Hope

How To Find Solutions To Global Crises: Ask And Pray – One Inspiring Example

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
a large field of dead plants in the middle of the day

I suddenly realized I was not Little Red Riding Hood or whoever that hooded girl who carries her lunch to grandma is, stopping to smell flowers.

I’m the wolf.

I sometimes wear a Little Red Riding Hood cape because I want to go about my life, enjoy my kids, and laugh while we enjoy a day beside the lake. But more and more often now, I feel constrained like old caterpillar skin that needs to be shed. And I’m afraid of what may come out of me. It seems I am a caterpillar about to transition into a fire-breathing dragon.

And I don’t know what to do or where to put the fear and anger that has been stirring quietly under the surface for so many years that sooner or later, it’s bound to come out as an explosion.

I would sort of rather not do that.

I would rather be a butterfly fluttering about and minding my own business.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” 

The Lord Of the Rings

And is there hope for these situations in the news and our lives that threaten to overwhelm us with darkness?

This is God’s Word on the subject: . . . I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

The Message

Yep.

I was so startled by a surprising story of hope at a prayer group meeting that I burst into tears unexpectedly.

There, we learned the remarkable true story of a group of people praying together over issues today that bothered them. One person recounted that in that prayer group, he felt God giving him an idea of how to help clean up plastic from the ocean. I know this way to get new ideas sounds far-fetched, but stay with me1 before you snap your laptop closed.

And then this guy from the prayer meeting went out with his company and built the thing that is another piece in the puzzle of our astonishing plastics problem.

And therein (listening to God and responding ) is our hope.

What global or personal problem threatens to suffocate you, friend?

For me, lately, it’s climate change. But the good news is that God holds a part of the solution for every difficulty we face. He offers different jewels, different parts of the solution to different ones who listen to him and obey his promptings.

Will we humble ourselves and ask him to help us clean up this mess we’re leaving on Earth?

If . . . my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you . . . I’ll restore their land to health.

The Message

As the song below plays, can we sing together that we, too, together are “aching for the yield for you to harvest from this hurt?”

Photo Credit: Land Needing Restoration by Md. Hasanuzzaman Himel on Unsplash

Footnotes:

1 Chemist August Kekulé and Physicist Albert Einstein discovered the shape of the benzene ring, and theory of relativity, respectively, after insights gleaned from their dreams at night and many similar examples abound.

In a dream, for instance, a vision at night, when men and women are deep in sleep, fast asleep in their beds—God opens their ears

The Message

And to mess with your mind a bit more, the entire scientific process is only possible with a Christian understanding of the world that God values and is the TRUTH. Think about it. If EVOLUTION were to underlie the scientific process, TRUTH wouldn’t matter and couldn’t be trusted – Only things that helped propagate your genes could be relied upon accurately, not TRUTH. More on this another time.

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Discouraged? Focus On One Surprising, Eye-Opening Method Of Pushing Out Joy (Not Trying To Catch It)

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment

She held her head in her hands, weighted down with discouragement. 

How does God‘s kingdom come to earth? How is the love, joy and peace Jesus exemplified deposited on earth? Our political and religious institutions are broken. We are broken. So how does anything good appear when God only finds our wounded hands to use? 

Like a peach tree trying with all its might to find a way to create peaches and push them from the roots up the tree and out its leaves, I tried hard to propel joy and God‘s kingdom through my striving.

It wasn’t working

“How does a peach tree produce peaches?” I began to ponder

Peaches are born the moment the peach tree stretches down its roots and thinks, “I’d like a little more water.”

And then, with the drinking and thirst, the roots grow stronger and thicker. Ironically, the thirst of the little tree only increases the more it drinks. The little roots grow deeper and stockier, twisting around obstacles in their way but still moving down, down toward the Source.

And once that little tree drinks all the water that it is designed to drink, peaches come.

How thirsty are you?

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like . . . exuberance about life . . .

The Message

This mug says, “Be Happy.”

But the more I tried to be happy, the more discouraged I became.

This unhealthy little peach tree produced eighty-six delicious peaches for our family’s delight last summer.

How much fruit will your tree produce?

As the song below plays, consider asking Holy Spirit to increase your thirst for spiritual things. 

And may every good fruit be produced from your life, friend.

Photo Credit: Little Tree Growing by Sushobhan Badhai on Unsplash

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3 Hidden But Powerful Reasons Why You Love Dragonfly Décor

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment

So discouraged. Head in hands. I haven’t seen the sun in weeks. It’s just cloudy skies day after day. I feel stuck inside this small room that confines me.

Where is the sunny sky, and how do these skinny arms transform into wings?

When is it my turn to fly?

I sit on the wooden box, my only piece of furniture in this cement box of a room and read.

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

The Message

And a glimmer of sun – Is it? Peeking through the clouds?

I go outside, for the first time in weeks, to look up at the sky and get a closer look. I shield my eyes now, for the sun shines with unstoppable radiance through the clouds. The sun reaches EVEN ME.

And I am pierced to the heart with this light that illuminates my chest and then expands upward and downward as I stand, mesmerized, as the sun peaks more and more of its light through the clouds that reluctantly part.

white clouds and blue sky

Is that hope I sense on the horizon, too? My heart stirs a little at the sight of something blurry, something I can’t quite bring into focus past the horizon. (Have you looked yet beyond your horizons?)

calm water during golden hour

In your great love revive me . . . I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can’t contain your commands

The Message

I am warmer now, and I take off my sweater.

The sun’s rays, which are even brighter now, moments later, seem to warm me from the inside out.

Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?

The Message

The clouds part further, making room.

I reach deep, deep into my heart and pull out the weights that hold me to the earth.

I’ll take that, I sense the wind whispering.

Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders

The Message

And I feel an itch, now, and the urge to scratch at my back is almost unbearable . . .

The old skin falls off.

You’ll be changed from the inside out

The Message

And as I rest outside now, in the sun, my wings warming in the spring air, I feel almost enough hope to flap, flap my wings, as they dry here in the sun and then . . .

Do I have the courage to try them out?

Do you?

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar

The Message

a bug sitting on top of a green leaf

One species of dragonfly lives underwater for more than five years.

Yet some dragonfly species live only for a few short weeks on land.

Yet in this short time, dragonflies are a keystone species, meaning they play a crucial role in the health of their ecosystem.

And so, why do you, too, friend, love dragonfly décor?

  1. He is calling, calling you to more. Can you hear Him?
  2. There is a new season for you, too. Can you feel it?
  3. It matters to the ecosystem around you that you make the transition. Do you sense it?

P.S. – For more in-depth Fashion Analysis, check out my other Newsletters HERE, HERE and HERE.

You’re welcome!

Good luck!

Photo Credits: Parting Clouds by Marieke Verhoeven on Unsplash, Horizon by by Lucas Davies on Unsplash, Dragonfly Alive by Buddha Elemental on Unsplash

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The Surprising Truth – It’s Time To Fuel Your Anger To Unlock Cultural Restoration

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
white clouds over snow covered mountain

The Bible story pictures often portray Jesus sitting on the grass, Buddha style, with some children frolicking nearby, spewing truths that people fell over trying to catch.

Which would be true.

But Jesus also got angry.

Anger fueled by the love that erupts within our souls like a volcano sometimes contains the seeds that can eventually heal culture.

Click HERE to continue reading.

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My Homeschooled Kid Was The Most Exciting Thing The Librarian Found In A Long Time

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
boy in black hoodie sitting beside black dslr camera

It started as an ordinary day.

We were visiting the largest city in our region and decided to stop at the library to borrow some books for our youngest daughter’s summer reading cache. We walked in awe, looking up in wonder at the size of the magnificent building. There are so many books inside!

Click HERE to continue reading.

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Ashamed Of The News? Surprise! Look Down! Peace Is Right Here Waiting To Be Found!

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
person hands with black liquids

I felt shame when I read in the news that the Christian organization that I love had allegations of “sexual misconduct” splattered across their building.

I felt shame when I read in the news that the country that we are associated with, that is our friend, has allegations of “extortion” splattered across that beautiful landscape.

Why did I feel shame?

  • I am standing a bit close and am splattered a little by the mess.
  • “Sexual misconduct,” “extortion” and other stuff like that is wrong.

Similarly, I read Lord of the Flies this week, and when Jack stole Piggy’s glasses and purposely smashed them, that was wrong.

Jack stole Piggy’s glasses just before he and his cronies felt justified to do worse stuff.

And so, if we wonder where some parts of Christian culture and some parts of American culture are headed, check out Lord of the Flies to find out.

Thankfully, Jesus is seated on his throne, far, far above those who define themselves by His name. Thankfully, He sits far enough above us that the splatters of dirt and messes we make on Earth don’t reach His robe. His identity is not affected by what we do in His name.

HE defines US, instead.

And this is the good news.

Jesus, when He walked on Earth for thirty-three years didn’t intentionally pick up the banners to support the various political or religious quarrels of His day, and so neither will I.

Instead, I will continue to receive the love the Father so generously pours out when I stop to listen to His whispers.

And I will give away some of the overflow of the love I receive to others.

Jesus’ kingdom of love is the only powerful kingdom still standing thousands of years after Jesus roamed a tiny piece of Earth for thirty-three years. This kingdom of love is the only powerful kingdom guaranteed to stand indefinitely in the future. (For example, a dozen uneducated followers in a remote unknown town have turned into almost one third of the planet who claim to follow Him.*)

Thankfully, I’ve found a leader I am always proud to serve.

And so, I can curl up next to Him, feel the comfort of His presence, and know that since I’m His child, bearing His name, I can soar on the wind of His presence into whatever turbulence I encounter in the world.

Who defines you, friend?

When the lyrics of the song below sing, “You are the peace that settles around us,” are you ready to reach down in humility and pick up this peace, friend, carrying it close to your heart? God, we pray that everyone reading these smudged, messy, and grimy words will be surprised to find a handful more of peace they can carry today.

Footnotes

*Have you carefully examined some of the evidence for why?

Photo Credit: Dirty hands by Stormseeker on Unsplash

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Advice: Go To The Gym For This One Eye-Opening Reason (NOT Just To Work Out)

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
woman kneeling beside man

My mouth hung open. I stared at the woman walking past me. It was not polite to stare (I know, okay!), but I forgot that my mouth was still hanging open.

I had just worked out at the gym. My muscles were getting EVEN stronger! For example, this time, I didn’t have to go to the far edge of the gym to find lighter weights than the weights set out by our instructor for the group class.

I could use the lightest weights that were ALREADY placed there for the group class INSTEAD of locating even lighter ones!

My muscles were growing, and that’s why I was there! My ego was growing, too! “Look how strong I am getting!” I thought proudly, appreciating my thin little arms with increasing pride.

At the end of the class, as we were putting the weights away, I wiped my brow after picking up and putting away a hefty 10-pound weight.

And that’s when my mouth fell open.

I tried to keep it closed, but I would need both hands to do so, and I didn’t want to drop the weight I was carrying on my foot.

That older woman was carrying 50-pound weights in EACH arm as she helped re-stack the weights.

(!)

I instantly remembered the stories relatives told me of my strapping great-uncle. He was over 6 feet tall, built like a farmer (He was a farmer!) and threw 100-pound sacks of potatoes. “Wow!” I had thought, the day I heard this story.

That same day, I played another game of Candy Crush on my iPad while finishing my ice cream bowl, hoping I could be strong like that!

And so, this year, I joined a gym and began pumping 5-pound weights with full energy and gusto! “Wha-hooo!” I thought, imagining myself pumping 6-pound weights in another six months or so and maybe eventually moving up to 10 pounds in EACH ARM one day!

It turned out that my vision was too small.

Like in a lot of areas of life, during various seasons.

Like for many of us.

How is your vision for who you are becoming, friend?

And so, why should we go to the gym if it’s not solely to work out?

We place ourselves next to others who have a vision for themselves that is greater than the vision we have for ourselves. And seeing another get stronger helps me to have faith that one day, with patience and persistence, I can get a bit stronger, too. Stronger than I ever thought I could be, actually.

Am I willing to pay the price of a bit of sweat?

“One of the standards we ask of our male patients is that they can carry half their body weight in each hand (so full body weight in total) for at least one minute, and for our female patients, we push for 75 percent of that weight.”

Outlive by Peter Attia, MD (Chapter 12)

This goal is not only for the 0.00001% elite but is something that antiaging physicians like Peter Attia recommend that ALL of us who can (barring injuries and ill health) strive to work towards.

I didn’t even know this was possible for someone my age.

And on a not unrelated theme, who do you know, friend, who:

– Seeks to listen to the whispers from God,

– Obeys and is following Him on a journey of adventure,

– Is not (always) a jerk?

Are you willing to pay the price of their lunch? Can you meet with them to have your vision expanded as you listen to them for what is spiritually possible in your life, too?

bird on water falls
man standing in front of LED bulbs

May you become all that God intended for you, friend.

As the song below plays, consider asking God, can you please recall to my mind or introduce me to someone with an inspiring spiritual vision for their life? What nudges do you sense from God, friend?

You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.

The Message

Image Credits: Woman kneeling beside man by by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash, Bird soaring by by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash, Tough guy by Xenia Bogarova on Unsplash.

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