As we round the corner for home on this wild and crazy year, I want to encourage you to stay the course. Yes, we have spent the past nine months in flex mode; pivoting, adjusting, and graciously adjusting plans, events, and calendars for our oversights, families, and selves. Yes, we have been disappointed, regained hope, and been disappointed again. Yes, in our attempt to hold things more loosely, we have peeled our own fingers off “the one thing” we held dear.

And we have grown.

We now know the value of face-to-face time in a fresh way. We have greater respect for those who are charged with making difficult decisions in the face of intense criticism. We understand a greater weight of graciously guarding the gate when it is stormed by the familiar and strangers alike. Our hearts have grown with compassion toward the discouraged because we have been there too. 

And He has been faithful.

People have been reached with the Good News of the Gospel who would never have entered the doors of our churches before. For the first time, people have experienced the joy of giving what they have in order to help those around them without. We have dug deep in prayer and seen the Lord answer in miraculous ways. We’ve seen the hurt comforted, the marginalized welcomed, and the prodigal make their way home.

Just like He has always done.

You see, I believe that 2020 has adjusted our vision to better see what the Lord has always been about. What we’ve witnessed hasn’t really been anything new, we’ve just seen it more clearly. This year has sharpened our focus. On Him. When we keep Him at the center of all we see and do, we have the privilege of being about our Father’s work in a Spirit-filled way rather than a self-fulfilling way. The truth is that He has always been drawing people to Himself, providing when all seems lost, answering prayers, and comforting His Beloved. Yes, I’ll be the first to admit that this has felt more like a crash course in course correction, but that is far outweighed by the joy of seeing Him move as only He can. 

You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right – you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.  I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me.
Psalm 119:1-8

Stay the course, my friends! We have been strategically placed by our loving Father with an assignment chosen specifically for us. We have a unique opportunity to partner with the Holy Spirit in a heavenly work. Suit up! Pray! Keep your head up and eyes open! Our personal attention to the details of daily responsibilities places us right where God intends to use us. He has entrusted His precious people to our care. And when they least expect it, we get to remind them of our Father’s loving whisper….

You are adored.

I recently heard someone talking about the Advent season as one where the world is waiting in darkness. Waiting – yet another day and another night. Waiting – with simultaneous hope and grief. But what the world does not see in their waiting is a mighty, loving, all-powerful God who is running toward us.

That beautiful description brought Isaiah 6:1 and the following scene to mind.

In the year that king Uzziah died
I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne,
high and lifted up,
and his train filled the temple.

Then He stood, gathered His robes, and took off running. Full speed. Gaze intent on His Beloved. He would not be distracted or pulled off course. He was determined; running straight for His creation. His people. His Beloved. 

As He ran, the robes that symbolize his authority as King of Kings began to gently fall to the ground but not His majesty. Layer after layer of holy garments draped in pools as He passed by but His authority stood strong. The closer He came to earth, the smaller He appeared. Yet, all the while, His great holiness remained. 

Then He arrived. In a manger to a bewildered couple and waiting world. Having willingly picked up humanity with His holiness, He gave Himself to His Beloved Creation in the form of a helpless baby wrapped in whatever cloths his parents could find in that humble place. His holy garments nowhere to be found. Fully capable to command His armies of angels yet choosing not to wield His strength. Instead it was a mighty act of gentle, sacrificial love. Fully yielding to His Father’s plan to love and rescue Creation as man and God.

He is running toward you, Beloved. His gaze is fixed on you. He is not deterred or distracted from His purposes for you. His one desire is you. You and you alone. Not your work. Not your successes. Not anything you have to offer. He willingly left Heaven, took up humanity, walked this earth, gave Himself over to a horrible death, and was raised again by the Father to demonstrate His love for you. Although He could use His immeasurable strength to shout, He chooses His immeasurable
love,
grace,
kindness,
mercy,
justice,
wisdom,
and faithfulness to whisper…

You are adored.

Our family was one of the many who made it a tradition to park ourselves in front of the TV, with a TV dinner, on a TV tray and soak in every second of network television’s annual airing of allll the Christmas specials. Rudolph, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, and The Grinch just to name a few. Early in the week, my brother and I would grab our favorite colored ink pens, snag the TV Guide, and circle the specific day and time for each and every showing. Then we’d strategize to get homework and chores done – all without pouting or crying – and have ourselves joyfully in place before the first note of intro music ever played. It was quite the event!

I have to be honest, though, when I heard these words playing through our Sears TV speaker, I cringed just a little…

“You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch
You really are a heel
You’re as cuddly as a cactus, you’re as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch
You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel!”

My eight-year-old heart just didn’t like Mr. Grinch. I tried to be excited, but found myself sitting just a bit further back into the couch when his green face filled the TV screen. I mean, can you blame me for preferring the cheery face of Rudolph over Mr. Termite Teeth?

Enter Cindy Lou Who.

Cindy Lou was the bravest little girl I knew! Despite the horrible descriptions that were uttered about Mr. Grinch all around her, she chose to ignore it. Cindy Lou decided to find out for herself just who this skinny-legged, green guy was. Maybe he was just misunderstood. Maybe he was simply living up to all that was spoken over him….

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,
that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29

It is only human, even Grinchy, to believe what we hear from others. Especially when it is repeated over and over. And if those things are negative, it is only human, even Grinchy, to withdraw and protect our hearts from more hurt. Sadly, though, withdrawal actually causes more pain and before we know it, we are spewing hurt on those around us. Even those who never inflicted it in the first place. We need people in our lives who are brave enough to go against the current of (negative) popular opinion and believe the best of us. In the more modern “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Cindy Lou went to great lengths to climb Mt. Crumpit, find Mr. Grinch, and invite him into their Christmas celebrations. “No matter how different a Who may appear, he will always be welcome with holiday cheer.” 

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Proverbs 25:11

She invited Mr. Grinch.

Cindy Lou made great effort to invite Mr. Grinch then she – shall we say – let the Holy Spirit do His work. OK, OK! I know I’m stretching things a little! My point is that we are not responsible to be the Holy Spirit or do His work for Him. But we are responsible to be kind; to speak truth and life to those around us. Our words should be a benefit to those hearing them. And those words of truth work in partnership with the Holy Spirit’s work.

When we encounter people who seem to be living up to the lies that have been spoken over them, let’s be the ones who speak the Lord’s love in response. It might take great effort on our part, but the pay-off in their lives is immeasurable. Just imagine if the horrible descriptions crooned in the Grinch song were replaced with melodies of truth, love, and the gentle whisper…

You are adored.

One of the things we all learn early in life is how to be kind. That lesson is usually taught from the treat-others-the-way-you-want-to-be-treated perspective.

• Share your toys if you want others to share with you.
• Be gentle with the dog and he will be gentle with you.
• Say please and thank you if you want others to be polite with you.

After endless repetition with our parents, we eventually learn how to put the needs of others before our own selfish desires.

Until we don’t.

Being kind in the face of rudeness is a challenge. Let’s be honest, our human response to unkindness is…unkindness! Our feathers get ruffled and suddenly the challenge is on to “out-rude” the other with some quippy comeback or I’ll-show-you stunt. Even as adults.

I guess that’s why it is called the gift  of kindness.

Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

Returning hurt with kindness is a gift – offering something that we have to someone in need. It is sacrificial. It is a demonstration of strength. Responding in love requires the Holy Spirit’s power at work within us. And that power is often the kindness that draws His children to repentance.

Each day, sometimes each hour, we have the opportunity to deliver the gift of kindness to others. Sometimes it is easy to deliver kindness with a smile to a stranger or a kind word to a discouraged soul. Other times it is more sacrificial because it comes on the heels of an unkind act. Either way, it requires thinking of another before thinking of ourselves. Preferring another’s heart over the desires of our own. It is something I have the privilege of witnessing in others frequently. And our choice to be kind is exactly the reminder we all need. The reminder from our loving Father that…

You are adored.

The other day I was rounding the corner for home at the end of the day and I had a surprising thought float through my head: “This feels normal!” The movement of my truck, the traffic pattern, the angle of the sun, the music on the radio, and the feeling in my heart. It felt remarkably normal. 

Just as surprising was the next thought: “Don’t fall for it!” Let’s be honest, there hasn’t been much normal these past several months and, apparently, my subconscious was trying to protect my heart from the sometimes-hurtful blow of the next abnormal experience.

I have become increasingly aware of the guarded position my heart has taken during this pandemic. I’ve always known that I enjoy routine but the guarded posture of my heart has been an eye-opening discovery. Being on guard:

• Means that I am expecting something to happen that I need to defend against.
• Takes extra energy.
• Removes my focus from the task at hand or person in front of me.
• Prevents me from fully trusting that the Lord is capable of protecting me.

Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,
for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

It takes courage to trust the Lord for the future, whether it is the next year, next big event, or simply the next step. Strangely, it takes strength to let go and relax into the loving arms of Jesus. But I think this is even more difficult when we’ve experienced frequent or intense times of hurt or loss. It is human nature to strike a protective posture. It takes the Holy Spirit to relax into the Lord’s covering.

I think this is one of the reasons why I love Joshua 1:9. First, we are reminded that this is a command, not an option. Second, we are immediately instructed to be strong and courageous, not cooperating with fear. Why? Because we are never without the Lord our God! No matter what we’ve experienced in our lifetime, week, or during this pandemic, He is always with us! And while He never promised us a life without struggle, He has promised to be with us through it. No matter how good we are at being on guard, there is no place safer than in His presence.

So, my precious friend, let your shoulders relax. Take a deep breath. Go ahead and fully enjoy the moment. Exchange your on guard posture with your strong and courageous stance, confident that your heavenly Daddy is always by your side.

You are adored.

What you do matters!

You consistently pour yourself out as a fragrant offering to the Lord. Your time and talents; all that you set your hands to is a beautiful sacrifice to the Lord.

As Administrative Assistants, it matters to the pastor and department you support. It matters to our church family who receive the benefit of your work. As wives, moms, and friends, your diligence makes a big difference to the people you love. But most importantly, it matters to the Lord. He has gifted you with a certain demeanor, talents, and gifts to be used specifically at this time and in this way. If we aren’t careful, we can slip into the temptation to believe our work is insignificant. This happens when we take our eyes off our Father and begin to compare or evaluate the value of our work through our own eyes. But if we remember that we have been placed by God and our work is ordained by God for the purposes of God, we see His greater plans interwoven with emails, homework, calendars, bills, and to-do’s.

Not long ago I learned that the church calendar has a time period called “Ordinary Time.” One author explains that ordinary isn’t to be confused with common or mundane. Instead, it is originates from “ordinal,” meaning “counted” time. Additionally, dark green is the color often associated with this time period on the calendar to represent growth and new life. Green became the symbolization of the life of the Church following Pentecost – the hope of new life in the resurrection.

I am certainly not a Bible scholar, but that sounds very purposeful to me!  It helped me to reframe that each day of the calendar – of my life – is counted by the Lord. I am to look at each day as one that has purpose; not disposability. And what He has entrusted to me – exciting and not – matters to Him. 

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

As Administrative and Executive Assistants – as daughters of God – may we continually be humbled to be invited into the work of the Holy Spirit. May we recognize the holiness of the difficult, exciting, and even the mundane simply because the hand of God is upon it all. As we approach each task, may we recognize the value it holds to our loving Father; nothing is without purpose, whether we see it or not. Lord, help us to recognize this in one another as well! Help us to be quick to encourage, edify, lift up, and remind one another…

You are adored.

Sabbatical: a break or change from a normal routine (as of employment)

I am about to embark on a new adventure called “sabbatical” and I couldn’t be more simultaneously excited and dumb-founded! After seventeen years of making my home the primary focus of my work, I reentered the work force in my late-40’s very aware of how much had changed since my days in newspaper advertising. During those years our family size doubled, I supplemented our income with a home-based business, we purchased four homes and sold three of them, I educated our children at home through their high school graduation, and my husband retired from his work so we could launch our own small business. And, frankly, I had no interest in going back to work outside our home. My life was full and fulfilling. I had dreams of entering the empty nest phase of life gracefully with my husband before a handful of situations made it painfully obvious that I no longer had that option at that time.

A long-time friend and Pastor at our church was aware of our new situation and called to suggest I consider applying for an Executive Assistant position that was just posted for one of the departments in our church. At the very same time I was talking with him, my husband stumbled across the job posting online in the other room. I hear you, Lord.

After reading the posting, it was clear (to me and no one else) that I was underqualified but agreed to brush up my resume and apply for the position. I thought, “I’ll toss my hat into the ring and leave the results up to the Lord.” Within three days I was interviewed, vetted, and offered the position. I hear you, Lord.

A few days later, I sat at my new desk begging God to help me with what He had entrusted to me. What had I done? What had HE done? Well, He had:

• Placed me in a position of service to people I loved.
• Provided training for areas where I needed professional growth.
• Surrounded me with people that I had worshipped with for the past 21 years.
• Challenged me to trust Him day-by-day, moment-by-moment only to see Him faithfully answer each time.
• Answered a prayer to provide financially for us.
• Showed me again that His timing is perfect.

I hear you, Lord.

Within two years, my oversight recommended me for a position I would never have considered for myself; Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor. In fact, it was a surprise interview of sorts. I sat down to talk with our Senior Pastor about what I loved in my sphere of responsibilities and before I knew it, he was offering me the position. I didn’t even know his current EA was leaving! I mumbled something about how honored I was to be considered and I would pray about it before shaking his hand and walking out the door in a zombie-like state. It was, by far, my worst interview ever! Looking back, I giggle at the thought of the Lord arranging a “surprise” interview because He knows I would have talked myself out of showing up. And if I had, I would have missed out on the most incredible, challenging, rewarding, and Spirit-filled years of my professional life. I hear you, Lord.

So here I am. About to leap into the unknown of a full month of unstructured, unscheduled, and unplanned time. As a fellow Admin, I’m sure you can appreciate the foreign nature of that! Planning is what I do. Structure is where I thrive. Scheduling is how I breath. 

That. That, right there, is the very reason why sabbatical is so necessary.

The Spirit of God has made me;
the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 33:4

Somewhere along the way of mastering the skills necessary to serve with excellence, I started to rely a little less on the Spirit’s lead and depended more often on myself. While I haven’t forgotten that it is the Lord Who gives me breath, life, and fulfillment, the wonder of it all has waned a bit. It is Him who gives me purpose, not what I do. Add to that the difficulties of these past few months and I’m feeling a little crispy. He has arranged this sabbatical at exactly the right time. I hear you, Lord.

So I am headed out to spend time with my loving Father. To grieve the recent losses that I haven’t made enough space for. To feel His warm smile on my face. To receive the extended rest that He has for me. To write. To laugh. To adventure. I’ll hold all that He has entrusted to me with an open hand before Him – willingly offering it to Him for pruning, refreshing, and rearranging to better align with His heart and serve His purposes. That is, after all, my heart’s desire. I’ll be talking with Him and sitting silently with Him. Hearing His voice in an unhurried way. Letting Him remind me…

You are adored.

Over the past several years, I have worked with focus on having a healthier rhythm to my life. The idea of ebb and flow has been a slippery slope for me and it has taken great effort on my part to implement some new ways of living in order to live better. 

We all have busy seasons in our lives. For me when it comes to ministry, it’s the actual season of fall. No matter how well I plan, I find myself in one of these three stages:

Plan

Paralysis

(Perceived) Pandemonium

PLAN- I’m a planner so this tends to be where I shine. Looking at each item on the calendar and dissecting them into bite-sized pieces to get a better picture of the process needed to accomplish the goal. Ahhhh….. Spreadsheets, lists, action items, Outlook calendaring….it’s like pumpkin spice to my organizational mind. And well-worth the necessary time to better manage details and expectations. A good plan helps launch me into productivity even in the face of the busiest seasons. And away I go!

PARALYSIS – Somewhere along the line, even the best of plans can fall short and I find myself staring into the face – actually, the kneecaps – of The Giant. Terrified. Frozen. Stuck. Not sure how to ask for help because it would take longer to explain what I need than simply do it myself. Or so I think.  This, my friends, is where I do not shine! Raising the white flag, sounding the alarm, asking for help is where the Lord continues to work on me. Unfortunately, I have fallen into the trap of thinking that it simply takes better planning on my part to avoid the PARALYSIS stage and this easily leads to a its-your-fault-this-has-happened frame of mind. The truth is that we weren’t made to live solo. That includes my work. I need to ask for help from time to time. And when I don’t, I find myself headed straight for…

(PERCEIVED) PANDEMONIUM – This is typically the “day-of” state of mind where I believe the lie that it will not all come together. The caterer will not show, the linens will not match, the guests will arrive too early, and I’ll be a frazzled mess when it is time to open the doors and welcome them. My optimism is nowhere to be found, my pulse has quickened, and all my mind can see is a movie clip of me running around with my hair on fire. 

But I’m not.

The truth is this is when the Lord surprises me with people who “randomly” show up to see what I’m up to and ask how they can help. This is where the Lord adds time to my day even though 10 time-suckers have been added to it. This is where I find His grace in surprising places and ways.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Psalm 32:8

Oh yeah, this work was His work all along.

That realization – the one that reminds me Who is really in charge – is the realization that kicks The Giant right in the kneecaps. That realization – the one that reminds me Who orchestrated the creation of the entire universe and can certainly handle the little project in front of me – is the realization that takes The Giant down to size and gives me PERSPECTIVE.

As we see the fall season coming around the corner, I pray that you experience excitement over what the Lord has invited you into. That you would look past The Giant to see your loving Father and His plan, provision, and peace each step of the way. I pray that you have His perspective through each moment. May you be fully aware of His invitation to you to participate in the life-changing work He is faithfully doing. I pray that you be fully alert to His love for you. And may you always remember that…

You are adored.

One of the wonderful things about serving with a ministry is the invitation to participate in worship services in the middle of the week. A couple of days ago I joined our staff family in the main sanctuary and was singing along in worship when I practically heard the Lord clear His throat and ask me to listen to the words I was worshipping Him with. It went something like this, set to music of course:

Lord, please let the catering arrive on time.
Is my shirt long enough to cover my rear end?
I can’t forget to add that to my calendar.
Father, does she really want to be my friend?

I was mortified at the realization of what I’d been doing! How could I spend precious time worshipping the Lord with a laundry list of concerns and self-centered self-talk?

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 5: 6-9

The Lord gently caught my attention so I could recognize what I was doing and refocus my thoughts on Him. What a gracious God we serve! Then He also reminded me that I am supposed to bring my cares to Him. In fact, I am to cast, or throw, them on Him. I was troubled about my distracted worship because I believe that God deserves my full attention. However, because I am human, He invites me to throw those distractions, needs, and concerns on Him so that  I can focus fully on Him! He wasn’t bothered by my concerns. He simply wanted me to realize that He had heard me, had them well in hand, and reminded me that I could now fully worship Him without distraction.

Distraction is a tricky thing. It takes our minds and eyes off the One who loves us and has the answers to every question. Distraction leads us into the cyclical pattern of focusing on the problem. Distraction walks us down the enemy’s path of worry and despair. But alertness and soberness bring us right back to center. Watchfulness to the Lord sets us up to be in step with Him. Attentiveness to Him brings clarity. Mindfulness of the Lord builds our courage and confidence in His faithfulness.

So let me encourage you to enter His gates with thanksgiving. Fully cast those concerns on His welcoming, broad shoulders. Drop the temptation to be distracted. Trust Him to care for you as only He knows how. Stand firm in the faith. Then worship Him without reservation. You are His beloved daughter – equipped, called, loved, set apart, planned for, designed, and oh yes my friend –

You are adored.

Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you.
Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you.
~Anonymous

This quote reminds me of the special place we have as Assistants. 

Communication is a two-way street. Sending information out to others has to be done in such a way that it can be received and, sadly, we’ve all experienced communication that was lacking in some way. Missing information or a harsh tone are just a couple of examples of communication styles that can highjack the speaker’s intent. And when it is our turn to listen, we can’t do it half-heartedly or finish sentences for the speaker; we need to be good receivers. 

Time is a necessary component for good communication. 

When I think about some of the excellent communicators of our time, I am reminded of their tone, posture, and cadence. They use these things to set the stage, helping us to understand the importance of the spoken word. Good communicators slow down to carefully deliver the important cargo of information. Taking time speaks value to the listener and, over time, develops a love in them to hear what you have to say.

Likewise, taking time to listen shows value to the speaker. When you have something important to share, who do you want to share it with first? Someone who is going to listen to you! Someone who is going to stop what they are doing and focus on you in that very moment. A good listener takes the time to pause, look the speaker in the eye, and receive in a way that demonstrates value. A good listener will treasure the information as well as the speaker who communicated it. And who doesn’t love to talk with people like that?!

Communication has been entrusted to us and taking the time to do it well not is not only necessary for our roles, it is a tangible way to demonstrate the love of Christ. If you aren’t content with your communication style, start a file of communication examples that you would like to build with. Read books. Listen to podcasts. Use them as templates and tweak them to be personal to you. This is a skill that takes practice, and we can practice it every day with our current responsibilities. And let’s help each other! If someone asks for your input on something they’ve drafted, take a moment and give your honest feedback. Partner it with some helpful suggestions and then stand back to watch how all of us grow!

As Administrative and Executive Assistants, God has uniquely placed us to be speakers and listeners to His beloved. We have the privilege of pausing, focusing our attention on another creation of God, and sharing His love with them. What an honor to remind them…

You are adored.