A Gift from Chile

The enormous interest and celebration in the rescue of the Chilean miners this week exemplifies the human craving for hope and new life. How's your personal search and rescue working for you?

Women and men search far and wide for personal fulfillment - from the innermost places of our own body, mind, and spirit, to the furthest corners of the earth and space. Few find the narrow road to transformation. The journey is not for the faint of heart. The humble and the poor are more likely to find it. Transformation does not require excess. In fact, less is more in most capacities. Transformation is for those who crave it; those whose minds are open to Power beyond this world; those who give up everything to follow One thing. For those who seek to control their own destiny, another One is hard to follow. For those who seek peace form the center of one's soul to the outermost ends of the universe, there is only One way....

Hope, new life, transformation.... The Chilean miners gave the world a gift this week. So, I ask again, how is your personal search and rescue working for you?

When Weakness is Strength

For about four weeks this summer, my family of 4 was split up. I started a new job in Idaho, my boys spent some quality time in Oregon with my parents, and Steve wrapped up his work, and our house, in Ohio. It was the most difficult period of a tough transition. I felt very alone, and Steve wanted nothing more than to be in Idaho. Once the boys returned to Idaho from Oregon, they wanted nothing more than to be in Ohio; to be in their familiar routine; to forget Idaho. We were all at a weak point, to say the least!

On one particular evening, one of the boys exploded with emotion. In my aloneness, I also felt helpless and overwhelmed! So, what did I do? I exploded on the phone to Steve.... It was ugly - a definite low point!

The next morning, I read this:

God says, "My power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Weakness doesn't feel good. As a matter of fact, I generally avoid feeling weak - if it is in my power. In this season of life, I feel weak much more frequently than I feel strong, so I depend on this promise: God works in weakness. From this perspective, I find purposefulness in weakness. With that, I can be thankful in weakness.

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.... And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

Just call me Goldie!

I only blog when I feel inspired, and you may have noticed that I've been missing from blog world. I am contemplating why I have nothing to say.... I don't know! I do know that I can not force myself to write. If silence is golden, then just call me Goldie.

This Weekend... I

• caught up on lots of lost sleep and relaxation.
• spent Friday night with new friends and puppies.
• cleaned my house, grocery shopped, & did the laundry.
• shopped at Macy's, and made some fun purchases....
• hosted my first football party in Idaho! So fun!
• laughed and cheered with true blue Boise State fans!
• packed my bags for a work trip to Nashville and Atlanta this week.
• visited another church - can't wait to come in for a landing on this decision!
• spent time with the family - ahhhh!
• thoroughly loved this three day weekend after a very full three week back to school marathon.

I think I am supposed to link this back to the creator of "This Weekend.... I," but I am too tired to figure that out - maybe next weekend! Have a great week, my friends!

First Actions Make Loud Impressions

We all know the value of making good first impressions! You know the saying, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." It's true - for the good, or for the bad! As I have completed a three week back to school marathon at NNU,  I am struck by the myriad of positive first impressions that I have experienced in action:

• More colleagues than I ever imagined appear genuinely interested in my family's well being as a result of this cross-country move. Plus, I have witnessed colleagues care for each other via meaningful actions.
• Person after person intentionally visits my office to introduce themselves to me, and to welcome me to the NNU Family. I really like it when they wear their name tags! Ha!
• At New Faculty Orientation, Faculty Retreat, Faculty Workshop, New Student Orientation, and the NNU Gathering, there is lots and lots of laughter. Laughter is a really, really good thing!
• In nearly every venue, there is genuine prayer. At the first NNU Community Chapel, the staff and faculty surrounded the auditorium while several representatives prayed over our students. Then, a student representative prayed over the staff and faculty. It was such a simple, yet deeply meaningful action.
• Appreciation is eagerly and freely expressed. At the NNU Gathering (a dinner for staff, faculty, and spouses), the University President called out half a dozen individuals to express public gratitude for a job well done - a job often unseen by others. I was very touched by this act of thanksgiving. It's funny, to witness another person being appreciated is akin to personally being appreciated. In addition, each person present was given a card to express appreciation to another individual within the community. Appreciation begets appreciation, doesn't it?!?
• I am able to walk into any meeting, lunch, or gathering among my new colleagues and KNOW that I will be noticed and welcomed into the family. I am not intimidated or lonely because they are already caring for me. In my 40 years of life, and in numerous transitions from state-to-state, and from job-to-job, I have never felt like this so early in the transition - if at all! Thank you NNU!

I know I am in the "honeymoon phase," and I wonder how I will feel in a year, 2 years, 10 years, and beyond.... A professional marketing agency noted two traits that are widely characteristic of NNU, and unique to NNU when compared to like schools: Love and humor. As I listened to the presentation  announcing these characteristics (and others), I smiled because I had already personally experienced these traits of NNU. Actions speak louder than words!

NNU's actions have made first impressions beyond mere words, and I am thankful!

It Lives & Breathes - Part 2

In relationships, in commitments, in discipline:

"Whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

As I ponder how God provided for us when we moved from Kansas to Ohio, I am reminded of this verse:

"Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and He will give you everything you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." Matthew 6:32b-33

As we make this move, one of my most passionate prayers is for the spiritual growth of my boys:

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

Lord, will their hearts be hardened? Will this life experience harm them emotionally, psychologically, spiritually?

"Love the Lord your God will all your heart, and will all your soul, and with all your strength.... Impress (these commandments) on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:5-7

This is my heart.

It Lives & Breathes

In 2009, I joined Beth Moore's blogging community in memorizing 2 pieces of Scripture a month for 12 months. It was an amazing experience; it was truly life changing! While I have not continued to memorize Scripture in 2010, I have continued to journal significant pieces Scriptures throughout the year. The Word of God really lives - it does for me! It breathes life into me! Lately I have been reviewing my chosen verses of 2010, as I have pondered the leading of Lord from Ohio to Idaho. Here are a few of my thoughts via the living, breathing Word of God....

As we applied, waited, interviewed, and waited some more for the NNU job, and as we prepared, packed, good-byed, and traveled, and as we currently wait for our house to sell, for Steve to find employment, for our boys to call Idaho home:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:4-5

In trusting God, in focusing on Him rather than earthly distractions, in persevering:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9

In accepting the job offer, and looking ahead:

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert (the high desert of Nampa, ID) and streams in the wasteland (the life experiences that hurt at the time, but are used for a purpose bigger than my mind recognizes). Isaiah 43:18-19

So far in 2010, I have 18 such pieces of Scripture. This is just a sampling. I will share more later....