Tag: faith

Waiting…

Published on by Lindsey B.Leave a comment

My dear friend Amy Weatherly shared some insightful words on Facebook this morning. (I call her my dear friend, but I’ve never met her in real life, but I love incredibly much because she shares such transparent words of beautiful encouragement in the vehicle of social media and I’m sure if we met face to face we’d totally be BFFs because she speaks my language.)

I was musing on what to share in relation to Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but nothing was quite right. Then I read Amy’s post and realised what she said was meaningful and relevant and perfect. Maybe somebody reading this post needs the reminder.

Waiting is hard. We tend to be impatient by nature. Just hold on tightly to hope. Stand firmly in your faith. The story isn’t over yet.

Here is Amy’s wisdom:

“Friday was dark. Friday was death. Friday was mourning, and weeping, and pain.

Sunday was light. Sunday was life. Sunday was rejoicing, and crying happy tears, and hope.

But what about Saturday? What about the Sabbath? What about the middle day? What was going on? How were people feeling?

We don’t really know a ton, honestly.

The disciples scattered. They fled. They ran. They hid.

I’m assuming they were scared and unsure, probably in a state of shock and disbelief, wondering if they were next. Maybe mad. Probably sad. Probably confused. Probably wondering what was next for them.

Their entire lives had just been turned upside down and inside out.

The women were preparing. They were gathering oils and spices.

I’m assuming they had no clue what was coming. I’m assuming they believed this was the end. I’m assuming they were wreaked with grief.

Saturday—the day in-between—it was a day of waiting, and waiting is one of the more difficult things in life.

It’s hard when you’re waiting for someone to return your call. It’s hard when you’re in the middle of an argument and you don’t know how the whole thing is going to play out. It’s hard when your kids are going through a season of change.

It’s hard when you’re waiting on a diagnosis. Its hard when you’re waiting for treatment. It’s hard when you’re waiting on a job. It’s hard when you’re waiting on love. It’s hard when you’re waiting on a baby. It’s hard when you’re waiting on depression to subside.

It’s hard when you feel like giving up. It’s hard when you feel like throwing in the towel. It’s hard when you feel like nothing good is happening, and like nothing good will ever happen again.

Whether you’ve been waiting one day, one year, or one-half or your life, it’s just plain hard.

I don’t know much. I’m not a scholar. I’m not anything special. At all. At all. At all.

But I know this: Jesus was still working when no one could see it. Jesus was still fighting when no one could feel it. Jesus was still fulfilling promises and making things happen, because Jesus doesn’t mess around, and Jesus doesn’t let things go to waste.

Friday was good. Sunday was great. But there was a purpose to that day of waiting too.

I don’t know what you’re going through. I don’t know how long you’ve been waiting. I don’t know what the ultimate plan for your life is, and I definitely don’t know what your future holds, but Jesus does.

Hold on to hope. Sunday is coming.

Happy Easter.”

Original post can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/2010855982483981/posts/2355385844697658/

Extraordinary Love {in the Ordinary Moments}

Published on by Lindsey B.Leave a comment

A few months ago, a global organization issued an invitation to our church for a local pastor’s breakfast. With some of the turnover recently, lack of availability in pastoral staff, and in the efforts of establishing connections, I attended as our representation. When I showed up this morning, (I was maybe a little pleased) there wasn’t a huge turnout (although it’s easier to disappear in a big crowd). After internally freaking out the entire 40-minute commute, this extroverted-introvert was reminded once again that while new social (or any) situations can be awkward, I actually always make it out in one piece without any (horrible) embarrassment.

The main premise of the presentation was thinking beyond the church pew and church building and realising the opportunities to show and share God’s extraordinary moments in the places and with the people in our daily life that we see and/or interact with regularly. Someone might not ever enter a church building, but to them, YOU are the church. It was about overcoming our own personal hangups and seeing that just establishing relationships and living out your faith with honesty and passion is the best way to reach those who are hurting, seeking, or in need of love (and aren’t we all in need of unconditional, boundless love?)

So… while of course, this applies to me from a Christianity-point of view, I also believe that it can apply to humankind in general. How do you connect with people? You interact with them where they are in a very personal and transparent way. A stranger probably isn’t going to join me for lunch in my home, but maybe I can share a table at Tim Horton’s and just strike up a conversation.

What does love, kindness, and building a better world look like to you? Maybe it’s bringing a latte to the secretary at the kid’s school. Maybe it’s making sure you have some extra change or small denomination gift cards on hand before you walk downtown. Perhaps seeing the opportunities means slowing down just a little bit while you go about your routine.

A timely reminder from (in)courage that showed up in my Facebook feed

Maybe foundations are built by finding the thread of commonality and recognizing familiarity (that guy who sits in the corner of McD’s every time you pop in… that mom at the park the same time as you… the neighbour you pass when you’re both out walking your dogs…) It’s making time in our routine to think beyond our isolated, insular existences – maybe it’s actually getting to know the parent who sits beside you at hockey practice in more than a “hey-how’s-it-goin?” kind of way, maybe it’s legitimately asking the waitress at your regular lunch spot about her life, maybe it’s sitting with some seniors at your local care facility listening to their stories. Maybe it’s asking or answering hard questions. Maybe it’s being honest and accessible and authentic.

Maybe making a difference is stepping out in an awkward way that will impact someone else’s day. Sharing extraordinary love is looking for opportunities to be a light in our ordinary days. It’s so true that change begins with us and how we view the world – every person you encounter is a person you can reach. Leave your mark in a positive way – share love, share light, and share faith.

Delight

Published on by Lindsey B.2 Comments

Back at the beginning of January (so long ago!), I took the Dayspring 2019 Your Word of the Year Quiz. I don’t put a lot of hope and promise into these things but was interested in seeing what came up. I took the quiz again tonight (because I couldn’t remember my word – ha – apparently I need to work on retention!) Delight. My word for 2019 is ‘delight.’ I honestly thought it might be rest, or peace, or strength, but no – it’s ‘delight.’

My Word of the Year – Dayspring

I don’t associate deeply with this word. It doesn’t bring up any heartfelt connotations or even make me really truly feel like, yes, delight, it is THE word that speaks to me. It just doesn’t… but maybe I haven’t looked at it deeply enough?

I dug into the dictionary. Oxford Dictionary describes delight as both a verb and a noun, most definitions having to do with pleasure – finding pleasure in something, causing pleasure, great pleasure itself.

The synonyms, however, are what tickled my fancy!

  • please greatly, charm, enchant, captivate, entrance, bewitch, thrill, excite, take someone’s breath away
  • gladden, gratify, appeal to, do someone’s heart good, entertain, amuse, divert
  • take great pleasure, find great pleasure, glory, revel, luxuriate, wallow
  • adore, love, relish, savour, enjoy greatly, lap up
  • pleasure, happiness, joy, joyfulness, glee, gladness, gratification, relish, excitement, amusement
  • bliss, rapture, ecstasy, elation, euphoria
  • transports of delight

So maybe we can make this work? Perhaps for 2019 I can make delight my word. I can find charm in everyday moments. I can do someone’s heart good through acts of kindness. I can revel in my accomplishments and reinforced boundaries. I can savour time alone to rest and recharge. I can discover joy in my family. I can discover elation in the company of my friends. I can live in transports of delight as I walk in strength and grace and patience and revelation.

Yes, I think ‘delight’ is quite a wonderful word for 2019 and I can’t wait to find new opportunities of delight – and ways to delight others – throughout the year! And perhaps, as I look to find delight in the life I’ve been given and all of its blessings, He will delight in me, too!