Here.Am.I.

Posted: Monday, March 8, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10, 2k7 | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Here.Am.I.

This is a post that I started yesterday.  Actually it was the 2nd half of yesterday’s post….which would have been WAY too long.  So…here it is now, as promised.

Shortly after attending the conference, I found myself reading Encounter God in the City by Randy White.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to discover the exceptional power of experiential discipleship and transformational experience.  Here are a few notes from my journal while reading this book…

  • I’m living intentionally in a high crime, high poverty neighborhood in the city.
  • Cities – not just an area to serve, but to grow my faith and discover a meaningful life where I can be transformed.
  • I will be a repairer of broken walls and restorer of streets with dwellings.
  • Making things the way they should be

IN people,

BETWEEN people, and

FOR people

Human beings dwelling in peace in all relationships with God, self, fellows and nature.

  • Holy Pestering of city bureaucracy

Psalm 82:3-4

2 “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

I am reminded of the story in Luke 1:26-38 of when the God sent the angel Gabriel who appeared to Mary.  Gabriel said that the Lord was with her and that she was highly favored.  She asked a simple clarifying question.  After hearing the answer, Mary then responded, I am the Lord’s servant.  May it be so, Lord.

Now that I am reminded of all of this…what now?  Lord, as my job soon comes to an end…what do you want me to do?  This time, Lord…it’s not “Not me, Lord! I’m not ready!”  This time…it is “Here am I…your servant….may it be so!  Lord, may it be so.”

On a side note…The funeral for my colleague was wonderful and uplifting!  I also spent some time with my neighbor this evening. She’s in good shape…. considering.  Her hope and trust is in the Lord!  It was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I understand there were plenty of witnesses.  Pray for justice!  Please keep both families in your prayers.

Heavy.Heart.

Posted: Monday, March 8, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10 | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I’m pausing the story I was telling yesterday to tell you about my today!  03.08.2010.  Today is a tough day for me for a couple of reasons…

At 11am, I am going to the funeral of a work colleague who was taken from this world WAY TOO EARLY after a very very short fight with liver cancer.  RIP Corby Bailey!

Last night, I learned that a neighbor’s 23-year-old grandson was murdered (shot to death) in Gilpen Court/Jackson Ward yesterday evening.  He was also taken from this earth WAY TOO EARLY!!!  RIP Keith Brunson!

Both deaths seem soooo unnecessary, so futile, so… senseless, so… I don’t even know the words to describe it.

Cancer is evil…and we need to find a cure for it!!!  We can send people to the moon and back.  David Blaine can hold his breath for over 14 minutes (and other ridiculous stunts!).  We can provide artificial limbs, transfer organs such as hearts, etc…but we haven’t yet found a cure for cancer.  All of us have in some way been impacted by this ugly disease.  Let’s support the research to find a cure!

Shootings…also….it needs to stop!  The senseless taking of one another’s lives must cease!  I am not judging here….for that’s God’s job…..and God’s job only. I’m just sayin’…let’s replace HATE with HOPE!  For those of you know the story of Frank…this is bringing about many emotions for me this morning.  For those who don’t, you soon will!  In upcoming posts, I will share with you the story of our friend Frank and his family.

Louis and I were praying this morning for the families, friends…even for the shooter.  We also prayed that God use us…in any way that He wants to.  He doesn’t NEED us to do anything for Him.  But, if He wants to…we are here.

As I think about the post that I have almost completed for later today…it’s ironic..(no….it’s not ironic…it’s God)…just how tied together these posts are.  It’ll be out there later this evening.

Lord…here am I…send me!

Do Whatever He Tells You

Posted: Sunday, March 7, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k7 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Do Whatever He Tells You

My Journals from the Last 5 Years

Just today I found my journal for 2007….here are some clips from it.  I’m glad I found it and had a chance to read it again.  It reminds me of God’s faithfulness and what he was stirring in my heart 3 years ago!!!  There’s definitely a theme of hearing and doing!  And bringing God glory.

12.31   James 1:22-25

  • When the Holy Spirit reveals something…ACT.  Do something about it.  Don’t walk away. Or you’ll forget.  Blessings come from listening and acting.

1.6       ComChap Church Service (don’t know the scripture reference)

  • Go out into the world…uncorrupted – a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society.
  • Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.
  • May my life bring glory to God.  I want to be fresh air!!!
  • Church – end of service…read lambs among wolves…the windows being shot out of my old car.

The weekend of 1.19-20.2007 – Kay Arthur Conference at Thomas Road Baptist Church “Whatever He Says, Do It!”  My friend Grayson and her mom, Judy and I attended this conference, which was so full of good stuff.  This is just a few of my notes from it…

  • Guard Your Glory! Don’t exchange your Glory for idols.
  • Glory = honor, true unchanging essence of God
  • Whatever He says – DO IT!!! -> is bringing God glory
  • God, help me guard my glory.
  • John 17 -> Glorify God on earth, accomplish the work HE gives you to do.
  • Guard your Christlikeness!
  • Numbers 14:21 – may it begin now – with us guarding our glory

I don’t remember everything that was going on at this time, but these were the messages I was hearing from the Lord.  I started crying from almost the moment I walked through the door of that conference.  For the Lord was doing a real work in me….preparing me for something.  In addition, we studied the story of Jesus turning the water into wine in John 2 (paying close attention to vs. 4-5).

John 2 (NLT) (click to read the whole scripture)

4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Throughout the end of 2006 and early 2007, I do remember saying to Him….What do you want from me?  I’m not ready.  Not me!  It’s not my time!  (vs 4)  But it was clear that I was at this conference to hear “Do whatever he tells you.” (vs 5)  It was time to take a risk and do whatever He tells me to do…in spite of what others may think.

Within a week, Marcellous was in the hospital and KK was living with me!  Who woulda thought?

2 Shameless Plugs….

Posted: Saturday, March 6, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I got to know Fritz Kling when I participated in RCLI (Richmond Christian Leadership Institute) in 2008-2009.   You will hear more about RCLI in future posts.  But…here are my 2 shameless plugs.

RCLI is accepting applications for its 4th class – 2010-2011.

Annually, RCLI selects a diverse cross-section of young Christian leaders, age 25 – 40 (yes…they made an exception for me….I was definitely over 40!!!), to participate in a nine-month leadership development program that connects them with each other and equips them for biblically-grounded, Christ-centered service in the Richmond, Virginia region.

Beginning with the overnight retreat in September and continuing through their June commissioning ceremony, the “students” gather one Friday evening and Saturday each month to explore issues confronting our region and to consider them from a Christ-centered perspective.  A wide array of churches host these monthly sessions, providing a glimpse of the rich diversity of ways through which Christians worship and serve God.

Check out RCLI to apply!  (Link is also in the sidebar to the right!)   DEADLINE:  April 1, 2010.

Fritz Kling authors and publishes his first book!

RCLI is also the brainchild of Fritz Kling.  He recently wrote and released his first (of many, I hope!!!) books, The Meeting of the Waters. I can’t wait to purchase my own autographed copy!  Here’s the trailer….Enjoy!  May the Lord richly bless Fritz and his hard work and many late nights.  May God be glorified through his book!!!!!

Be Still.

Posted: Friday, March 5, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10, 2k7, Louis and Me! | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Be Still.

Psalm 46:

10.  “Be still, and know that I am God;  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

By the end of the summer….God had told me…not in an audible voice….but in a peaceful kind of way, that He was going to provide the other 1/2 of my pair in December of that year.  I sensed it…I felt it in my spirit.  I was shocked when Marc confirmed it soon after.  He came to me….explaining that he really felt that I was going to meet someone in 4th quarter.  Can you believe it?!?!  We couldn’t!!  We could both be right!!!  We both heard the same thing just differently…because December is in 4th quarter!!!

Now, some of you might be thinking…I don’t understand.  You heard from God?  Did you hear Him speak?  What does that mean exactly??? God communicates in many ways.  One secret to hearing Him…is being silent every now and then.  Kinda hard to hear Him when there is a lot of distractions and noise around.  The Lord often speaks to me through Scriptures.  When I am reading…like back in Luke 10:1-7, the Word becomes alive.  That is why it sometimes is referred to as The Living Word.  You can read scripture over and over….and think you have learned a ton…everything.  Then…days/months/years later you read it again…and something else jumps off the page…like lambs among wolves.  Other times, He uses other people to share with you.  There are many many ways to hear from the Lord.  (You might also remember the stories about Saul/Paul, the burning bush, donkey, etc. as well!)

When you do hear, I’d encourage you to write it down.  Journal.  I must admit…that’s the only way I remember this story like I do…because I keep a journal.  Habakkuk 2:1-2

A couple of  scriptures you might want to read, but there’s a whole lot more!  1 Kings 19:9b-20,  Acts 2:1-4, 17

There have been many times that I needed an answer at a major fork in the road (like moving to StLouis or not) or even something more simple.  or I just needed some reassurance and some peace. I got still and heard from Him who has all the answers.

So…tell me….what is your favorite scripture regarding hearing from God? or tell me about a time when you clearly heard from the Lord.  I’m tired of doing all the talking! 🙂  It’s your turn now!  Feel free to comment!

If you want to talk about this more….don’t hesitate to contact me!  Would love to chat about it with you.  Or…go to your Pastor if you have one…and explore more.

Peace!

SWF Seeks Other 1/2 of Pair

Posted: Thursday, March 4, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k7, Louis and Me! | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

In addition to all the craziness…I still hadn’t met the other half of my pair!!!  Allow me to refresh your memory.

Born in 1963….I was never married.

December 2005….at 42 years old I prayed for the bone….God answers!

December 2006…at 43 years old…Don brings me Luke 10:1-7 and the Lord speaks to me…to pray for the other 1/2 of my pair….not for my future husband.

2007….I was still meeting with a small group of women.  The 3 of us were not married…and decided to write down what we were looking for in a husband.  So…we each created a list, made copies and shared them with each other, so that we could pray.

Now..Marc (at work) was following my story.  He was very aware of everything that was going on…and prayed with and for me.  He took my list home to include it in his prayers on a regular basis.  He’d come into work…and say…. “Hey Mart!  I put in knee time for you this weekend!”  What a dependable prayer partner!!!  He was such a faithful friend!

One day following our worship service at Commonwealth, Pastor Don asked me if he could “get in my business”.  Pastor Don and I were meeting on a regular basis for breakfast.  He was a true God-send!  He was encouraging me in my own spiritual growth and the work I was doing in SBH.  This particular day…he wanted to know if I wanted to get married.  Yes, I said…I do.  But, that the Luke 10 scripture had changed my prayer.  That I was no longer praying for my future husband…but was praying for the other 1/2 of my pair.

Now, those of you who know Don….think about voice inflection.  Don’s response was “Yes!  That’s what I am talking about!  Yes!”  With his arms pumping in the air.  You know Don!  Now…it kinda caught me off guard…so I didn’t ask him why! (Silly me!)  But…he DID ask me…if I got a call…would I go out.  That is a bit of a crazy question.  I had given up blind dates DECADES ago!  But, I trusted Don and his heart. More importantly…I trusted God.  After all…we had quite a crew praying, right!  Why shouldn’t I expect God to answer those prayers.  When 2 or more or gathered….

Later…I did remember to ask Don….and he told me about a “guy”.  But…that “guy” never called….*sniff*sniff*

But…I kept doin’ my thing….loving God and others in SBH, while continuing to pray.

R&R

Posted: Wednesday, March 3, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10, 2k7 | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments Off on R&R

Psalm 23

2 -3      ….He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul….

In the first few months of the 2007, KK’s mom had passed, the spare car windows were shot out, Marcellous was in the hospital, then the spare car was stolen, one of the kids decided to steal and misuse my credit card, my company announced it was closing the Richmond offices and were moving them ½ way across the country.  It seemed like it was one thing right after the other.

Before KK left for NJ, I had an emergency appendectomy and was in the hospital for a few days.  Poor KK…didn’t understand WHAT was going on.  First his mom was in the hospital…she died.  Then, his dad…a few weeks later…ended up in the hospital, the beginning of one complication after another.  Then, I (the only other “family” he has in Richmond) end up there!  Thankfully, it was only for a few days.  It was yet another one of Satan’s attacks. But, it was a perfect time for God to get my undivided attention.  For several weeks, I spent time reading the Bible, praying, meditating, spending time on the front porch.  God was definitely doing a work in me.  During those weeks, He led me by still waters…and restored my soul.  It was a time of rest after a couple of crazy months.  It was just me…and God.  It was refreshing.

Earlier in the year, I had been restless in my job.  It wasn’t challenging to me anymore.  So, when the firm announced the move…it was time for me to really reflect on what God wanted from me next in my career.  During this time, a lot was stirring in me in regards to my community.  Is this the time to make a move?  God spoke to me through a number of people independently… “Remain open.” was the consistent message.  So, I practiced at remaining open, making no decisions.  Why would God lead me to this community and my kids…to my home, only to take me to Missouri?  Why would God provide me with a great job, only to have me leave it?  My finances provide for me…and for some family members.

Every day, I go to work with what most would call the ‘wealthy’.  I came home every day to what some would call ‘the least of these”.  There are so many similarities between these 2 groups.

The Lord brought people in my life who were making 6-7 digits a year trying to decide what latest gadget they wanted next, what prep school to send their child, upgrading their house, car, or phone, how to make the next dollar…trying to find happiness.

Then, there are those who have to decide between paying the light bill, providing food for the table, clothes for their children because they outgrew last year’s or buying Christmas gifts.  Afraid to introduce the kids to Santa…in fear that their hopes would get too high.

What I had come to learn….is that we ALL are the ‘least of the these’ if we don’t know the Lord.  It doesn’t matter what color we are, what socioeconomic group we are in, or where we live.  There’s financially poor…then there is spiritually poor.  What does the Bible say about the Needle’s Eye?  That it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than it is for a camel to go through the needle’s eye?  So…would I rather be poor and have an easier time getting into heaven or rich and a harder time?  That is a tough question. Can I be some where in the middle?

But…a question that I will have to ponder in the near future as we face my job elimination.  Regardless, we will be richer than MOST of the world….with a roof over our head, food on the table and clean water to drink.

“Give us this day our daily bread.” has a whole new meaning to me as I think about what the future holds.  One thing I know…God is in control!

Me and KK...the early morning I took him to Greyhound to stay with his Aunt and sister in NJ

KK...being silly. How can you NOT love this kid?

No Love. No Gain.

Posted: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10, Louis and Me! | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

Yes...Louis did good on Valentine's Day with Balloons, Cards, Roses and all other kinds of goodies!!!

As you can see in my tag line, Miss Marti’s House…loving God and others in Southern Barton Heights….  I have been thinking about that lately…what does that REALLY mean?  Jesus tells us in the New Testament…to love God with all your heart, soul, strength.  He also then tells us…to love your neighbor as yourself.  So, what does that really look like?  To love like that?

So…I read 1st Corinthians 13 and was struck by verse 3.

3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing.

So…I could be doing all this work…sacrificing my time and money, my hopes and dreams…but, if I am not doing it in love…why do it?  So, how often do I respond to those ads on TV or causes on FB because I feel guilty?  How often do I do something for a friend or family because I am shamed into it? Or…when I strike a check to the local non-profit why does that make me feel better. But…if we are doing this out of guilt, shame or obligation…we may feel a little better in the short run….but, God sees straight through to our heart…our motives.  If I do this without LOVE….it’s nothing.  Don’t get me wrong…I’m not challenging us to stop giving!!!!  I’m challenging us to GIVE MORE!!!! because we respond with LOVE while giving.  Let’s take a look at the rest of the scripture….

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails…..

Not long ago, Louis and I were challenged by reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  Francis challenges the reader to replace your name where the word LOVE appears in this part of the scripture.  So, I would say…

“Marti is patient….” OUCH!!!!  Anyone who knows me…knows that patience is a challenge for me!!!   Louis agrees with me here!  Because he has the patience of Job….He is a positively fabulous role model for me!

“Marti is kind…”  Well, I’m basically a kind person.  But, there are times that I am NOT AT ALL kind!  More than likely, my thoughts are NOT exactly kind at all.  You might not see it…but, God knows my thoughts!  OUCH!!!!

Then…keep reading it….Marti does not….envy (ow!), never… boastful (pain!), proud (burn!), rude (yee-OW!), self-seeking  (not me!), not easily angered (ache!), keeps no records of wrongs (who me?), etc. etc.

I’m gonna challenge you like Francis Chan challenged us….Read this scripture, replacing your name….see what hits you!

So…should I change my tag line to TRYING to love God and others?  Nah…I don’t think so.  I’m doing the best I can right now.  I am loving God and others…and I am learning how to love more….every day.

I’m a work in progress…moving TOWARD Christ…the ultimate lover.


RAIN…

Posted: Monday, March 1, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 2k10, 2k7 | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Again…

Matthew 11

28.  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls.

30.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The last 2 posts told the story of a family who was in distress for a variety of reasons…and things did NOT turn out the way that any of us felt like they would..or the way that we wanted them to.  I wanted Sondra to go back to the hospital….to choose life.  I have no doubt that is what her children wanted as well.  I thought things would be better when KK lived with me.  To have some stability…love, etc.  But…that too didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to.

But, I am thankful that God was with me all the time.  Check out this video…this kinda explains how I was feeling during the time…that is was raining…a lot!

NOOMA Rain | 001

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