I Have a Dream . . .

"The path of righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
growing ever brighter till the full light of day" (Proverbs 4:18).

I have a dream that's been growing for years ...
Though a bit dim at times, it's now glowing clear and warm as the lamp I'd like to be.

During senior year of college, I wrote something titled "What Kind of Light Shall I Be?" We're all lights of some kind, and different lights suit different purposes. You've got:

Spotlights for    ?   
     (making someone or something stand out).

Flashlights for    ?   
     (finding your way in the dark).

Flourescent lights that    ?   
     (meet industrial needs and give people headaches).

And many more.

What kind of light are you, or what kind do you desire to be?

I wish to be a lamp, in a home.

Yes, I know this isn't a lamp, but it's what I had among
my photos and shows the warm welcome I desire to give!

If you think about it, a lamp's light is rather different than others'. Instead of being strong or bold or even harsh (like fluorescents), it's soft and warm, glowing and welcoming. It bids the weary to enter and be refreshed, bids the lonely to come on in and find themselves enveloped in family.

My director recently quoted Edith Schaeffer as saying, "A strong family is like a refreshing, green oasis in the middle of a parched desert" (my paraphrase). Leon also showed us that God not only calls individuals, but He also calls families to––as a close-knit unit––fulfill His purposes on earth.

That's the kind of family I desire to have, and that's why I want to be like a lamp in a home.

My dream is clearer now than ever before, and I can practically picture my home of purpose. I'd like it to be close to the kids and teens I am close to, a place of refuge they can come to in a storm. When thunder and lightning burst in their homes, forcing them to see and hear and experience unspeakable things, I want them to know that a lamp glows for them nearby.

I want these extended family members to come knock on my door and know they'll be welcomed inside, drawn into a safe and warm circle of loving light. Perhaps that front room would have a fireplace or old-fashioned cookstove ready to warm cold hands or fill hungry mouths with simmering soup.

Perhaps a big black lab would lie on a braided rug, wagging his tail and offering the quiet solace of a four-footed friend. (By the way, I CANNOT imagine a haughty cat EVER offering such solace, but perhaps I would one day allow a feline around as a prime example of the independent arrogance we should never imitate. No . . . actually, I don't think THAT'S even reason enough!)

Now let's enter the kitchen. Can you see warm, yellow sunlight spilling through sheer curtains and welcoming one and all to sit at the pine table? I see "my girls" coming over to cook together, baking cookies and bread and talking about life (and boys, of course)! And "my boys" . . . I see them sitting at the table, talking and laughing (and eating, no doubt)! And my friends . . . I see them coming over for game nights and conversation and prayer for the kids and teens we love.

Somewhere in the home is a room dedicated to prayer. It might have a window seat looking into a backyard filled with beauty to offer rest to the soul. And there's a tree inside, too, painted on the prayer room wall, like the tree at my friend Julie's house. The tree and its wide leaves stand cream-colored against a red-orange wall, and on the leaves will be written the names of all the young people whose names have already been written on my heart. I'll invite them to write their own names there, as a visual reminder that they are part of our family tree and will always have a place there. Two or three comfy chairs will rest in that room, ready to host heart-to-heart conversations with God or each other. Soft music will be ready to play in the background, inviting listeners to be still and know that He is God.

Besides cozy rooms for my own family, I'd like to have a couple extra for those who need a safe place to stay for awhile. Each will be warm and welcoming, and perhaps "my girls" will help me decorate them.

My parents have given me a great example of trusting and sticking
with God through the storms. And I think this picture of my dad
and youngest two brothers captures the essence of family affection and joy!

Oh, and let's not forget porches. Out front might be a porch swing or chairs on which to sit and talk and greet the neighbors, an art nearly lost outside of the South. And out back would be a wide deck or patio for outdoor parties.

Oh yes, I like this dream! It's not a house that makes a home, but the people in it and the way they relate to one another. Lord, may this home be filled with Your deep peace, abiding joy and unswerving love. When troubles come (as they surely will), help us trust and stick right with You through the storm.

What is your dream? What vision has God been building into your heart and life? How can your family be His oasis in the parched desert of life?

What Is It?

What is it which reveals the "hairs" on a flower stem . . .



. . . the beauty of the countryside . . .





. . . the majesty of clouds and welcoming of a ranch gate?

What is it that reveals the lushness of Oregon forests . . .

. . . the splendor of architecture . . .

. . . the grace of flowers  . . .

. . . the peaceful reflection of fountains?

What shows off the fire of autumn leaves . . .

. . . the freckled bark of an aspen tree . . .

. . . the surrender of a golden aspen leaf to winter's call?








What is it that sets the clouds ablaze . . .

. . . kisses the mountains . . .

. . . makes even barbed wire beautiful?

What is it that reveals sunset's reflection in the waters . . .

. . . the love of a nun for her disabled charge . . .


. . . and the joy of a helpless one who has experienced the love of God?





What is it? Have you figured it out?

IT = light.

LIGHT reveals the tiny hairs, the radiant beauty, the splendor of design, the kindness of love and the glow of unexplainable joy.

LIGHT can take something ordinary . . .  

and show us how EXTRAordinary it really is!








LIGHT (from knowing God) can take someone who was literally on her deathbed . . . and make her RADIANT with joy and peace!


What is it that reveals both our DESPERATE need for God and our INCREDIBLE VALUE to Him?

Will we allow His Light to reveal all the wonder and beauty and splendor and--yes--darkness within us?




Will we ask His forgiveness and trade our darkness for His glory?

We have a choice, you and I.

Will we walk in the Light of God's Love?

Like a Hike

"Anybody wanna go for a hike?"

Those six words began an adventure I hope I never forget. On Friday afternoon, a good friend and I set off to find a trail he'd hiked about 15 times, but not in the last 10 years.

A call to another friend helped us locate the trailhead, but it soon became clear that the trail would not be so easy to follow.

Is it any wonder that we blazed our own trail?

The trail went here and there and everywhere with paths unclear. So we blazed our own trail! Ours also went here and there and everywhere, but always onward and upward to higher ground. And the views along the way? Incredible!

Looking back on the grand adventure of Friday's hike, I've realized a few things ...

Following God is a lot like following a friend on a trail you've never hiked before. You don't know where you're going, but He does. He's hiked this trail many times before, and He's excited to lead you on it.

This fallen log was at least 20 feet off the ground with
sharp rocks below. Steve went first and coached me safely to the end,
taking the heavy backpack that almost made me fall.

Are risks involved? Yes. 

The path of life is not easy to follow, and we encounter plenty of dangers along the journey--slippery stones, difficult reaches, places where we feel like we're gonna crash to sharp rocks below.

But God is the trustworthy friend who goes before us. He takes the risks first. When we feel we're about to fall, He offers to take burdens off our back and coach us to safety.

Steve pulls his way up out the cave, entering the light.

Sometimes you reach safety only to find that another difficult challenge immediately awaits you. When we reached the end of that log, our options for moving forward were limited. In fact, the only good option was to enter a dim cave and push ourselves up between rocks to reach the light at the top.

What a gift the light is--showing us the way to safety! When life forces you into a cave and you don't know how to get out, look for God's light and follow it out. Meanwhile, He's in the cave with you and won't leave you alone.

Besides caves, we go through tight spots. Sometimes we have no choice, but other times God gives us options. We can follow Him through a more challenging passage, or we can take the easy way out. Which option do you suppose gives a greater feeling of adventure and accomplishment? 

Steve chose to take the narrow path under this huge rock.
I could've climbed over a smaller rock to get to the other side,
but I chose the fun of following in the adventurous route.

But again, it's often impossible to pass through a tight spot with burdens on our back. I had to take off my backpack and hand it over to my guide before I could follow through a narrow passage.

What burdens do you feel weighing you down right now, making you "stuck" in a tight spot? Why not hand them over to the Lord?

ONE of the gorgeous waterfalls we saw.

Then you can say of God like David the Psalmist, "He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me" (2 Samuel 22:20 and Psalm 18:19).

And if you choose to follow God along life's journey, He will not fail to show you His awesome wonders!

Were I an excellent photographer with a stellar camera, I still could in no way capture all the beautiful sights we saw along the trail. In fact, I don't remember one stretch of it that seemed ugly. Every glance around revealed beauty beyond description! Likewise, following God cannot fail to take our breath away with the glory He reveals.

Three things make Friday's hike a grand adventure:

1. I followed a friend who'd hiked the trail before. He led the way, took the spiderwebs to the face, warned of loose rocks and holes and slippery sections, coached me in the danger zones. God does not lead us in paths He does not know.


2. I knew I was safe. Had I been hiking alone, I would not have been safe. Besides the dangers of the trail itself, we saw a man I would not have wished to meet alone, heard a pack of coyotes that followed us for a bit and (upon completing the hike) met an officer who told us he'd spent the day looking for a bear that had apparently been spotted in the area.

Thankfully, my friend has spent a lot of time in the wilderness and came literally loaded for bear and any other threat we might encounter. I knew he would protect me, and he made sure he could respond at a moment's notice when danger lurked near. Likewise,  God never fails to be prepared for whatever danger we face. We will face danger, but we will never face it alone. We'll get hurt sometimes, but He's prepared to bind us up and move us to safety. We'll even get some "battle scars," not because God is not taking care of us but because the rocks of life can be rough and sharp.


3. I relaxed and enjoyed the journey, because I knew I was safe with a friend who's even more adventurous than me!

We talked as we walked, and I learned a lot of interesting things as I listened. What if I did more listening as I follow God? What might I discover?

Yes, following God is a lot like a hike. He's invited us on a Grand Adventure, and He has no plans to send us on it alone. He goes before us, guides us through every tough spot and makes the entire journey one of tremendous joy!