Three answers you always wanted to know...

but didn't know to ask me.

READY?

1. Yes, I like country music. I was introduced to it in college at NYU by a Kansas boy turned Greenwich Village Episcopal priest who was simultaneously my mentor and my secret crush. I was particularly fond of the pleasing baritone of Randy Travis and the classic heartbreak of Patsy Cline. My current favorite is Josh Turner, another deep-voiced boy who sings about true love and faithfulness.

2. Yes, I talk to myself and to Jesus out loud in my car while stuck in traffic. We often have lots of laughs.

3. I daydream about my husband. A lot. He's really, really cute and charming.

Micah Girl

Vision leaks

Back in 2004 I read an article by Andy Stanley called Vision Leaks. That phrase has stuck with me ever since, and I think my ministry team has heard it from my lips at least a dozen times.

Vision leaks.
People need to be told in as many creative ways as possible and as many times as possible what purpose they are pursuing.

This is true for a church, a ministry, a company--even a family.

I am constantly amazed at how vision leaks in my small team with pretty good weekly face-to-face communication and feedback.

Again and again I need to repeat.

And as I repeat myself I began to get it, too.

I am wondering how to transfer this to my personal life.

What is my personal vision statement that I need to hear whispered over and over in my ear, read over and over on post-it notes, and recite aloud to myself when I am lacking courage or direction?

I usually fall back on Galatians 2:20 as my life verse, especially when facing a daunting task:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

It reminds me that the power I have is in the resurrection of my Lord. My life is not my own. Faith is the goal of my days. When I repeat to myself "who loved me and gave himself for me" it reminds me that I am His Beloved and He is mine.

But I am wondering what more God may have for me as a vision statement. What else should I be imprinting on my heart and mind that is truth?

I feel certain that I always want to be surrounded by college students. If (perhaps I should say when?)we relocate, I plan to pursue a doctorate. I will be on a campus. I will be preparing myself to teach on a campus. Because I am a Christ-follower wherever I go, I will still be a college minister, if no longer one by title.

Is this where I am to go? What is Your vision for me, Lord?

Let me be faithful to You.

Micah Girl
with a head full of questions...

Being real and sharing your faith

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Ephesians 4:15

Speak the truth--don't be silent!--but do it in love.

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
1 Peter 3:14-16

Don't be afraid, be prepared to share the hope that sustains you. Do so with gentleness and respect.

Jesus said: “Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Luke 10:22

Ask God to reveal Himself to others.

The human mind and heart are a mystery; but God will loose an arrow at them, and suddenly they will be wounded.
Psalm 64:7

Only God can do the impossible.

Micah Girl

Thanksgiving Delurking Week

Thanks to blogger Rev Abi who frequently comments here (THANKS!) I realize that it is Thanksgiving Delurking Week. Wherever I visit this week, I will try to remember to leave a friendly comment to encourage one of the many, many bloggers who encourage me. If you are lurking here, I would be so pleased to hear from you as well.

Let's pay it forward...

Micah Girl

Sprained Ankle Sunday

I did something that I have never done before--I sprained my ankle. I twisted it yesterday in an oh-my-goodness-my-foot-fell-asleep-but-I'm-sure-I-can-still-walk incident. Simple. Unglamorous. Clumsy.

I walked on it all day afterwards--we were getting ready for a church Thanksgiving party, and I figured it would work itself out. After a day of housework, cooking and partying, I couldn't sleep in my bed because the covers were so heavy they hurt my ankle. So I moved down to the couch and watched infomercials and fell asleep with my foot up on a pillow. This morning it could take no weight and my hubby wrapped it in ice and took the kids to church. I rested and watched news programs, read some Sunday papers on the internet, and enjoyed the house to myself. I also mixed up some pancake batter because we were having some people over for brunch. By the time our friends arrived for lunch I was feeling pretty well and enjoyed a good time with some of our church family.

Tomorrow, I am sneaking out to a movie in the middle of the afternoon with a girlfriend. How cool is that? We are going to see Stranger Than Fiction with Will Ferrell. We have been hoping to find a time to do it, and I suddenly realized that I had a lighter than usual schedule tomorrow afternoon. So I am playing hooky.

Fortunately, a week that could have started off very badly is actually off to a promising start.

Micah Girl

Another WOW prayer from Divine Hours

The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant me so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.†

One Punk under God

Check out the promo for One Punk Under God. Jay Bakker, "prodigal son" of Jim & Tammy Fae Bakker has a show starting on the Sundance Channel in December. If only I had cable, I would definitely check it out...if only out of morbid curiosity.

Micah Girl

Rebirth brainstorm

Change
Transformation
Reinvention
New beginning
Renaissance
Renewal...

awakening, cheering, consolation, enkindling, freshening, invigoration, quickening, reanimation, reawakening, recovery, regeneration, rejuvenation, renaissance, renascence, renewal, restoration, resurgence, resuscitation, retro, revitalization, energy burst, refreshment, renaissance, restored energy, restored strength, second energy burst

RESURRECTION POWER

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:7-11

Micah Girl

Unfunny political irony

North Korea has nuclear weapons and is using them to gain a world audience for the demands of a power-mad, possibly insane dictator.

Iran claims to have nuclear weapons, and it seems pretty likely. They want the US to play nice with them now that they are armed.

The US is bogged down in a war that was supposed to save us from weapons of mass destruction that actually didn't exist. Now that country is in total chaos on the edge of civil war.

This is clearly not funny, but it is ironic.

Micah Girl

A poetic commentary on scandal...

These words by James Watkins summarize many of my feelings about not only the Haggard scandal, but many situations in our church universal where individuals are set up for temptation and failure by a system which isolates and flatters them. The church is supposed to be a body--a family--a place of intimacy and accountability. The way that we often do church makes it more like a free market corporation.

pedestals

Thousands

cheer,
chant,
and clap
as one of their own
is proudly carried toward the
lofty pedestal.

The audience

urges him
up the stairway,
step by step,
higher and higher,
far above the masses
on the prominent platform.

The media is there

with lights,
cameras
and prime-time coverage.

Publishers huddle

around the base,
for they know
pedestal-people
sell well.

The crowds

on satellite hook-ups
hang on
every last word,
for he seems
so close to eternity.

Yet he feels

unsure,
unworthy,
afraid
and very alone . . .

But at that height

no one notices,
no one questions,
no one confronts.

And so,

in a split second,
the trap door swings,
the noose tightens,
the crowd gasps.

Undeterred, the mob moves on

to build more pedestals;
to encourage another
of their own
up the starlit steps.

But mostly

to wonder
why those
at the pinnacle
keep falling
from the heights.

© 1988 James N. Watkins
www.jameswatkins.com

How to??? (Fill in the blank)

What would you (or I) really like to read a "how to" book on? What is it that people are eager to read that would make a practical difference in their lives? I am looking for writing projects and would welcome any comments on what book you would actually pick up off the shelf or what magazine article you would immediately flip to...

How to.................... ????

Unclog sinks? Raise earth-friendly kids? Share Jesus with your neighbors? Shave your legs in two minutes or less? Write the great American novel? Throw smashing parties? Woo your husband?

Thanks for any and all comments, witty or dull, serious or silly!

Micah Girl

Heartsick over Haggard scandal

It really is breaking my heart--all the sordid details of the scandal surrounding Ted Haggard. When I first heard the news I was really stricken and hoping it was all a pack of lies. As more comes out, it only looks worse and worse.

I have been praying for him, his wife, their children (most of all!), his church, the NAE and the church universal. Life is messy. We are all sinners. Lord, have mercy.

Micah Girl

NANOWRIMO

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Ecclesiastes 12:12

Although I have been a terribly irregular blogger recently I am doing something to light a fire in my writer's heart. I am taking the National Novel Writers' Month challenge. This means I am supposed to write a minimum of 50,000 words during the month of November. I will NOT be posting this on this blog, but once I am finished I might consider posting the whole thing--that is unless my publisher insists otherwise. (Stop rolling on the floor and holding your sides. I could have a publisher at the end of this. Think big!)

I have risen to the NANOWRIMO challenge the last two mornings. I do not expect to meet the word challenge by the end of the month, but if I write each and day I will consider it a success.
I do have my first reader for my novel. I awoke my 7 year old daughter this morning to invite her to the computer to read my secret novel blog. The main character in the book is a nearly 10 year old girl who likes to travel, have adventures and read, so I thought my bookworm might enjoy reading about her. So far I have my first rave review, and she can hardly wait to read more. I think that will be my primary incentive for continuing to write.

Micah Girl

Prayer from the Divine Hours

Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.†
Divine Hours website

A missionary prayer...

A prayer for politicians...

A prayer for a powerful nation that hold most of the world's resources...

To those who are given much, much is expected...

Micah Girl