September 6, 2016

Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out and Lonely

A Review of Lysa TerKeurst’s new book

This post is part of Lysa TerKeurst’s Uninvited Book Blog Tour, which I am delighted to be a part of, along with many other inspiring bloggers. To learn more and join us, click here at www.uninvitedbook.com.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Sixth grade. My best friend and I were inseparable. We rode our bicycles each day that summer, climbed the magnolia tree in her front yard, played on the trampoline, shared secrets. It was the most fun summer. Until school started. Then she ditched me for aonther friend. She didn’t want to sit together at lunch, nor did she seem to have time to ride bikes. I felt totally rejected. It was my first recollection of feeling truly uninvited. There have been many more since.

Rejection happens to all of us in some form or fashion—whether it’s parting ways with the person you loved and thought you would marry; missing a leadership opportunity we hoped for; or feeling left out and less than by a family member or friend.

Thankfully there’s a recently-released best selling book solution called Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely. Our dynamic Proverbs 31 Ministries President and gifted New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst released the book on August 9th. At this writing it has reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List three weeks consecutively!uninvited-3d

This book hits on a raw place inside me, inside each of us. It has been a healing balm for deep places in my heart I didn’t even realize needed healing.

“No person’s rejection can ever exempt me from God’s love for me. Period. No question mark. The most beautiful love story ever written is the one you were made to live with God.   Imagine how differently you might approach each day by simply stating: God is good. God is good to me. God is good at being God. And today is yet another page in our great love story.” –(page.25)

We must declare to live a life filled with God’s love.

Lysa declraes in the book, “God’s love isn’t based on me. It’s simply placed on me. And it’s the place from which I should live… loved.” God wants us to live loved. (pages 30-40)

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Lysa also has a way to make you laugh through tears. Right after reading a poignant, tear-jerking prayer at the end of Chapter 2, Chapter 3, entitled “There’s a Lady at the Gym Who Hates Me,” has me laughing out loud…

“There’s a lady at my gym who hates me. No, I’m serious. She sees me coming, and I can feel little poofs of disdain chugging out of her ears as her feet are churning eighty-seven miles per hour on the elliptical machine. I honestly don’t know how she goes so fast. I once tried to keep up with her. It was awful…” (page 27)

This is the secret sauce of Lysa’s writing. Lysa is the real deal. She is real, so authentic., hilarious. She takes us deep, then lightens the room with laughter, then takes us deep again in Biblical Truth.

She is my boss and amazing leader. Lysa is the same, authentic person sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in a meeting than she is on stage teaching God’s Word to thousands of people. She and her husband Art have been married 24 years and intentionally plan date nights on Sunday nights and family supper nights on Mondays. She and Art have five children–three daughters, and two sons adopted from a Liberian orphanage. She is an amazing wife, mom, leader, Bible teacher, friend, and sister in Christ.

Now back to the book. Of the 19 non-fiction books Lysa has written and two children’s books, she will call this her favorite. It’s mine also. She said recently that she didn’t realize how much this year she would need these words she wrote last year to heal her.

If your church is considering a new Bible study, I encourage you to order the “Uninvited” DVD Bible sessions and accompanying Bible Study Guide. The Bible study sessions were filmed in the Holy Land last year, and I had the blessing of being right there as she filmed. We had taken a group of 125 to the Holy Land for Lysa’s daily Biblical teaching in amazing venues. It was the most meaningful experience of my life. I pray you enjoy the teachings as much as I did.

Just like my “uninvited” friendship in sixth grade and countless rejections since then, I remind myself daily to live loved.

Even when we are overlooked by others, we are handpicked by God. In her new book, Uninvited, New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst will help you live like you really believe that truth! You can get your copies by going to www.uninvitedbook.com or to www.proverbs31.org.

*This message is reprinted from the Charleston Mercury’s Carolina Compass, September 2016 Edition.

August 23, 2016

It’s Electric–A Lesson on Light and Darkness

Understanding electricity is not a top priority for me. Please don’t get me wrong–I love light. I like to see the results of inserting a light bulb… and voila, let there be light. I learned a humbling lesson recently about photocells, yes, photocells, and how they relate to our faith.

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In my front yard is a cool “dusk-til-dawn” lantern. It’s peaceful to drive up to my home at night and see it shining brightly.

Recently it burned out. Bummer. Taking the step ladder, I gingerly removed the globe and old light bulb, replacing it with a new. Waiting for the light to radiate immediately, I waited and waited. Still darkness.

Remembering the GFI circuit thingy inside, I went inside the house and reset that little button. Craning my neck to look out in the yard, the lamppost was still dark. I even flipped the breaker switch doo-dad, still nothing. Obviously I had maxxed out any slight inkling of electrical knowledge I had, which wasn’t much.

The next day when telling my dear friend about my yard light situation, her husband remarked matter-of-factly. “Some debris may be blocking your light’s photocell, keeping it from shining.” Wait. What? What in the world is a photocell?

He explained that a photocell is a sensor that detects light. The photocell is what makes my lamp know to shine in the darkness. Ahhh. Once the debris was cleaned from the photocell, my lamp miraculously began shining again.

So what does all this mean? How is our faith’s “photocell?” What “debris” in our lives may be keeping us from shining our Light of Jesus? Could our debris be busyness, unforgiveness, unconfessed sin, jealousy, envy, a critical spirit? Ouch. Any of one these and so many others could be the debris blocking the Holy Spirit’s “photocell” connection in our hearts. God desires a total heart connection with us.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” –Matthew 5:16 NIV

Anne Graham Lotz, in her book Just Give Me Jesus, tells this story I’ll soon not forget.

“One night when author Robert Louis Stevenson was a small boy, his nanny called him to come to bed. Oblivious to her summons, he was staring at something outside his nursery window. The nanny walked over, stood at his shoulder, and inquired patiently, ‘Robert, what are you looking at?’

The little boy, without taking his eyes away from the window, exclaimed in wonder as he pointed to the lamplighter who was lighting the streetlamps. ‘Look, Nanny! That man is putting holes in the darkness!’

With the Holy Spirit as our faith’s “photocell,”and with Jesus as the Light of the world, may we each be totally empowered to go “put holes in the darkness!” You shine!

Reflect:

–How is your light of faith shining right now?

Renew:

–“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” –John 8:12 NIV.

–“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” –2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV

Recharge:

–What is one action item you will accomplish this week to get rid of any “faith photocell debris” you may have?

Resource:

–What is a photocell?

August 16, 2016

An Attitude of Gratitude

As the summer winds down and the school year starts up, my mind and heart are grateful. Time passes so quickly. Evening comes sooner now. Have I savored the precious moments?

Ann Voskamp, in her book One Thousand Gifts, challenges us to write 1000 things for which we are grateful. This list could contain: a breathtaking butterfly flitting amidst colorful echanacea; a beautiful sunrise; morning dew; birds chirping; sun shining through the window across the hardwood floors; dear friends who open their lovely homes; fun co-workers; a cozy bed in which to sleep. What are you grateful for today, this summer? May each day our hearts, my heart, have an attitude of gratitude.

“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.” –Philemon 4-7 NIV.

Reflect:

–For what, for whom, are you grateful? Please comment with at least one thing/person you are thankful for.

–Consider making a list of 1000 gifts today.

Renew:

–“…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” –Philippians 3:11b

–“Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees.”  –Victor Hugo.

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