Not a Silent Night Everywhere...

I had a rare opportunity to share Scripture on Christmas Eve with two non Christian families that I have known for years; as teens and then as adults.

Luke 2:1-19 was appropriate for the children.  Yet when the children had gone off to play, I asked if I could share the battle that had happened on that very same night.  With puzzled looks, they said they’d never heard of it.

“Well, it’s not for the fearful or those that don’t want to know about spiritual things,”  I said.  In their curiosity, they asked me to share.

I had been reminded of the story a few weeks before by my boss sharing about a  sermon at his church.  I then looked up again Revelation 12 and remembered my own revelation about the story, when my own faith was new.

Yes, God waits on us, but He deeply desires a relationship with us, too.  I remember my southern grandmother calling Jesus the “hound of heaven.”  “He has our scent and He follows our trail, seeking relationship with us, unceasingly.”

Revelation 12 speaks of Mary and the birth, yet from the spiritual perspective and the battle that was waged for our Savior to come to redeem us.

The story sparked discussion of dragons, demons, the devil and angels.  Prayerfully, I waited for the Holy Spirit’s timing.  So, when it came, I was able to answer their questions about salvation with the truth of the gospel, simply and clearly.

God deems free will sacrosanct.  Yet, that doesn’t weaken His heart to meet us and abide with us in deep relationship and faith.

As we Christians all know, life is messy and far from perfect.  Every choice, every act always has several layers of influences.  Circumstances, baggage, emotions,  materials needs and fears all play their part in all our choices.

I think we sometimes forget that God wants all of it, even the ugly stuff.  We forget, in the heat of the choice, that He will stand, unafraid.  He will face all comers without hesitation.  He smiles in acceptance when we demand that He be involved.  He cries only when we look into His eyes and walk away.

The Tone of Voice

It’s not so much what we say 
As the manner in which we say it; 
It’s not so much the language we use 
As the tone in which we convey it; 
“Come here!”, I sharply said, 
And the child cowered and wept. 
“Come here,” I said- 
He looked and smiled 
And straight to my lap he crept. 

Words may be mild and fair 
And the tone may pierce like a dart; 
Words may be soft as the summer air; 
But the tone may break my heart; 
For words come from the mind 
Grow by study and art---- 
But tone leaps from the inner self 
Revealing the state of the heart. 
 

Whether we know it or not, 
Whether we mean or care, 
Gentleness, kindness, love, and hate, 
Envy, anger, are there. 
Then, would we quarrels avoid 
And peace and love rejoice? 
Keep anger not only out of your words- 
Keep it out of your voice.

~Author Unknown

(Though many claim it.)

We Are Resources for Refugees

ROP was visited by three women from a church on the Southwest side of metro Denver, looking for resources for the refugees who sought help from their large church, but live in our neighborhood.

The church had risen to the occasion and were starting to outreach with them in North Aurora.  However, they didn’t know what additional resources might be available in the local area.  They had dropped by to learn more.

I filled them in about what is available at ROP.  I shared the struggle that many of us have about finding resources and tracking them for our communities.  Yet, the most interesting part of the conversation happened when the topic turned to some of the frustrating attempts to have mothers adhere to the rules.

I asked for an example.  “How do we get them to put shoes on their children in winter?”

“Don’t let them on the bus,” another suggested.  They explained that many of the children they picked up for children’s church were in flip flops, even with snow on the ground.  I asked what their mothers had been wearing on their feet. They looked at each other and then me. “I don’t recall.”

I explained that we had noticed an  issue with the children was often mirrored with the parents.  Slippers, sandals and flip flops were common.

In getting to know the moms, we were able to get a read on the fact that shoes were bought that were familiar to their culture before climate was considered.  Once bought, the money or shoes could not be replaced easily.

We began offering shoes, but the families were reluctant to accept.  They had bought shoes, they were providing for their children, they would make do.

Then I got to know one mother even a little better.  I shared with her about my own children and the way they grow so quickly, the colds that they bring home from school, the price of medicine and my desire to see them healthy.  I shared about husbands doing so much for the family and we women making things stretch.  As a friend, the shoes were welcomed.  I received a beautiful scarf in return.

We don’t all learn from cultural cues on the nightly news (in English) or what other cultures are wearing (they’re different).  Yet, trusted information can come from one another through relationship.  Friends that we feel know us and are not attempting to change us, only help us grow.

God built us to be the best resource to one another, even if it’s helping a friend link into other trusted resources, too.

The Gift of Christmas

This year, my family and I will not be spending our Christmas together.

With kids away at college or spending the day with the other side of the family, there will be no kids at home.  My husband is working at United, so I will be visiting my folks for lunch and a few stocking stuffers.

It’s wonderful when you can have family, even difficult ones, for the holidays.  I have served many that had none, so shared it with our ministry.

This year, and years like it, take me to a different side of the gift Christ brought to us.

Matt 5:3-12

The blessings for the poor, those who mourn, the meek, they who hunger & thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers. Blessings for those persecuted for righteousness and you who are insulted, persecuted & falsely accused for His sake.

Rejoice and be glad.  He is come. Hope reigns!

Trying to be Heard

I am reminded often, by our community, that I have a lot to learn about justice, mercy and walking humbly with my God.

News channels and social media are ripe with strong emotions, with anger, fear and sad mournful messages, about all that has been going on around our country because of Ferguson.

I went to a city meeting of leaders in Aurora, CO, and felt tensions rise and fall around these same conversations.  Their point was that we have to be more than just reactionary.

I have appreciated my home church and pastors not shying away from cultural talks and the scriptures that speak to Christ’s perspective and response in trying times.  Yet, I think the thing that has touched my heart the most is a young woman who shared her heart and pain and taught me something.

As we got past her reactions to the headlines, to the heart of her pain, she confessed, “I know why I’m mad.  I met another half–brother yesterday.  My daddy been sleeping with so many, I might be related to half this town.”

“Stupid, it all ain’t nothin’ but stupid.  Mama got more money if dad wasn’t around.  They paid my daddy to leave.  I got 16 that I know of.  Now, I don’t trust white people, say they want to help and then make it so he can’t stay with us.

“But men are dogs.  They don’t have a family to keep ‘um straight, then they stray.  I ain’t havin’ no babies.  Who knows if I might be related to most of these boys in my school.”

It was her anger, hurt and loss talking.  I was here to listen, not judge or preach.  Only validate her and her very real pain. 

I worry that we’re all so busy trying to teach each other a lesson loudly or violently that we’ve forgotten that someone has to feel heard and acknowledged first.  Then in relationship we can begin to bring the darkness to light and try to heal.

Next month will see the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday.  A movie is coming out about Selma.  Are we listening to people or just reacting to far away news?  I pray I’m listening with my whole heart and learning, too.

Sharing a New Process for Me

God has been laying on my heart something new about raising support as His missionary along East Colfax, in the New Year of 2015.  =)

As all of you who have supported me throughout the years know, I’m not one to throw a fundraiser often.  I’m uncomfortable talking to a large group with impassioned speeches about funding my ministry.  It feels too much like a broken conversation, only moving in one direction and not a dialog.

I like conversation, getting to know someone and starting relationships.  Allowing people to be as involved and engaged as they feel comfortable with as they partner with me in building God’s kingdom.

Looking at my current support shortfall, however, I set a time for a period of study in the scriptures and listening for God’s plans to meet these needs.  I made a commitment to meet with all of my supporters one to one before the end of the year.  Some have already been praying and acting as good advisers with me.  I must say, I like what God has planned.

Stepping out in faith, we want to help me create more opportunities to come alongside those of you who want to share with friends, but don’t want to do the talking.  I’m comfortable with small, but God is stretching me and my faith to something just a bit bigger.

I believe that support comes from real people with big hearts and the Holy Spirit’s leading them to give of their time, talent and treasure.  Fundraising is a process of relationship, opportunity and God’s provision, not lack of it.

So, starting in the New Year, I will be doing my usual one to one coffee or small meal meetings, but adding a small group function every other month or so.  Something you might feel comfortable or even excited about bring a guest or two with you.  I’ll still be seeking ongoing feedback and suggestions, but here’s what I have in mind, so far:

January 2nd—Friday evening:            New Year Revelations (Not Resolutions)

April 3rd—Friday evening:                        A Full Christian Seder Dinner (it takes awhile)

Further events, to be determined later.

Additionally, I continue to be available for you to bring to your small group or house party to translate the cause of giving and loving God through service.

Poor Issues...

North Aurora, along our East Colfax corridor, does not have a bus system for their schools.

We enjoy the beauty of seeing lots of parents walking their Elementary kids to school and home again.  We know the times of day when the Middle Schools let out and later the High Schools.  We know because the sidewalks and side streets fill up with kids walking home.

Yet, parents telling stories about walking uphill, 5 miles, in a snow storm, though amusing to tease about, is no joke to the marginalized families in our neighborhood that do not own cars, or have the extra money for public transit for kids on bad weather days.

Parents start making hard choices, not about taking the time to drop them off before and after work, but whether to let them walk miles to school at all when it’s minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit.

Education loses and children suffer from weather and circumstances.  What should parents do when it’s been that or worse for a whole week?

How do school systems without the budget for busses help?

How do we as a ministry advocate for our community?

How are neighbors fitting into this equation?

Every marginalized family faces hard choices.