Margaret's Monday Musings Archives

As I’ve been proofing Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God (from Worthy Publishing and Lifeway) and working on the accompanying Bible study, I’ve been continuing to pray for wonder and live wide-eyed to the way God laces our everyday life with His wonders.

Recently, we traveled through Baltimore on our way to an event at Sandy Cove. We stopped by Safeway to grab our travel road supplies (water, fresh fruit, and baked chips). Walking out of the grocery store, Leif and I saw a woman on her cell phone with three kids in tow. She complained that there weren’t enough beds to serve the women in need in the city. Leif and I looked at each other, unsure of the best way to respond, and returned to the car.

About to drive away, we saw Panera in the strip mall next to Safeway and popped back out of the car. As we walked toward Panera, we discussed what we just saw. “Was it real or a con?” we wondered. Yep. We’re guilty of watching one too many episodes of Dateline, too. The situation seemed a little too perfect. On her cell phone. Talking loudly. Outside a busy grocery store.

Sitting down to dinner, we both prayed and waited for a sense of the best way to respond. Then. She appeared. Again. She came into the restaurant with her three kids to use the restroom. Leif and I talked again about how to assist her, if we were the ones to help. We debated the pros and cons of getting this woman a hotel room. If we put the charge on a credit card and something went terribly wrong, we’d be responsible. And a lot could go wrong.

Neither of us had a tremendous sense of peace about what to do or how to do it.

The parable of the man whose body was left for dead along the road (Luke 10:29-37) came to mind. I calculated dozens of reasons not to help that guy–including getting conned.

Leif pulled out cash and asked, “How much should we give her?”

A number came to mind.

Walking out of Panera, we saw the woman walking into the liquor store. Again, Leif and I looked at each other–maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

But then she emerged without a purchase.

I took a gulp and walked toward her.

“What is this?” she asked as I shoved the money into her hand.

“Cash,” I said. “Bless you!”

“Who are you–an angel?” she asked, welling up with tears.

“No,” I smiled.

She pointed to her son and explained that he had autism. “But he knows how to love,” she said. “Can he give you a hug?”

This boy wrapped his arms around me, my face squished in the nape of his neck, and I knew I’d encountered the wonder of God.

Driving away, Leif and I prayed for this woman and her children. A renewed sense of gratitude filled my heart. Sometimes we have to take risks–including getting conned–in order to love people and be wonderstruck by the love of God.

When have you taken a risk and were wonderstuck by God’s love?

**Photo courtesy of here

What Are You Saved For?

Margaret — August 29, 2011 — 5 Comments

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on Abram’s calling in Genesis 12. God reaches out to someone who frankly doesn’t know God from a coconut and gives him a specific mandate:

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

God doesn’t just reach out to Abram to save him from something–living a life apart from God–but God reaches out to Abram to save him for something. In other words, salvation isn’t just a matter of being saved from sin, death, the curse, hell, etc., but salvation is a gift that saves us for something. We are saved to to be a blessing, to be a conduit of blessing. We are saved to live in relationship with God forever.

But we cannot lay hold of the “for” apart from God. We are utterly dependent on God every step of the way. Like Abraham, when we choose to go out on our own, to develop plans without seeking or acknowledging God, we, too, can get ourselves in some sticky situations. If we we choose to make the journey with God, we lay hold of the promise that God has plans and purposes for us that exceed our wildest imaginations.

*Photo courtesy of here

In Dive Deeper Abram, Genesis, God's love, Margaret's Monday Musings

3 Things To Do When People Leave Your Small Group

Margaret — June 27, 2011 — 1 Comment

Small Groups. We’ve all been in one where the numbers keep whittling down until it’s just you and the leader left. When you’re the one leading, what do you do if people start leaving yours?

1. Don’t freak out. This does not stamp you with the World’s Worst Small Group Leader award.

Breathe. Chances are, the reason they left has nothing to do with you. Sometimes life happens. Work shifts get moved around, kids have music lessons and baseball games, illnesses and life crises occur. Nothing gets accomplished if you start hyperventilating and then pass out on the floor.

2. Start talking. Ask them to a friendly cup of coffee in a nonthreatening tone and dialogue with them about why they left. Did life merely get hectic? Lend your support and listening ear. Is there anything you can do to encourage them to stay? If the time your small group has decided to meet doesn’t work anymore, can you change it?

See this as time for you to develop your leadership skills. Do they feel as though they are not being heard or not being challenged? Do they dislike the topic or see it as childish? Remember to approach your conversation prayerfully and in humility; now is not the time to assert your leadership authority over them. You are meeting to learn how to be a better leader. Also, don’t use your position as an excuse to share their business with the rest of the group. Trustworthiness should be one of your trademark leadership qualities.

3. Move on. Once you talk with them, you can determine whether or not their suggestions or complaints are valid and something you want to incorporate. You can’t please everybody. Although Christ did feed the crowd, he didn’t try to please them. Would switching topics really help the group, or are they only upset because they are not in control? At times, for the sake of the others in the group, it is better to let one person go. Eventually you will have to make a decision, trust God with the rest, and move on.

If you have you been in this situation before, what did you do?

**Photo courtesy of here

In Leadership Leadership, Margaret's Monday Musings, Small Group

Say Goodbye to That Annoying Word, Phrase, or Expression

Margaret — January 10, 2011 — 4 Comments

Well, um, we all know at least one. Some of us know a hundred or more. Those words, expressions, and phrases that are annoying, exhausting, and if you look really closely say nothing at all. I recently posted on this topic and was intrigued by the response, so I wanted to continue the conversation.

Like, well, um, the word like. Seriously. Who likes the really annoying use of the word like?

And seriously, who likes seriously?

Our language abounds with empty words and even emptier expressions. Here’s a list of five expressions we hope you’ll consider deleting from your mental hard drive:

The reality is. This phrase has been exhausted by everyone from friends and family members to news pundits. As if there were a different reality? As if reality was suddenly suspended or the person lived in another reality? Once you notice one person use this phrase, you’re going to start noticing it everywhere. And we’re sorry (in advance).

Bejesus. The word should scare the bejesus out of me, except I’m not sure what a bejesus is and if it suddenly popped out of me if I wouldn’t be wildly embarrassed and make a beeline for the backdoor. I don’t want to see your bejesus and I don’t think you want to see mine. So let’s stop scaring the bejesus out of each other.

Outside the box. Who isn’t exhausted from thinking outside the box now that we’ve been using this phrase for years? I think we should take the box straight to the recycling bin and wave a goodbye to this expression forever.

Cool beans. There’s nothing cool about cool beans. Nothing. If you’re still saying cool beans, it may be time to update your wardrobe and hairstyle. I’m just sayin’.

I’m just sayin’. Speaking of that expression, um, no, you’re not. You’re really saying it. Get your honesty on and just say it.

What word or phrase do you want to retire?
**The beautiful photograph above was found here.

In Resources 2011, Margaret's Monday Musings

When Life’s Pace Changes Suddenly: The Grinding Gears

Margaret — January 3, 2011 — 3 Comments

We’ve just crossed the finish line on end of the year holidays and though the tree still needs to be put away and the wrapping paper recycled, I find myself struggling a bit with the transition of it all.

We worked hard and fast right into the holiday season where we found ourselves surrounded by such much-needed down time. Now we’re gearing up to dive right back into to work. I like all of it: the work, the celebration, the rest, the play, and especially the lazy afternoons nestled under a down blanket on the couch.

What I don’t like are the transitions.

Sometimes it feels like we’re cruising along in fifth gear when in a moment’s notice we have to pop it into second, then sputter along, until it’s pedal to the medal and back in fifth. Now we need to drop it into fourth, wait, back up to fifth. I like all the gears, I just don’t like the grinding I feel as I change in between. There’s this awkward painful sound that emits as we transition and find a new cruising speed, a new normal in each season of life.

What gear do you find yourself in? What’s your favorite gear? How do you transition well?

**The beautiful artwork shown above was found here.

In Dive Deeper Gears, Margaret's Monday Musings