Spell "One Another" Please

Acts 2:42 “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teachings and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Breaking news: 14 year-old Karthik Nemmani from Texas, won yesterday’s (May 31st) 2018 National Spelling Bee with the word “koinonia.”

What? I came back into my bedroom to listen to the morning news anchors repeating the word, giggling while admitting they didn’t know the meaning much less the spelling of the word. “Well, I looked it up, it means a spiritual gathering of like-minded people,” said one newswoman.

Some words have tremendous power behind them. We hear that every day. Twitter, a popular social media of 140 characters or less, catapults them out 24-7. We watch and see where the direct hits land and the collateral damage. 

…and one 14-year old boy spells ONE word that can change the world. Would you have known it, recognized it--have you experienced it? It is only one word, yet is speaks volumes. 

Koinonia. K.o.i.n.o.n.i.a. Koinonia.

It’s Greek to me. Well, it is Greek, literally. More than just being like-minded, “koinonia” means united for a purpose, devoted to one another, serving one other, praying for one another, honoring one another, encouraging one another towards love and goodness…did you catch all the “one anothers?”

Koinonia results when a true, pure fellowship, authentic and intimate in words and love, takes place with one another because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for every one of us on that Cross. The Holy Spirit manifests Himself through this word. Koinonia cannot be summed up in 140 characters, but in continuing love and action to those who heed the call to be Christ-like and Christ-minded. To those who do not settle for just a salvation story, but want to break bread and trust together for the right words to reflect His glory, koinonia moves mountains. It instills hope, brings healing and spells out the divine purpose, that together as one Body in Christ, great things in love can be accomplished. In each of us as we encourge Koinonia, we learn and grow in our walk with God...and with ONE ANOTHER. 

Now that you know how to spell koinonia, go and discover it, be a part of it, read about it in the Acts and other books of the New Testament.

In gratefulness, Lord, I know that as a Christ follower, I was never meant to be alone in my beliefs and in my growth, but to fellowship with one another, discuss, study, pray, worship and minister together. Thank you Lord for all the opportunities to do that in Your Body of Christ and in koinonia. I hope to share these same experiences out to a broken world. They say a child shall lead them. Thank you Karthik. I pray you too, will know the fellowship of the saints and that God will use this word and your correct spelling of it to enlighten others to a greater calling. Amen. 

Complete Joy in Friendship

Philippians 2: 1-2 If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose... 

A conversation took place this week between me and one of my closest friends. We talk almost everyday and even when we don't, I know, she knows, that our thoughts aren't far away from each other. I even texted her a question, a text she never received because she didn't have her phone with her, but she answered me anyway...10 minutes after I texted, on a different device. Yeah---we're just connected that way. 

Anyway, as we shared this week about other people we love and are praying for--all this stuff and heartache, people in desperate situations, health dilemmas, and ongoing family separations, we agreed, it is all so hard, but it is our choice--that we feel deeply, petition, encourage one another, hope together and love one another because the other alternative is isolation. We wouldn't have each other or the beautiful relationship and trust God ordained. Friendships with Christ at the center blooms continuously out the window of our souls, a creative, tangible view of God at work. 

Isolation: No true, authentic friendships in which one can share the deepest of hurts, frustrations, fears, prayers, intimate insights, JOY and HOPE from God. I am sure there are a number of reasons why this happens, but God doesn't intend our lives to be that way. Hope comes from seeing it in another and then believing it for yourself. It is a promise from God. God also instructed us to live in fellowship with one another. 

There is always, always HOPE.

I cannot imagine my life without these close friends who all are dealing with pain of some sort. We talk every day, share every day, pray for one another every day and love God in and with each other every day. God is good. I am hurting for all of them. I cry to God. They have done that for me--do that for me now. I know. I know I am deeply loved and cared for by each one of them in their unique and gifted ways. I learn and see God beautifully in my life through these women of faith. 

In His timing and sovereignty, God will make a way. Then, we will again, feel deeply and cry, rejoicing and praising our Heavenly Father for His divine intervention and our growth in trusting Him. 

It is a choice--to have a deep, intimate, authentic relationship with the Lord or to isolate yourself in your sorrows, disappointments and fears and pretend that nothing matters outside your own bubble of hurt. Eventually, I think, that just might turn into resentment and a very lonely existence. 

One small step of trust, one tiny but faithful prayer to lead you to a true and trusted friend, might just find you surrounded in a circle of deep and passionate relationships who will be your warriors when times are desperate or when joy is over flowing in your heart. It must go somewhere and to me there is no better feeling then praising God with friends who have prayed right along side for God to make Himself known. 

Lord, tonight I pray for the isolated, the hurt, the lonley souls that do not or choose not to trust in friendships. We are still abiding on this earth, thus we are not perfected yet, but God desires for us to live in unity and fellowship, and we must trust Him for the right people alongside us. Help me Lord to be the kind of friend that encourages and prays unceasingly for my friends and believes in all things good, that Your Hope and Your Joy are awaiting us. Thank You Lord that I, that we have seen it and we await for it again. We wait to plan a party! Amen. 

Brother (or Sister)
NEEDTOBREATHE with Gavin DeGraw 

Falling Into His Grace

I Peter 4:10 "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

It started 7 years ago, with an article in the local paper--a walk for kidney disease, THE kidney disease that bloated our son up, filled him with anti-inflammatory steroids for life and taught him words in his young age like nephrologist, embolism, and needle biopsy.

Here I sit, eating a cold slice of pizza, still wired from my after-work Frapp and a couple of gathering trips for supplies for tomorrow morning's NephCure Walk--the 6th one I've planned and organized.

I feel it coming on...

I am not sure if I am going to burst out crying from exhaustion or I am going to fall to my knees in utter humbleness at how good God is to me. There is a fine line between the two at this very minute and so, I sit to write, to see where my words go, to unwind in the massaging of the Holy Spirit through His Word, in my thoughts, in my memories, in my anticipation, in the sweet mercy of the Lord.

The manifold Grace of God.

The meaning of this word, manifold, (in the Greek) is interpreted as "variegated," or multi-colored. Fall, though in California it looks and feels different than most parts of the country, the changing leaves, the colors and foliage exemplify variegation, the fullness of colors.

Fullness of Grace brightens up the dull areas of my life and piles high above the roots of my salvation. 

Grace Upon Grace (John 1:18)...Amazing Grace. 

Super-duper support, generous givers, vigorous volunteers and pro-active adults with numerous Facebook posts and the sweet faces of their children culminate tomorrow to share in this burden and to gather within the Grace--all different with different stories, yet the same love. They step out in Hope.

I will place my son's picture up on the table with a few pumpkins around it and know the Hope of the Lord. I see it in the challenge of this event and the Grace and fellowship He lavishes on me.

I snuggle still through the warm blankets of His promise to bloom again in the Spring of His planting. The variegated leaves of His grace cover me, feeding me, restoring me to know that I labor not for my glory...

but all for His Glory. 

I miss you Timmy, every day. It is never something that leaves me, ever. Thank you Lord for so many butterfly gifts this week, so much encouragement for Ted and myself. Lord, you know my uttermost thoughts and desires and You intentionally bring me to Your table to feed me and rejuvenate me, when so many things can get in the way. Thank you Lord for Your wisdom, Your Word, the Holy Spirit's voice that gently speaks to me in my very human emotions. Thank You Lord for this ministry---Yes, I call it a ministry, and may our efforts bring comfort and healing in Your time. Thank you for the relationships I am making and keeping. Lord, thank you for Your strength, even in my moments such as now, may I remain Your humble servant until You sweep and lift me up to be in Your presence, like a single multi-colored leaf floating high on the very breath of God.

A Holy Anomoly

Proverbs 18:24  There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother, (NLT)


It's Sunflower season again in my garden. Many of you know,  and join me in loving these whimsical, sunny-faced botanicals.

I harvested seeds from last year's dried blooms, bought a couple new varieties from Burpee.com and planted earlier this year, in April.

Up they came, only a week later.

So faithful...to me.

Planted specifically right out my kitchen window, I glory in them. Cup of coffee in hand, many a morning prayer are spent leaning on the counter and feeling the Holy Spirit infuse His peace, His Love,  and so much more.

I recommend starting the day this way. 

Right now, I am anxious for a new variety to open. They've been a little slower in the shadow of the mighty over achievers.

They're suppose to be a marroun color.








And then this happened...






A conjoined sunflower, the bigger one protruding a petal in the center of its core.

anomoly?  ...maybe.

noun

1. 1.

   something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.

   "there are a number of anomalies in the present system"

   synonyms:

   oddity, peculiarity, abnormality, irregularity, inconsistency, incongruity,aberration, quirk, rarity  (Google)

2. 
   

Twins are formed by a fertilzed egg spliting--identical twins. Or,  by two separate fertilized eggs--fraternal.

So what happened down there in the dirt?

I don't know, but they are one flower, front and back and then some...bursting with joy, fully alive, swaying in the breeze together.  They catch what's going on from all sides.

 Friendship in the Lord is like that, standing tall with one another as we grow. We see a different perspective on things. One sees one way, and another can see things more subjectively, lacking an emotional attachment. Isn't that the way we're suppose to harvest wisdom?  Sharing and holding on to one another, we can trust each other in the heavier winds that blow, threatening to knock us down. We encourage each other as we share from our experiences of what the "garden of life" brings to us. We hold each other accountable.

For we are planted for one purpose, to bring God glory.

Even in our past, special friendships in the Lord, grab on and hold us to open up all our beauty to one another and the world. Sometimes there is so much love, we just don't have room, so it will just burst out further into the world. Eyes may roll, some may just scroll on by, thinking too weird for me...

How does their "garden" grow?  

My garden is FULL of the beauty of special friends. We are oddly peculiar to the world,  loving one another, praying for one another, trusting one another, dancing, singing, parenting, mourning and rejoicing.

From the deepest of  hearts, there is something very intimate when praying with a friend. 

That,  my sunflower friends, reflects our Lord and He sees all of us as His anomoly, unique and perfect  complete in His grace. God called each of us to stand out for Him.  The weeds of destruction are creeping in. Some of those weeds look beautiful, a disguise of evil that is not an anomoly, but the template of destruction long ago devised. 

  

 Lord, I give praise and thanksgiving for friends who gather 'round my table and plant their loyalty and own grace deep in my heart. Keep us faced towards You, soaking up Your goodness, Your purpose and Truth, for our own lives, and for the encouragement of each other.  You see all of us as Holy anomolys, perfect and complete in Your Grace. Blessed. Amen. 

Labor of Love

I Corinthians 15:58 NIV Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

For the last 9 months or so, I’ve had the pleasure of hosting a small group fellowship in my home with four very special friends God handpicked. The calling came one night; I believe the eve of Good Friday. Engaged in an on-line conversation with a classmate from high school, she personal-messaged me on Facebook determined to share her newly discovered faith, her recognition and filling of the Holy Spirit in her life. It seems she found me to be a “spiritual one” on her Facebook and felt comfortable enough and excited enough to want to talk with someone, anyone who seemed to know, have insight on “knowing” the Lord. She thought that I would “get it!” Bursting to talk about the Lord and all He was doing and revealing to her in life, nobody around her seemed to share her enthusiasm.  I got it, and we typed back and forth while God slowly whispered to me to continue this dialog up close and in person.

“Start a small group,” I heard Him say. “Trust me.”

Conceived in the next few days, W.O.R.D.: Woman of Righteous Determination, began forming in the womb of obedience. Two other sisters I invited in faith arrived on time and our “play dates” with the Lord and each other began to take place, late Tuesday afternoons. 

Two teachers, one elementary and one junior high, a business owner and myself.  Two divorced, one married, in a blended family.

Together, 9 adult children prayed over.

We all attend different churches.

We’ve all had extreme experiences in life.

We all love the Lord and want more of Him. 

We all share a womb-story, a birth story, growing pain story, and a healing story.

The Holy Spirit moved; me, their only common denominator.

Well, no I wasn’t.

Our Father, God, the Creator.

We laughed. We cried. The transparency of trust guided us into relationship-fellowship that I believe was truly Holy at times.  To say we bonded is an understatement.

After a few months, God brought another young lady back into my life. We worked together years ago. Catching up in a parking lot one summer afternoon, God stood with us, bringing back all that He does when we begin to speak of His greatness in our life.

She would join us.

Natural

Adopted in.

Accepted

Loved

Ministry happened. God moved in conversation. Powerful! 

2014 brings change, new commitments and challenges.

New blessings and opportunities.

 I will continue to pray for this group of woman who speak boldly, love deeply and serve each other tenderly in word and deed.

Celebrating Thanksgiving together. 

I will pray for His direction for W.O.R.D.

Tonight while getting my hair done, a circle of 3 other woman sat around in various stages of beautification, a few of us under the drier, a few getting treatments, etc. They seemed to know each other…maybe.

They were sharing about the Lord, his provision, their Holy Spirit moments, inspiring one another, quoting scripture to each other, and sharing a miracle--a sister moment. I never said a word, just smiling and slowly nodding my head under the drier, in an Amen from my heart of hearts—“sisterhood styling!”

I got it!

I have it!

It’s how He works!  In community with each other, in fellowship with each other, in SHARING our foibles, our flesh moments and our Aah-Ha, I got it God moments! 

He is glorified! We are blessed!  Beauty Queens! 

I long to be a part of loving and conceiving.

Giving birth and even letting go.

Butterflies show up.

Always. 

 Father God, I love you. You show me Your love in such amazing ways.  You continue to direct me to so many new and exciting opportunities. You surround me constantly in everything I do with the most amazing people, True Believers, even strangers who speak boldly of Your goodness in the salon tonight.  Thank you. I wait for the positive result of continued obedience while growing in this new season. I pray for the opportunity to be a part of something bigger, to share and develop Your Hope in others. I am ministered to, too. Thank You for feeding me in the sweet milk of Your Word. Guide me through every contraction in my labor of love, a child longing to bring You glory. Amen. 

Weeding Out the Garden

Galatians 6:1-3 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.



My neighbor came over, wanted me to come look at a plant in her yard.


She wanted to know what it was.  


Growing about a foot tall, it now sprouted little berries and a petite little flower.  


Hmmm?  


"Is it some kind of berry?" she asked. 

"No, I smiled. Berries have thorns and fuzzy stems with  thicker, pulpier leaves, more of  a vine.  I think this, well, I'm pretty sure, this is a WEED."

(Her hubby laughing in the background, "I told you so!")

                                                                            +++


Have you ever had that experience?  Something that you thought was so cool, looked so good, felt wonderful, you thought was sent from Heaven, only to find out it is a lie!  Oh, how the devil  loves this little trick.  Have you heard the expression, "growing like a weed?"


Yep, those things in our lives we over water, give too much attention to, have compulsive behaviors with, (we all our guilty), those things we set apart from God...


Someone comes along, points out the invasive behavior, the ugly among the beautiful.


"Yank it out! they say. Here, I'll help you".   


"Nah, I'll get to it later."


"Are you sure? You know it can soon take over and overwhelm the flowers in your garden, if you don't handle it now." 


Close friends, brothers and sisters in the Lord, recognize things in our lives when we can't or just don't want to believe it.  In LOVE, because we pray for one another, God allows us grace (because we've grown through His grace).  Grace to tend to the needs and sometimes the things not needed,  growing out of control. 


There is this great word in fellowship: ACCOUNTABILITY.  


Sometimes, it may take a few praying friends to gather a weed whacker of His WORD and a shovel of SERVICE  and spend quality time helping a friend till their soil for some fresh seeds of Godly perspective.  


Be careful. Don't call out someone's ugly weeds, when you've got your own disguised among your seemingly healthy planters, green lawn, and flower pots.  


I like that she asked.  She questioned. I did my best to speak TRUTH.  


That's all that the Lord requires. His Spirit works through my experience of all the weeding done in my life. And I'm quiet confidant because I am still mortal, those weeds will pop up again.  


Lord, I am forever grateful for the graceful gardeners that continue to nurture the seeds of promise in my life.  Continue to help me be a graceful nurturer to those needing to hear Your truth around me. Amen.