I’ll tell you something which may make you change your mind about how you think of me. It is controversial enough that you may struggle to continue calling me friend (I truly hope this is not the case.). 

Here it is: When I read a book, I almost always read the ending first. 

To explain my reasoning, let me share a great analogy my husband used a few weeks ago. It describes a benefit of knowing the end before a story begins. 

Suppose your favorite football team is playing their arch-rivals and the game is expected to be a nail-biter. Unfortunately, you have a commitment at the time of the game and will miss watching it on TV. So you record the game. Before you get home, your friend calls to congratulate you on the win. Now you know the outcome. But this does not deter you from watching it when you get home. Even though you already know the score and that victory is coming, the game is still crazy good, hard, stressful, and amazing. However, since the final outcome was revealed to you in advance, you watch the game with a different perspective. You have a certain sense of peace. Your team wins. 

This is EXACTLY the case in a life with Jesus and God’s story told through the Bible. God shares the final outcome with us. Jesus wins!

Knowing this truth does not diminish the journey or the story one bit. We still have good days, bad days, stressful days, and amazing days. The only difference is we can always look at tomorrow with hope because God chooses to tell us the end of the story. 

On January 30, I will begin my 2023 reading plan (see link below) by reading the books Genesis and Revelation together. Why? Because these two books tell God’s story from the perspective of the beginning and the end. Or another way of stating it: Genesis is the beginning and Revelation is the end with a new beginning. 

Because of this, I LOVE reading Genesis and Revelation together. 

• In Genesis, we see the introduction of God’s plan.
• In Revelation we discover the fulfillment of God’s plan. 
• In Genesis we see paradise in a garden. 
• In Revelation we anticipate a new paradise where God will dwell with us forever. 
• In Genesis Satan is introduced.
• In Revelation Satan is banished and judged.
• In Genesis death is a result of sin. 
• In Revelation death is overcome and has no more sting.

Through stories of people in Genesis, we meet a sojourner, a doubter, a deceiver, and a dreamer. They had faults. But they also had a whole lot of hope. We can identify with the beginners in Genesis because, like them, we too are part of God’s story.

Our story with God is further revealed in the last pages of the Bible. We are told that we will become victors, over-comers, worshipers, whole, a kingdom of priests, and permanent residents with God.

You see, reading the end of the story is not all that bad. Sure, you are about to discover some hard stuff in both Genesis and Revelation. But hang in there, because as you read, you’ll see a faithful, loving God who never gives up on his people – even to the last pages of the Bible. 

Suggestions for reading Genesis/Revelations:

• Before you begin each day, ask God what he wants you to learn about him.
• Keep a list of all the firsts you discover while reading Genesis and Revelation.
• Write down any common themes in Genesis and Revelation.

2023 Reading Plan

The new year did not start smoothly for me. Nothing tragic or earth-shattering happened: quite the opposite. My husband and I arrived home from an awesome family Christmas in Oklahoma. However, in the following days I had a horrible case of the blahs.

A coffee date with friends after the New Year finally pushed me out of the house. With the sun shining on my face and music blaring in the car, I ventured out for the first time in days. It felt good to just be doing something purposeful and getting out of the house led to a pretty-great afternoon. So why had I stayed cooped up for so long?

The cause of my New Year’s blahs was my daily Bible reading. In 2022, I missed very few reading days with the Lord. In December, I only took a short break but was having a difficult time starting back again in January. I was stuck.

While on my reading break, I awoke one night feeling like the Lord was whispering in my ear. (I think he whispered because it was the middle of the night and he didn’t want to wake my husband who was not having the same blah issues as I – smile.)  Anyway, that night the Lord encouraged me to think about what parts of Scripture stir me, inspire me, convict me, and excite me. It was as if he was nudging me to craft my own Bible reading plan for 2023. 

Thankfully, the coffee date gave me reason to just begin being active after days of loafing around the house. Now, two unexpected quiet days gave me opportunity to remember my midnight reflections. I followed through and wrote my own Bible reading plan for 2023 and on January 30, I will take one more step to beating the blahs and just begin with a brand new Bible reading plan.

Would you like to join me?

Maybe you’ve said, “This year, I want to read my Bible more regularly but don’t know where to start.” If so, I can assist you with an easy-to-follow guide.

All you need to do is click on the link below. If you stick with this plan, at the end of the year, you will have read 23 of 66 books in the Bible! You’ll be challenged, encouraged and inspired each day as you read God’s personal story to you. 

At times, we all get stuck with the blahs. What worked for me was getting coffee with friends and spending a few quiet minutes without distractions.

What do you need to do to get unstuck? Whatever it is, let me suggest the first step is to just begin.

2023 Reading Plan

 

When my husband steps through the back door, he usually peeks in the kitchen sink to discover a clue about the activities of my day. If two coffee cups rest there, he knows I hosted a friend sometime during the day.

True, I could’ve rinsed the cups and placed them in the dishwasher. But for some reason, I like using this as a code for how my day went.

It’s no secret I enjoy coffee, but I especially love it when shared by another. And while I do like the coffee shop experience, the pinnacle of coffee drinking for me is when someone steps into my home and sits at my table. Reader, don’t be alarmed if you are not a coffee drinker. Water, tea, Diet Coke® and often a sparkling water are available. The type of beverage does not dictate the experience. The presence of another person does.

Years ago, I realized I could offer my home, my time, and a cup of coffee to others. It felt like something Jesus might do because he spent a lot of time doing things with people and food. I named this activity, “the ministry of home” because Jesus calls us all into ministry. If that sounds daunting to you, remember ministry is just a fancy word that means “to act as an instrument, agent, or vehicle.”

My friend Shirley models this “ministry” for me. Often, I pop over for an un-announced visit. EVERY time I do, she gladly welcomes me into her home and offers a cup of coffee regardless if she has already had her limit for the day.

My friend Darlene also models this “ministry” for me. Darlene is an excellent seamstress and can make almost anything. Whatever her newest thing involves, I am usually a lucky recipient — soup bowl holders, scrubbies, and beautifully embroidered bookmarks. I rarely leave her home empty handed.

Ministry looks different to different people:

Carolyn likes to take walks with friends.
Becky opens her home for Bible study.
Kenna is great about checking in.

You and I are in the life-improving business to become more like Jesus. How we do that may differ. Please don’t underestimate the value of your ministry because in God’s Kingdom, it all matters.

So if you stop by my house for coffee, leave your dirty cup in the sink. When I eventually wash it, I’ll smile because it will make me think of you once again.

Our dog Buddy moved in with us when he was six months old. Early on during our walks, I never really knew who was walking whom. But each time we returned home, I was pretty sure it was Buddy walking me because my arm felt like a noodle. A heavy leash and strong restraint helped keep him at bay, but Buddy ran a crazy path for as long as his leash would allow. Let’s call it what it was… walking on the wild side. 

It didn’t take long to realize we needed serious leash walking lessons. I didn’t want to stifle Buddy’s enthusiasm. Actually, I was envious of his behavior. Each time we stepped out for our daily “stroll,” my aim was to join Buddy in the adventure so we could both enjoy walking wildly together.

Today, our walks still look a bit out of control. We go this way, that way, over there, up there, down there, all over the place. But after the initial frenzy, Buddy takes his place at my side and before long we step into each other’s rhythm. We often pass other dogs. There is a well-trained Lab, a controlled Scotty, and a senior-citizen Dachshund. Buddy smiles at each of them with his tongue hanging out the left side as if to say, “Top of the morning to you!” 

Buddy loves walking anywhere, anytime — the street, the grass, the mud. He is such a role model to me for living life on the wild side. 

Walking on the wild side does not refer to being immoral or rule-breaking. It means to do things with abandonment, with enthusiasm and excitement. 

Jesus says, “I have come that they have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV).

Yet sometimes Jesus followers seem so vanilla. We live a safe, unexcited, bland which doesn’t speak favorably to the wild & wonderful life to which He has called us. Perhaps walking on the wild side with Jesus looks a little like walks with Buddy where we: 

Explore every inch of ground as if it’s never been discovered before. 

Sniff every blessed thing along the way because it might not be there tomorrow. 

Smile at people along the way first. 

Taste every stick because it possibly could turn out to be the best stick ever. 

When you walk with Jesus you just might go to places you’ve never been or see things you’ve never noticed. The truth is, you may step in a few puddles and you might get a little muddy. But hey, that’s what makes walking on the wild so much fun. 

 

In my last blog post, I shared that thriving doesn’t differentiate the bottom of the mountain from the top. Truly, we can thrive no matter where we are on our mountain journey. That’s good news!  

So how do we thrive, regardless of where we are on the journey?

We prepare.

Preparation is one of the most important parts of mountain climbing. It’s what makes us strong and gets us ready. 

In order to endure the climb up Huayna Picchu Mountain in Peru, I enlisted a trainer who simulated mountain climbs during our workouts. She helped me build stamina. She motivated me to become stronger. She cheered me on so I could accomplish my goal. 

Those pre-mountain workouts made me feel healthy, strong and confident. Even though preparing was difficult, it was well worth it—not only on mountain-climbing day—but long after the climb.

Just as I prepared physically for my big climb, I’ve learned spiritual training is just as vital for everyday climbing. Reading my Bible first thing in the morning gives me the juice I need for that particular day. The extended benefit is God’s words take root in my heart and thoughts and are useful for future journeys, as well.

Lately, I’ve been reading about the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings. For three and a half years Elijah waits through a drought for God to give him his assignment. These years proved to be a time of preparation for Elijah. During this quiet time of waiting, Elijah saw God’s provision every day through a widow who only had a tiny bit of oil and flour to spare. Yet the jar of flour and jug of oil was not used up until the Lord gave rain on the land (1 Kings 17:14). 

What things did Elijah do during the drought? He waited and watched. Each day for three and and a half years, Elijah witnessed God’s faithfulness with food from a jar that never ran dry. 

What a great lesson for me when I think preparation is always “doing something.” Sometimes preparation is waiting and watching. Waiting to see God’s faithfulness in action. And watching to see how that action proves God to be true and trustworthy. Almost always, it is through the little things God is faithful which is why we often miss it. That’s why droughts are necessary. They allow us the opportunity to wait and watch. In the end, this preparation allows us to see God’s power and provision when we might have otherwise missed it. 

We all experience highs and lows that feel a lot like mountain journeys. Most likely yours looks different than mine. Your mountain may be easily defined with clear steps forward. Or it may look more like an obstacle course—not like a mountain at all. 

Wherever you are on your journey, I want you to know I am cheering for you! I’m hoping you grasp the challenge to thrive so you can see how God, who loves you more than you can imagine, has prepared you for your particular mountain climb.

The Bible says this about God’s preparation for your big plans: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

His plans are bigger than you can even imagine! 

Whether you are experiencing a season of drought, a tough climb, or challenging steps; I encourage you, dear reader, to embrace this time of preparation. You will soon embark on a mountain journey, even if you don’t see it now. Take it one step at a time. Begin today.

This is progress, and progress leads to thriving, no matter the size of step. 

A few years ago our family visited Machu Picchu in Peru. In researching for the trip, I decided to climb Huayna Picchu, the smaller of the two mountains at the historic Inca site. Known as the “Stairs of Death,” this climb leads you to one of the most rewarding and amazing views.

Problem.

Getting there.

The climb consists of hiking, climbing steps and sometimes even crawling. Recognized by many as one of the most incredible adventures on the planet, the entire trip  —from start to finish — is usually completed in only three hours.

Mountain climbing is not my thing. I’m a scaredy-cat.

Yet, I had been asking Jesus to take me to risky places I wouldn’t normally go because of my fear. Professionally, I had just finished writing my first book which took me totally out of my comfort zone. The project had challenged me mentally and spiritually. I needed a break so a physical challenge piqued my interest. I was in pretty good shape so why not try a mountain climb to take me to my next risky place?

When I look back at the total mountain climbing journey, the word thrive comes to mind. The top of the mountain was exhilarating, but the peak was only part of the experience. The preparation for the climb, the actual climb, and the descent added to the whole adventure.

In reflection, I discovered a lot about thriving and realized mountain experiences may look different at different times in our lives.

Living through a pandemic has helped me see that we can thrive even when the mountain doesn’t meet our expectations or the climb doesn’t feel all that risky. This realization made me ask, “Is it possible to thrive when the whole world is placed on hold?” I say, “Yes.”

If you struggle because you feel like you aren’t thriving, I know how you feel! I’ve struggled too. Let me share with you a definition I discovered which helps me look at thriving in a whole new way. According to Merriam-Webster we thrive when we progress toward or realize a goal in despite of or because of circumstances.

I love this definition of thrive because progress is part of thriving and circumstances are not qualifiers. You really can thrive no matter where you are on your journey and regardless of what your mountain looks like.

We tend to think we thrive only when we’ve reached the top of the mountain. But progress is thriving. And progress occurs more often on the journey up and down the mountain than it does at the top.

So here’s what I’ve learned: Thriving doesn’t differentiate the bottom of the mountain from the the top of the mountain.

This is great news because we can truly thrive no matter where we are on our mountain journey. Instead of being overwhelmed by how high the mountain is in front of you, perhaps all you need to do today is turn around and see how far you’ve already come!

In my next post, I will share more about getting up the mountain when it seems impossible.