Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Asking for Help

My friend Peggy Collins has a great new book out. It's titled Help is NOT a Four-Letter Word. In it, Peggy defines self-sufficiency taken to the extreme. She wants to change the culture so that we're not afraid to ask for help. Can you imagine what that would look like? We value independence today more than we value community. We admire people who do it all by themselves and get embarrassed by people who need the help of nursing homes. Peggy explains that self-sufficients become control freaks, stressed out over having to do it all, thus damaging relationships and hurting their health.

Asking for help is biblical. Ask and it shall be given... etc. But it is also biblical to help others. How can we help others if they won't let us? So here goes... let me know how I can help you!

Here's how you can help me. Now that I'm self-employed, hire me to speak at your church or train at your company. Help keep the "Mornings" radio ministry alive by donating at the website. Help me with your prayers.

And if you know someone having trouble asking for help, help them out by giving them a copy of Peggy's book!

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Encouragement for Good People

"…a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began asking Him, 'Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?' And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone." Mark 10: 17-18 (NASB)


My dad cupped my face in his hands as he kissed me good-bye. He and Mom were leaving our house after a month-long visit. "I'm proud of you," he smiled.

"How could you be proud of me? I don't have a job," I thought instantly in a rare moment of self-pity. But aloud, I just asked, "Why?"

"Because you're a good person," Dad grinned, as big as if he'd just found a bar of chocolate in his pocket.

I wasn't quick enough to respond like Jesus, so I smiled and waved as they drove off, hoping they didn't see the tears trickling down my face.

Most of us are so self-critical, that we never think of ourselves as good. We never measure up. Maybe it's that perfect yardstick of Jesus or maybe our society that showcases someone smarter, prettier, stronger or braver. But because my dad's words made me feel special, I tried their effect on a couple of others. I told my friend Ellen, "You're a good person."

She paused as if she'd never heard those words either, and then said, "Well, yes, I just want to be kind to everyone."

I told my husband he was a good person, and he replied, "I never thought of myself that way."

There are so many bad, evil people in this world. Let's celebrate the fact that we're trying our best to do our best. No, we're not as good as The Father, but His grace makes us better--and that's good news.

Sunday, February 4, 2007

Road Signs

The ice was forming on the windshield so quickly the wipers couldn't keep up. Before I got smart enough to turn on the defroster, I squinted through the glass, trying to see the signs ahead.

But this was the route I traveled home everyday. Did I need the street signs and exits to show me the way? What if we didn't have traffic signals and highway signs? I would get even more lost than I do already. I thank God quite often for understandable roadway directions.

Fortunately, on this eternal journey we're traveling, God posts road signs and exit signs in many ways for us. There's the Bible, the sermons, the studies, the radio program, the Christian friends and more.

But sometimes our vision gets clouded by temptation or sin. Or just busy-ness.

The good news is we have a quick-working defroster in our Lord. You just have to ask for help, and He's right there to help you know where to turn next.