LITTLE GLIMMERS
In 1929 a song was copyrighted by Milton Ager (music) and Jack Yellen (lyrics) entitled "Happy Days Are Here Again." This song is #47 on the Recording Association of America's list of "Songs of the Century." The chorus goes like this:
Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So let's sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again.
Have you noticed that for most folks happy days have fallen on hard times? When things are tough the light of hope grows dim. Hope may even shrink to a faint little glimmer from our perspective. No matter what kind of circumstances we are facing, however, the truth does not change. It remains the same from generation to generation. Little glimmers remind us of the huge hope that is ours because of the work of Jesus Christ.
Happy times
He can move heaven and earth for me. Jesus said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Matthew 28:18).
He loves me like a doting father. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty (2 Corinthians 6:18).
He holds me close and will never let me go. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword (Romans 8:35)?
He takes care of me. I know You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted (Job 42:2).
He has my back. Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies (Romans 8:33).
He has secured my future. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).
Happy nights
He finds me when I am lost. I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be My people and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart (Jeremiah 24:7).
He gives me eyes to see. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (James 1:5).
He lifts me up when I am down. Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:4).
He never grows tired of me. The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary... (Isaiah 40:29).
He heals my broken heart. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3).
He helps me do the right thing. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but the transgressors stumble in them (Hosea 14:9).
Happy days
He makes me beautiful inside. Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:2-5).
He never rips me off. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17).
He helps me do good. God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).
He makes me smile. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).
He surprises me. For nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37).
He directs my paths. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake (Psalm 23:3).
It has been said three things reveal the heart of a person: eyes, friends and beliefs. What are you believing in the midst of the storm, feelings of failure, overwhelming odds, the visit to the doctor's office, attending a memorial service, being pummeled by the enemy? Do you see any little glimmers? Keep watching! Our God will prevail. He will deliver the goods. He will overcome the evil one and the pain of this world.
Spoiler alert! He will carry us triumphantly across the finish line. Expect a Pollyanna ending because the good guys win! Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen (Revelation 1:7).
Happy times - Happy nights - Happy days - Are here again!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
I've been thinking about influence...
SWITCHING HATS
I have noticed a strange effect in my influence over others. Some of the people that have resisted my influence the most have turned out to be my biggest fans and supporters. Why is this? I think it is because some individuals around me remain free thinkers, seasoned with healthy dose of cynicism, while still maintaining a genuinely submissive heart toward the things of God.
For me this presents the best kind of personal challenge. I am invigorated when I have the privilege of stimulating a free thinker into a bigger and better place. Let me explain.
Many times over the years, I have heard someone say to me - especially regarding personal mission statements - that they "didn't exactly like the assignment at the time" but that they did try to do their part and cooperate with me. Then, I will often hear that later on they quoted their mission statement to others many times over. They often report to me how, "it has been very formative in what aspirations I take on and what I don't."
In a recent e-mail, one person shared with me, "I think if we have a good statement, and live by it, it will end up shaping our dreams and not letting us get too far off track into areas where we are not so gifted and capable... which should enliven us to press forward and have a sense of joy about being in the right place for God to use us."
In the DelHousaye household we live by a concept called Switching Hats! Switching Hats means Darryl and I switch roles - sometimes he wears the authority hat and sometimes I wear the submission hat. Sometimes I wear the authority hat and sometimes he wears the submission hat. This concept is based on a beautiful Scripture recorded in Ephesians 5:15-21 which says,
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit (in the Phillips translation - let the Spirit stimulate your souls), addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter while in prison and therefore these certainly are not frivolous remarks. Notice how he ends this section - with a statement about submitting ourselves to one another and fitting in with one another out of reverence and respect. Upon further investigation, submitting is a present participle referring to a continuous activity and it is in the middle voice indicating it is voluntary. The idea is when we are filled with the Spirit we will practice continuous submission voluntarily.
The concept of Switching Hats reminds me that Darryl and I are trading around submission with each other all the time. Sometimes, I submit to his influence. Sometimes, he submits to mine. These thoughts about voluntary submission set the stage for the next passage in Ephesians which addresses formal times of submission in marriage, family and work situations. The rest of the time, according to the concept of Switching Hats, we are trading around the responsibility to gracefully influence each other.
Influence grows when I am allowed to influence you and you are allowed to influence me. When this happens we are allowing the Spirit to stimulate our souls and we both end up in bigger and better places.
The issue is to press forward into the right place for God to use us - mightily!
Some of my best influence has even swayed the most reluctant hearts! Imagine that!
I have noticed a strange effect in my influence over others. Some of the people that have resisted my influence the most have turned out to be my biggest fans and supporters. Why is this? I think it is because some individuals around me remain free thinkers, seasoned with healthy dose of cynicism, while still maintaining a genuinely submissive heart toward the things of God.
For me this presents the best kind of personal challenge. I am invigorated when I have the privilege of stimulating a free thinker into a bigger and better place. Let me explain.
Many times over the years, I have heard someone say to me - especially regarding personal mission statements - that they "didn't exactly like the assignment at the time" but that they did try to do their part and cooperate with me. Then, I will often hear that later on they quoted their mission statement to others many times over. They often report to me how, "it has been very formative in what aspirations I take on and what I don't."
In a recent e-mail, one person shared with me, "I think if we have a good statement, and live by it, it will end up shaping our dreams and not letting us get too far off track into areas where we are not so gifted and capable... which should enliven us to press forward and have a sense of joy about being in the right place for God to use us."
In the DelHousaye household we live by a concept called Switching Hats! Switching Hats means Darryl and I switch roles - sometimes he wears the authority hat and sometimes I wear the submission hat. Sometimes I wear the authority hat and sometimes he wears the submission hat. This concept is based on a beautiful Scripture recorded in Ephesians 5:15-21 which says,
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit (in the Phillips translation - let the Spirit stimulate your souls), addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter while in prison and therefore these certainly are not frivolous remarks. Notice how he ends this section - with a statement about submitting ourselves to one another and fitting in with one another out of reverence and respect. Upon further investigation, submitting is a present participle referring to a continuous activity and it is in the middle voice indicating it is voluntary. The idea is when we are filled with the Spirit we will practice continuous submission voluntarily.
The concept of Switching Hats reminds me that Darryl and I are trading around submission with each other all the time. Sometimes, I submit to his influence. Sometimes, he submits to mine. These thoughts about voluntary submission set the stage for the next passage in Ephesians which addresses formal times of submission in marriage, family and work situations. The rest of the time, according to the concept of Switching Hats, we are trading around the responsibility to gracefully influence each other.
Influence grows when I am allowed to influence you and you are allowed to influence me. When this happens we are allowing the Spirit to stimulate our souls and we both end up in bigger and better places.
The issue is to press forward into the right place for God to use us - mightily!
Some of my best influence has even swayed the most reluctant hearts! Imagine that!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
I've been thinking about vision...
WHEN VISION BECOMES REALITY!
I was cleaning out an old briefcase recently and I came across a most interesting document. The heading identified it as a vision statement for my old non-profit, Prickly Perspectives, Inc., dated June 2005.
Thinking back, I remember gathering a group of supporters to discuss the future direction of my mentoring ministry. I had a sense that God wanted me to expand into a larger collaborative effort. I also remember asking my mentor and friend, Carol Travilla, to facilitate the discussion. We met. We talked. We dreamed.
Here is the vision statement the group generated that evening:
Expand Prickly Perspectives, Inc. (PPI) into a unique collaborative ministry for empowering women. Facilitate the development of a center that houses a variety of resources for helping women realize their dreams.
Perhaps some of you reading this blog attended this particular meeting. If you were present, thank you for participating in birthing a vision that would ultimately serve God's sovereign purposes and bring Him great glory! Perhaps some of you even contributed to bringing it to life by providing much needed prayer and financial support!
The best analogy to describe what God has accomplished since 2005 is to compare the development of the Center for Women with Vision (CWV) to the function of a spyglass. A spyglass is a small, portable, hand-held telescope designed to magnify an image. (You may recall seeing it in pirate movies - "Ahoy there matey; Yo Ho Ho; Shiver me timbers!") The spyglass functions by "telescoping out" to its farthest range so distant objects appear nearer - or as near as possible.
Once in a while a look through a spyglass provides just the motivation we need! The image may seem fuzzy at first - because it exists only in imagination - but with the help of the spyglass "telescoping out" the image is enlarged, expanded, amplified and boosted! Our infinite God is revealing His Big Dream - something presently immaterial - to our senses! Wow! We must work to make His Big Dream a reality because anything else would be irresponsible!
Certainly on that evening in 2005 the vision was fuzzy but the desire was planted! PPI eventually went away along with all the responsibilities of running a non-profit. God cleared my plate and focused me on a new vision. Slowly through a careful and humble process that vision - the immaterial center for women - became a reality!
Looking back, I was always a dreamy kid. It was not until writing this blog that I fully connected all the dots from my past to my present day! Out from the Somewhere Over the Rainbow quality in me as a child sprang forth the visionary entrepreneur I am today!
Looking ahead, it appears God has prepared me to be a visionary guide to women all around me who dream Big Dreams for God. With the CWV a reality and growing, I am embarking on yet another telescoping of my Big Dream. In my e-mail signature I capture the essence of where I am headed.
I am challenging every woman I know - Let's dream together!
God is honored when we challenge one another to abandon small ambitions and attempt things which are great in His eyes, exceeding human capabilities for His own sovereign purposes and glory.
Amen and Amen! O Lord, show Yourself faithful on behalf of my sisters (me hearties) in Christ who are daring to trust You for great things!
I was cleaning out an old briefcase recently and I came across a most interesting document. The heading identified it as a vision statement for my old non-profit, Prickly Perspectives, Inc., dated June 2005.
Thinking back, I remember gathering a group of supporters to discuss the future direction of my mentoring ministry. I had a sense that God wanted me to expand into a larger collaborative effort. I also remember asking my mentor and friend, Carol Travilla, to facilitate the discussion. We met. We talked. We dreamed.
Here is the vision statement the group generated that evening:
Expand Prickly Perspectives, Inc. (PPI) into a unique collaborative ministry for empowering women. Facilitate the development of a center that houses a variety of resources for helping women realize their dreams.
Perhaps some of you reading this blog attended this particular meeting. If you were present, thank you for participating in birthing a vision that would ultimately serve God's sovereign purposes and bring Him great glory! Perhaps some of you even contributed to bringing it to life by providing much needed prayer and financial support!
The best analogy to describe what God has accomplished since 2005 is to compare the development of the Center for Women with Vision (CWV) to the function of a spyglass. A spyglass is a small, portable, hand-held telescope designed to magnify an image. (You may recall seeing it in pirate movies - "Ahoy there matey; Yo Ho Ho; Shiver me timbers!") The spyglass functions by "telescoping out" to its farthest range so distant objects appear nearer - or as near as possible.
Once in a while a look through a spyglass provides just the motivation we need! The image may seem fuzzy at first - because it exists only in imagination - but with the help of the spyglass "telescoping out" the image is enlarged, expanded, amplified and boosted! Our infinite God is revealing His Big Dream - something presently immaterial - to our senses! Wow! We must work to make His Big Dream a reality because anything else would be irresponsible!
Certainly on that evening in 2005 the vision was fuzzy but the desire was planted! PPI eventually went away along with all the responsibilities of running a non-profit. God cleared my plate and focused me on a new vision. Slowly through a careful and humble process that vision - the immaterial center for women - became a reality!
Looking back, I was always a dreamy kid. It was not until writing this blog that I fully connected all the dots from my past to my present day! Out from the Somewhere Over the Rainbow quality in me as a child sprang forth the visionary entrepreneur I am today!
Looking ahead, it appears God has prepared me to be a visionary guide to women all around me who dream Big Dreams for God. With the CWV a reality and growing, I am embarking on yet another telescoping of my Big Dream. In my e-mail signature I capture the essence of where I am headed.
I am challenging every woman I know - Let's dream together!
God is honored when we challenge one another to abandon small ambitions and attempt things which are great in His eyes, exceeding human capabilities for His own sovereign purposes and glory.
Amen and Amen! O Lord, show Yourself faithful on behalf of my sisters (me hearties) in Christ who are daring to trust You for great things!
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