Thursday, April 7, 2011
Safe and secure
John 10:27-29 (NIV) 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. If you know me, this probably won’t come as a shock but I lose things. I blame too many to-do’s and not enough time. The fact is that my morning rush includes critical minutes spent in the garage, searching pockets to be sure I have my keys, my debit card, and my cell phone. I used to be one of those people who said importantly, “But I have no desire to always be connected. Who would?” And now my beloved iPhone is like an extension of my arm. I am one of those people who carries it. In my hand. A lot. It’s the world at my fingertips: I don’t have to be alone or lost or bored or stuck for the name of that one movie who starred that one guy and Kevin Bacon. I can totally Google it and let it go. The thought of losing it makes me anxious. I value it. And I know it’s just a thing. It’s only one thing that fills in the blank: I would be lost without (insert whatever your thing is here). And believe me, I know how much more valuable people are to things. I’ve lost some of my people and still reel from the hurt five or ten years later if I think on it too much. The point to this? I value my iPhone. I miss it and I search for it when it’s not secure in my hand. How much more valued are you and I to the one sent to save us at the cost of his own life? How much more careful of us is He than I am with my phone? I’m not sure that my phone feels the love as much as I do. It spends a lot of time in a pocket and has been known to bounce on concrete. Jesus cares for me, so much so that no one and nothing can separate me from him. He sought me and paid a huge price to hold me close. Today is one of those days when I thank God for that love, that high value he place on my life, and for that eternal security. No one can take me from His hand.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Appointed Times
Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV)
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
Over Chick-fil-a cuisine at a recent Marketplace Connection planning meeting, Merry and I talked about the "tyranny of the urgent." I believe I had just mentioned to her that I wanted to do everything, all at once, and right now. I can be like that. Out of necessity, I'm an excellent multi-tasker and can wield a mean list. On some days, this means I'm productive, efficient, and driven, if by driven you mean you can tell by looking at my face not to get in my way because I'm accomplishing things. The honest truth is that I have to really focus to stay in this moment. Focusing too much on the next thing and the thing after that means I can miss what's happening right now. It's hard to see God at work when you can't take your eyes off the to-do list.
You could probably already tell this about me but I'm a really bad waiter. Even more than a planner, I am a doer. My brain tends to turn a problem over and over until I do something about it. Finding the "off" switch is really difficult. For this reason, my plans tend to revolve around immediate action. One of those hard to face truths that's becoming clearer and clearer to me over time is that God's plans often don't. Sometimes immediate action is exactly the wrong thing. Sometimes God's plan requires a wait.
Why do you think that is? Over waffle fries, Merry and I were discussing ways to improve our blog and other social media for Marketplace Connection. Everything we discussed is a good thing, a helpful thing, something that can make a difference in the lives of people around us. Of course, we want to do it all and right now. And we could try to accomplish our own goals right this minute. If I leap into action and try to do this on my own power, the result would be imperfect, stressful, and difficult. God hasn't called us to accomplish the difficult and stressful imperfectly under our own power so instead, we wait. Occasionally (maybe daily), I need the reminder that it's not all about what I can accomplish. Just like everything we do, we want to do it well so that we will be successful in serving and in glorifying God. The busyness and the action plan seem urgent, because they are things we could execute right now, but we can't lose sight of what's really important: God's plan. He has all the pieces we need. We wait for all the pieces to fall into place. It's only a matter of time because we know God is at work. So we wait. We take steps in faith, we wait with expectation, and we prepare.
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
Over Chick-fil-a cuisine at a recent Marketplace Connection planning meeting, Merry and I talked about the "tyranny of the urgent." I believe I had just mentioned to her that I wanted to do everything, all at once, and right now. I can be like that. Out of necessity, I'm an excellent multi-tasker and can wield a mean list. On some days, this means I'm productive, efficient, and driven, if by driven you mean you can tell by looking at my face not to get in my way because I'm accomplishing things. The honest truth is that I have to really focus to stay in this moment. Focusing too much on the next thing and the thing after that means I can miss what's happening right now. It's hard to see God at work when you can't take your eyes off the to-do list.
You could probably already tell this about me but I'm a really bad waiter. Even more than a planner, I am a doer. My brain tends to turn a problem over and over until I do something about it. Finding the "off" switch is really difficult. For this reason, my plans tend to revolve around immediate action. One of those hard to face truths that's becoming clearer and clearer to me over time is that God's plans often don't. Sometimes immediate action is exactly the wrong thing. Sometimes God's plan requires a wait.
Why do you think that is? Over waffle fries, Merry and I were discussing ways to improve our blog and other social media for Marketplace Connection. Everything we discussed is a good thing, a helpful thing, something that can make a difference in the lives of people around us. Of course, we want to do it all and right now. And we could try to accomplish our own goals right this minute. If I leap into action and try to do this on my own power, the result would be imperfect, stressful, and difficult. God hasn't called us to accomplish the difficult and stressful imperfectly under our own power so instead, we wait. Occasionally (maybe daily), I need the reminder that it's not all about what I can accomplish. Just like everything we do, we want to do it well so that we will be successful in serving and in glorifying God. The busyness and the action plan seem urgent, because they are things we could execute right now, but we can't lose sight of what's really important: God's plan. He has all the pieces we need. We wait for all the pieces to fall into place. It's only a matter of time because we know God is at work. So we wait. We take steps in faith, we wait with expectation, and we prepare.
Monday, March 7, 2011
After Hours
Dealing with Difficults and Divas Without Becoming One Yourself
It's true! One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. Whether it's your boss, a co-worker or even a family member, dealing with difficult people is just plain difficult. Come to the next downtown connection to find out how to deal with the divas and the difficults in your world without becoming one yourself.
Thursday, April 28
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.( Arrive early for a time of connection and networking)
Bank of America Building
220 West Capital, 4th floor
(Parking garage attached to Bank of America on 4th Street)
Cost: $10.00
A light meal will be served, Please RSVP marketplaceconnection@comcast.net
Our speaker this month is Patty Crabbe. Patty comes to Marketplace Connection with a workplace history rich in difficult folks. A former radio and television news reporter, Patty also spent a decade in the electric utility industry and several years juggling a career between Oklahoma and Washington, D.C. as the head of marketing for a nationwide education initiative. Patty is currently a part time employee with Little Rock Based Curtis Stout.
It's true! One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. Whether it's your boss, a co-worker or even a family member, dealing with difficult people is just plain difficult. Come to the next downtown connection to find out how to deal with the divas and the difficults in your world without becoming one yourself.
Thursday, April 28
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.( Arrive early for a time of connection and networking)
Bank of America Building
220 West Capital, 4th floor
(Parking garage attached to Bank of America on 4th Street)
Cost: $10.00
A light meal will be served, Please RSVP marketplaceconnection@comcast.net
Our speaker this month is Patty Crabbe. Patty comes to Marketplace Connection with a workplace history rich in difficult folks. A former radio and television news reporter, Patty also spent a decade in the electric utility industry and several years juggling a career between Oklahoma and Washington, D.C. as the head of marketing for a nationwide education initiative. Patty is currently a part time employee with Little Rock Based Curtis Stout.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Social Networking
Romans 10:14-16 (NLT)
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"
I celebrated a birthday last month and I was lucky enough to have plenty of help celebrating. I got two emails, two blog comments, multiple posts on my Facebook wall, three phone calls, several actual folded-in-the-middle birthday cards, and the rarest of the rare, a card in the mail with a STAMP and everything. And that wasn't even from my insurance agent! I also had at least three birthday cakes. Thank goodness those have no calories.
Thanks to all our social networking opportunities, our friends are no longer limited by time or distance. Marketplace Connection's goal is to support and encourage women in the workplace and to help them build relationships, make connections, and reach people for Christ. To do that, we have events, small group Bible studies, mentoring, a blog, a Facebook page...all to serve women in central Arkansas. We focus on the workplace because it's a mission field for each of us, a place where we spend a lot of time. But your mission field isn't limited to your 9 to 5. Now, thanks to the wonders of technology, we can reach old friends, new friends, neighbors, family members, and coworkers past and present.
Whether it's through a brown bag Lunch and Learn with helpful information on business topics or an opportunity to take advantage of your lunch hour with a Bible study, Marketplace Connection wants to help you make a connection. We want to help you grow so that you can reach out and encourage the women around you. Of course, the success of that connection as well as each event we plan depends on your willingness to take the first step: invite a friend.
It isn't always easy to make that invitation but it's important. If you're like me, a lack of time and too many demands can really narrow my focus. I think I'm too busy or my friends are too busy or, for some reason, now's just not the right time and the next time will be better. The truth is that the next time will look a lot like this one. It really doesn't take a lot to discourage me from stepping out like that but I can't ignore the reason I'm here.
The leadership team of Marketplace Connection met last month to make plans for 2011. We're going to make a few changes without sacrificing what works. Our goal is to serve God in all that we do and we have some great things planned. I'm going to start now praying for that name, the one that God has identified for me to reach, so that I'm ready for the next opportunity. Will you join me?
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"
I celebrated a birthday last month and I was lucky enough to have plenty of help celebrating. I got two emails, two blog comments, multiple posts on my Facebook wall, three phone calls, several actual folded-in-the-middle birthday cards, and the rarest of the rare, a card in the mail with a STAMP and everything. And that wasn't even from my insurance agent! I also had at least three birthday cakes. Thank goodness those have no calories.
Thanks to all our social networking opportunities, our friends are no longer limited by time or distance. Marketplace Connection's goal is to support and encourage women in the workplace and to help them build relationships, make connections, and reach people for Christ. To do that, we have events, small group Bible studies, mentoring, a blog, a Facebook page...all to serve women in central Arkansas. We focus on the workplace because it's a mission field for each of us, a place where we spend a lot of time. But your mission field isn't limited to your 9 to 5. Now, thanks to the wonders of technology, we can reach old friends, new friends, neighbors, family members, and coworkers past and present.
Whether it's through a brown bag Lunch and Learn with helpful information on business topics or an opportunity to take advantage of your lunch hour with a Bible study, Marketplace Connection wants to help you make a connection. We want to help you grow so that you can reach out and encourage the women around you. Of course, the success of that connection as well as each event we plan depends on your willingness to take the first step: invite a friend.
It isn't always easy to make that invitation but it's important. If you're like me, a lack of time and too many demands can really narrow my focus. I think I'm too busy or my friends are too busy or, for some reason, now's just not the right time and the next time will be better. The truth is that the next time will look a lot like this one. It really doesn't take a lot to discourage me from stepping out like that but I can't ignore the reason I'm here.
The leadership team of Marketplace Connection met last month to make plans for 2011. We're going to make a few changes without sacrificing what works. Our goal is to serve God in all that we do and we have some great things planned. I'm going to start now praying for that name, the one that God has identified for me to reach, so that I'm ready for the next opportunity. Will you join me?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Essential Thing
Luke 10:38-42
As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."
The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her."
I can really identify with Martha in this story. I will freely admit that I am no cook, no gracious hostess, and have no real affinity for that other Martha, the design guru Martha Stewart, but once a year, for the most important holiday, I put on my chef’s hat, bring my house up to scratch, and lay out cloth napkins. It’s Christmas, it’s tradition, and it’s important to me.
And it makes me crazy every year. I love gift giving, every piece of it. I heartily dislike preparing the Christmas meal, nearly every piece of it, but I hold on to it because tradition is so important to me. I want my family around a table, and even though it hurts to see who’s missing, I want to have my grandmother’s candy and my mother’s fruit salad. One aunt brings dressing made from her mother’s recipe and the other brings sweet potato casserole. Some important pieces of my family are missing but we remember them at that table.
So I identify with Martha. There’s a lot to do when you’re hosting an important dinner. I’d think anything where Jesus attends would fall into that category. And there is no way for Martha or for me to attempt something like that without a list. We are planners. We are doers. We accomplish things, big things, because we have to. And we stress ourselves out over the details. We have to. Martha went to Jesus and asked for help. I muttered under my breath about people who have to stand around in my tiny kitchen while I’m trying to get the food magically ready at eleven o’clock on the dot.
I always fight the urge to mutter at Christmas. I feel like what I’m doing is important but maybe unappreciated. After all, weeks of work is destroyed in about two hours total. This year, to combat that, I started thinking about all the memories I made in the process: cooking a beautiful turkey all by myself for the first time, watching my nephew exclaim over his gift from me of two two-liter bottles of Coke (and an iTunes card, but apparently teenage boys like a lot of junk food), catching up with an old family friend who dropped in. It would have been easy to miss all this in the detailed demands of hospitality.
I think the world requires Marthas, but I don’t think any Martha can be happy or successful without grasping the important truth Jesus teaches here. There is a time for lists and details, but there is a time to let all that go and grasp what is important, what is fleeting, what is memorable, what really matters.
I think I’ve decided not to make any resolutions this year. It’s difficult because I like a good list. After all, the journey of a thousand miles should begin with a very thorough itinerary in my opinion. What I want to do instead is do my best to remember Mary and Martha. I will always be Martha, but I don’t want to let what is essential slip through my fingers or be pushed out of my cluttered, to-do-list driven mind. I can’t call it a resolution. That almost dooms me to failure, but I like this time of year when everything seems possible and new beginnings are expected. Instead, I’m just going to make a decision to fuss less and keep my mind on what is essential. That could really be the most difficult resolution to keep of them all.
Maybe I’ll just jot down “Remember Mary” at the top of every list I make…
As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."
The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her."
I can really identify with Martha in this story. I will freely admit that I am no cook, no gracious hostess, and have no real affinity for that other Martha, the design guru Martha Stewart, but once a year, for the most important holiday, I put on my chef’s hat, bring my house up to scratch, and lay out cloth napkins. It’s Christmas, it’s tradition, and it’s important to me.
And it makes me crazy every year. I love gift giving, every piece of it. I heartily dislike preparing the Christmas meal, nearly every piece of it, but I hold on to it because tradition is so important to me. I want my family around a table, and even though it hurts to see who’s missing, I want to have my grandmother’s candy and my mother’s fruit salad. One aunt brings dressing made from her mother’s recipe and the other brings sweet potato casserole. Some important pieces of my family are missing but we remember them at that table.
So I identify with Martha. There’s a lot to do when you’re hosting an important dinner. I’d think anything where Jesus attends would fall into that category. And there is no way for Martha or for me to attempt something like that without a list. We are planners. We are doers. We accomplish things, big things, because we have to. And we stress ourselves out over the details. We have to. Martha went to Jesus and asked for help. I muttered under my breath about people who have to stand around in my tiny kitchen while I’m trying to get the food magically ready at eleven o’clock on the dot.
I always fight the urge to mutter at Christmas. I feel like what I’m doing is important but maybe unappreciated. After all, weeks of work is destroyed in about two hours total. This year, to combat that, I started thinking about all the memories I made in the process: cooking a beautiful turkey all by myself for the first time, watching my nephew exclaim over his gift from me of two two-liter bottles of Coke (and an iTunes card, but apparently teenage boys like a lot of junk food), catching up with an old family friend who dropped in. It would have been easy to miss all this in the detailed demands of hospitality.
I think the world requires Marthas, but I don’t think any Martha can be happy or successful without grasping the important truth Jesus teaches here. There is a time for lists and details, but there is a time to let all that go and grasp what is important, what is fleeting, what is memorable, what really matters.
I think I’ve decided not to make any resolutions this year. It’s difficult because I like a good list. After all, the journey of a thousand miles should begin with a very thorough itinerary in my opinion. What I want to do instead is do my best to remember Mary and Martha. I will always be Martha, but I don’t want to let what is essential slip through my fingers or be pushed out of my cluttered, to-do-list driven mind. I can’t call it a resolution. That almost dooms me to failure, but I like this time of year when everything seems possible and new beginnings are expected. Instead, I’m just going to make a decision to fuss less and keep my mind on what is essential. That could really be the most difficult resolution to keep of them all.
Maybe I’ll just jot down “Remember Mary” at the top of every list I make…
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