On grace and mercy with a little bit of justice and humility!

My mind has been tossing around the age old question of which came first - not in regards to the chicken or the egg; but rather in terms of grace and mercy and how they interface.

Grace is something I hear and talk about often.  In fact, in our home two statements often heard are,"Grace, it's a wonderful concept - I really hope it catches on some day!" The other is posted on our wall.

Grace is certainly a good thing to make part of our life.  After all who does not want to receive something we don't deserve (in a good way)?   That is what grace is - extending to others, and even ourselves, forgiveness, love, kindness, hope, a helping hand, etc. that is not deserved. 

I've been the recipient of grace when I snap at someone trying to help me on the phone, yet the person on the other end still interacts with me in a kind and gentle manner.  I've experienced grace often from my husband when I gripe and complain and he listens and replies to what I really need, not what I just dumped on him!   Grace is bestowed upon me by the person with whom  I am very delayed in responding to their email or call, or I arrive late for a meeting and they make time for me as if nothing ever stood in the way.

Recently Micah 6:8 has been showing up in my life over and over again.  "He has shown you o man what it good, and what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

I know this is not the only passage where God tells us what He expects of us.  But  I've found it curious that in this verse we aren't told to love and seek grace, but mercy.  

Mercy- sort of an opposite, yet complimentary act to grace.  Mercy is not getting what we deserve.  Examples in my life of mercy . . .  well first and foremost is the mercy I receive from God - that He does not make me pay the ultimate penalty (death) for my sin, but forgives me through the gift of His Son (that's the grace part).    On a human level, mercy abounds toward me when I exceed the speed limit, or turn right on red when the sign says it is not allowed and I do not receive a citation.

So I've been wrestling with the thought - if God tells us to love mercy, why is that in the Christian community I hear way more messages and thoughts about grace than I do about mercy?  

So far I've come up with a couple of possible answers:

1)  Grace seems easier  to talk about and perhaps even to extend.  We want to be on the receiving end of good, and we may even feel better about ourselves when we get blessings that we do not deserve.  

2)  Grace may be a bit easier to extend than mercy.  We want people to think of us as gracious giving people.  To extend mercy it is often more about our own heart attitude, and not what we do for others to see.  We have to be willing to forgive, forget or move forward to not unload on someone what (we think) they deserve.  Mercy means we let go and trust God.  

Could it be that if we really lived out Micah 6:8 by acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God that we would automatically live lives both filled and overflowing with grace, not to mention the fruits of the spirit?

What do you think?  I know my ponderings may need some tweaking - I'd love to hear your thoughts.  What is easier for you to practice or to receive - grace or mercy?  How can we encourage each other to live out Micah 6:8?

Reflections on Disability and Vegas Part 2

Note:  If you have not yet read part 1 of this post, you can read it here.

In my last post I shared a couple of my ponderings about the Global Access Conference we attended last week.  There is so much more that I could say about that, but maybe another day.  For now I want to reflect a bit on our departure.  

We certainly enjoyed the warmth and sunshine of being near LA.  But alas, Saturday we needed to head home.  We had purposely booked a bit later flight out of LA because it transferred through Las Vegas, and we thought we'd have a better likelihood of making the connection in winter than transferring through Denver or Chicago.  

That theory worked until the one storm of the winter that was predicted to hit Philadelphia, really did hit - the afternoon and evening we were to land.  While still in LA we learned that our flight from Las Vegas to Philly had been cancelled.

As we talked with the airline agent who looked up many options for us to travel to other eastern locations from where we could drive home, there were just no available flights until Tuesday (and that was Saturday!).  We had to make a quick decision whether to stay those three days in LA or take our first leg of the trip to Las Vegas and stay there.  Since we had just turned in our rental vehicles, and really weren't keen on staying in LA the weekend of the Academy Awards - we opted for Las Vegas (where we also thought we could get more reasonably priced lodging and meals).  

While at the airport and in the air we began searching for lodging options and found rooms at a casino that was not right in the middle of everything.  So here we are.  
A team of 7 who just left this amazing impactful Global Access conference now trying to adjust our heads to the idea that we weren't going to be home and back to work, school and our churches for several days, and trying to figure out what God had for us here. 

Our thoughts ranged from who are we to minister to here, to maybe we just need this time to rest, soak up some sun and refortify for the week ahead at home (which for each of us is overpacked!).  We recalled that Nick, one of the Global Access speakers encouraged us to "widen our footprint" as ministers of the Gospel.  Is this why You brought us to "Sin City" God?

We've done a lot of resting, debriefing, walking, and praying here.  The first night as we were considering what to do for church on Sunday Jerry noticed that Nick, the speaker referenced above would be here in Las Vegas next weekend.  One thing we could do (and have done) is pray for fertile soil for Nick's message.  

The most persistent thought as we all observe, ponder and chat is "we don't belong here."  If you are one who enjoys vacationing or visiting in in Vegas please know this is not a judgment on you, but simply our observations.  

• Coming from Global Access - characterized by genuine love and acceptance of everyone and filled with the glory of our God to a place where physical beauty and strength is idolized, sold and equated with love feels so very sad and dark.
• We feel compelled to pray for the people of this city - that they will come to know and understand where their value and worth comes from - their Creator!
• We pray for the pastors, missionaries and churches who are serving here.
• We see children - even babies - here with parents.  Yes there are laws that say only those over age 21 can enter the casino, but trust me they are here.  How can you bring a sleeping child in to a smoke filled dark room full of overstimulating noise and colors?

We have had many wonderful conversations among ourselves and in our worship time together.  Hopefully we'll remember some of these lessons when we still get home.

I am a child of the King, but not this Kingdom!

1)  I haven't really done  good job unpacking and organizing our room and am having a hard time finding things.  I think it's because I realize this location is not where I belong and is not home.  In reality my true home and where I belong is not in Souderton either.  I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God, and my heart yearns for my heavenly home.

2)  Though the sin seems so much more obvious here, the reality is that sin is sin.  There are people in our region of PA that need to know Jesus and His love and purpose for them there as much as here.  

3)  Sunday morning we did church together.  We read Psalm 46 about being still and knowing He is God.  Candy pointed out that in The Message it reads, "Step out of the traffic."  As we looked out the window we could see both car traffic on the roads and people traffic all over.  Yet in the midst of all that "traffic" we together have been able to step out and commune with our God.  

4)  One of the sessions I attended at Global Access was about people with mental illness.  The speaker drew analogies from the way Las Vegas has treated people with mental illness in the past (often called bus therapy - people sent on a bus with no help at the end of the route) to how some churches interact with those with mental health issues.  I've been pondering that a lot.  I've also been thinking of the phrase "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."  As I think about serving people with mental illness and other disabilities I pray the church does not follow the Las Vegas model - let's engage with people even when it's difficult, let's not keep what happens in the church only for those who look and fit in - it's for those outside the doors; and lastly - let's not be anonymous, just aimlessly moving around for personal pleasure.  The days are short - time to get to know people for who they are and invite them to the Kingdom of God!

Lord willing, we will all head home tomorrow.  Please Lord Jesus, help me to remember these lessons you've taught me here. 

Reflections on Disability and Vegas Part 1

Last week, Jerry and I and two of our staff (Candy and Nancy) were joined by three of our volunteers as we traveled to southern CA for Global Access 2015.  Global Access was a gathering of 1000 people from nearly 50 different nations who have a passion for disability ministry.  How amazing to spend the week with people from all over the US and countries like Cuba, China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Cameroon Thailand, Nepal, Serbia, Ukraine, New Zealand, and many others.

It is humbling to realize that though we think we in the US have a corner on disability ministry and it is a reasonably newer focus for ministry,  there are people in Thailand, Jordan, Israel and China quietly and faithfully serving and ministering with those who have disabilities.

It was absolutely beautiful to see people dressed in gorgeous colorful clothing from their country.  Even more beautiful was seeing people with various disabilities both as participants and speakers.  But best of all  . . .  worshipping together.  I wish I had recorded it, but it would still not do justice to hear all these voices singing in so many different languages, of and to one God.  As many said, truly a glimpse into heaven.  The last plenary session of the event included a conga line of people expressing their joy to the Lord as they danced around the auditorium!  You can see a short bit of it by clicking here.

When the conference began there were reunions with people we hadn't seen for many years, some we knew from our very early days in disability ministry; so fun to reconnect.  There was Mary Jane who was my roommate on my first trip to Ghana to deliver wheelchairs in 1994.  In Ghana she was thought to be a "witch" because of the way Cerebral Palsy had taken hold of her body.  But oh how those Ghanaians, along with each of us on the team came to love this precious lady as she shared God's work in her life.

My precious friend Mary Jane

I remember our first night in Ghana.  My luggage did not make it.  We'd been traveling for 2 days wearing the same clothes and now we were in a country not far off the equator.  I was told it would be about 3 days till my luggage arrived.  As we went to our room that night Mary Jane offered me one of her dresses.  Now look at that photo again - even 20 years ago do you think Mary Jane and I wore the same size?  Oh the laughs we shared.

Mary Jane was visiting me the night Jerry first called me at home and our relationship suddenly went from "ministry partners" to something more . . . .  How much fun it was to talk and pray with her about it.

One summer we took the adults with developmental disabilities I was working with on a trip to Colorado.  We camped, but weren't prepared for the cold at the elevations we were at.  We had to make a change.  I called Mary Jane for ideas.  Her idea?  Come to my house - I won't be home but feel free to use it.  So here we pulled a bus into her subdivision and for several nights rolled sleeping bags all over the house and stayed where it was warm an dry after enjoying the sites each day.  Would you open your home to a group of 20 plus people while you weren't home?

What joy it brought my heart to see Mary Jane this week.  I hope I get to see Mary Jane again on this earth.  If I don't, I know I'll see her in eternity - where I may even be able to wear her dress!!!

I tell you those snippets about Mary Jane because she is such an amazing woman who personifies the theme of the Global Access - Where Disabilities and Possibilities meet.  And really that meeting point is love.

The Luke 14 Banquet painting that was created during the conference.

 If you noticed the title on this post it says part 1 and also referenced Vegas.  Check back tomorrow for part 2 which will fill in those details!

What Difference Does an R Make?

NOTE:  This is something I wrote back in 2010; but I still think about the lesson almost every time we get snow. The photos are also from 2010.  For those of you reading who do not live nearby; the snow of the last two days amounted to less than a couple inches in our area.

 

Today I was out shoveling snow (which I've gotten rather good at this winter!) and my neighbor across the alley said, "We needed this snow."

Of course I bit and asked "Really, why is that?"

He replied, "It was starting to look a little dirty"

As I smiled I said, "Then we're going to need some more real soon because even this is beginning to look a little dirty after being shoveled off the alley."

Now don't get mad at me for saying we need more - I didn't really mean that and that's God's department not mine anyway. But - the conversation got me to thinking . . .

Isn't that a lot like my life? I confess my sin to my Savior and He forgives me and washes me clean yet again. But that beautiful clean landscape of my life and heart doesn't stay that way for long. Sin is always crouching at my door, and sometimes just barges right in. When I allow it to do so it dirties up again the cleansing of forgiveness.

Wow - what a powerful lesson the snow is in reminding me of how easily my life can become "dirty" with little and big sins;which are all sin; all leave a mark or some kind . . . I am so thankful for God’s forgiveness and cleansing!

Then the next thought took me to Psalm 51:7 where David implores God to cleanse him and make him "WhiteR than Snow" . . . That’s where the "R" question comes in . . . .

To me snow is about as white and as pure and as clean (early on) as anything I can imagine or have seen, yet David doesn't just say as white as snow, but whiter than snow . . . what does that or would that look like? 

 

Thank you God that You know - and that you make Your saving work of forgiveness available to me over and over and over again.  Thank you that as bright and clean and white fresh fallen snow looks; you make my heart even whiter with your forgiveness.  Have your way Lord!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today, January 25th, my dad (Bill Morris) would have been 87.  If birthdays are celebrated in Heaven he will be celebrating for the 13th year there.  Last week while traveling I saw this sign.  Oh how I wish I could just get in the right lane of the highway and go spend a few more minutes/hours/days/weeks . . . with Dad.

If I could, what would I say?

• Thank you Dad for the way you loved me, believed in me and invested in me.  
• Thank you for building snow ramps for us as we were growing up and always making time to take us sledding (you wouldn't believe how much traffic there is now at the Scudders Falls interchange on I 95 now.  Jerry can't believe we used to sled there!
• Thank you for providing for our family through sound financial management, and the huge garden of veggies you grew each year (wish I had gotten your green thumb!), not to mention your homemade bread and homemade ice cream!
• Thank you for teaching me how to ride a bike, thanks for building us a playhouse, thanks for the times you took me fishing.
• Thank you for teaching me both how to live - with a focus centered on God and others; and how to die - you weren't afraid, you had confidence in your God and the home He had prepared for you.  Thank you for letting me care for you your last two weeks of life (even when you told me you thought I had switched to "the other side" - ha!)
• Thank you for introducing me to the world of disability, and for "doing" disability ministry before it was even a term or idea to pursue.  
• Thank you for your love of missions, and introducing us to so many missionaries, and expanding our world.  
• Thanks for getting up at 3 am to drive me and friends 8 hours to camp and then driving back home the same day; only to do it all again the next week to pick us up.
• Thank you for leaving us notebook upon notebook of the Sunday School lessons you loved to teach (the book of John was your favorite).  How sweet to get to know you and your spiritual life better through reading these.
• Thanks Dad for being a good sport, and though you knew you couldn't sing on tune to save your life, you sang in our Pioneer Girl Talent Show.
• Thanks for bearing with me when I was obstinate, manipulating, or let you down in how I responded to you.  
• Thanks for teaching Jet Cadets and all the great games you did to help us learn the Bible more   and your creative objet lessons - like swallowing flaming cotton balls!(Again, before the programs and curriculums like Awana were even thought about!).
• You'd be so proud of your grandkids and great grandkids.  Those who had the privilege to know you still talk about playing "Yankee Doodle" with you.  Your heritage is being carried on through these incredible "kids."

Dad served in the Navy; this sketch
was done of him in Japan 1944.

I know you weren't perfect Dad.  We still laugh about the times you'd ask Mom or Ginny or me where we wanted to go out to dinner and when we'd tell you where you'd say ok, and then still drive to the place you wanted to go!  We didn't always appreciate your love for cleanliness, structure and order that led us to sometimes vacuum twice a day so there was no hair from our beloved dog King around.  That part of your character also led you to get your High School GED, which was the highest degree you achieved, yet you still were an adjunct professor at Trenton State College a couple of semesters.

I could go on and on Dad, but the last lesson you taught me is the one that Jerry and I still hold close in our hearts.  It's the day you were in hospice at the hospital and rallied your strength for a family meeting.  You made it clear that you wanted the hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul" sung at your memorial service (and we did).  But what stood out was that in your very weakened state you quoted the words to all the verses and told us all, "Never forget the third verse.  People usually skip the third verse when they sing it."  And you went on to quote:
              My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought;
              My sin, not in part, but the whole
              Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
              Praise the Lord, praise the Lord o my soul.
To this day, Dad whenever that hymn is sung Jerry reaches for my hand, and we sing, through the tears and wait anxiously to see if the leader will include the third verse.  Thank you for being sure we understood and accepted the reality of what those words mean.

I love you Dad and I miss you (even more now than when you first went home to Heaven).   One day at the hospital Jerry asked you what you thought Heaven would be like and you (an Industrial Engineer by trade) said, "well, I imagine there has to be a procedure of some sort.  Then maybe I'll sing in the choir."  

When you took your last breath we all smiled (again through tears) saying, "Well he knows the procedure now!"  I look forward to the day you will orient me into the procedure of walking through the gates of Heaven to live forever with the God and Savior we both love! Happy Birthday Dad!

One of my favorite pictures - Mom and Dad
at our wedding rehearsal.  I love the look on Dad's
face - I think it is a mix of amazement, pride, relief
and gratitude that Jerry would take this girl on!!!

Me??? A Creative Side?

When a need arises to draw something or make something that is slightly creative, I usually am the last to volunteer; or more correctly - I don't even volunteer.  My first response is typically, "I can't even draw a straight line."

Recently I've realized that while I still feel that way, I have been expanding my creative horizons.  I am not ready to display or sell anything at The Clay Rat Studio but I am enjoying and even looking forward to my next creative venture.  In case you need a little inspiration to see what you already do, or if you want to kick start a new idea, here are some I've enjoyed.

Cooking - I follow recipes when baking, but when cooking I like to experiment - try a little of this mixed with that and see how it comes out.  Thankfully I have a husband who is willing to try new things and encourages me in this.  There has only been one thing over all the years I've made that we both said, "let's not have that again!" and funny thing - that was made from a recipe in a popular cooking magazine!  In fact right now, I am drooling over the smell of the turkey soup I just made for tomorrow's dinner.

Knitting - as a pre-teen girl my Great Aunt Mim taught me the basic knit and purl stitches.  I never really did much with it,  but over the years when we had summer interns live with us (all from one family) I watched in awe at the amazing creations that seemed to magically fall off their needles as they rapidly clacked together.  So I became inspired and picked my knitting back up; especially with Martha's skillful assistance.  I've now made slippers for all the nieces and my sister and me.  I can make a decent dishcloth and a respectable scarf.  I have dreams of tackling socks - but that may have to wait until retirement!

Sewing - Over the last year when I was able to bring my sewing machine back upstairs in our home I became quicker to do our mending and repairs.  But it was time to do more.  This past fall I made Jerry one new shirt and today cut out another that I hope to sew this week.  What a feeling of accomplishment to see something come together!

Painting - this was a real "out of the box" experience for me.  I had never even dabbled (ha!) in painting other than in high school art class, and I don't believe anything made there ever made it home!  A few years some friends introduced me to "Painting With A Twist" (you can learn about it here.)  While my finished projects will never be mistaken for a Renoir or Monet (though possibly an abstract Picasso - ha!) they've been a lot of fun

and given me an opportunity to bond with friends and family, and also to learn a little bit about shading, and blending colors, etc.  And to be perfectly honest I've also gotten to see how my elementary attempt to follow the directions can be corrected by the skillful instructor's hand (Hmmmm-  sounds like there might be a life lesson in there - you think?)

What's next?  Zentangle  A friend and I read about this a couple years ago and talked about taking a class but "chickened out."  Then I learned that a very creative and artistic friend had learned the art of Zentangle and is now teaching it to others.  So January 17 I am heading to The Craftery to learn a new way to let some creative juices flow.

Besides having fun, meeting and reconnecting with people, and learning something new there is something even more beneficial from these times.  It is the connection with our God who is the very essence of creativity!  One of the things I marvel about is how many greens there are.  I am not talking about money green, or cookie monster green, or green with envy.   When spring starts to come to your neighborhood behold how many shades and varieties of green there are.  I cannot tell that any of the greens in this beautiful earth are identical.  Wow - how can that be?  I feel certain that there are greens that are so deep into rain forests or jungles, or other isolated areas that only God has ever seen them.  How awesome is it that the God who created the universe didn't just use the "Green # 601" but took such delight and care to expand our understanding of green!

As I see God's creativity (and green is jut one way I see it - if you need more convincing of God's creativity contact me; I'd be glad to share more!) and exercise a bit of the creative spark He placed in me I come to know God on a deeper level and can ponder and enjoy the gifts He gives us in fresh new ways.  Thank you God for creating us in Your image that includes creativity.

So tell me - how do YOU exercise your creativity?  Please leave me a comment either here or on Facebook.  Maybe I'll even choose a comment at random and send you one of my Zentangle tiles!

As the Years Turn. . . Part 2

If you have been with me for a while, you know by now that one of my favorite phrases and things to do is to "ponder,"  to weigh in the mind, to think about, to reflect upon . . .   Imagine my surprise then as I was having some personal time of worship with God today -

singing some of the "old" hymns and I saw in a fresh light this line . . . "Ponder a new what the Almighty can do, if with His love He befriends thee."  (From Praise to the Lord, the Almighty written by Joachim Neander)

Well, I already know God has befriended me with His love, so that admonition to "Ponder Anew"sounds like a wonderful theme for my 2015.  

You see, I've known about God since birth, and been a personal friend of His since about age 12 when I accepted His gift of grace and forgiveness.  This rich heritage is indeed a blessing.  At times it is a challenge too.  I can read a passage of the Bible that I have read or heard so many times, I can quote it by heart and tell you the general gist of the meaning and application.  Yet sometimes it stops there - it is almost a rote knowledge that fails to penetrate the depths of my mind and heart.  

So in 2015 it is time for me to Ponder Anew . . .  what I read and hear from God.  To see it in a new light and apply it in a very real and personal way.  It is time to quit manipulating or glossing over or assume the truth I know and instead to start fresh and ponder each passage anew.

I had already been sensing that God was asking me to go deeper into prayer this new year.  As I spent some time today studying and reflecting on prayer (and yes - praying too!) it became very apparent that to go deeper in my prayer life means I also need to go deeper in uncovering and turning from sin.  Well that doesn't sound fun!  Yet I sense it is another place I need to ponder anew . . . 

I wrapped up my worship time with a favorite hymn (written by Kate B Wilkinson) that I think has such depth of application, it seems to be a good way to sum up the frame in which I want to structure my 2015.

May the mind of Christ my Savior live in me from day to day, 
By His love and power controlling all I do and and say.  

May the Word of God dwell rightly in my heart from hour to hour
So that all may see I triumph only through His power. 

May the peace of God my Father rule my life in everything, 
That I may be calm to comfort, sick and sorrowing.  

May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing, this is victory.

May I run the race before me strong and brave to face the foe
Looking only unto Jesus, as I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me as I seek the lost to win, 
And may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.

If you are not familiar with this hymn, "May the Mind of Christ my Savior" click here to hear it.  

Would love to hear about your ponderings . . . .