Leave and Receive

Mark 10:28-30 English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁸ Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” ²⁹ Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

This is what this scripture means.  This is family.  These are brothers, and sisters and sons and daughters.

 

 It is a sacrifice, to go and leave your family, spend your money, spend your time to GO and support and love on others for the sake of the gospel.  Yes, these guys make it look like a vacation because it is exactly like this Scripture says…they have left, even for a few days this time, and they have received a hundredfold already! 

Tucker may be in his own country in this picture, but he has left his house,  his room, his bed (literally), his time and his family for the sake of the gospel and to receive these brothers.  The guesthouse is full, and his house is full of people, brothers and sisters and sons, and daughters that have left their families and houses to come and serve, and Tucker is showing them amazing hospitiality. Charlie has no idea where Tucker and Irene are even sleeping tonight.

Charlie may be missing some time he could be spending with his kids here and seeing Lashae in the last days of her twin pregnancy, but he also gets to GO and see  his Ugandan cousin Gertrude and congratulate her in person, on her coming twins. 

 (we think Gertrude is the Ugandan version of his cousin Kari ).

It's probably not the "cultural" thing to do, to rub a baby belly but it's Charlie we are talking about, and that is why I love him so much!  He had instructions to rub those twin babies for me and he happily did just that!

This is the hundredfold in this age that this scripture is talking about.  So now Charlie gets to see and celebrate the things God is doing in Uganda with his family there and come home and celebrate the things God is doing here. 

The part in this scripture that we all cringe at and shy away from is the part that says

“with persecutions,”  we want to believe if we follow Jesus he gives us health and wealth and a golden brick road to heaven.  Ask any of these people in these photos or anyone who has ever left anything,  for 5 minutes or 5 years, for the sake of the gospel, if they have ever experienced persecution.  

The answer would be a loud and resounding YES!  It may not be a physical beating or public confrontation like I often picture in the word persecution, but there has been persecution with each and every step to leave and GO and do anything for the sake of the gospel for everyone who has done it. 

per·se·cu·tion

1 hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs. 

The thing about it, is God has made it so beautiful and has given a hundredfold, the houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and land over saying YES to Him that it often times doesn’t even look like a sacrifice, and isn’t that the irony in following Jesus….when you say yes to Jesus you give up our life and our agenda for His; He is the biggest most beautiful treasure we could ever imagine and He has great plans and places and people for our lives. We are missing out if we think being a Christian is to just put our heads down and say a prayer and go to church and hang on until Jesus comes back.  He is here and He is now on earth as it is in heaven, and we get to experience so much of what He has for us here and now as well as in heaven someday.

I have given up some serious potential date nights with my man lately because we live apart and he is currently in Uganda instead of here, dating me, and God has given me date after date after date with my kids and it has been the best and most dating I have ever done. 

I am not for a minute suggesting that everyone leave their family and go live in Uganda, and God will give them cool friends and big houses.  I’m suggesting we give up our lives, open our hands and hearts and say yes to following Jesus and see how good He is and worth it He is.

 I’m not promoting people or ministries, I’m bragging on God and the truth of His word. 

 I’m a mom that has no real training in reading and interpreting scripture, but I have some years and miles in following Jesus, and when I wake up some mornings (like today) feeling a bit confused about why am I here and what are we doing again, and I wake up and see these pictures on my phone  and read this Scripture, I get it again, and I’m thankful,

 and I pray we leave more, say yes louder, and move faster!

 

Send us to serve and send us to celebrate,  just send us in Lord!

Immigration Heart Challenge

This post is for Christians only.  If you are not a follower of Jesus, carry on, you have every right to your opinion, your life, and your stuff.

As Christians we have been called to something different.

Before we are so arrogant to think we have more rights than other people because we were born into a country of great privilege we need to take a good hard look at the example of our Savior.  He gave up His seat in heaven at the right hand of the Father to come and take our place here on earth. 

Unless we are willing to follow Jesus, and do what He did then at the very least we should treat  people not born into this country of privilege, with love, compassion, and respect.  I don’t know the solution to the immigration laws, but I do know that when Jesus asked the rich young ruler to do what He did, and give up all he had and give it to the poor, he went away sad.

Maybe we ought to examine our hearts and realize how unwilling we are to do what Jesus did, or even what he told the rich young ruler to do. 

Before we judge “illegal people” so harshly, maybe we should look at our own hearts (myself included) and realize that we are unwilling to trade places with them. We somehow feel entitled to what we were born into, instead of grateful.  What if that were the answer, what if God asked us to do that (I’m not saying He is) I’m just throwing it out there; He asked His son to trade places with us… and we like that trade agreement, what if He asked every Christian in America to give up their home, their life, their stuff and give it to an immigrant for 3 years or 3 days. We would most likely walk away sad.  I watch Christians, (myself included) not even willing to give up a bedroom in their home to a child in need, and yet I watch our good friends that are “illegal” foster more children in this country than anybody I have ever known.  Maybe that’s the answer…get to know an illegal immigrant and their family.  Listen to their story.  It changes how you see the problem; you begin to see people instead of problems.

When I think of the people coming here on these terms, I lay down my pride and arrogance and entitlement and begin to pray and ask the Lord to help us all to love people the way Jesus did. 

When I see Christians talking about how “illegal” it is for these people to be coming here in the first place, I thank my God that Jesus was willing to do the “illegal” thing of the day and heal people and help people even though it was against the “law” many times.

I’m not endorsing illegal acts; I’m just simply challenging us all to examine our own hearts and see how close we are following our leader, our King. Jesus is all about loving people and helping people and getting to the heart of the issues, not just the law.  We seem to keep trusting in government walls to solve problems, and that is never meant to be the ultimate answer for Christians.    

I don’t know the answers for our government, but I do have the answers for our hearts.

Jesus is the answer.  He is the one that showed us and told us what is important and I know every person that has a new heart and the power of the Holy Spirit in them can change the world faster and more effectively than all the new laws and new walls than we can ever come up with.

One last thought:  Joseph took Jesus and Mary, his family, and fled his country in the night.

I’m so glad he did what he had to do, to protect his family, even if the government of the day did not agree with it.

For Father’s Day I asked all the kids to give me 3 words that describe Charlie.
Here are their answers:

Cellie Joy: provider, protector, comforter
*she didn't give me words...the picture says it all* 

Maezie: helpful, strong, nice

Reece: loving, high achiever, discipliner

Mik:  good looking, fun, a little angry sometimes

Luke:  wise, strong, hard-worker

Esther:  hard working, loving with no questions, forgiving

Charsie:  hard working, funny, God-seeking

Kole: My best man.
 (Kole didn't give me words, but he had his dad give his best man speech at his wedding...so I filled in the blanks.)

Lashae:  dedicated, loyal, prayerful

Claiborne:  wise, strong, caring

Andule Simon:  hard-working, caring, God fearing

Patrick:  mentor, provider, overseer

I also asked each of the kids to tell me 3 of their favorite things about their dad.

Here are their answers:

Lashae:  He is such an encourager to all.

And I love the way he loves whoever God puts in front of him.  He can make the loneliest of people feel seen and heard and cared for.

Charsie:  The way he is a friend to all and his willingness to let anyone in his home. 

His excitement about people, and different cultures.

The way he chases Jesus with all His might.

Claiborne:  I always loved listening to Chuck’s stories.  I always saw him as a man amongst men.  And when he’s talking, you can bet that everyone is listening.  He has a remarkable presence.  I always saw Chuck as a wise person.  Whether it was through his craft, him speaking on his life experiences, or preaching the gospel I could always tell that he had a lot to say and that it’s something you don’t want to miss.  Chuck was always loving.  I remember one day, we were working on the church and we had to call it early.  So we had to pack everything before the storm came.  Well, I guess I wasn’t moving fast enough because Chuck got upset.  But then he pulled me to the side and had a conversation with me about how to give everything my best effort.  It was something I’ll never forget.  I could tell that he cared about me when he shared with me something that he takes to heart.  It was great!

Esther:  His energy, His arms, His unconditional love for us.

Luke:  He leads by example, hard worker, he puts his faith first.

Mik:  He sees the best in everything no matter how hard it is.  He knows something about everything.  He can joke around and have fun.

Reece:  Took me to work, coached my baseball team, he is my super hero.

Andule Simon:  He is devoted, courageeous, and encouraging.
Patrick Brewer:  My first like is that he's a Christ centered father, I like the brave man in my father, his humble service and his self denial father who looks at the needs of others before his.

Patrick - I couldn't have summed it up any better!!! This man just sent his family ahead of him and he stayed back  to finish up and clean up and provide and sacrifice for his family!  That's my man!!!!

Change Brings New and Old Reactions.

The question was asked:  

Why, after so much time has passed, after a history of trauma, do people still struggle?

 Why do certain things, like change, trigger old and awful responses?

Adjustment can be difficult for everyone – even good changes – wanted changes – needed changes, are difficult.

Ask any newlywed (who is truthful) how easy and comfortable and fun new marriage is?!?!

Even though it is a wonderful time with all the benefits and blessings of marriage, it sucks for the most part, for most of the people. 

It's a big change and adjustment.

So making a move can trigger anybody into crazy behaviors.

Cellie, our baby who happens to be 3 and has hated food for most of her life, decided stress-eating was her way of handling the move.

We were all taken back when we couldn’t keep the kid out of the pantry.  Usually, we have to bribe and threaten her to eat, and now all of a sudden we are having to lock her out of the pantry. 

 Change does weird things to all of us.

I was discouraged with some of the old behaviors that the move triggered.  I felt like we had crossed this particular bridge or jumped this certain hurdle and it was back to that same ‘ole familiar reaction.  It comes and goes, but it is something I had hoped would go and never come back.

I didn’t really know how to answer the question:

HOW LONG AFTER TRAUMA, DO TRIGGERS STILL SET US OFF?

God answered that question for me, with an unpleasant experience this morning.

I was on a morning run, and enjoying the new route, new view, and beautiful weather, all was right in my world.  THEN, I a heard a dog coming at me,  I couldn’t see him but I could hear him barking and running towards me,  it triggered this crazy response in me, and I screamed and jumped right into a very busy road, away from the direction the dog was coming.  I reacted before I could think.  My heart was instantly at heart-attack rate.  Once I could see the dog, I could see that he was behind a very secure fence and his owner was pretty disgusted with my dramatic reaction.  I felt stupid for having jumped in the road and screaming, but it just happened all at once and I didn’t even think about it, I just reacted. 

The last time I got bit by a dog (because it has happened a couple different times in my running history) it has been well over 15 years ago.  Something about all the changes, new route, new dogs, new territory, I obviously was triggered into a response that I have not had for a long time, and didn’t know was still in me.  The first dog bite that I had so many years ago, is healed with just a little scar remaining. Somehow all the changes triggered old fears and responses that made me react as if I had been bitten yesterday.

Once I got passed that dog and the heart rate went down a bit, I could move forward and realize how ridiculous my reaction was.  I couldn’t prepare because I didn’t know it was coming…the dog or the reaction.

  Even if that dog was coming to bite me; screaming and jumping into traffic was NOT helpful to anyone.  For people that know kids with trauma in their past, that struggle to understand, why triggers still set off responses that make no sense and are not helpful to anyone, I’m here to testify……THEY ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT IT, IT’S NOT PERSONAL, IT’S A REFLEX RESPONSE THAT NOBODY ENJOYS.  At least for me, I could move on pretty quickly and finish my run, as if nothing had happened today.  I think the same for kids with trauma…the further they are from it, even though they may respond to triggers, they can quickly recover and move on! 

I guess my answer to the question of how long will it take to get over a history of trauma is this:

The reaction may always be there when triggers are pulled, but the recovery time is much faster and the regular rhythms of life return faster and easier over time. 

 Praise God for healing, even if we live with scars we can live and move and handle life and change beyond trauma and triggers.

Psalm 103:2-5 New Living Translation (NLT)

2 

Let all that I am praise the Lord;

    may I never forget the good things he does for me.

3 

He forgives all my sins

    and heals all my diseases.

4 

He redeems me from death

    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

5 

He fills my life with good things.

    My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

Sweet Goodbyes.

I have always hated good-byes.  It feels sad and lonely.  The thing that God did for me when we moved, was for about 3 days leading up to our departure, it was a constant flow of good-byes.

  It was a sweet time. 

  Saying goodbye makes you hug a little tighter and say the things you have been holding in because you will see that person next time.  The thing about a big move is, most of us will see each other again, we just aren't sure when, so you make the most of the last visit.  You get real intentional about stopping and connecting with people on a deeper level. 

 I hugged and got hugged tighter, got prayed for more, cried a little easier, laughed a little louder, and said and heard I LOVE YOU with every goodbye.

 It was said so we could hear it, not just a feeling or a thought but we had to make sure we felt it and heard it. 

 People don't want to part ways without saying good-bye.

May we live with the intention that saying goodbye brings.; making sure everything that needs to be communicated, is clearly communicated.

Now I live near my Grands and see them almost every day, and if you don't walk them to their car with a proper goodbye, which includes a kiss and hugs and saying I LOVE YOU - they will insist on not leaving, to the point that their very pregnant mom will get her body out from under the steering wheel to come back in, and get me to say goodbye to their hearts satisfaction.  

I love this routine!  Saying goodbye is my new favorite thing. 

Moved Into Deeper Dependence

It was a few nights before we were to leave our home of 15 years and our community of a lifetime.  I started asking God some questions.  I mean, this whole time, all these years of waiting and wondering about what would happen with our place.  I felt like we had “learned our lesson,” we learned to depend on the Lord for our daily bread.  I know we didn’t learn or do it perfectly, but we definitely had a new and clearer understanding.  We learned to live and expect and celebrate the faithfulness of God.  I guess without really realizing it, I felt like when this season (of 8 years as it turns out) was over, and we got to move on to the next thing, that we would get to graduate from this lesson of dependence.

God so lovingly and directly cleared up that little misunderstanding.  I was asking why things were still hazy, there is direction FOR SURE, and solid ground everywhere we have stepped foot, but it’s as if we still can’t see the next step, it’s like we still have to walk in faith, and trust and depend on God daily.  I guess I kept waiting for the clouds to part and the path to be lit and all I had to do was run like the wind.  That is NOT what is happening. 

The direction is very clear for one foot to step forward at a time.

I was whining praying to God about how I was sure we had learned our lesson and now He could loosen the reign a bit, He could just give us our head (horse term) a bit.  In other words, I wanted some control back but I still wanted Him to hang close in case we needed Him to bail us out.

He just lovingly showed me that we have learned this lesson of dependence on Him, to keep walking in deeper dependence with Him.

  So yes, I guess I graduated to the next level of dependence.

I have been mulling this over in my head and thinking,

 “Is that even Biblical, or it that me just excusing myself from having a plan?”

*Charlie says our family has no plan, just events.*

Our send off!!

I thought of a race, because often times the Bible talks about our life in Christ as a race.  I have run a few marathons, and I can tell you when you get a few miles into it, you don’t get to put your legs on cruise control and sit back and enjoy the ride.  You have to keep moving those legs one step forward at a time.  I’ve never heard of someone hitting mile 20 and saying how much easier it is than mile 3.  It may get more exciting and the scenery may be more beautiful, and there may be more anticipation as you get nearer to the finish, but the further you run, the MORE you depend on the training you put in getting to this point. 

We are mostly settled and thrilled to be in Montana, near all the bigs and grands. 

We are moving forward daily and depending more and more on God’s grace and faithfulness to keep us going. 

 

Loaded!

Unloaded.

We were unloaded before we even arrived on Saturday; we went to church on Sunday and had a fun family dinner in our new space. 

I know this picture is chaotic but it's real life!

 Monday we hit the ground running to sports practices and a twin grand ultrasound….EEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!

Life is full and it is GOOD!!!

1 Corinthians 9:23-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.