I LOVE a parade!

I got tickled reviewing my memory verse for the end of August...

"But thanks be to God,
who always leads us
in triumphal procession in Christ
and through us spreads everywhere
the fragrance of the knowledge of him."

2 Cor. 2:14

What had me laughing is the fact that I originally chose the verse because I was drawn to the idea of emanating the "fragrance of knowing Him." I still love that challenge. But somehow I kind of skimmed over the whole part about God leading us in "triumphal procession in Christ." How could I have ignored that?

I have always been a huge fan of parades - particularly when I get to be part of the "triumphal procession." Those who know me will not be surprised by this. Some of my fondest childhood memories involved our annual participation in Baton Rouge's downtown Christmas parade. My dad was an active Jaycee, the men's group that sponsored the parade, so we were always drafted to ride floats. (Me? The center of attention in a costume on a float riding before hundreds of people? Oh, twist my arm!)

Mom usually made costumes to coordinate with the theme of the float we were riding. One year we were dressed as ice skaters in little felt skirts on a float with a frozen "pond" and (inexplicably) a huge bell. It was freezing and rainy that night, so instead of gliding on the pretend icy pond in our cute skirts, we huddled for warmth beneath the bell - a good plan until a huge gust of wind blew the bell and showered us in icy cold water.

But my favorite parade was the year my dad was president of the Jaycees. He got to ride in a shiny convertible and his family accompanied him. I think my brother and sister thought it was boring, but I was thrilled! Mom made us girls matching capes - faux camel hair lined in faux leopard (like I have to specify "faux" anything!) I arranged mine just so, with the front folded back a touch so the leopard lining was showing. I'm pretty sure gloves were part of the ensemble, and we perched on the back of that navy blue convertible and I waved regally as though everyone was there to see me.

I was raised with no shortage of love and praise. Yet, I seemed to have an insatiable appetite for attention and admiration. Maybe I was just a dreamy little girl who longed to be a princess, or beauty queen or famous. As much as it hurts to admit it, I've spent much of my adult life in a struggle with that desire for fame and admiration - I just learned to cloak it beneath something more substantial than a faux fur cape.

In the past few years, God has been gently prodding me in this area - revealing that weakness of pride and giving me a growing distaste for anything false or pretentious in my own heart and mind. It hasn't always been pleasant, but it's been a necessary part of my journey toward Christlikeness - and Christ-centeredness. A few years ago, Isaiah 26:8 became my theme:

"Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,
we wait for you;
your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts."

When HIS name, HIS fame become our desire, then HE will lead us in triumphal procession in Christ - so we can spread HIS fragrance. Now, that's a parade I want to be part of.

Fragrance...

"But thanks be to God,
who always leads us
in triumphal procession in Christ
and through us spreads everywhere
the fragrance of the knowledge of him."

2 Cor. 2:14

Is that a weird choice for a memory verse? For some reason, I feel called to "smell" more like Jesus. As I'm moving through the day, I wonder what kind of aroma surrounds me. Some days, I'm pretty sure I'm like Pig Pen, the old Peanuts character, with a cloud of dust (complaints, worries, anxiety) that threatens to overwhelm anyone in my path. Other days, I'm probably like an overly made-up old woman with a cloying, heavy scent of self-centeredness -- (eau de me, me, me!!!)

By definition, fragrance is "a pleasant, sweet smell." Those who belong to Christ should be redolent of love, mercy, compassion, joy -- the kind of scents that draw people closer and make them want to breathe deeply.

"...the fragrance of the knowledge of him..."

Mmmm. Can you smell it?

The wisdom that comes from heaven...

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven
is first of all pure;
then peace-loving, considerate, submissive,
full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
James 3:17

This is the scripture I'm memorizing for the first two weeks of August. I don't know what it is with me and lists, but I've noticed a lot of the verses or passages I've chosen this year include lists - with lots of adjectives. I've always been a classic "over-writer" - very fond of layers of descriptive words. But I don't think God could be accused of "over-writing" anything, and He uses repetitive, descriptive words to get His point across. Maybe that's not a bad thing!

Anyway - I love this description of the wisdom that comes from heaven - wisdom we can only get from God, from walking in step with Him. The Amplified Bible offers even more layers of words:

"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity)."

I love the juxtaposition of peace-loving and considerate with wholehearted and straightforward. It's all about balance - with a healthy dose of purity and sincerity!

Here's The Message translation of verses 17 and 18:

"Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor."

What I learned at camp...

...I learned 7th and 8th grade girls are smart...and curious.

One of my favorite moments (this, in a week jam-packed with fun, with spiritual challenge and insight, with intense community and sweet fellowship) came in the middle of teaching 22 7th and 8th grade girls about the Beatitudes. The girls were focused, engaged, writing down Scripture references, participating in discussion.

Then a girl raised her hand, looked me straight in the eyes and asked in a clear voice without a hint of self-consciousness:

"How do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?"

Wow. How, indeed?

I told her she was on the right track because she was asking the right questions. I told her to ask God to give her an appetite for righteousness. I told her to feed her heart and mind with Scripture, to spend time in prayer.

I think I gave an acceptable answer, but the truth is, I just felt like bursting into tears. I was overwhelmed with emotion that a young girl really wanted the answer to that question. I also felt completely convicted and utterly inadequate.

Do I hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do I really?

Almost two weeks later, I still see that little girl's face and I'm still wrestling with lessons learned from girls with seeking hearts.

Blessed...

I'm gearing up for Cross Camp '09, so I've decided to devote the month of July to memorizing our theme verses from Matthew 5 - The Beatitudes. As I've been preparing to teach these truths to 7th and 8th grade girls at camp I've been struck by how radical Jesus was - and is.
Blessed -- happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous; with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions -- are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed -- with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace -- are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed -- happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous, with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions -- are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
You get the idea (definitions of "blessed" courtesy of the Amplified Bible). Life-joy, satisfaction, happiness, favor - regardless of outward condition. I want that. I'm just not always anxious to embrace my poverty of spirit, to mourn, to be meek.
Please pray for me as I prepare to teach and interact with kids who need to grasp these truths! I'm anxious about imparting truth without apology, but also with compassion, passion and clarity!
So here's my scripture passage for the month of July:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are tbe merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you
because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets before you.

Matthew 5:3-12

Immeasurably more...

My heart is so full! I'm a little behind posting a memory verse for the second half of June, and I've decided to just continue to commit to memory one of my very favorite all-time passages. Here it is in it's entirety:

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:17-21

I worked on the first half earlier this month, and as I work on this second half, I'm struck by how well it describes my feelings of overwhelming love and gratitude - yes, He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine - and He chooses to do it! Not only that, He does this magnificent, immeasurable work "according to His power that is at work within us!" He can do what He wills, and He chooses to exercise His power within our lives - that's amazing to me!

I love how The Message puts it:

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."

What an amazing God!

Well, this has been a full month - to put it mildly! My firstborn, my daughter, is now a married woman! If you don't believe me, check here for photographic evidence! The whole experience was beautiful and I'm eternally grateful to God for His work in her life and the life of her wonderful husband Joe, and in the lives of our family and friends.

I'm also prepping to teach 7th and 8th grade girls Bible study for a week of Cross Camp - so please pray for me! I'm immersing myself in the Beatitudes and feel completely humbled to have the opportunity to share these truths with these girls!

Meanwhile, some women are going to journey with me through the book "Me, Myself and Lies" as part of a summer Bible study orchestrated by the one and only Beth Moore - we'd love for you to join us! Check it all out here.

And, things on the farm are WIDE OPEN! Cotton, soybeans and corn are growing and we're watering around the clock until God decides to bless us with some rain!

So, that's the crazy month of June around my place! What's up with you?

It's June!

June.
My baby girl is getting married in just a few days.
It's hard to put my feelings into words.
Gratitude.
Love.
Excitement.
And just the slightest twinge of sadness.
I read something the other day that made me pause - "Raising a child is the only relationship you have where, if you do it right, it will end in separation."
I'm genuinely happy and thrilled for my daughter, and our family, and trusting that we'll navigate this new season with some grace. (Lord, let it be!)
So, my scripture memory project for the first two weeks in June is an old favorite passage which I've never completely committed to memory. It's my prayer for our family - and yours!

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 3:17-19

I love The Message translation of these verses also:

"And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God."

Reach out and grasp the love of Christ!