Freedom-my thoughts on John 11, the story of Lazarus (Part 1)

I had someone tell me recently that I needed to put the devotionals I've been doing on Lazarus "down on paper". Well, I guess in this day and time a blog IS "down on paper"! I'm going to do this in 3 parts, which is how I presented it in devotional time with my staff.





Read John 11:1-16



First, let's take a look at verse 4. "Jesus knew his sickness would not end in death." Okay, now, when I hear that then I take it for face value and believe that he will be made well and NOT die. I feel certain that others thought that as well. Jesus stayed put for 2 more days, then Jesus said, "let's go back to Judea".

The disciples, the brilliant, sweet people that they were, reminded Jesus that those were the very people who had tried to stone him. But Jesus had to go to Lazarus because, in His words, he was "asleep" and he had to go there to "wake him up". Again, these sweet disciples in all their wisdom informed Jesus that if he were only asleep then he would get better on his own. Verse 14 tells us that Jesus had to speak "plainly" to them and tell them that he's dead. He went on to tell them that for their sake He was glad that He had not been there so that the disciples could finally believe. Sometimes He does things that we really don't get so that we will believe. It's not mean...it's parenting...it's teaching...it's compassion.

I love verse 16 when Thomas says, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." I'm sorry, but that makes me laugh out loud. It's hard to say if he was being brave and saying "where you go, we'll go" or if he was being stupid because he was living a woeful attitude of "we're all going to die now...here we go....get the funeral procession in line...dead man walking..."

Not wanting to end with Thomas, let's look back up at verses 9 & 10. Jesus responded to the statement about stoning with this, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." Where are your feet? Where are you walking? What are you facing? Have you given up like Thomas and just decided that you're a dead man walking? Understand, it's not always a physical thing for everyone. How many people are walking around dead on the inside? Terminal....in YOUR eyes; NOT HIS!

Are you walking in the Light? Jesus says in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." I don't know about you, but I'd rather be in the Light where nothing can hide!

Small Pieces, Big Puzzle

Have you ever put together a monster puzzle that has a ga-zillion pieces and you think there's no way that this box of chaos will actually make the beautiful picture that's on the box? I think that's what life is like. We can see the hope of an end result, but we focus (and let's admit it...we obsess too) over the small pieces.

The fact is that each piece has a place. Each piece has a match and in some cases it has matches on every side. There are those edge pieces that will only fit with 2 or 3 other pieces with smooth edges on a side.

Then what if the unthinkable happens? What if you get to the end of the puzzle and there's a piece missing?! *gasp* It's nowhere to be found. It's been left out of the box. Does it mean that the puzzle is incomplete or could it be intentional? Here's what I mean by "intentional" - I love art and I think some of the best art contains hidden elements. Something that makes you hunt, wonder and imagine "what could be".

I think it's important to take life a section at a time. Let God help us with each piece of our puzzle. We know that if that piece has been cut by the Master's hand then there is a match for it somewhere along the way and if you get to what you think is the end of the road and all the pieces aren't there then ask if it's intentional. There may be something that can ONLY be filled and revealed by the hand of God and who would want to try to make some other piece fit that would take that place.

What part of your life's puzzle are you and God working on right now? Trust Him. It may seem like a box of ga-zillion little pieces, but God sees the big picture. He sees the beauty. He sees His Son in you.

To Build or Not To Build

I wrote this while still in Austin, but never posted it!

I'm sitting in a hotel room in Austin (one of my favorite places in the world) watching yet another new building going up in the city. There are people on every level of this 10 story building walking around doing various jobs. It's quite a site to behold. However, as I'm watching all of this motion and industriousness take place I notice that the view of the river is greatly diminished by the addition of the building. I can only see a small part of the river. What little I can see is gorgeous as it's glimmering in the sunlight. It got me to thinking...

How often do we get so busy building up "things" and allow others to help us build it up and all the while we are blocking out our Life Source. Obviously there are things that have to be built; we must work and be industrious for the Kingdom of God. We have to take care of our family. However, we shouldn't do this at the expense of losing our vision. The river was still there, i.e. God doesn't leave us, but He does give us a choice of how we spend our time and resources. It's up to us to use them wisely.

Lord, show me where I've built things up and blocked the vision You gave me. Give me the courage to go where You want me to go and do the things You are calling me to. Forgive me for building anything up in front of You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

One Day At A Time, Sweet Jesus

Remember that song?

One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do
Yesterdays gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time

Been there? I stay there! Personally, I think we all ought to stay in that place. It's humbling. We're a quick fix-it generation. We have access to so many different technologies that makes life so much simpler; however, we shouldn't translate life's functionality over to fixing emotional and spiritual needs. We should always look to God...He is where our help comes from!

I shared a devotional yesterday as I always do on Sunday mornings with my Caregiver staff. It was on Jehovah-Jireh (see Genesis 22:1-19). One of the questions was - "Can you imagine taking the 3 day journey to Mt. Moriah to put an end to that which God had promised?" Wow! That struck me. God stopped the forward progression of the knife in Abraham's hand to keep His promise to Abraham. However, He did not stop the forward progression of Christ's sacrifice so that you and I can have eternal life in Him. What grace!

The next time I feel like I'm on a 3 day journey to Mt. "Whatever", singing "One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus", I hope to remember that God's promises are true. His love never fails. His joy is my strength. Don't worry about tomorrow - it may not be mine. My life is in His hands.

Testimony of Hope

Can I take a moment and share something with you? This is a testimony of hope. I was praying on the way home from church tonight for something that is a great need for me personally right now. It's one of those "in the future" needs, but I'm looking ahead and can't really see how this particular void can be filled so I'm praying! I began to thank the Lord because even though I don't see the answer now I know how faithful He's been in other things. I started laughing out loud as memories of how He's worked things out start rolling in my head. I know the Lord will take care of this need and look forward to how He is going to work it out.

Acts 2:25-28 says, "I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence."

I'm back!

Florida was WONDERFUL! It's just what Lynelle and I needed...a time of refreshing and a time to just be two silly girls in a town not our own. ;-)


We went to a Lifeway Kids Conference. I discovered something about myself. I could come up with a 2 column list of things I've done for other people in a 7 day period, but only 1 thing I had done for myself. I question whether getting a haircut is actually for me or for the people who have to look at me! LOL I hate getting haircuts. I'm not a girly-girl, so to pamper myself is not like me. I think I have to find something I like doing. How does one go about doing that? ;-) Sad.


I loved getting to see all my guys when we got back. I love their affection. Can you imagine how much more God must love our affection when we "come back to Him"?

They are precious to me. They love me when I'm pretty sure I'm unloveable. I'm blessed. Thank You, Lord, for giving me 3 gifts hand-picked by You.

Silly moment for the day...I picked up Sonic for dinner...I know, I know...anyway...I was in the kitchen where the boys were eating and they both had french fries sticking out of their mouths saying "I'm an otter" or "I'm a walrus". Okay, you expect that. I then walk in to the living room where Randy is eating and he has a tater tot sticking out of his mouth trying to be silly. Boys! Gotta love 'em.

Boys Are Different!

I left home on Sunday for a Children's Pastor Conference in Florida leaving my family behind. This is very hard on me! I miss them so much, yet I know this is the right thing for me. It's hard because I feel like I already spend so much time away from them even when I'm in the same city because of church related things.

Monday was the beginning of the conference and I went to an early session called "Nurturing Boys". It was WONDERFUL! The speaker was David Thomas and he's written a few books and has another one coming out that I will definitely buy. He went through the first 4 of 5 stages of the biology of boys. Interestingly, as he was going through Stage 1 (ages 2-4) I leaned over to Lynelle and asked "how is this different from where grown men are now?" No names were mentioned so as to protect the guilty. ;-)

Bottom line...boys are differnt than girls...duh...but it's a wonderful, God-ordained difference. The last section of the notes say "The Mystery of Boys: What They Want". Ladies, ready? Want to know what the boys in your life want? The want to be understood, enjoyed, mentored and (my favorite) celebrated. He said "boys are hungry for voices around them to see their character and call it out". So, as you read this, look around you and see what boys in your life are in "want".

Remember the poem "What Are Little Boys"?

"What are little boys made of?"
Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails.
That's what little boys are made of !

"What are little girls made of?"
Sugar and spice and all things nice.
That's what little girls are made of!

One of the key things that stuck out was the comparison between boys and girls. My encouragement to you is...don't do that! It's not fair. I think the poem is quite sweet as it relates to boys. Think of it...boys are more apt to light up a snail with a fire cracker and pull on a puppy dog tail than to get anywhere near sugar, spice or anything nice...unless it's already baked and ready to eat with a glass of milk! They are curious by God's design. Be thankful for that!