John 14: 1-3 Do not let your hearts be troubled, Trust in God, trust also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you! I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

I can’t help it…..

It’s been a life long issue…

But no one has given me a legitimate reason to stop… I dare you to try …. you won’t convince me…

Yep , It’s true….

Here it is…. the ugly truth about this pastor’s wife, mother of 3, lipstick peddling woman you see walking her little black dog ….

I get 3 maybe 4 chapters into any book……

 and ……..

I flip to the end,

 the last chapter…

 and I read it.

  I learn who lives, who dies, who wins, who loses….all before I read…. the middle.

Now…. before you judge too harshly… I do go back.  I read the middle. But when I do.. I’m more relaxed because I know the end.

The middle… its always gotten kind of bad wrap…

The middle child….

The middle of any task… far enough out you can’t see the start but too far to see the finish…wether its a college class, a home improvement project,  a diet, a debt management program, ….. it’s just not fun….

Tom and I were in a leadership training program many years ago… and I specifically remember getting a pep talk when we were ….. in the middle.

I once ran a 1/2 marathon…. and the hardest part…. the middle.

And now here we are in the Middle of what some claim will be over in a few weeks and others use months as their measuring stick. I keep hearing the words “if we just knew when it would end….”

Well…..In just the length of a 5 minute phone conversation with a friend and customer from California…my whole perspective has changed….

on The Middle.

This friend has had many changes in her professional life… she has switched positions and is in the transition time between the old and being completely settled into the new….. she’s in The Middle.

She shared a comment that her pastors wife  made about her current season… The Middle.

“The Middle” she said “what a fun season.  It’s where you feel God’s love the most.”

Wait…. sit on that for a minute.

The reasons I don’t like the middle…

I’m not at the start where I feel like I can still back out and I’m not at the end where I can look back at the experience and celebrate.  Really the middle is the part where circumstances are less sure, confidence may falter if the end seems too far, there may not be any outside evidence that the road I am on is worth it.  I want to flip to the end… read the conclusion and be done.

Nobody Instagrams on the middle….

The Middle… it’s the faith part.  The part where all outside assurance may feel far away….

and that is where the gift is hidden and ready to be found if we open ourselves up, stop flipping to the end and wait for the revelation…

The gift of the Middle… which is just what the wise pastors wife said ….. the awesome revelation of the presence of God. Isn’t that what God wants? For us to be completely aware, and in awe of his amazing presence. To feel the abundant love that is available everyday ….

but for some reason… it takes leaving shore…. heading to a distant land…. and a good chunk of time in the Middle to realize its been there all along??

He has shown us the end and it is so good. He has promised us that he is preparing a place for us. Changing the sheets, fluffing the pillows. A place where we will live with him forever. No tears, no sorrows no COVID-19. Ahhhhh…..but for now, we wait in the Middle.

so….I’m not sure if I’m a transformed book reader… I may still, from time to time, flip to the end…

but the big stuff, the life stuff, the Middle stuff… the stuff between the starts and the finishes…

I’m looking at in a new, fresh way….

Can’t wait to see what I’ve been missing…

Loving you where you are and pointing you forward to where he is,

justbeth:)

Matthew 6:27-29,30

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow? They do not labor or spin. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you?

Have you forgotten? I did. I actually really did.

In the midst of my calendar being swept clean of literally everything… I some how thought EVERYTHING had stopped. The whole world put on pause meant that not only ball games, and choir concerts, and gatherings of more the 10 and graduations and weddings and trips to the mall and friends over for dinner… BUT I also believed that another important event was put on hold.

I’m so glad I was wrong.

Last week as I walked my little black dog around the quiet campus of our high school I was stopped in my tracks. Could it be? I needed a picture so that when I got home I could prove to my family that it was true but had left my phone at home. I went back later to gather the evidence that one of my favorite parts of the year HAD NOT BEEN CANCELLED or impacted by COVID-19. It may seen ridiculously obvious but for me it was the evidence that my HOPE is secure in the hands of the creator of both heaven and earth.

Friends – it is coming and it cannot be stopped. The proof is all around us . I saw it on my walk with my dog. One beautiful yellow daffodil. It appeared to be glowing. It was so beautiful. Yes – this event that can’t be denied or stopped?

SPRING.

The breaking out of a cold, dark winter. The onset of color, and light and hope. The opportunity to nurture growth in flowers and vegetables. It is one of my favorite times of the year.

SPRING.

It reminds me that we are making forward progress. Jesus points us to the flowers in our verse today. If God will take care of the flowers that last for a short season he will most certainly take care of us – right?

SPRING.

He shows us in his creation that despite days of intense cold and heat he sustains us.

SPRING.

He displays his glory as His creation fills our vision. How good that the season when we all are taking more moments to get outside and walk corresponds with HIS season of decorating our path with budding trees and flowers. Greening grass and leaf filled trees.

SPRING

Its funny. 2 weeks ago – on a trip to Texas- I had seen spring. I had felt spring. Their flowers were in full bloom, the air was warm and the scent screamed – SPRING! So why when I saw the first flower blooming did it take me by surprise? Why would I think God would gift one area with this beauty and not mine?

Wow – such a reminder that I need to see God in MY world, in MY life, on MY walks, in MY home. I need to see him in a way that clearly says I’m with YOU. Friends – you need that too.

How are you seeing God’s provision in each day? What evidence do you have that he will sustain you through this season? It can be so easy to forget that the provision we see God give to others is also true for us. There are days I have to shift my gaze off of the way He is with my friends and neighbors lives so I can clearly see him in my own.

Enjoy your walk today. Look for your own evidence that Spring is coming. Ask God to open your eyes to his abundance all around you. Be prepared to be amazed.

Loving you where you are and pointing you forward to where He is,

justbeth:)

Matthew 18:3-5. TPT. Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a chid, you will never be able to enter in . Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this gentle child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm. And if you tenderly care for this little one on my behalf, you are tenderly caring for me.

“Carry me!”

If you’ve ever walked any distance with a child you have most certainly heard these words. Tired little legs, hungry tummy, interest in the journey long gone.

Weary.

Overwhelmed.

Done.

“Carry me!”

And if you’ve ever walked a distance with a child, and you’ve heard those words – you have most certainly obliged. You have indeed picked them up. You instantly recognized the length of the journey is more than the power of the small body. You know the journey is really….

too much,

it’s too far,

it’s too hard for this little one to make it on their own.

Ever feel like that? Like maybe today? As you’ve work to navigate our times that keep being referred to as ” UNPRECEDENTED” – because they are. As you wake up to the reality that the last 2 weeks are not just a dream. Ready for someone to carry ……you?

Jesus – he tells us in Matthew 18 to become like little children. He wants us to run to him like a weary child on a long walk. He invites us to lift our arms in surrender. He longs to hear the words out of our mouths to his ears….

“Jesus – Carry Me”.

And he will. His track record is clear. What was promised about him by the profit Isaiah hundreds of years before he walked the earth he proved over and over again.

Matthew 8:16-17

Jesus drove out spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the profit Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and CARRIED OUR DISEASES.”

Tired?

Burdened?

Weary?

His arms are strong. Child, Run to him today.

Loving you where you are and pointing your forward to where He is,

justbeth:)

Yuck Night: a middle schoolers dream Church youth group event. Did you know I used to be a youth minister? Yep. I’ve slept on gym floors. Driven vans full of adolescents to ski trips and retreats. I’ve lead bible studies where kids looked at me like I had 3 heads. I’ve organized fundraisers and cooked a boat load of spaghetti.

And I’ve hosted YUCK NIGHTS.

You think of a gross game involving raw eggs, chocolate pudding and marshmallows and we probably played it. The kids had to sit on garbage bags on their way home to protect the interior of their parents cars. It was gross, disgusting and fabulous. We all loved it.

Like any good church group youth event we kicked off the evening with a short devotion. There is no better Yuck Night Theme story then the account of Jesus healing the blind man in John chapter 9.

v. 6. Then Jesus spat on the ground and made some MUD with his saliva. Then he anointed the blind man’s eyes with the clay. And he said to the blind man, “Now go and wash the clay from your eyes in the pool of Siloam.” So he went and washed his face and as he came back he could see for the first time in his life.

MUD IN HIS EYE. Spat in the ground with his saliva. Now thats gross. But Isn’t it awsome? You can bet he had the mans attention. I’m guessing the blind man was probably a jr high teacher. Why else would he be on board with mud made from spit touching his eyes;). Well that and he was probably open to anything that promised his sight to be given… for the first time in his life. Great need drives great obedience. He willingly let Jesus wipe mud in his eyes and

He.

Was.

Healed.

Friends. We are all… ALL …. in a season of great need. We all… ALL….are being asked to learn new things, live new normals and it’s just so darn uncomfortable. I can’t help but think our Savior, our spit in the ground and rub mud in your eye Jesus, wants to work some healing into our eyes, into our hearts into our lives. He is allowing us to get to a place where we are open to HIS plan for peace not ours, HIS wisdom for our path not ours, His willingness to do anything….

Anything to get us to our best good and HIS GLORY.

When the disciples asked Jesus whose sins had caused the mans blindess, his own or the sin of his parents – Jesus answered:

“Neither, It happened to him so that the miracles of God might be displayed in him.”

God wants to show us his best stuff. He wants to display his miracles, his strength and his power. As we head into another week of new normals… let’s expect Jesus to show up, to teach us, to heal us, to grow us, to make us new… even if it requires a little spit in the dirt and a mud mask for your eyes. The results will be oh so worth it.

Loving you where you are and pointing you forward to where He is,

justbeth:)

26 days into Lent.

What have you learned?

What have you let go of?

What have your gripped tighter?

How is Jesus more real to you today?

Where do you need him to be more real tomorrow?

May Jesus be your light, your wisdom, your guide. May he be the power behind your every YES and your every NO. May you trust him in your everything.

justbeth:)

Pull out your notebook, your best pen… start writing …start listening… God wants to speak to you today.

Matthew 11:28

NIV: New International Version

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

AMP: Amplified Version

Come to me, all who are weary and heavily burdened ( by religious rituals that provide no peace) and I will give you rest ( refreshing your souls with salvation.)

ERV: Easy Reader Version

Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.

TLB . The Living Bible

Come to me and I will give you rest – all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke.

The Passion Translation

Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.

The Message Version

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

GO ahead… carve out some time. Write the words. Pray for the Holy Spirit to open you heart to what God wants to communicate with you.

And if you have an extra minute… I’d love to hear what he had to say.

justbeth:)

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me and I will give you rest- all of you who work hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke- for it fits perfectly – and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens.

It happened again this morning. I woke up. Looked at my watch. Remembered what day it was. Then I immediately ran through my mental calendar and asked the question “Do we have anything tonight?” As a parent of an active high schooler, business owner and volunteer at church and school – the answer is usually “Yes”. I love all the activity yet on the days when I can answer NO I feel a sense of “ahhhh…. Home.” So this morning…. like the rest of the mornings of this last week… I silently asked myself the question…”Do we have anything tonight?” and , like you, the answer was NO. And I’m just not used to it yet.

I touched base with some members of my business team yesterday. Based on their answers to ” How are you doing?”, I think many of us are feeling the challenge of working through and into our new normal. Our eerily open calendars, our frequent thoughts of toilet paper and when is the predicted run out for our home and how the heck are we going to find more. Our workload, that for many, has increased in this season of running businesses, classrooms, families in a new format. Friday of the first week of this craziness and I’m sensing in myself and others … some weariness.

As we wrap up week one. and head into a weekend ( which will honestly feel a lot like the week!)… I am reminding my self of Jesus words, “Come to me…and I will give you rest.” These words help me release the tension in my shoulders and breath out a long exhale. This race, it appears, will be a marathon and not a sprint. Jesus is calling…

Come to me….

Come to me….

Come to me…..

Come to me…..

Every minute of all our days, all our questions, all our worries, all the news updates,

All.

The.

Things.

He promises REST.

Go to Him… I’ll meet you there.

Loving you where you are and pointing you forward to where He is,

justbeth:)

Isaiah 30:20-21 TPT

Even though the Lord may allow you to go through a season of hardship and difficulty, he himself will be there with you. He will NOT hide himself from you for your eyes will constantly see Him as your TEACHER. When your turn to the right or turn to the left you will hear his voice behind you , to guide you saying – this is the right path , FOLLOW IT.

I can just bet every single person reading this has learned at least one new skill in the last 7 days. Not necessarily because you wanted to.. but because it has become a necessary survival skill. Many are learning how to work from home. Parents are learning how to teach their children – many balancing work and teaching. Teachers are learning how to teach virtually and create content to effectively communicate their message. Churches, businesses, restaurants have all been forced to pivot in their processes to continue sharing their messages and their products. For many it is shift or die. Learning has become a must.

I too have spent a chunk of time on phone calls, and zoom meetings as I transition my business to 100% virtual based as well as a bible study I help lead. We have discussed techniques and strategies to help us not only survive this season but to thrive in it. I have brainstormed with peers on voxer and text messages. I have listened to podcasts and read blogs about how best to navigate. It has been both exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. I believe many of our brains that have been on auto pilot have woken up. To be honest … despite the daily challenges we encounter.. I have to admit part of me is pretty darn excited about the whole thing. And I think God is too.

Ok ok.. no … I do not think that our faithful, loving father delights in our suffering. I do believe he promises to show us his ultimate comfort in these times. I don’t think he enjoys our struggle.. but he does promise to show us the way through them. Way back in Isaiah – the book of the bible with the most prophecies of the coming Messiah Jesus, he gives us a picture of the both our roles and his when adversity hits.

First – we must acknowledge that God is fully aware and was fully aware of the season we are in. and he is allowing us to walk through it. He has the power to stop this virus today… but he is allowing it and us to run its course – and I believe learn some important lessons along the way. Isaiah 30:20 states – EVEN THOUGH THE LORD MAY ALLOW YOU TO GO THROUGH A SEASON OF HARDSHIP..

Second – OUR ROLE: We are to GO THROUGH – not stop, not hide, not pretend like nothing is wrong… and as we walk we are to LISTEN and to LOOK…. listen to our guide, Look to our worthy leader and TEACHER….because

THIRD – GOD’S ROLE: His role is to be with us and TEACH us….” HE HIMSELF WILL BE THERE WITH YOU, HE WILL NOT HIDE HIMSELF FROM YOU – FOR YOUR EYES WILL CONSTANTLY SEE HIM AS YOUR TEACHER – WHEN YOU TURN TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE _ BEHIND YOU – TO GUIDE YOU SAYING THIS IS RIGHT PATH – FOLLOW IT.

When I was in college one of my professors said the greatest tools to prevent burnout and discontent in our future careers was to willingly participate in advance learning – by attending conferences, reading books, pursuing excellence through education in our profession or craft. Friends – I believe this can be one of the most exciting seasons of our lives. I believe we will be smarter on the other side. I believe we can eliminate much of our stress if we embrace the truth that God has put us each in a classroom, where he promises to show up and provide the wisdom we need. Pray for it . Look for it. Listen to it. The questions about how to take your business to the next level, better impact your students, share the gospel to the unchurced, understand your children, love your spouse.. they’re about to be answered as we participate in this laboratory called LIFE. Will we have days of frustration when the answers feel fuzzy and far away? – yes. Will we want to plop ourselves and our children in front of movies all day to escape? – yes. Do we have a loving God, a TEACHER we can trust that will invite us back into his classroom, his path for our lives and tell us which way to go? 1000% yes.

Friends – I hear the class bell ringing. Lets go.

Loving where you are and pointing you forward to where HE is,

justbeth:)

John 11:11

Then Jesus became explicit: “Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn’t there. You’re about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let’s go to him.”

John 11:33-35

When Jesus saw Mary (sister of Lazarus) sobbing and the Jews with her sobbing, a deep anger welled up within him. He said, “where did you put him.”  “Master- come and see,” they said. NOW JESUS WEPT. 

I shed many tears yesterday. They started in my sons dorm room. The one we cleared out. The one that should have stayed full of his scattered clothes, books and games he plays weekly at his dorm room Friday night game night – until May. 

It continued when I learned that our schools Norweigan students had decided to leave – all 30 of them. Their departure would occur while I was out of town- moving Jonah out the above mentioned dorm.  No in person goodbyes. No opportunity to give them American goodbye presents. No time to bake them cookies. A pic and text on FB messenger would have to suffice. 

Finally – I learned our High school ( like many) would move to online classes. The impact here is different though. Many of our students live in dorms- and these amazing people- would be going home – not to different houses in the same community. They went to different states. Different countries. Many of my daughters friends. Her peer group. The ones that have filled my house for movie nights and prom preparation. Meals and bonfires.

Just. 

Like .

That.

I cried. I mourned. I was angry.

You see – a mommas heart- it just feels 1000% times more  for their children then the average person.  When something starts to impact my kids- all bets are off. So- yesterday I felt all the feels for my young adult children. All of them. 

And Jesus says that’s ok.

One of the most comforting verses in the Bible is also the shortest.

Jesus wept. 

On the news of the death of his friend Lazarus- he wept. Jesus- the man who could have healed his friend – and didn’t – wept. He showed us his humanity and gave us permission to feel all the feels when life takes things from us unexpectedly. 

What I also love about this story is that Jesus shows us purpose in this hard. He moves onto the scene in what appears to be a “too little – too late” scenario and displays his glory.  After Lazarus has been prepped and buried- Jesus raises him….

From

The 

Dead. 

He takes what all thought was lost and shows – ITS FOUND! He is alive.  Not long before he would go to the cross and be raised from the dead himself – he gave a clear view into his healing power. 

Friends- God has a plan. Just like he did in the death and resurrection of Lazarus – he does now as well. 

We are in the waiting season. We will have days of mourning. We will have moments of anger and frustration – but we do not have to lose HOPE. 

As I woke up today with another new normal- I read an Insta Post from one of our high school Students- one that I had cried for yesterday- and it made me smile. It renewed my hopeful spirit. If she can shift her attitude – then so can I. 

If you need to cry, Cry. 

If you need to vent, vent.

But I encourage you to take it straight to the top- straight to Jesus who says “I know”, “I’ve walked your road before and I’m with you in this now.” 

Let the tears flow…

Loving you where you are and pointing your forward to where He is,

Justbeth:)

LENT:day 21: Jesus says YES to today. Period.

Matthew 6:34 MSG

Give your entire attention to what God is doing RIGHT NOW… and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. 

FUTURISTIC-it’s one of my top 5 Stengths on the CLIFTON Strengthsfinders assessment. Def: 

This tool helps people discover what actions come naturally to them. The idea is to focus on spending the most time in your strongest talents. It’s fascinating and I highly recommend the book and the assessment http://www.cliftonstrengths.com

My natural bent everyday of my life, including the current season, is to think ahead, to  vision cast for my self and everyone around me. It’s exciting and gives me hope as I move through each day. I look to the future and say —- let’s go!!! 

So this week—- this crazy, topsy turvey week has me feeling a bit challenged. It feels like the beautiful table of events and plans I’ve set each night for the next day has been flipped on its side scattering everything – everywhere. The proverbial rug pulled out from under my meet. I’m trying to find solid, stable ground and I’m just not finding it.  I know you are feeling it too. 

 As we look at Jesus words today- he gives us some really good, let’s be clear, the best advice for finding our footing on some ground we can depend on. 

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing RIGHT NOW.”

Where are you seeing God’s provision – RIGHT NOW?  Had you already stocked up on toilet paper before the world went crazy? Are you seeing a time with a quieter schedule as a gift?  Are you already appreciating your work and your family and your daily grind more? That’s a God perspective and that only comes from him. That’s HIS provision. With each revelation of HIM in real, practical ways our ground becomes more stable, our next steps more clear. 

I am quite certain God is trying to get our attention. He has cleared ALL of  our schedules – the entire worlds- and he’s saying LOOK AT ME. RIGHT NOW. Stop worrying about tomorrow – we will deal with that when we get there.  

Today- start your list of God Moments. The gifts of the season. The things you can see only if you’re paying attention- RIGHT NOW.   Share them with a friend.  Maybe these moments become the subject of your social media posts, your conversations with friends, the prayers you offer back to God. 

Today- I like the sound of that- just do TODAY. Breath deep. 24 hours and then a restart. Exhale. Look to HIM.

Right.

Now.

Loving you where you are and pointing you forward to where He is. 

Justbeth:)