry seasons. It is this: the boring times are really not boring at all. They are seasons of great growth and action, but all of it is unseen to the human eye. From God’s perspective, we are being seeded with the newness of His plans and purposes for us. It is like the trees in winter. The look dead above ground, but below the surface their roots are growing more than at any other time of the year. The same is true for us. In the monotony, in the boredom, in the middle of those days where nothing seems to be happening, we are being transformed in ways we could never imagine. The promises of God are being planted in us, fertilized and nurtured, so that at an appropriate Spring-like day of the soul they will burst forth with reckless and beautiful abandon. But it never happens without the waiting.



Keep the faith. You are all precious. God is doing awesome things in you.



Blessings,



Sami

Persistence in Prayer

For those of you who haven’t heard the news yet. . . .



Tim and I are having a baby!



This is truly an answered prayer.



So far no morning sickness. I just eat A LOT. And sleep quite a bit too.





Maybe there’s something in your life that you have been praying for for a long time. You might have been praying for weeks, months, or even years. What I have learned most in the past month is how important it is to not give up. God’s timing is perfect. There are so many good things that come from persistence in prayer.



It keeps us in relationship with God. This is the most important thing in our lives. If we are not in relationship with God, nothing else really goes well.
It clarifies our true needs and heartfelt desires. If you can pray just as fervently (or even more fervently) for something after time has passed, then it is a good indication that it comes from your heart. Particularly if you ask the Lord to change your heart if necessary along the way and the request still persists in spite of the transformation God begins in you.
It keeps us humble. Persisting in prayer reminds us that we cannot manipulate our circumstances, life, or even God. It truly helps us to know that it is God from whom all blessings flow.
It strengthens our faith. When we persist in praying, even when it looks like God is not answering, it gives us practice in walking by faith (that God hears, cares and answers no matter how we feel) and not by sight (the tangible results that we can see and feel).


I know the heartache that comes when a situation seems hopeless. Just know that you are not alone. There are other people who share your pain. However, there is also a God that walks beside you and knows your heart better than you do. And in your darkest moments it is God who most understands and is most able to quench the heartache. It is always safe to relinquish your heart to God’s hands.



I am so proud of each of you. Keep on keeping on. I know that you can do all things you need to do and are called to do, as you walk with Jesus.



Blessings,



Sami