Monday Meditation

When Life Gives You a Blank Slate, Design a T-Shirt?

I knew I was in trouble when, five days into a new weekly blog series, I realized I had NO idea what I was going to write about for the second Monday Meditation post.  So I prayed.  Day six didn't bring any epiphanies.  So I prayed some more.  And just as I was about to sit down and slog through something, anything, I came across an inspired idea in my Internet procrastination research.

Back story:  I've been ignoring some holy nudges to get more involved in helping people dealing with challenges in our community.  Challenges like generational poverty, institutional racism, learning gaps, domestic abuse, and neighborhood violence.  Challenges that seem overwhelming and daunting from the perspective of one little individual.  So, like the coward that I am, I ignored God's proddings.

Do you ever do that?

You know what happens next, right?  The nudges get sharper.  Louder.  More frequent.  More urgent.

Still my head went deeper into the sand.  And my voice came out in a muffled complaint of a prayer.

But God, I have so much on my plate and volunteering more goes against the need to earn more and, oooooooghhh, where and how is this going to fit in?

This morning God gave a clear and definitive answer.  Little bits, dear Liz.  Little bits.

Pick one issue.  Do one thing.  Start somewhere.

Sure, it might not fly.  But it just might.  (Can you tell I've been watching Kid President again?  When I hear that darling Robby Novak say "Be Awesome" enough times, I start to think about little  things I can do to help others.)

So I'm sticking my neck out, and it's looking like this.

Wait a second... there's no neck there!  Oy.  This could be a bad omen.  This could mean I might get decapitated.
And look — de-arm-itated, too.  No limbs!  

More back story: I started making Momnipotent T-shirts (kind of like the one above) five years ago for our annual church bazaar.  Hand stamped casual tees with a verse printed at the hip. Fun to do.  Fun to wear.  But all that hand-stamping got a little old. That and I've still got about six left in sizes or colors that no one wanted.  I don't like closet clutter. So I abandoned the effort.

But every time I wear one of those shirts, I get positive comments.  I do like positive comments.

So when I read Dale Partridge's blog post about how he made over $33K in one month, and noticed a little blurb about making tee shirts on Represent.com, I had to check it out.  (A family can only live on public sector salary and cobbled-together income for so long before entrepreneurial dreaming sets in...)

With Momnipotent tee shirt thoughts rattling around in my head, and stuffed-aside qualms about volunteering in the inner city tucked into some cranial corner, God brought the two together with this welcome from Represent.

Whether you're representing a charity, group, or personal passion, Represent enables you to generate funds for free — no hassle, no risk.

Oh.  Charity.  Philanthropic giving.  Well yeah, God, that makes sense.  I could start a T-shirt campaign and raise funds for moms...  Yes!  Moms who are dealing with difficult struggles.  Domestic abuse victims.  I even know of a good non-profit that could use more funds to support those families.  

I'm pretty sure God muttered "Doh!" and slapped his forehead at that point.

Then that little fiery red guy who likes to sit on my shoulder and spew self doubt chimed in.

thinnerandwiser.wordpress.com

Who do you think you are?  Oprah?  How are you going to make any difference by selling a few T-shirts?  

Well, little devil dude, I'm not sure.  But I'm going to pray about it.

With that and a well aimed flick of my finger, I sent him flying off his perch.  And I prayed.  And I... Well, I didn't get the clear-cut booming voice of God granting his blessing.  But I did get a rush of excitement and a warm fuzzy sense of peace.  

Sorry.  That's a lot of rambling to get to the pitch.  But I wanted to make sure God got the proper credit for weaving my prayers and doubt and creativity into something he could work with.

The Pitch!

From now until December 1, 2014 (just three weeks from today), you can order a Momnipotent T-shirt or tank top for $18.00 from Represent.  Half of all the profits will go to Domestic Abuse Project, which supports families dealing with domestic abuse.  If we reach the goal of selling 50 items, your order will be shipped within 12 days of the December 1st deadline.  (If we don't hit 50, no shirts, no cost to you.)  To reach this goal, I'm bugging telling everyone in my contact book about this campaign. Won't you share it with a friend or two as well?

Order your Momnipotent tee or tank by clicking here!

In the meantime...

• If you are looking for a comfy T-shirt, something that says in effect "I am Mama, hear me roar!" this shirt is for you.  If you are looking for something that reminds you of a blessed bit of Scripture (Philippians 4:13) to get you through those less roar-ific motherhood moments, you want this tee.  If you want something in your wardrobe that feels like you are clothing yourself in Christ, this is a good garment for you.
• If you are looking for a gift for a dear friend, a daughter-in-law, a wife — and if she has children anywhere from one day old to 61+ years wise — this is a unique present that lets her know you think the world of her parenting skills and her faith.
• If you know someone who is expecting her first child, this is a special welcome-to-the-club gift that says, "You can do it!  And when you fear you can't, God's carrying you in the palm of his hands!"
• And if you already have T-shirts  galore and no room in your dressers, will you please send up a little prayer for this project?  Thank you!

Lord,

You never cease to amaze me with your surprising, wondrous ways of working my weakness into your perfect power.  When I thought I was empty of ideas, you planted a new and faith-filled one in my heart.  Thank you, Lord.  

Thanks for all you do to counteract the challenges in our inner cities, our suburbs, our rural communities.  Thanks for all the ways you work through individual people to reach those in need of a helping hand or a listening ear or an understanding heart.  

Thanks for your loving shelter of families who are struggling with domestic abuse. Watch vigilantly over the women, men, and children who fear emotional and physical violence.  Soften the hands and hurting words of those who inflict such abuse.  Get them the help they need.

Thanks for organizations like Domestic Abuse Project that faithfully and tirelessly work to support families in these times of crisis.  I am grateful for the ways they empower people to make a change, the ways they offer their counseling and advocacy services to help families find peace.

Lord, I pray that you are working in and through this simple, little T-shirt campaign. May it glorify you and the many ways you take humble human efforts and use them to accomplish your higher goals.

Amen.

Today I'm linking up with Anita at BlessedButStressed.com for her Inspire Me Monday collection, as well as Kelli at Chronicles of Grace, who hosts the Unforced Rhythms community on Mondays.  These writers are blessings in the Christian blogging community.  If you've got a minute, stop by their sites for some sacred stillness.

Jelly Beans and Jesus

I firmly believe that if jelly beans were around in Jesus' time, he would have adored them.

"Let all the children come to me.  I've got jelly beans and love and hope!"

He would for sure have had a jelly bean parable or two.  "The kingdom of God is like a jelly bean, smaller than any other delectable treat, but full of juicy, colorful goodness that you can't even imagine until you bite into it..."

In the absence of any official words from Jesus about jelly beans, I'm filling in the blanks with inspiration from various sources around the Internet, all starting from the original Jelly Bean Prayer by Shirley Kozak.

So, without further ado, here's a post about putting some theology into the kiddos' Easter treats with just a few easy steps.  Print something here, grab some beans at the store, find some jars in the cupboard, and you are ready to roll.

print me!

Now, I'm all for a prayer and a fistful of jelly beans.  But I like to add an extra, devotional angle to this.  Here's how the jelly bean prayer works at our house.  (If you want to join in the fun, you can click on the card images to download and print them, assuming the technology works...)

We have a big ol' jar of beans decorated with the Jelly Bean Prayer.  On the back of the prayer card is a list of Jelly Bean Activities.

Each morning the kiddos read the prayer card aloud.  Then they each pick out a jelly bean from the jar and place it in their individual jars.  The color they picked determines the Lenten activity for the day.  (They work really hard to keep a balance of colors going.  It's one area of their lives where they practice fairness with admirable consistency!)

print me, too!

Then they look for opportunities to do their Lenten "assignment" during the day.  We usually report back during dinner or before bedtime prayers.  It makes for a great platform for discussion where we saw God in our day.  It's like a Lenten "show & tell."








And because I rarely do anything the same way twice, this year I'm adding a Bible verse component.  We read a verse that relates to the line of the prayer and/or the activity.  Nothing like filling them up with some verses to go with those candy beans.

print me, three!

Wait.

This IS all about candy, right? 

When do they eat the jelly beans?

I'm so glad you asked.  Because this is one of my favorite parts of this activity.

They don't eat the candy until... wait for it...

Easter morning.  It's a delicious practice in delayed gratification.  In seeing how their faith-filled actions pile up.  In witnessing how God fills them with love and grace. They are the empty jars.  And when they tune into God, he fills them with bright and juicy goodness.

Now, I sense you are shaking your head in disbelief.  "My kids will never, ever, not in a million years WAIT to eat those beans."  Did I read your mind?  No, I don't have ESP.  (I wish!!)  I just thought that very same thing when we started this at our house.  But those darling kiddos, they surprised me.  Even my sweet-stashing daughter didn't snitch an early jelly bean.  Not one.  She even counted them all at the end to make sure she didn't miss any days.

I chalk it up as one of God's modern day miracles.  That's the way God works in us and on us.  In our weakness his power is made perfect.  In our jelly beans he shows us his love.

24 | The Right Way to Righteousness

Dear Lord,

I keep bumping into this word, "righteousness," in my Bible reading, in my daily wanderings.  Help me to sort out what you are trying to tell me.

I have to admit, God, "righteousness" rankles me a bit because of its current connotation.  This word is used differently now.  Abused.  Righteousness has a connotation of lording personal wisdom and good works over others.  It is condescending.  Judging.

Ick.

Gracious God, I don't want to lord my goodness (what little there is of it) over others.  You are the only  Lord, the Lord of all.  And your goodness supersedes my feeble attempts!

Through Jesus you show us again and again that righteousness isn't about lording judgments over others.  It's about loving others for the goodness inherent in them.

Righteousness isn't high and mighty.  It is humble.  It isn't leading by avowals of right and wrong, but leading by modest examples of your grace and forgiveness.  Righteousness doesn't point back to me, it points up to you, to the source of all that is right.  Righteousness doesn't put others down; it lifts others up. 

I like how Jesus lays it out, surprising his disciples with this paradox:

"Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."  

Mark 9:35

Paul puts it another way...

Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

This makes sense.  This feels right.  This is how we experience Christ as we walk this earth.  In giving to others we receive the greatest gift of all.  Christ and the Holy Spirit flow through us, building us up as we serve others.  God, help me to sustain others and build them up, just as you do for me.  Help me to see the right thing to do to glorify you, and to do that with humility.

Amen.

May you walk with our Living Lord today in his path of humble righteousness.  May your encouragement of others build up your spirit at the same time.