Thursday, November 19, 2015

Aslan, the Great Bridge Builder


As I sat in the parking lot waiting for my hubby to meet me for his lunch break, I finished up reading a really great book.  I took a minute to enjoy the "I'm so satisfied right now/my heart is happy/let's reflect on how good life is" feeling after you finish a fantastic piece of literature.  After a bit, I picked up my phone to share some excerpts with the Facebook world because, let's face it, everyone needs to know about The Chronicles of Narnia. If you haven't heard of Lucy and her brave and adventurous spirit; Reepicheep the honorable, dueling, talking mouse; or (more importantly) Aslan, the most majestic, glorious, awe-inspiring Lion, Son of the Emperor beyond the sea...you are missing out!

Last week I finished up Harry Potter book 7 and it was an enjoyable read for fun and entertainment. There was good and evil, valiant fights and brave sacrifices, loyalty and friendship. It was a good read, but C.S. Lewis uses such imagery and draws such deep comparisons to the joy of living with Christ and the hope of Heaven that I get pumped up and have to tell people about Narnia.

The Dawn Treader is a story about the journey of King Caspian (accompanied by Lucy, Edmond and cousin Eustace) sailing to the Eastern Sea to seek answers concerning seven Narnian lords that disappeared years ago. At each new island they each they find different challenges. Sometimes there are friends, oftentimes there are dangers lurking nearby. Though Aslan does not travel with them physically, he shows up when they face fear, temptation and trials. One of my most favorite scenes happens when they are at the Dark Island.  They are lost and surrounded by darkness in a place that makes your nightmares truly come to life. When the crew is panicking and at their wit's end, Lucy remembers Aslan.

Lucy leant her head on the edge of the fighting-top and whispered, "Aslan, Aslan, if ever you loved us at all, send us help now." The darkness did not grow any less, but she began to feel a little--a very, very little--better....

"Look!" cried Rynelf's voice hoarsely from the bows. There was a tiny speck of light ahead, and while they watched a broad beam of light fell from it upon the ship. It did not alter the surrounding darkness, but the whole ship was lit up as if by searchlight...

Lucy looked along the beam and presently saw something in it. At first it looked like a cross, then it looked like an aeroplane...at last with a whirring of wings it was right overhead and was an albatross.  It circled three times round the mast and then perched on the crest of the gilded dragon at the prow.  It called out in a strong sweet voice what seemed to be words though no one understood them....Drinian steered after it not doubting that it offered good guidance. But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, "Courage, dear heart," and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan's, and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face. 

In a few moments the darkness turned into a grayness ahead, and then, almost before they dared to begin hoping, they had shot out into the sunlight and were in the warm, blue world again.

I talked about Aslan so much that my friend, Klamesha, drew an incredible piece of art for me a few years ago!  I love the relationship between Lucy and Aslan; she trusts Him, follows Him, respects Him and is genuinely joyful in His presence. She's open as she talks to Him, as she asks for help, advice, and courage. Lucy seeks to be with Aslan always.  That's why, when we near the end of the book and Lucy and the others have to head back to England, there's this heartfelt exchange between them:

"There is way into my country from all the worlds," said the Lamb; but as he spoke his snowy white flushed into tawny gold and his size changed and he was Aslan himself, towering above them and scattering light from his mane.
"Oh, Aslan," said Lucy. "Will you tell us how to get into your country from our world?"
"I shall be telling you all the time," said Aslan. "But I will not tell you how long or short the way will be; only that it lies across a river. But do not fear that, for I am the great Bridge Builder.  And now come; I will open the door in the sky and send you to your own land."....
"It isn't Narnia, you know," sobbed Lucy, "It's you.  We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?"
"But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.
"Are--are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund? 
"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name.  You must learn to know me by that name.  This is the very reason you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."

Jesus was there from before the foundation of the world. He has created us for fellowship with Himself, even though we stubbornly rejected and refused Him as we chose our own path and sought our own glory. Praise to God the Father who loved us immensely and sent His only Son to take the punishment that we brought upon ourselves.  He bore our sin, shame and guilt so that we might be enabled to come into His family as righteous sons and daughters.

I'm so glad I've met the great Bridge Builder. I know that when its time to cross the river, he will be by my side. Aslan is a fantastic character in a wonderful children's story. Jesus Christ is a very real Person who lives today and eternally.  As Lucy said, it's not about Narnia (heaven), it's about Him. If you don't know Christ, you don't have life. John 17:3 says, "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

This isn't a preachy plea to give Jesus a spare moment of your time, rather it's a testimony that I've truly considered life and purpose and both of those come up short without Christ. It took a children's story to remind my heart how much I love and need Jesus. It's not about religion or duty; it's about relationship. When we know the one True Love, we are able to truly love ourselves as His creation and others as well.

And since this post is already too long, if you're still reading you must like it so I'll leave you with a quote from the most valiant, determined warrior of a mouse who ever lived in Narnia on his quest to see Aslan's country for himself.  As you can see, he was positively obsessed with adventure. I hope to have his passion and perseverance as I strive to follow after Jesus.

"My own plans are made. While I can, I sail east in the Dawn Treader.  When she fails me, I paddle east in my coracle.  When she sinks, I shall swim east with my four paws. And when I can swim no longer, if I have not reached Aslan's country, or shot over the edge of the world in some vast cataract, I shall sink with my nose to the sunrise and Peepiceek will be head of the talking mice in Narnia."

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

"I Want You To Be My Wife"

We shared a side order of okra during lunch at Tupelo Honey, a restaurant that has now become one of my favorites.  We toured the Biltmore house that afternoon with all its richly decorated rooms, Downton Abbey special exhibits and magnificent tulip gardens covering the grounds.  We saw people everywhere at every turn, from the teenagers working the photo stand to a bridal party arriving in front of the Biltmore Estate that day.  Though I was thankful for the thoughtful birthday gift of tickets to tour the house and gardens, I was also glad when Jeremy suggested cruising the Parkway and catching the sunset before a late dinner.


After getting lost in downtown Asheville thanks to my poor navigational skills, we ended up on some back roads and eventually made it to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  It was an absolutely beautiful day.  Perfect weather.  High 60s, gentle breeze, and sunshine everywhere you looked.  We found a trail along the way with a short hike and a gorgeous view – mountains, trees, a lake and golf course down below.  The sun was slowly beginning to set and there was absolutely no one else around but us.

We walked around a bit, took a few pictures, admired the view and stood side by side, arms around each other’s waists, on the edge of the mountain.  As we looked out at the beauty of the sunset, Jeremy started, “You’re so thoughtful.  You’re so kind.  You’re godly.”  He has told me these things before.  Qualities he sees in me, attributes he appreciates.  With words of affirmation as my top love language, I always receive these words with gratefulness in my heart.  He continued, “You’re beautiful.”  I haven’t always felt beautiful, sometimes very far from it, but when he says it I believe him.  “You are my best friend.  And I want you to be my wife.”  Such a smooth transition that I looked over in surprise.  We had been gazing out at God’s great earth, and now he just said “wife!”  Now he’s on his knee smiling up at me with one of the most gorgeous, sparkly, stunning rings I’ve ever laid eyes on.  (Later I asked him if he had in fact asked, “Will you marry me?” because I was so distracted by his suave transition that I zoned out for a second.  He smiled, “I did.  And you said, ‘Yes’.”)


Even though I thought my ring size was a 7, he had a ring slightly smaller than that and it fit on my finger perfectly.  We stood there for a bit with silly grins on our faces, marveling at what just happened, then Jeremy gently reminded me, “Well, we said we were gonna kiss when we got engaged…” (More smiles and a shared kiss or two).  We sat down to watch the sun continue to set, it’s almost gone now.  As if the day hadn’t been perfect enough, Jeremy comes through again, “I want to get this thing started off right.  I want us to pray together.”  Up until this point, I think I was a little teary-eyed (or perhaps the combination of bling and sunshine was too much for my eyes), but this is when the mascara was washed off and the tissues came out.  My new fiancé led us in the sweetest, most genuine prayer I have ever heard.  He didn’t start out by thanking God for his beautiful wife-to-be, but rather he thanked the Father for who He was.  He gave glory to Jesus as our Lord and Savior and first gave Him the honor and praise.  After that he prayed for our relationship, thanking God for this crazy love story that we are living.

If you had asked me months or even years ago what kind of engagement story I was hoping for or what ring I had my heart set on, I wouldn’t have had an answer.  I’m grateful that Jeremy did an amazing job planning a thoughtful proposal and selecting a special ring, but what my heart desired most was a man that would pray with me and for me.  I didn’t have to ask him to pray.  He had the same desire because we both have the Holy Spirit living in us and guiding us toward lives that seek to honor God.


 After we finished praying, and I finished crying off all my makeup, a man and his daughter showed up with their cameras ready for the sunset.  We asked him to take our picture as we told him we were newly engaged.  He was willing and excited to be a part of our moment.  Jeremy even went along with my request to get back down on his knee so I could have a picture to remember the day!  He’s so good to me!

The ride home was full of Dave Barnes songs, texting pictures to friends, calling family and holding the hand of my fiancé.  It was pretty fantastic.  Also, since I had been waiting for a bathroom since we left the Biltmore, it was a fast drive to find civilization.  Once again the Lord smiled upon us as we found a Krispy Kreme, complete with clean bathrooms and a lit up “Hot Now” sign.  Isn’t it great how He cares about every detail of our lives, from boyfriends (or fiancés!) to bathrooms? 

I don’t think I can finish a post about our engagement on that note, so I’ll say this.  The Lord is good.  He is faithful.  He cares for His children and takes care of His own.  He wants our best for us more than we want it for ourselves.  When I look back over my relationship with Jeremy, I see God’s fingerprints all over it.  I share this story so that God may be glorified for all He has done.  He is worthy of our praise.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:17


Monday, March 9, 2015

Birthdays, memories and everyday life. Or, "25" has been good to me.

            I’ve always heard that birthdays come more quickly as you get older.  It seems like only a little while ago that I was turning 25, enjoying my birthday with deep-dish pizza and a day at the trampoline park surrounded by friends in Wheaton.  As I think through the past year of my life, I can say that “25” was good to me.  

The Wheaton crew that was brave enough to take on the trampolines with me!
            Last March I was finishing up grad school and training for a marathon.  It was stressful at times, as the schedule filled with endless papers, long miles and sweet times of fellowship and social outings, but it was also a time that I felt strong.  My beginning at Wheaton looked very much different than my end.  I started out timid, feeling like an imposter to be at such a prestigious school with people who were much more qualified and intelligent than me.  It wasn’t that I became a genius or developed some new research to change the world while I was there, but I encountered and depended on the Lord in a new way and finally began to see who I was in Christ.
Friends, fellow runners and a sweet support group.


Goal: Run a marathon.  Check.
Wheaton grads
            By the end of my time at Wheaton (both in the school and community), I had grown into a more mature student, runner, hostess and person in general.  I began to realize my gifts of hospitality and encouragement were some that could be used to further the Kingdom and glorify God.  Previously, I downplayed those gifts and made excuses when people complimented my efforts in these areas.  Sure, I can make people laugh and write nice cards and make a mean banana nut muffin, but what good is that in the grand scheme of things?  How “productive” is it to have a dance party or a spontaneous lunch outing with a friend?  I was unable to see how God was using what I assumed to be a quirky and silly personality to bring him glory.
            When I moved home last summer I took time to relax, read some good books and visit several friends that I hadn’t seen in a while.  Then fall followed summer and the lack of schedule (in my mind, lack of purpose) was driving me crazy.  I started to look for opportunities to serve my church as I was waiting on plans with the International Mission Board.  The Good News Club came up at a local elementary school each Thursday, so I got on board even though I was “voluntold” (kindly forced) to lead music and hang out with hyped up 10-year-olds after school.  I really do love it, even if I complain that I cannot sing kiddie songs.  I also made an effort to reconnect and encourage some of the girls that were in my discipleship group as high-school students.  They are all beautiful young women walking college campuses all around North Carolina now.  To be able to meet with them and bring a little encouragement, along with some baked goods and a note from home was a huge blessing.  I like to think they enjoyed it, as I know I did!  
One cool college kid.

Lovely lady at Meredith College

         
Great girl at UNCG
      I had hoped to spend a few months in Peru with the Heath family last fall, but those plans changed as well.  In fact, since I was in town during October, I was able to go attend a play based on C.S. Lewis’s “The Great Divorce” with a fellow Lewis fan and friend.  A few weeks later, there was an outing on the Blue Ridge Parkway with this same friend and then in mid-November I received the most unexpected surprise in the mail.  Jeremy had written me a remarkable letter unlike any I had ever received.  Yes, I said LETTER.  Like snail mail.  Handwritten.  Delivered by the postman.  Those facts alone made it fantastic and sweet, but he was very bold and clear in his intentions, asking if I was willing to pray through the possibility of pursuing ministry in the States and beginning a dating relationship, as opposed to joining the IMB overseas.  (Our whole story is a bit crazy, sweet, weird, funny, confusing, and definitely of God!  But that’s for another blog.)  During this entire process I was walking through decisions about missions, relationships and serving my home church.  The journey had already begun for me to come on staff at church as the “Connections Minister” to bring hospitality and intentionality in the areas of building community and fellowship among believers here.
Beautiful mountains in the fall!
Waterfall along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Known to some as the BLP :)
Thanksgiving came and went, then Christmas too and I had just spent the holidays with family, friends and a new boyfriend.  January brought the opportunity for fellowship with old and new friends.  Klamesha came down to visit from her new home in Boston and we were able to explore most of NC from the Biltmore to seeing Wicked in Durham.  It was such a blessing to laugh, talk, pray and fellowship with her!  There were also times when I was able to go to lunch with different ladies from church.  The conversations and laughter that we shared was good for the soul.  That’s what Christian community looks like – walking through daily life together and sharing stories along the way.

First date with the handsome fella.
Biltmore house with Klamesha :)
About to visit the Emerald City.
            February was a time for me to plan and facilitate “Cottage Prayer Meetings” leading up to our church’s Spring Revival.  Each Tuesday and Thursday we met at church or in someone’s home to come together and pray for our church, our community and ourselves.  I was amazed and thankful at how the Lord brought together people of different ages and stages of life to come and pray.  It was wonderful to see His Church coming alive again.  During this time, our church staff was also approached by a local middle school to pray and intercede on their behalf.  What happens at church on Sunday morning should always overflow into the community.
            Now it’s March.  Since I am a glutton for punishment, I’ve committed to run another half-marathon this weekend.  Seems like tradition now!  I want to remember the training and miles from Wheaton last year, the confidence I gain at setting a goal and accomplishing it, and the sweet reality that much like this race, the course of life is before each of us.  We may get blisters and cramps along the way, have to take some walk breaks or reach for a cup of Gatorade to refresh us, but we run with a goal in mind – to see God and enjoy His presence forever, while giving Him glory along the way.  Thankfully, His Holy Spirit power is living inside of me, given by Christ Jesus and through His sacrificial death on the cross.  I don’t run (or live) on my own strength.  This year of 25 was such a lovely roller-coaster of life experiences.  I am expectant and immensely excited for 26.


Monday, February 16, 2015

Missions, Ministry, and the Importance of Serving Jesus Where You Are Right Now.


Recently, a friend asked me to write a bit and share about how serving the Lord in international mission work had led me to seek to serve locally.  How has following God overseas encouraged me to follow him in my hometown?  Since my focus and plans have been shifting over the past few months from overseas mission work to ministry here in the United States, it was a welcome chance to reflect and see the journey that the Lord has been walking with me.  Here is what I shared with her:

      It was January of ’06 when I knew that God had placed a call to ministry on my life.  I may have only been a high school student at the time with no knowledge of what a career in missions would look like, but I resolved to be obedient to the Lord.  Almost a decade later I am still discerning the call and walking in the Spirit daily to the best of my ability.  In the years between high school and present day, I have explored many avenues of missions and ministry, both locally and abroad.
         My undergraduate and graduate degrees focused on studying the Word, learning about missions strategies and developing intercultural communication skills.  I took weeklong trips to Guatemala and Germany during college, then after graduation I headed out on an 11-month journey touching base in 11 countries.  When I came home I spent 6 months serving the youth group at my home church, then took off again for more studies in Illinois and a summer stint in Peru. 
            International travel and missionary work have been woven into the most recent years of my life in significant ways.  As I reflect on the work that my teammates and I did internationally, I realize that those experiences have helped me to better understand and recognize the beauty of God and His purposes for His people, as well as equipped me to serve my home community and church more effectively.  In Kenya we prayed for the sick, preached the Word, visited the lonely, invited neighbors to church, shared the gospel, laughed with children, danced with worshippers, and followed Jesus wherever he led us.  Today, as I live in the little town of Statesville, North Carolina, I still gather with fellow believers to pray for the sick.  Each Sunday we come together to hear the Word preached.  I enjoy visiting and spending time with new friends and inviting my neighbors to church.  There are still opportunities to share the gospel and laugh with children each week in Good News Club at the local elementary school.  As far as dancing goes…well, I attend a Southern Baptist church, but I do occasionally attempt a nice sway/rocking motion with a lifted hand or two (And you better believe I have some good dancing worship in my car when I’m riding solo!) 
            There were several countries where I had the opportunity to meet with some amazing women, both young and old, and remind them of their value and beauty in the sight of God (the only One whose opinion truly matters).  At home, I have the same opportunities to encourage ladies and show them that their true worth and identity comes from Christ.
            Traveling internationally is always an adventure.  There are new sights, smells, sounds and surprises around every corner.  People may not look like you, speak the same language or have the same customs and cultures.  Everything from food preparation to the method of doing laundry could be completely foreign to the mindset you’ve always known.  Church services may vary in length and style; worship and prayer may be expressed in new ways.  Still, one thing remains the same – God’s glory and his love for his people.
            Spending time abroad has enriched my view of God by opening my eyes to the beauty and diversity among the nations and cultures, along with the unity found in the Christian Church as a whole.  I have followed Jesus down the dirt roads of Rwanda and it has given me confidence to follow Him down the paved roads of neighborhoods in my hometown.  The Spirit encouraged me to sing and dance in worship with international believers and now I look forward to praying and worshipping with my fellow church members here at home.
            Until very recently, I viewed my call as a missionary as a very rigid course that would most likely result in living overseas long-term.  As I treasure my past international experiences and plan to continue to learn about culture and communication, I find that I am no longer choosing to define myself as a “missionary,” but rather how the Father sees me as “beloved daughter of God.”  If the Lord leads me to the other side of the world or to a small town in the States, I want to be faithful to serve Him.  People are people, regardless of where they live, their age, color or social status.  And all people have a great need for Jesus.  If we know Him it is our mission to introduce Him to everyone we meet, no matter our geographic location.