friday night at the movies

every friday night in the Hemphill home is "movie night". the kids have come to love it and anticipate our time together. they love it so much because we eat popcorn and lay on the bed together while watching a movie. i have to admit...Dad loves it too.

tonight, we watched a preview DVD of The pirates who don't do anything...a veggietales movie. it has lots of songs to dance and sing to. so, we had a great time together.

sidenote: due to brennan (our 3 year old) eating popcorn on our bed...we now have a comforter filled with little white specs of corn and a few kernels. i guess if i get hungry while sleeping tonight...i can just grab a snack in bed. or we could have breakfast in bed...nothing like some popcorn to wake up to.

brennan...thanks for reminding me that, at the end of the day, who gives a rip if you get a little popcorn on the bed, as long as you enjoy the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (that has some spiritual parallel...i think!!)

the beauty of community

tonight, our small group met in a home for supper, fellowship, and hanging out. had a good time shooting hoops with the guys and watching the kids play together. the ladies gathered like hens, in the kitchen, to share stories and "women-stuff" (what exactly do women talk about when they get together??? makes you wonder...)

anyway, at the end of the night, we had a quick, informal "check-in" to see how everyone was doing. melody and i were able to share honestly about some challenges we were facing. instead of having to carry the mantle of "leaders", this group/family allows us to be a real couple with real struggles. they encourage us to share and be ourselves. they listened, shared encouraging words, and prayed for us.

as they prayed, i sensed the sure presence of God and i felt a wave of relief come over me. my pride almost kept me from sharing...but i am so glad i did. God ministered to me through my brothers and sisters. i saw the body of Christ at work tonight.

i am coming to see how rare of a gift this truly is. honestly, few ministers have this type of community. most ministers have to be "on" and always there for somebody. few ministers experience a group where they are allowed/encouraged to be honest and share struggles. this feeds the isolation and loneliness that most of us ministers deal with regularly.

so, i am learning to lean. learning to trust. learning to entrust myself to others and let them fight for my heart.

thank you, God my Father, for allowing me to experience the beauty of community.

Refuge

*shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc.: to take refuge from a storm.
*a place of shelter, protection, or safety.
*anything to which one has recourse for aid, relief, or escape.

2 Samuel 22:3my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent men you save me.

Psalm 9:9The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 18:2The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 59:16But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 118:8It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

Nahum 1:7The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,


So, this morning, I asked God to give me a word...speak to me. I woke up feeling overwhelmed by circumstances and things out of my control. I was starting to focus on so much junk that gets me down and oppressed. Over the last year, finances tends to be a "standard" thing the enemy uses to defeat and oppress us. Wondering how in the world we will make it and how to pay the bills. I know, in my head, that God will provide and that He honors obedience. I know that God does not direct and then abandon...that is not His heart.

But, my crazy feelings and emotions get in the way. But what if He doesn't? What if we go under and lose it all? What if we fall flat on our face?

So, I asked God to give me a word today...something I could hold on to and gather strength from...Refuge. Came across this word several times in a study I'm doing and in scripture. And the call was to worship God as my Refuge. Worship Him and praise Him for being my very present Help in time of trouble.

Worship? today? are you serious? When circumstances look grim...when finances are empty...when I am oppressed and feel defeated...worship? I guess this is where the faith/worship thing is so counter-human. It runs against everything that I want to do...I have to choose it.

So, this is my plan for today...worship God as my Refuge. This is the heart of my God. He will shelter and protect me. I must trust Him.

I think I will also memorize this verse...
Psalm 118:8: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

the publishing journey

Been a long time dream...i mean a long time dream...to one day write and publish a book. I can trace it back to 4th grade with my teacher, ms. burnette. everyone had, i hope, a ms. burnette in your early years. she was an amazing teacher who saw things in me i could not see. she gave me my first journal and said "one day, you'll write a book." ms. burnette did not realize the seeds she was planting during those innocent, 4th grade days. (sidenote: i hope to one day see ms. burnette and thank her...that would be an awesome moment.)

over the years, i have always loved reading books and writing. melody will tell you that our garage is packed with books to fill the shelves. just always had a love for books and the impact they have on people's lives and on my life.

so, several years back I had written a devotional book on the psalms. it laid dormant for several years...used in a few settings, but not too much. last december, though, God clearly told me to go back and edit the writing. so, i took about 3 months to edit and get it together. then, spent some time working together a book proposal. finally, about 2 weeks ago, melody and i sent it off to about 15 publishers.

this past week, i have received 3 letters back. all of them rejection letters...but i have to say they were nicely written. all of them said that they were looking for other materials right now...like children's publications. so, even though it was a "no", i was still encouraged through them.

there is a local friend who is willing to help me self-publish, if we decide to go that route. so, we can atleast make them available through the ministry.

overall, though, I am real excited to actually be getting some letters back. I'm excited to see what God is going to do through all of this. the call to write is strong. i sense that God wants us to do more of this...to get the message of freedom and life out to people. excited to see what the next pages hold...

The Shack

Recently read a book called the Shack by William Young. Come to find out...this book is on the bestseller's list and has probably hit the million mark. Interesting story of the author and how he never intended to even publish it. It was written for his kids as a way to convey the Christian faith in story/parable form. Then, in 2005, they published and it has been taking off since.

You can listen to his interviews on the Drew Marshall show to hear more of the author's story. This guy has a story of redemption and healing...pretty cool to listen to. Just google on Drew Marshall and find the interview...Drew Marshall is a big, radio personality in Canada.

The interesting thing about this book is the amount of controversy it is stirring. I've found preachers on youtube who are calling it heresy and stuff. Amazing how people get their feathers so ruffled over things and choose to die on hills that are not worth dying on....you wonder if these preachers think they need to "defend God" or something. Now I know that those who are struggling with the "theological ramifications" of this book would choose to differ...and I understand. Been to seminary and I do understand the importance of protecting doctrine, etc. But this guy is not writing some doctoral dissertation. He is telling a story. A story of a friend's journey through brokenness and healing as he met God at the shack.

I have personally enjoyed the story and journey told in this book. It is a powerful, deep story of a man's pain and how God moves toward our pain instead of being afraid of it. God actually invites him to the Shack...his place of deepest pain...and meets him there.

I remember reading a book called the Crucified God by Moltmann. He talks about God and pain. There is a great phrase in the book that talks about "God in Auschwitz and Auschwitz in God." In referring to his encounter with God in the terror of the Holocaust...he finds God in the darkest pain. The basic premise is that God is found/realized in our deepest pain.

How do I deal with pain?
Do I move toward it or away from it?
How does God use pain and heartache in my own journey?
How is God initiating me and growing me through difficulty and pain?
How did I learn to deal with pain growing up?
What am I teaching my own children about pain?

Lots of good questions to wrestle with. I would encourage anyone to read this book and get in touch with their own journey and spiritual healing. May God frustrate our cushioned, Americanized, Christianity and bring deeper understanding to pain and heartache as necessary to the journey. To the Shack and back...

5 Core Heart-Truths

Was reminded this week, from an old journal, of 5 truths God pressed on my heart a few years back. He knew that i needed to be reminded of these once again. As John Eldredge once said, "Forgetfulness is a chief enemy of the heart." Today, i choose to remember and live in truth.

1. I refuse to be shackled by yesterday's failures.

2. What I don't know will no longer be an intimidation, it will be considered an opportunity.

3. I will not allow people to define my mood, method, image, or mission.

4. I will pursue a mission greater than myself.

5. I will not have time for self-pity, gossit, negativism--from myself or others.

The Gentle Giant

written in reflection of my friend Gary's recent death...

He walked among us,
with hands open wide.
Never too far to comfort,
always by your side.

Large in countenance,
only matched the size of his heart.
Giving came easy,
it was his gift, his art.

Being known by many
was never his life's goal.
Wanting to help another...
his calling, his role.

Gary walked among us,
with hands open wide.
Listen to his life,
his message, we will not hide.

He loved the created...
nature, rivers, and outdoors.
With eyes toward the Creator
always knowing, "God, it's yours."

Jesus walked among us,
with hands open wide.
He came to restore
what was destroyed by our pride.

And now he walks,
with hands open wide.
Welcoming our brother Gary,
saying, "Come, rest at my side."

The gentle giant named Gary
is at home in the Father's embrace.
With hands open wide
saving you a place.

You and I can join him,
at home, by his side.
One thing required...
Hands open wide.