Back in the 1970’s there was a huge craze over knitting and crocheting. I remember my mom with piles of yarn skeins surrounding her on the floor as she sat in her chair diligently counting stitches and loops to make beautiful designs with her crochet needles.

Until there was a tangle.

If you’ve ever dealt with yarn, you know that even the most pristine skein of yarn can have a hidden tangle. That. Won’t. Give. Up! Deep inside the bundle, a hidden knot waits to be discovered, and when it is, everything stops to begin the great untangling. Knitters know that cutting the tangle out of the yarn won’t solve a thing. In fact, it can create its own issue with a disruption in the knitting pattern. Something an experienced eye can spot a mile away! So the only option is to stop and patiently begin to work out the knot…and grab a cup of coffee because it could take a while!

It made me think of our own heart tangles. 

As we walk through life, we occasionally hit a rough patch that can spotlight a tangle in our hearts. Some are fairly easy to unwind but others can take an enormous amount of patience and work to get past. We peer deeply into the mixed-up strands of experiences in order to spot a place where we can begin to loosen strands that are so tightly knotted together they appear to be one giant strand. We may even begin to wonder if they will ever release from one another. And, if it is up to us alone, they might not.

But we aren’t alone in the untangling.

Our loving Father comes alongside us to spotlight a tangle and invite us into the process of healing. It is His loving hands that begin to loosen knots, often revealing others wrapped up inside of what He spotlighted in the first place. Knots inside of knots – tangles inside of tangles – confronted by grace after loving grace. 

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9

Our Father loves us so much that he takes His time. Yes, He could blaze in and rip out the knot. But He is not a Father who creates even deeper wounds. Yes, He could simply speak and dissolve the tangle right where it is. But I think that our loving Father will sometimes choose to take the slower approach in order to spend time with us – demonstrating His perfect love for us – as He works out the tough stuff of life. With us. Every tangle. Together. No matter how many or how deep.

Then once the knots are gone, He continues to weave the beautiful story He is creating with us. Nothing disrupted. Nothing ripped away. Nothing cut off. Instead, he leaves a beautiful pattern of grace and love that people can spot a mile away!

Has the Lord been whispering to you about tangles and knots? Has He been inviting you into the healing process? Are you willing to take the time with Him that He wants to take with you? The Lord has perfect timing and is trustworthy to keep His promise. It might take longer than we want and it might be harder than we expect. But He is faithful and true. Whispering through it all…

You are adored.

I am thankful for you!

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.

What you do matters!

It matters to the pastor and department you support. It matters to our church family who receives the benefit of your work. 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, calendars, 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 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, may we be continually 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.

It had been a day. A day of keeping the gate.

Gatekeepers can get a bum rap. They can be seen as gruff, stern, unforgiving, and waving a sword at anyone who dares to approach! But what I’ve found in the past several years, is that gatekeepers are more of a linebacker / fuzzy blanket combo.

Ask any running back and they will tell you that getting past a linebacker is like getting through a wall. Simply with their presence, they bring solid, immovable defense. They don’t have to be mean or wave swords. They just have to BE who they are – a linebacker. As an Executive Assistant, I have times when I have to plant my feet with a smile on my face and BE. Immovable. Steady. Planted. For the few who believe that a running attack is the best approach toward a gatekeeper, they eventually come to realize that honest, respectful conversation is so much more effective. And it is in that moment that this linebacker gets to break out the fuzzy blanket.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Romans 12:15

Usually, the gate-stormers are hurting and frustrated. They fully believe that they have tried everything else and storming the gate is the last chance they have. To get through. To be heard. To be helped. At this point in their pain, they are willing to create messes because they are convinced that they know best who can help them and are willing to do whatever it takes to get to that person.

As a gatekeeper, it is my responsibility to anticipate their next move, block a sneak attack (with love), and redirect their energy to an honest conversation. With conversation, I get to hear the need behind the action – the why behind the approach. And 99% of the time, I get to be the person who demonstrates the love of Jesus to the headstrong – like a fuzzy blanket – and connect them to the person who truly can best help them.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12

It isn’t an easy task. Gatekeepers are often misunderstood and go home at the end of the day with a little more mud than their counterparts. But the gatekeepers also know the joy of seeing hearts softened, eyes relit with hope, and grateful tears fall. Gatekeepers have the responsibility of partnering with the Holy Spirit to listen and discern the true need hidden beneath the mud. Gatekeepers are patient, wise, and humble. Gatekeepers hear the real message behind the words being used. Gatekeepers highly esteem the needs of others. And when we walk out the responsibilities of this office in the love He has given us, we experience the joy of hearing our Father’s whisper to all of us…. 

You are adored.

As Administrative and Executive Assistants, we tend to appreciate a good plan, and we can find real satisfaction when the execution of that plan is flawless. We can also fall prey to the lie that the flawless execution of a well-thought-out plan is proof of our skill.

Well, maybe….

There is another factor that must be included in this equation known as … the UNknown. Ah, that pesky little variable that can throw even the most seasoned Assistant into a tailspin. The UNknown can be a huge source of frustration as we juggle numerous details and schedules – popping in from out of nowhere. And it is nearly impossible to plan for it because it is, well, UNknown.

So in addition to the perceived security of skillful planning, we must learn to ride the dangerous-feeling waves of the UNknown.

Growing up in land-locked Colorado, I have always admired the skill of surfers. People who know how to read the waves, time the ride, and perch themselves on that board with grace and strength. Amazing! Just a little time in the water will quickly teach any surfer-wanna-bes that the powerful waves are in charge and that is non-negotiable – there is an inherent danger to surfing that each surfer must be prepared for. So they must practice and be a student of the waves in order to be as safe as possible in their thrill-seeking. Surfboards don’t have seatbelts.

Which brings me back to the UNknown elements of assisting. Speaking for myself, and maybe you can relate, I can find false security in my planning. It is so easy to look at my action plans and think that they are airtight, moving ahead in my own strength and skill. Yes, planning is important AND we must be wise enough to include some margin for the UNknown.

In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.
Proverbs 16:9

We need to find ourselves so in tune with – submitted to – the Holy Spirit that when the UNknown presents itself, we innately trust Him to guide each move and lead each response. Riding those waves with skill and confidence as our Lord proves Himself faithful and fully able to help us.

It is thrilling to be invited into the Lord’s work. And, yes, there are times when we feel like we are in over our heads. But we can trust the Lord to equip us for His work; the work He invited us into.

Now may the God of peace,
who through the blood of the eternal covenant
brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will,
and may he work in us what is pleasing to him,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
Hebrews 13: 20-21

You are adored.

I had a friend walk into my office the other day with a surprised look on her face. She went on to say that she had been quietly working, unseen behind a door, when she overheard a conversation. A conversation about her. We all know the awful feeling of having unkind words spoken about us behind our backs. So imagine her delight when she was surprised by the depth of appreciation these two people were expressing about her – not knowing she could hear every word.

Kind words are like honey
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 16:24

What kind of life are we living in front of others – how do we conduct ourselves in the name of Jesus – that gives them something to talk about when we aren’t around? What are people saying behind our backs?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for human masters…
Colossians 3:23

This is not to set an expectation of perfection. None of us are capable of that! There is grace for every mistake and misstep because of the Lord’s blood and His presence with us.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Rather, our lives are to be a reflection and overflow of what the Lord has done in us. We know the list!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

Which brings me to a different point….what are we saying about others behind their backs? Are we being kind, loving and encouraging? Do we offer grace and forgiveness in our own speech? Do we get to be deliverers of surprise blessings to those who overhear us?

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

As Executive and Administrative Assistants, we often work in the hidden places. Unseen spaces of ministry. Quiet moments of intercession. Yet, our words have incredible power to build others up when we let the Lord lead our speech. Is it easy in the face of harshness? No. Is it natural to respond graciously when we are confronted with criticism? No, it isn’t. Which makes it all the more beautiful to be vessels of His grace and reflectors of His love. Those things come straight from the throne room of God, not us. And in our own imperfections, we get to be carriers of the message….

You are adored.

Opposition.

Just writing the word makes me think of “opposite.” The opposite of what I am working toward. The opposite of my heart’s desire. The opposite of what I hope to accomplish. Opposition works against – in the opposite direction of – what we are working toward. And it can be frustrating.

Where have you experienced opposition? Chances are it is closely tied to something you feel strongly about. Perhaps something you even feel called to by God. And when something is that important, we are willing to fight for it – travail for it – press in for it – for as long as it takes. And it can be exhausting.

Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9

Rather than opposition over one specific thing, maybe your opposition is more of a culminative experience; where it feels like no matter which way you turn, you are met with blow after blow. And those blows can add up.

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

I confess that I have recently met my opposition with less-than-stellar responses. I have not considered it pure joy. Instead, I’ve allowed my flesh to flare up and my thoughts to get ugly. Before it has gotten too far out of control, I have felt the Holy Spirit tap me on the shoulder and ask, “Is that really what you meant to think? Is that the response you truly wanted to offer?” Well, if I’m responding in my own strength, yes, that is what I meant. But the real truth of the matter is that I have asked God to refine me into the woman He has created me to be. My Irish fire is part of how He created me and is a gift when directed by the Holy Spirit. My Irish fire is not an excuse to think, say, and act however I want … or in any degree of however I want. 

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6

Two parts of this promise stand out to me:

1. God will not give up on the good work He has begun in me.
2. No matter how long it takes…and it will take until Jesus comes back.

So, while opposition may seem to never give up, neither does our God. No matter how long and hard opposition pushes, our God stands firm even longer with His well-established victory. And, as His children, we can stand too. Learning moment by moment that God holds the victory so we can rest rather than quit.

If you have been tempted to quit in the face of opposition, consider resting. Take a deep breath. Take a long walk. Take a nap. Pausing with the Lord doesn’t take His eyes off the battle, it takes our eyes off the battle and redirects them where they are supposed to be. On Him. And when our eyes are on our Father, it is difficult to forget…

You are adored.

Flies. The pesky ruiners of picnics and peaceful napping! The bane of every on-camera news reporter. The curse of God on the defiant Egyptians…

Not that long ago I was in an area that was swarming with flies – big ones, little ones, and ones that even resembled very small bees. I was equally disgusted and irritated! And I found myself shooing them so much that I couldn’t complete the task I was there for. I was highjacked. By flies!

Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Proverbs 4:25

In that moment, frustrated and flustered, my attitude shifted and I became a bit of a spiritual warrior. You could say that I got a holy attitude! There I stood, in the middle of my situation, verbally rebuking the flies in the name of Jesus! Reminding them that they had no authority, and they were not welcomed there. I let them know that when I arrived, I brought the authority and presence of God with me, and they must go. And they did. It’s not like they all flew out the door in formation, but they just stopped and seemed to disappear. The distraction ended. 

Now, I’d like to say that I fully expected that outcome and calmly went about my task. But the truth is that I was a little surprised! Even more, I was grateful for the relief. The Lord used that experience to gently remind me that He is the Lord over my distractions just as much as He is the Lord over my work. I have the privilege as His daughter to invite Him into both.  

Before you begin composing your response to remind me that even flies are a creation of God and have significant purpose in the circle of life, let me just say that it wasn’t the flies, per se, as much as it was the distraction they were causing! I was rebuking the distraction. What distraction do you need to rebuke today? Maybe it has become so commonplace that it doesn’t really stand out as a distraction – but that is exactly what it is.

Let me encourage you today to pause, pray, and ask the Lord what distractions he wants you to rebuke in His name. Is there something that has snuck in and become so commonplace that you overlook the fact that it is a distraction to the assignment the Lord has given you? Are your hands so busy shooing that they can’t be set to the work entrusted to you? The Lord is waiting to be invited in. He will lovingly step in where He is invited and do what only He can – giving you freedom. Simply because…

You are adored.

The Lord your God wins victory after victory
and is always with you.
He celebrates and sings because of you,
and he will refresh your life with his love.
Zephaniah 3:17 (CEV)

This verse from Zephaniah jumped out at me the other night as I was ending my day. Thinking through each phrase, here is what the Lord highlighted to me:

~The Lord your God wins victory after victory 
–  He is undefeatable.

~and is always with you. 
–  He never leaves me to face anything alone.

~He celebrates and sings because of you, 
–  I bring my Father so much joy that He breaks out into celebration.

~and he will refresh your life with his love. 
–  As the giver of life (my life), His love for me is also the provision of my refreshing.

What a beautiful series of thoughts to dwell on as I drifted off to sleep. It has taken me a while, though, to believe any of these truths. As a young woman, I wanted to believe them but my short-sightedness – focus on my here-and-now experiences – questioned them… 

~He’s undefeatable? Then why did that tragic thing happen?
~He never leaves you to face anything alone? Then why didn’t He answer you (the way you wanted) when you prayed?
~You bring your Father so much joy that He breaks out into celebration? He must have missed that big mistake you made.
~His love is your refreshing? Then why are you so tired?

How are we so easily entangled with lies when the Lord is so clear with His promises? Ah, welcome to humanity! Remember Adam and Eve, themselves, were also duped by the enemy when he simply questioned God’s word in the Garden. He didn’t accuse, he questioned. “Did God really say…” (Gen 3:1). I think that is one reason why it is so important to consistently remind ourselves of God’s truths – His word – His promises – His declarations – what He really says over us. They are the counterattack to questioning. The enemy’s and our own. 

Yes, there are times when we don’t so easily see what the Lord is up to. It appears that He didn’t answer a prayer or forgot a promise. But the longer we walk with Him, we start to discover that sometimes His answer and graciousness toward us is His “no” and His protection might feel like disappointment. And let’s be honest, “no” and disappointment are not things that our humanity seeks out. We want what we want, when we want, how we want. Right? But our loving Father knows what is best for us and is willing to allow our disappointment in the short term to bring His promises to fruition in the long run. 

Insert vision of a child with crossed arms and bottom lip stuck out in a big pout. Yep, that has been me! Anyone else?

So today, I just want to remind us of His truth. I want to remind us of His goodness. I want to remind us that He promises to complete what He has started – in each of us. Let’s remember that He always wins and is always with us. Let’s refresh our memory that He is beyond delighted in us. Let’s allow our holy imagination to think about what it looks like to see God singing and dancing because of us. Let’s allow time to sit at His feet and receive His refreshing love. Let’s dare to take our loving Father at His word. And let’s remind one another that….

You are adored.

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
Proverbs 14:4

I have often heard the scripture above loosely quoted when people are frustrated with others. Something to the effect of, “Without the ox (people) there wouldn’t be a mess (the manger is empty). But without the oxen (strength), there isn’t any ministry (abundant harvest)!” We can all knowingly nod our heads in agreement….all the while realizing that we are the oxen who come with the mess! 

When we have the privilege of walking through life with others for a long time, we will see the bad and the ugly make frequent appearances with the good. It is all-inclusive. We don’t get to cherry-pick the good times and dismiss the hard times like over-ripe produce. In fact, it is in the mess of over-ripe produce – the difficult mess of the ox – that we find those relationships deepened, strengthened, and fortified. And, ultimately, the good times become even sweeter.

These days, I think of this verse a little differently. Please allow my own loose translation:

Without others, life is simple and clean,
but the strength of friendship is what brings
health, growth, and meaningful life.

Who are your people? Who are the ones you trust, and trust you back? Who are the ones who jump into the mud with you, get messy with you, and help you crawl out? Do all you can to cultivate those friendships! These are God’s gifts to us. These are the people whom He often chooses to work through – encouraging us, challenging us, and comforting us. These are the people through whom the Holy Spirit, Himself, will often speak. 

Cherish these gifts. Praise God for these gifts. Invest yourself into these gifts and you will find a sweet and precious return for your labor. In fact, through them, you will likely hear the Father’s voice saying…

You are adored.

Let’s take a little stroll down Hypothetical Lane….

You find yourself in need of clarity on a topic. So you take the time to walk to the appropriate person’s office and have an in-person conversation about it. Good move! You approach the person with a smile on your face and pleasant tone in your voice – setting a non-confrontational stage for the talk. Great! But somewhere between, “Hi!” and, “OK, thanks for your time,” the conversation takes an uncomfortable turn, running it right off the rails, and you end up walking away feeling frustrated, confused, and unheard.

Can I get a testimony?

I’m pretty sure that anyone who interacts with the human race has had a similar experience. A low-key conversation that begins as an opportunity to confirm unity ends up becoming a power play – leaving you stunned and wishing you never started the conversation in the first place. And all because someone was more interested in being understood than taking the steps to understand. In other words, more interested in being heard than taking the time to listen.

Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.
Proverbs 18:13 MSG

This Message translation of this verse makes me laugh out loud. If we are looking for clarity, this will cover it! In all seriousness, though, it is important to pause and truly listen to what the other person is saying. And many times, it has nothing to do with the words they are using. Being a good listener, listening to understand, means we have to stop the internal chatter on how we are going to respond and truly hear what is being said. It means we put down the cell phone, turn our bodies away from the laptop screen, and look into the eyes of the speaker. A good listener pauses to take note of the body language, tone of voice, and evaluate the chain of events that led up to the conversation. A good listener has the maturity and patience to wait. Then a good listener asks clarifying questions to confirm they understand the speaker….and waits again as the speaker responds.

Listening to understand takes time, discipline, and humility.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests
but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3-4

In no way am I excusing rude and selfish behavior. Rather, I am encouraging all of us to take the high road when we are faced with it. The amazing thing about taking the time to understand others is that it will usually lead to YOU being understood as well! The process unfolds to the benefit of both people. 

Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time.
Leave all your worries with him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7

Here is what I try to remind myself in the moment of decision between selfish reaction and humble response:  as I leave all things in my Father’s capable hands, I can trust Him to make things right, shed light on the shadows, and make a way where there seems to be none. If there is contention in a conversation, He will bring understanding as I walk humbly. As I seek to understand the other, He will make a path for me to be understood. I don’t have to strong arm my way into understanding. 

Perhaps you have been in a situation where you have felt misunderstood; a conversation highjacked by discord or frustrated by a verbal power play. I understand. But more importantly, our Father understands, and He desires to bring His holiness into the situation to bring peace and understanding. He is always listening. In fact, He is the best listener with unending patience, infinite grace, and wisdom beyond our understanding. He walks with us through the confusion and frustration and temptation to force our way through the door of understanding and, instead, opens the door for His beloved child. Reminding us that …

You are adored.