Heather Holleman's Blog, page 241

What You Require for Peace, Control, and Security

Today I’m challenged to think differently about idolatry. I discover a question that invites true repentance:

“What do I require in my life in order to feel peace, control, and security?” (Thank you to Keith Johnson and his article, “Hearing the Music of the Gospel,” for sparking my thinking.)

Did you think about good health, more money, physical safety, or a clear sense of the future? I did!

Whatever I believe gives me ultimate peace, control, or security apart from Jesus becomes a kind of idol.

I immediately think of what most unsettles me, threatens me, and brings insecurity right now. Now, for example, I often rest in our good health. When my children battle any kind of illness, I believe that if only we had perfect health, I would have all the peace, control, and security I need. But do I believe that Jesus can provide all I need in any situation, no matter what, with no conditions, because He is the answer to the deepest need of my heart for peace, control, and security?

I find such joy and renewed peace when I let go of my need for anything else but Jesus to bring me the peace, control, and security I so desperately need.

“Implore that person to tell and tell and tell their story.”

My sister finished her final project for her Reading Specialist Certification from the University of Virginia. She chose to create a teacher’s guide for Thanhha Lai’s powerful prose-poetry book, Inside Out and Back Again, (a semi-autobiographical book about Lai’s experience as a refugee from Vietnam in the 1970’s). I just ordered it! In the author’s note to the reader, Lai writes this:

I also hope after you finish this book that you sit close to someone you love and implore that person to tell and tell and tell their story. 

I think again about how loving and important it is to sit down with others and let them tell and tell and tell their story. What a gift! 

I think more about sharing stories in community as a vital activity. I want you to tell and tell and tell! 

With and Not For

Years ago, my husband challenged me to stop doing things for people and to do things with them. That ministry principle changed everything about how I thought about serving others and what it meant to love people, include people, and empower people.

And I realized how much I loved the withness–the togetherness, the sharing, the community, and the fellowship. It never felt like “work” or “service” to walk children to school, to host all those basement fitness nights or Saturday morning pancake breakfasts with neighbors, or do any of the things I was doing with folks in the neighborhood.

I grew into deeper belonging, deeper joy, and deeper meaning just being right here with people.

These past few days, I’ve thought about this principle in terms of motherhood: I love doing things with these children (now 12 and 15) and not just for them.

I’ve been baking cookies with; I’ve been riding bikes with; I’ve been folding laundry with; I’ve been watching movies with (Princess Diaries!); I’ve been grocery shopping and preparing meals with anyone coming along.

It’s a mindset shifter and a happiness fueler to think about motherhood and doing things with them and not simply for them.

Triumphant, Joyful, Forward-Moving

Today I consider the attitude of the day for someone in Jesus’ guarding care. I enjoyed a wonderful book club meeting last night with some new friends reading Guarded by Christ, and the conversation refreshed my soul.

I think of these words: Triumphant. Joyful. Forward-moving. Someone in God’s guarding care experiences victory; God always leads them in Christ’s triumphant procession (2 Corinthians 2:14). They know the joy of the Lord no matter what comes against them. And they move forward into new territory, new good works, new growth, and new relationships.

Here we go! I’m moving forward in joyful triumph!

 

Perhaps These!

We discover that something snatched our precious eggs. A squirrel? A snake? All four beautiful eggs disappeared. 

We know the way of nature that feels cruel and senseless. We also know the birds will rebuild elsewhere and attempt again. 

And we know the itty bitty baby chipmunks emerging from some nearby burrow might grow and find those eggs, too, 

We find another nest nearby filled with eggs. Perhaps these birds will make it! 

A Checking Season

We check for new nests. We check on the berry blossoms. We check the bird feeders. We check on the lavender seeds, the carrot seeds, and the tomatoes growing in cups on the window sill. 

It’s the Checking Season. We love all the things we check on in spring. 

We check until the birds fly from the nest and the harvest gathers into our hands. 

We travel to the strawberries; we check and wait with joy.  

Under the Ruling Power of Goodness

Lately, all of us around here have had various disappointments, illnesses, and rejections. Early in the week, I tell myself and the family: God is good, and what He does is good. 

God is good. What He does is good. He can make good out of anything. He is so good. All the time, we are under the ruling power of His goodness.

If we truly believe this, we begin the divine hunt for goodness–that might appear now or later (or maybe in eternity)–in the midst of whatever hard or sad thing we endure. But mostly, we trust in the sovereign movements of God in the details of our day. We stay in His goodness.

 

The Bible Study is Coming!

A Good Question for Family Members

Can you imagine if each family member asked the other family members a loving question? Here’s one I love:

“How can I make your life better today?”

Maybe you’ll run an errand for someone who can’t find the time. Maybe you’ll do a chore you don’t normally do. Maybe you’ll sit on the end of a bed and listen to someone’s problems and give thoughtful advice. Maybe you’ll make a special meal. You might find yourself sewing on a button, accompanying someone on a journey, or simply watching a movie you didn’t choose. 

For sisters, this question is a treasure! For spouses, it’s a truly loving moment of prioritizing that person. I love this question! 

I add the question to my list of good questions. 

Where Observation Ends

Now, we wait. 

Since the Robin has stopped laying eggs at four, we don’t disturb the mother bird on her nest for the next two weeks. We don’t snap photographs. 

Of course, things might happen: a cowbird might come and lay her egg in the Robin’s nest. Squirrels, snakes, or even blackbirds might come and feast, destroying the eggs. A storm might blow the nest apart. 

We assume that nature will take its course, and we’ll return just in time to see something hatch. 

Sometimes, observation ends to just let things be.