Nevertheless

June 30, 2008 | Knowing Christ

Nevertheless.

She was in jail, addicted to meth; nevertheless, today she is a godly woman, she has recaptured the love of her children, and ministers as a chaplain in the jail in which she was once imprisoned.

She had an affair and wanted to die; nevertheless, she found hope in Jesus, and now leads a flourishing ministry for women who walk in the shoes she once wore.

She was high, destitute, pregnant; nevertheless today she worships in the front row, her hands lifted high, her beautiful little girl receiving a different life than the one momma once had.

He was lost, couldn’t get past the hurt of losing someone he loved, unable to reach out for hope; nevertheless God reached for him and he opened his arms wide and today he knows the love of a Heavenly Father.

I love this word: nevertheless. Perhaps it is the word that most resembles salvation to me. Not rules. Not people’s expectations. But rather God’s abounding love that runs deeper than any river. God’s mercy that is wider than the Grand Canyon.

God’s transformation that happens in spite of our best–or worst–efforts.

Nevertheless.

The people I described are real. How many more are there that can point to the nevertheless experiences in their life. I know I can. Not just the encounter with God when I didn’t know Him, but today, every day.

I am angry; nevertheless I will trust you and ask you to soothe my heart and help me to respond wisely.

I am hurt; nevertheless you are my shelter.

I need direction; nevertheless I will trust you and seek your guidance.

I am happy and joyfilled, why? Because of you.

Because of nevertheless.

A free day

June 28, 2008 | Just thinking out loud,Nurturing Family

I woke up at 9:51 a.m. this morning. Lazy, you say?

Yes, and I love it!

For today is a free day. The first Saturday that I’ve had with no obligations for several weeks. Between speaking, weddings, family events, graduation, and more it’s been a whirlwind.

Yesterday we moved Ryan and Kristin to their new apartment in Tulsa. I don’t know how these newlyweds acquired so MUCH STUFF! Heavy stuff. We were a convoy. Ryan in the U-Haul. Kristin driving behind him. His good friend, Ricky, behind her, his car loaded. Then my husband in a truck filled to the brim, and then me driving Ryan’s car.

And oh yes, I had a mishap. A TV sitting in the front seat blocked my view on the right so I pulled forward in the parking area to make a loop, rather than back up. I hit a small white thingy poking up out of the asphalt. I scraped Ryan’s nice car. Not a great moment for any of us.

But today they are snug in their new apartment and beginning their new life. . .

And today I have nothing to do. 

Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

But it’s raining, so we’ll see what the day holds.

I have high hopes. Richard and I invested in a raft about a month ago. We live 8 miles from the Illinois River and we want to float down it. Normally it costs big bucks to rent canoes and rafts, so our hope is to use this all summer and recoup our investment with just one or two floats.

I can see us already. Floating lazily. With a cooler filled with ice cold diet soda and water and snacks. Sun playing on our skin. Throwing a fishing line out if we want. Saying hello to all the other floaters and canoers and water seekers.

Guess what? The rain is slowing down. Gotta go bloggy friends. I’ve got some rafting to do!

Comments from She Speaks

June 27, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller

At the She Speaks conference, I shared my normal working attire: blue jersey shorts, a tank top or T-shirt, barefoot, no makeup, and my hair in a ponytail.

I wish you could see me now. The only thing is that I’m not wearing a ponytail. Otherwise, dead on.

Some professional, huh? : )

But it’s the words that flow and the work ethic that matters, and I can dress up when I’m traveling to conferences, eating out with my hubby, or stepping outside the door into the real world.

Here are a few of the comments from friends made at She Speaks (who thankfully don’t care what I’m wearing right now). Love you girls!

From Tammy: Your workshop was outstanding! One of my absolute favorites! Thank you for your “tips” and your “transparency.” I smile as I sit here with glasses on, hair in pony tail, wearing sweat pants! (more…)

Cup Half Running Over

June 26, 2008 | Just thinking out loud,Ministry Life

I’ve been accused of being an optimist. I believe it. I don’t see the cup half empty. I don’t see it half full. I see it running over.

Isn’t that a great thing, you might ask? Yes, but sometimes I need to step back and see life as others do. Because my cup half running over just might get in the way. (more…)

That thing that HE does

June 25, 2008 | Knowing Christ

What a wonderful weekend!

I love it when God does His thing. I spoke twice at She Speaks (a conference for women who want to write and/or speak). I shared the message of making your faith your own with a group of beautiful teen girls, and then I was scheduled to speak at an after-dinner coffeehouse writers’ event.

This is the deal. It was the worst hour of the day. The women had just eaten dinner. They got up that morning at 7. They went to bed the night before after midnight. It wasn’t a fascinating topic, though it is one that I’m passionate about – The Things I Wish I Had Known When I First Started Writing.

So the odds were stacked against that presentation. And yet something very cool happened.

God showed up.

Don’t you love it when that happens? Somehow, out of a writing topic, He gently ministered to a woman who is a breast cancer survivor, to a mom of teens, to a woman estranged from her loved one, and to many more. After the presentation, many women lined up to share their story.

Have I mentioned how much I love hearing your stories?

This is the one thing I really have learned. It’s not about the woman with the mike, or even the carefully prepared and prayed-over presentation. Somehow, some way, God can take ordinary words and place them in the hearts of His girls — the women sitting in the audience with their private joys, their private pain, their secrets, and their dreams.

Because He knows them and loves them.

I walked away this weekend in love with Jesus all over again.

and one more

June 20, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller