Thankful Thursday - Random Richness

It's Thankful Thursday. In June we are at Iris', Grace Alone. Next month, July, we are back here. WOO HOO! Dineen will be helping with Thankful Thursday in July, as I will be in Wisconsin.

 Do any of you live in or around Door County? Let's meet up.....

Half of 2011 is OVER. Say What?

I'm so thankful for the answered prayers in the last six months (read Monday's post for just one answer to my words of prayer).

I'm thankful that tonight the Women's Leadership Team will gather at my house for Sunridge Women - Foodnetwork. We are going to cook together, Roman Chicken, A Southwest Salad, Cheesey garlic bread. Three words: Yum and eee. We are celebrating the victories of the past church year. Lives were changed. Bondage broken and Jesus was glorified.

I'm still humbled to the core that as an unequally yoked woman, my church embraced me and has encouraged me to serve my local church body. In some churches, if your husband is unsaved, a woman cannot serve. I am deeply thankful.

I'm thankful for my sister in Christ, Dineen Miller (My Jerry McGuire). I love you my friend.

I am so thankful for all of you who spend your precious time here with me reading. You grieve with me over setbacks and shout with joy and praise through the victories in my ordinary life. My extraordinary life, because of Christ. 

I love each of you who stops in here. What are you thankful for this week. Leave a note in the comments and honor Jesus with your praise. Hugs, Lynn

Choosing to Love

(Last Fall I wrote this post about making the choice to love our spouse. With a little revision, I'm sharing this again since it's a topic that can be a great challenge yet is so crucial to any marriage.)

How do we love our spouses unconditionally? How do we keep going? How do we keep hoping?

I want to share some Scriptures to encourage you. Claim one, some, or all of these in your heart and know that God is faithful, whatever path He calls us to walk. And please read to the end. I saved the best for last.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. —Romans 5:1-5

These verses start with our justification through faith. Then it speaks of the peace we have through Jesus, who we gained access to by that faith. This faith allows us to stand firm in Christ. Every bit of this screams Christ is the center of it all.

These Scriptures also help us understand that sufferings are and will be a part of our lives, but that we can rejoice in them. Why? Because we have a God who loves us and brings purpose to every part of our lives, even our trials and sufferings. Through them we learn perseverance, character, and most importantly, HOPE! How do we do this? What’s the key? Jesus is the key. We can persevere and have hope as we stand firm in Him.

We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. — 2Thessalonians 3:4-6

Here we have an example that tells us that our hearts are to be defined by God’s love. Who we are, how we see others and ourselves, and how we love is all supposed to work within the confines of God’s amazing and unending love. That’s huge shift in perspective! That means we don’t have to love our spouses through our own capacity. God knows we can’t and he’s provided His Son to help us persevere. Again, all through Him!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. —James 1:2-4

These are some of my favorite Scriptures because they speak of God’s preparation in our lives. He doesn’t abandon us. I know sometimes it feels that way, but crying out to God in your times of despair is also an act of faith. And I know sometimes it can feel like God asks so much of us, asks us to sacrifice a lot for our unbelieving spouses, but remember that a soul is at stake. We have a high calling and God will equip us every step of the way.

So what’s my point in all this? Hang on, we’re almost there.

God is present. We are not alone. He is our strength and prepares us for whatever comes, for our good! And for the good of those he’s calling us to love unto Him. This never changes. What does change is our perspective. Are we operating only within our own strength and ability with our eyes focused on the problem? Or do we have our eyes turned upward as we stand firm in Christ with the understanding that God is our strength and our hope?

I’m a firm believer in the power of decision. We can be like the waves James speaks of that are blown and tossed by the wind because of their doubt. I believe this happens when we are indecisive as well.

What’s the first step to loving your spouse unconditionally? Choose to love. Don’t worry about the feelings. Those will come later. Make the choice to love your spouse and do whatever God asks you to do. Use the above Scriptures as reminders that God will strengthen and equip you for what’s ahead. Make the first step, then watch what God does.

This quote below from Goethe says it beautifully.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness, concerning all acts of initiative (and creation). There is one elementary truth in ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Praying and believing,
Dineen

Chronicles of the Donovan Clan

I’m thinking it’s time for a Chronicles update.

This is one of the most meaningful posts about the Chronicles I have written to-date. Up until now, I hesitated to share with you what happened on May 6^th. But today the Lord said to me, “It’s time.”

For those of you who are new to our website the Chronicles of the Donovan Clan is my ongoing personal story of our family, Jesus, and my husband’s journey to faith. You can read past post of the Chronicles in our archives.

May 6, 2011:

It’s a Friday morning and my 15-year-old daughter will be taking the biggest exam of the entire school year today. Her first period class is AP Euro (Advanced Placement European History). This is a college curriculum and college credit exam. A passing grade will allow her to take this credit with her to college.

Now I don’t know about your kids but my brainiac gets herself completely worked up just before a big exam. The night before, she is on edge. She is so wound up she usually can’t study. Thankfully she has her Daddy’s giant memory and knows her stuff.  To placate me, she will eventually try to settle down and at least pretend to study.

So the morning of the exam, Friday, May 6^th, she is teetering on the edge of complete lunacy. She gets out of bed, heads to the couch for some TV to wake up. I glance at her sideways and carefully craft a simple question, “Cereal?” She glowers in my direction and her girl claws surface. I could almost hear the, “Reeeeeee-eeeer” rising from her throat.

She snaps sarcasm my direction. I let it slide as I know how stressed she is and isn’t that just like a family. We always take out our frustrations on those we love. Ahem, I would never do that *grin.*

I lay low in my office while she eats. My husband is hiding out in the bedroom pretending the cat fights aren’t actually happening in the other part of the house. Coward!

Anyway, the teen dresses and tosses a few more angry glares and caustic words my way. Let me be clear here, I’m not likely to suffer through disrespect from anyone but on this particular morning, I let it pass and gave her THE LOOK.

Comon’ you know “the look.” The purposeful stare that only a mom can give that communicates all manner of retribution is waiting if said child chooses to say one more thing. Period. The end.

She grabs her backpack and stomps to the car. I whisper a prayer of thanks to the Good Lord above that she is finally leaving. I pick up my purse and quickly walk into the bedroom where my husband is dressing.

“Honey, I’m leaving to take Caitie to school.” I talk quickly. “She is really stressed out. You need to pray for her.”

Okay, I have asked my husband to pray on occasion in the past. He will shrug it off or to placate me say, “I will.” I don’t ask too often but that particular morning, I would take anyone praying beside me for our kid.

Now get this. He says to me, “I already prayed for her and I prayed for you.”

In my rush, I smack him on the lips and sprint out the door to get said primadonna to school in time for the exam. I drop her off and pray up a storm for her success as I circle around the school. I wave at Officer Baily as I pass and then head back home.

THAT’S when it hits me. Did he say he already prayed…… for her……. for me????  

What do I do with this simple yet life-altering statement? Let me share some of my private reflections. Did he really say he prayed? Who was he praying to? He prayed of his own volition. Does that mean he believes?

It wasn’t until today when we were at lunch after church. Yes, he went with me this morning. No, rephrase. I went early to a class. He got up on his own, drove to church and met me in the sanctuary. It wasn’t until today that I gathered the courage to ask him about that morning.

Starting this kind of conversation is a scary aspect. Marriage to an unbeliever is a tight rope at times. Discussions of faith are a risk. Pain and or disappointment can follow. “Honey, I want to ask you about something…. I recreate the morning of May 6^th with my descriptions, taking him with me back to that morning. “Honey, you said you prayed for Caitie and you prayed for me. You prayed of your own choice before I even asked. It touched me deeply that my husband prayed for me. I have waited 19 years for that.”

He looked at me with kindness in his eyes,“I have prayed for you more than just then. In fact, I pray for you more than you know.”

Please imagine, blonde, 5 foot 4 inch, Lynn Donovan, as a deer in headlights stunned to silence on the bar stool in the restaurant.

I have so many more questions I want to ask him but the Spirit cautioned me not to push.

So, is he a believer?

After nineteen years, I witnessed the Lord’s faithfulness to a private yearning in my lil' heart. What are you waiting for? Don’t give up. We serve a brilliant God who is captivated by His people and His people’s spouses, even my stubborn man.

Lynn 

Weekend Devo — Gideon a Mighty Warrior?

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” — Judges 6:12

The story of Gideon is a tale of man who sees himself and his tribe as being weak and most incapable of defeating their enemy. He’s baffled that God would even consider him suitable material to defeat the Midianites, who had severely oppressed the Israelites for seven years.

Yet there sat this angel of God under a tree, calling Gideon a “mighty warrior” before he even stepped foot into battle.

You see, in Gideon’s eyes he hadn’t yet proved himself. He had no credentials to qualify him for the title of “warrior.” Maybe he even thought God had the wrong guy.

The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”
— Judges 6: 14-16

God calls Gideon to go in the strength that he has. He’s not asking Gideon to prove himself first, or to get in shape, bulk up and earn the title of warrior. Nope, He just tells Gideon He’s sending him.

I love that part. God just simply says, “Am I not sending you?” It’s like God is saying, “Isn’t it enough that the Creator of the universe, who controls all things and all outcomes is sending you? What, do you think I’d send you in only to lose?”

Yet Gideon still questions. God makes it even clearer by saying He will be with Gideon and that the battle will be theirs.

But let’s go back to that first verse. Right from the start, God calls Gideon a mighty warrior. What Gideon couldn’t see within himself without proof, God clearly saw as potential. He created Gideon, so He knew what the man was capable.

God does the same with us. He knows his creations well and knows our needs to fulfill whatever place or calling He has in mind for us.

When we relinquish control of our limited and earthly perceptions of ourselves, we step into God’s potential for us. What His amazing and unlimited will is for our lives.

Now we sometimes might view God’s will for our lives as a limitation of what we get to do on this earth until we reach heaven. The truth is, it’s our own wills that are limiting and short-sighted.

God’s will is freeing, unlimted in potential and the most satisfying purpose-filled way of living that exceeds anything I can even imagine. The trick is to believe it—to move past the Gideon’s within us and trust that God is with us in whatever He’s asking us to do.

After a bit of testing and doubting, Gideon defeated the Midianites. He finally saw it wasn’t his own ability he needed to rely on but on God Himself.

When we do that, whatever it is that God is placing on your heart is possible. You don’t have to qualify, you don’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to change first.

God just wants you to say yes.

Praying and believing,
Dineen

Bittersweet

Dear Dineen and Lynn: 

I just have to share with the two of you my “bittersweet moment” this morning.  To back track, I just got home yesterday from having been with my youngest daughter the past three weeks as she gave birth to her first child—a precious 9 lbs. 1 oz. baby girl, name Hadley.  Needless to say, it was hard leaving that little bundle of joy 5 hours away from me in Austin, Tex. 

And now for my bitter sweet moment via Facebook post my daughter, Heather, posted early this morning.  She had a picture of a devotional book:  Baby Boot Camp by Rebecca Ingram Powell.  Beside the picture, Heather wrote: 

“Moms—it is my first morning without my mom to help me and this little devotional book is a life saver!  Find one and take a little time for yourself to read a little devotion each day.  I love it already with a cup of hot coffee.” 

I shed a few tears and then replied:

“I’m having a bitter sweet moment five hours away as I read this.  My daughter doesn’t need me to help anymore????  But, how sweet knowing that she is reading and dependent on God’s Word.  All is right with the world.” 

I wanted to share this with you because you are doing such a wonderful job in reaching out to young moms who are faced, as I was, and you have been, in raising children in church alone.  I had so many flashbacks as I read Heather’s post.  

One in particular was a decision I made when she was two years old and her sister was six.  We had just made a move from Atlanta, Ga. to New Orleans, La.   My husband had been offered a job opportunity that he felt he couldn’t afford to turn down.  During the process of our lengthy talks about taking the job, I just simply said to him:  “I’ll go with you anywhere you feel we need to go; it is just so hard for me to move with two little girls to a strange city and have to take them to church by myself.”  

To which he replied, “I promise you if you will make this move with me, I will go to church with you and the girls.”  And with that hope, we made the move. 

Oh yes, he went the first Sunday to help me find the church, and that was the end of that.  

As a young mother I felt so betrayed.  

One Sunday morning as I was about to give this church-going up for good, I heard little children playing out in the street in my neighborhood.  It was then that I prayed:  “Lord, whether he ever goes to church with me, I commit to you this morning that I will go alone if I have to;  I can’t bear the thought of my children playing on the streets on Sunday morning and not in church.  

And with that, the three of us began our journey, and today both girls are ministering in their own church, and raising their little ones for Jesus.  And I might add, they married fine Christian young men who are right beside them and who is the spiritual leader of their homes. 

I realize it doesn’t always happen this way.  When children become of age, they have to make their own choices and sometimes stray from their Christian up-bringing for a while.  But, my reason for writing to the two of you is this:  keep on encouraging young moms, as you are doing, to make the effort to teach the kids about Jesus and take them to church, even if it she has to do it alone.  It has it rewards---I am blessed. 

On a side note, both girls love their dad so much, and he gloats over his children and grandchildren.  He has been the best husband and father any man could be with the exception of that “little missing link of having Jesus in his heart.”  But, the three of us feel the manifestation of his salvation is near.  As you say in your book:  “God makes everything beautiful in His time.”  

And last, your book has been good therapy for me.  It was with me in Austin each morning during my quiet time.  The keys have allowed me to see where I’ve been in the past; sometimes “I got it right,” but there are keys that are showing me what I need to be doing at the present time for this particular season of my life and marriage.  It couldn’t have been released at a more appropriate time for me.  

Keep up the good work as you minister to the spiritually unequal yoked and blessings to you both. 

Martha Bush

Thankful Thursday - Sweet Sixteen

It's Thankful Thursday. In June we are at Iris', Grace Alone.

.....

Can anyone tell me what happened??

I blinked and my baby who was strapped safely in her car seat in our Ford Explorer is now pulling away from the house driving it.

I am freaked out. I am humbled. I am scared. I am excited. I'm emotional!!

She turned 16 and passed her driving exam all in a few short days this past week. This little shy girl who never spoke to anyone and hid behind my leg has become an actress at school, a driving young adult an intelligent and good student and a great buddy to me.

We spent the day together on the beach today. We talked about boys and about dating. We discussed college and all manner of teenage woes. But I looked at her as we were driving down the freeway on our way home and saw a beautiful young woman. Beautiful inside and out.

I said, "Did you pray and thank God for helping you pass your driver's exam."

"Yes, Mom," she stated matter-of-factly. As if.... why do I even need to ask.

My heart soars. She is becoming a young woman and Jesus will be part of her life. Jesus will be part of her sweet sixteen year, her high school graduation, her wedding day, and every day of her life.

Today, I have witnessed the faithfulness of God. He has heard my prayers. He has loved on my daughter and revealed himself despite her daddy's unbelief. My daughter, sweet sixteen this week, loves Jesus. And that is all that really matters.

I love you Caitie. You are a joy to both your mom and dad. We couldn't be prouder or love you more. Hugs, Mom (Lynn)

Just Too Busy

It's my great delight to share with you today my friend, Joanne Kraft. Joanne and I met face-to-face at She Speaks Conference back in 2008. Here is a photo of (left to right) Angie, from the Knightly News, me and Joanne Kraft of One So blessed. 

Little did we know the adventures God would take us on. This month I am privileged to share with you Joanne's new book, Just Too Busy, Taking Your Family on a Radical Sabbatical. Her wit and humor abound as she tells the most amazing story of how Joanne and her family "quit" the traditional American life.

Cover: Just Too Busy is the true story of the Kraft family s head-on collision with busyness and the twelve-month experiment that changed their lives. When their children could recite the dollar value meals at McDonalds faster than their times-tables, they knew something was very wrong. So, instead of continuing their bad habits and fitting more into their schedules, they took a year off from all activities and learned how to be a family again. 

In this book, readers will laugh their way to learning the ten tell-tale signs that they are too busy and discover the symptoms for a common disorder known to moms today: A.D.D. (Activity Denial Disorder). Families will find simple ways to guard themselves from the temptation of constant distraction.

To learn more visit www.JoanneKraft.com or Amazon.

Please leave a comment and you are entered into a drawing for a $25 gift-card.

I'm delight for Joanne. She is a woman who loves Jesus and I am praying for her and the message she had to share. Lynn

Pointing Out the Positive

I’m in Florida at the moment visiting with our extended families. When I fell in love with my husband, I also fell in love with his family. He has a big one too! I love being around them and hearing all their stories of growing up. Lots of chuckles and memories.

On Father’s Day I loved seeing my husband and his youngest brother team up to help their dad with a project that would have monopolized a lot of this hard-working man’s time. Their unity and closeness have always inspired me.

As you can see by the picture, they are hard at work making a repair on the back porch. That front mostly gray head belongs to my sweet guy who gave his Father’s Day time to serve his dad.

I just love that. I love that I can see such positive and giving qualities in my husband and I make a point of letting him know how much I appreciate and admire those qualities.

So this week I’d like to challenge you to praise your husband for one thing—even it’s small—and thank him for that quality. Do this once a day (more if you’re motivated!) and watch what happens.

And if you’re willing, come back and share with us what happened. I know I love seeing my husband’s smile flash and his shoulders go up just a tad. Those opportunities to affirm them are priceless!

Praying and believing,
Dineen

The Elusive Dream

Today’s post may be a bit rambling but I'm sensing you may be in the same place. So here goes.

Yesterday was Father’s Day. I know this day can be emotional and challenging to spouses who are spiritually mismatched.

I know this because I am still one of them.

I walked into church this morning.

Alone.

I was working a greeting table at the entry of our building and it was my delight and simultaneously my pain, to say hello to my friends who were headed to the auditorium with their husbands and their kids. Don’t get me wrong. I am truly thrilled for my friends that they are holding the hand of their spouse while stepping through the door. I am utterly blessed to have such a loving, accepting, and dedicated Christian family through my church.

But, here I was without my husband nor my daughter.

Again.

Ouch.

Why do holidays like Father's Day punctuate my oddity? Why does it still hurt after these many years? I think there will always remain a deep longing for a life that I am just not destined to live. And, it’s not like this life is an outlandish fantasy of fame or glamour or riches. It’s simply to be married to a man who shares a love for Jesus. That elusive dream where we sit together on a Sunday morning, a Father’s Day Sunday morning, as a family. A dream of a BBQ with our Christian friends following church.

I knew walking into church yesterday, my heart would sting.

Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christian concerts, small group dinners, that longing never quite leaves me. But, one thing I also knew as I walked into church was that my Jesus waited for me. He reminded me that yesterday would be more difficult than other Sundays but to remember to just ask……

Ask Him to be my strength, be my hope, be my everything.

I stepped through the doors and the last worship song was this: Jesus Be The Center

Jesus be the center
Be my source be my light Jesus
Jesus be the center
Be my song Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live

 Jesus

 

As the years of my marrried life begin to rush along ever faster and faster, this elusive dream loses its hold on my heart. Slowly and faithfully Jesus steps up to be my center and the pain lessens. The real joy of living for Christ intensifies and the truth of knowing my purpose for living is to glorify Jesus.

I did that yesterday. Just by showing up for church. Alone.

I hope your day was wonderful. I pray you told your husband that he is your hero. I pray that one day, one amazing day, ALL of us will walk through the doors of our church on the arm of our man who crossed over the line and lives for Christ.

That is my earnest prayer for all of us today. With a giant heart of love for all of you, Lynn

If you need to hear the song, here is a link: Jesus Be the Center

Weekend Devo — Do Whatever Brings You Back to Your Heart and the Heart of God

(In honor of Father's Day, we'd like to share this excerpt from Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge.)

Against the flesh, the traitor within, a warrior uses discipline. We have a two-dimensional version of this now, which we call a "quiet time." But most men have a hard time sustaining any sort of devotional life because it has no vital connection to recovering and protecting their strength; it feels about as important as flossing. But if you saw your life as a great battle and you knew you needed time with God for your very survival, you would do it. Maybe not perfectly-nobody ever does and that's not the point anyway-but you would have a reason to seek him. We give a halfhearted attempt at the spiritual disciplines when the only reason we have is that we "ought" to. But we'll find a way to make it work when we are convinced we're history if we don't.

Time with God each day is not about academic study or getting through a certain amount of Scripture or any of that. It's about connecting with God. We've got to keep those lines of communication open, so use whatever helps. Sometimes I'll listen to music; other times I'll read Scripture or a passage from a book; often I will journal; maybe I'll go for a run; then there are days when all I need is silence and solitude and the rising sun. The point is simply to do whatever brings me back to my heart and the heart of God.

The discipline, by the way, is never the point. The whole point of a "devotional life" is connecting with God. This is our primary antidote to the counterfeits the world holds out to us.

(pp 171-172)