I.Will.Make.You

Those four words nestled in Genesis 12:2 came alive for me after our Illinois Week.

In Colorado:

Dinner with Jeff and Debby on Monday set the stage. The canvas rested on the pedestal ready for God to make visible what was invisible to me for y e a r s. 

Two days later we were enjoying lunch with Garry and Sandy, students in the Nav ministry during our intern year. (Remember their names ... more coming)

Saturday we flew to Illinois. During the next five days we visited with, ate with, attended church with, cheered the Illini with friends from the seventies, our University of Illinois Nav staff years.

Trees with deep roots are appearing on the canvas, bright sun and gentle rain coloring the backdrop. Names, promises, faces are floating through the picture. I'm still unaware.

Rachel Weakly***

Our first stop was Josh and Rachel's condo. The aroma of Papa Del's, an iconic pizza parlor, as well as Josh and Rachel, current Nav staff at the U of I, welcomed us.

At first I didn't realize the deep and personal significance of Rachel's words, I meet with two students and lead a Bible study on campus. (The U of I has 32,579 undergraduates.)

I got my ministry feet wet meeting with two students and leading a Bible study. 

One of those students was Sandy. We talked about God, dorm life, boys, and how to reach our friends with the gospel.

Over the next 40+ years Sandy's godly influence continued to spread through leading Bible studies, joining Garry in ministering to young couples, to their neighbors and into their extended families. One thing I LOVE about Sandy is she always has questions. She is a learner. She still wants to grow in her ability to reach her world. In her own words, Sandy describes her ministry ...
 

Sandy and Garry

“Through ministry I enjoy having a front row seat to all the Lord Jesus is doing in the life of another woman.  He doesn’t need my help, but he calls me to partner with him.  When Jesus raised Lazarus, He turned to Mary, Martha, and other mourners and said, “Unbind him and let him go.”  Jesus gives life; he calls me through the privilege of discipling another person to remove strip by soiled strip of the grave clothes of the one formerly dead. What a joy!”

One evening we enjoyed a new-to-us restaurant with Bryan and Pam. They too were students the years Bill and I led the U of I ministry; Pam was in one of my Bible studies. Like Sandy, Pam has had an extremely successful ministry in leadership through their local church and through the Bible study program she developed that is reaching hundreds throughout Illinois.

 

Pam, back row on the right. This is part of her training group.

The canvas is developing depth and beauty.

Many of our friends during our Illinois week, some on the brink of retirement (really we don't feel that old) shared their stories with us. They are all making a difference for the Lord in their spheres of influence.

I sat back in wonder. I was beginning to see the beautiful painting God had been creating all along.

Back in Colorado and reflecting on our Illinois Week, God reminded me of Genesis 12 and 17 and his promise to Abram ...

"... I will bless you ... you will be a blessing ...

I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

that I may make my covenant between me and you,

and may multiply you greatly.

I will make you exceedingly fruitful ..."

from Genesis 12:2 and 17:1-6, bolding mine 

The Ah-Ha moment; the joy; the gift; truly overwhelmed by the beauty of God's faithfulness!

It's been almost 30 years since we moved from Illinois. And from those years, from the seeds that we scattered women are walking with God and investing in their next generations. And hundreds, no thousands of women have been and are being impacted for the Lord. 

Why did it take me so long to see this amazing work of God?

For the last many years, the lies that defined me, I'm not good enough; what do I have to offer; and other similiar whispers of the enemy were the loudest words on my radar. Yes, I know truth; and yes I've often claimed truth to defeat this evil one. But still I wasn't thinking, What is God doing through my life? How is God using me? 

Too much defense; not enough offense.

It had nothing to do with how good I was or what I had to offer. It had everything to do with God and His desires, His love for me, and for the ones he allowed me to influence.

I.will.make.you.exceedingly.fruitful.

God used this cracked pot, this human being, this willing vessel. 

Often I've said, I know God's love for me because He tells me and He created me with purpose. On our trip back to our first Navigator stomping grounds, He took me on a walk showing me illustration after illustration of His love in action. 

I am part of God's blessing to Abraham. You are too. And Sandy and Pam are two of God's blessings to me.


I WILL MAKE YOU. The "I" is God. It is his vision, his ministry. He is the one who makes us fruitful.

Do you hear the big exhale?

"The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;

Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands."

Psalm 138:8

*** Will you join me in praying for Rachel that she too would experience God making her     exceedingly fruitful as she ministers with The Navigators at the University of Illinois.

 

According to the Purpose

These four words, according to the purpose, buried deep in the message of Ephesians 1:3-6 reflect God's heart, his plan, and his pleasure lifting up the grace we now live because of Jesus.

God, our purposeful God, created us in his image; he created us with purpose, on purpose, and for purpose.

With Purpose: "I know the plans I have for you ..." These well-known words from God recorded in Jeremiah 29:11 offer comfort, encouragement, and hope. We have a role in God's great story. We are needed!

It was the summer of 2008. Bill and I were part of a special service of affirming our friends who were selected for a significant ministry responsibility. As we prayed, they were anointed with oil. But we, their friends surrounding them, laying our hands on them, praying God's blessing for them were also anointed with oil. Our names were voiced and we too were blessed. It was a visible and vocal affirmation, God's plans included us as well.

On Purpose: Blessed with every spiritual blessing. We were chosen on purpose to receive those blessings. It wasn't a last minute decision. God shares his since the foundation of the world plan to Jeremiah in chapter 1, verse 5: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;" God continues with Jeremiah's specific on purpose plan. And I believe there is also a since the foundation of the world plan for us.

For Purpose: Our purpose is for the carrying out of God's vision, his heart. God promised to Abram, "I will make you ... and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." Genesis 12:2 and 3. That's me; that's you.

We are part of God's promise to Abram and an essential piece of that promise continuing.

Genesis 17 fleshes this reality out. "I will make you exceedingly fruitful ... I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations ..."
Verses 6 and 7.

Recently Bill and I experienced an Illinois week. We enjoyed two meals here in Colorado with friends from our Illinois days. And as it happens, later that week we returned to the University of Illinois, the place where we officially started our Navigator ministry. What a joy!! And I want to tell you more.

Note Champaign-Urbana in central Illinois.

Next week, Echoes is sharing a piece of that Illinois story, a piece of God's purpose displayed through many who are living their stories with purpose, on purpose, and for purpose.

So come back next Thursday for part 3 of this series ... you just might see your picture.

"How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son."

Ephesians 1 3-6, The Message

b

A Very Hard Precious

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

Psalm 116:15

Joel and his much prayed for baby son, Gabe.

Today our friend Joel Helms walked into the presence of Jesus. He leaves behind his wife Kelly, their son Gabe who is not quite 3 months old, and many many friends whose tears are flowing freely along with his family this night.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope."

I Thessalonians 4:13

Avalanche Proportions

The avalanche of hards continues.

This most recent left me gasping for breath. Could I survive yet another hard? Inside I screamed,
I.CAN'T.WRITE.ANOTHER.TRIBUTE! Tears stained my cheeks. Life has been overwhelming.

I wiped my tears, threw on my coat, grabbed Lexie's leash (for my dog who doesn't know what sad is), and headed out. How should I pray, I prayed.

The gentle, understanding whisper was instantaneous, Sue, you're human. Pray as a human. Pray for healing, complete healing. My shoulders relaxed, I picked up my pace, and I prayed. I prayed for complete healing.

God gets it. Paul writes about this paradox of our lives as human Christians, as believers in a sovereign God.

"... and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith ..."

the middle of Galatians 2:20 (underlines mine)

Two realities, two nows, two truths captured in the middle of one sentence.

• I now live in the flesh - I am human.
• I live by faith - My trust is not in myself.

As a human being, I have human desires (complete healing).
                               I have human reactions (I can't take another hard).
                               I have human ideas (things I can do to help).

As a human being who lives by faith, I have a new lens.
                                                             I have a new ability.
                                                             I have a new trust.
                                                             I have a new peace.
                                                             I have a new security.

Both are true at the same time!

Will I put my weight on my humanity?
or
Will I put my weight on my faith?

If in the midst, I'm experiencing the peace that passes all understanding, then my weight is on my faith.

Joel and Kelly Helms

As of this writing, I do not know how God is answering my prayer for complete healing. If you wish to join in prayer for my friend Joel, his wife Kelly set up a CaringBridge page where she shares current requests.


"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:7

Living Commissioned

The plaques, the awards, the commendations, the appreciations wallpapered the place my eyes rested every day. It was impressive; it was what the company wanted me to believe - you, Sue are important to us; just look at what you've accomplished. And for a while, it worked; it fed my ego.

But I couldn't ignore the niggling feeling, the unbeckoned questions. Something wasn't right. (I wrote about it four years ago. You might remember, Taking Down the Wall.)
 
Many of those framed pieces of paper led me astray. They reinforced who I wasn't. I took down the wall. It's nakedness now crying, but who are you, Sue?

I knew the answer; I knew the truth.

God journaled it before I was conceived (Jeremiah 1:5). And his words have been swirling through my brain and echoing in my heart speaking the truth I need to hear; I need to remember; I need to trust.

Similar to the apostle Paul, these are important words to me ...

"... he (and me too) is a chosen instrument of mine ..." Acts 9:15, parentheses added

In the last few years, two other pieces of paper have affirmed publicly what God has been saying about me since eternity past. Yes, I had them framed. Yes, they do speak of accomplishments - but more importantly they speak truly. They speak of what God has already spoken over me.  No, my eyes do not rest on them every day.

"Our worth is not the same as our usefulness."

Henri J.J. Nouwen, Out of Solitude

They are a visible representation of the context in which I live out my worth, where I want my usefulness to flourish.

What picture has God given you of your usefulness?

What scriptures encourage you along those lines?

"In love he predestined us for adoption ...

according to the purpose of his will,"

                          Ephesians 1:5

My Tribute to Katie

My friend Katie Hubbard walked into the arms of Jesus Monday evening January 25 bringing to conclusion a 7 year battle with breast cancer.

Katie and I were part of the same extended family, The Navigators. It's a large family and we didn't often cross paths. She was like a daughter to me, a few generations removed. Along side our husbands we both ministered among the students at the University of Illinois (Bill and I in the 70's; Katie and Norm until just recently). Anyone who labors in that harvest will always be a special to Bill and me.

A little over 4 years ago, we were visiting Norm and Katie at the U of I. Katie and I spent the morning visiting with one of our other Navstaff family members, Katie Haas and her newborn daughter, Ellie. Katie #2 and her husband Noah were doing their ministry training with Katie and Norm. What a privilege!

You know what I noticed about Katie that morning? She gave her 100% attention to whomever she was with. First to me; then to Katie and Ellie; and later when we were back at their home to Joe, their youngest who was still a pre-schooler at the time.


Katie was a woman full of faith. These words she penned earlier this fall are a tribute to that ...

The kingdom of God is a mystery, and its’ growth is a mystery.  God’s ways and thoughts are not our ways and thoughts.  Jesus assures us in Mark 4 that His kingdom grows even while we are sleeping!

And Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how." Mark 4: 26-27

Norman and I love these verses!  They are our favorite “ministry verses.”  Oftentimes when we climb in bed at night, we laugh and say, “The kingdom of God is growing over there on campus while we sleep!”  What a fantastic thought.  What a relief! (underline mine)

What is your favorite ministry verse?

Every time I was with Katie, she was surrounded by family, Norm and/or her children. Her family

was never an interruption - they were her priority. In her own words, "As always my chief concern is my kids. there is just no way to shield them from the intense difficulty and upheaval that my illness brings. And as a parent it is agony to know that my circumstances cause my kids stress and pain. I have no control over that. But I have so much assurance from scripture that God has them. These circumstances are Father filtered and He will use it for their good ..."


Katie's heart was for the next generation, the next generation of laborers, the next generation of young mom's, the next generation growing up under her roof. Her life demonstrated that great influence can happen during the mommy years. Last spring she wrote these words ...

"I don’t want recognition, fame. I don’t want the big selling book, I don’t want a thousand people at Nav Nite…I want laborers.  And if that means that my little cup of cold water in Jesus’ name is one gal, right here, right now, then so be it.  Because that one little gal is, by God’s grace, going to grow into an oak of righteousness and God is going to take her places and do things in her life and bring people across her path that I could never imagine or conceive." Mommy Missionaries blog.

Katie regularly contributed to The collegiate Navs Mommy Missionaries blog. Her wisdom born of years of walking with God and years of ministry encouraged and blessed many. These words will live on and continue to minister.

Katie loved and prayed even when her home consisted of the four walls of her bedroom. Right up to the end of her time here on earth, Katie prayed for and with those prayers blessed other young Nav moms in their hards.

In her writing, she securely shared her humanity. She was transparent and open with her words, an indication of how she lived her life. She shared her own insecurities about vocational ministry and support raising. I laughed when I read one of her stories of not knowing how to explain what a Navigator was. I laughed because I identified!

One of C. S. Lewis's roles was that of spiritual director. He fulfilled that role primarily through letter writing. Lewis died in 1963. His life continues to minister deeply around the world through his penned words.

Katie was a writer too. I'm confident that her penned words will also continue to minister deeply. Those words will echo her heart for Jesus for many years to come.

As I read Katie Haas' eulogy for Katie Hubbard, she shared one of the lines she often heard Katie say,

Be ruthless with your words and gentle with your emotions.

That was a balm to my soul. I knew Katie from a distance, but in her words she loved me well. I needed to know it was okay to cry A-GAIN.

"Truly, truly, I say to you,

unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone;

but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

John 12:24 (italics  and bolding mine)

Just recently I was introduced to this song. My guess is that Katie would say YES and AMEN. May it bless you.

"More Than Anything" by The Mizells

https://www.reverbnation.com/themizells/song/25073743-more-than-anything

I know Norm and the children would be so appreciative of your prayers for them.

"And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above;

 and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever"

Daniel 12:3

 

Believing, Receiving, Blessing

The foundation of our friend's home

I've always believed in God. Sunday school, youth group, church were all pieces of my growing up culture; it was a culture that traveled with me to college. My parents poured a strong foundation.

Believing, the foundation that readied me to receive.

"But to all who did receive him,

who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God,"

John 1:12 (italics mine)

Listening to my peers that Sunday evening in the college-aged youth group, I realized that a foundation is poured to support something greater. Believing was a foundation. That was the night my words reached to God, I opened my heart and my hands, and received my child of God identity. Something greater had begun.

It was the first step of many receivings.

D.L. Moody puts it this way, "Faith is the gift of God. So is the air, but you have to breathe it; so is bread, but you have to eat it; so is water but you have to drink it." (The Way to God, p.53)

Jesus encourages, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in (receive) my love." John 15:9 (parentheses mine)

My child of God journey is a journey of receiving. Only then do I have something to offer my world. Ann Voskamp calls this the order of grace. "You will be experienced as a blessing -- to the extent you have first experienced yourself as blessed. You must feel the fullness of your own pitcher before you trust the pouring out of yourself." (The Greatest Gift p.40)

As I read the scriptures, do Bible study, attend church, live in community, I'm always asking,

what am I receiving that is allowing me to bleed grace,

to love with the love I'm receiving?

Receiving built on the foundation of believing leads to blessing.

What questions do you ask to assure that you're receiving from God?

What does bleeding grace look like for you? 

"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid,

which is Jesus Christ."

I Corinthians 3:11