Happy Easter: The Frog in the Shallow Well (Ancient Chinese Proverb)

 Q: How does God speak to us?
A:  Any way He chooses, as long as we listen. Sometimes even if we don't. 


Earlier this week a friend of mine at work (Mr. N. Xu), told me about this story....how was I to know this was God reminding me of His wisdom and his Love, not just for me but for those in my household. 


Have you not heard of the frog that lived in a shallow well? It said to a turtle that lived in the East Sea, "I am so happy! When I go out, I jump about on the railing beside the mouth of the well. When I come home, I rest in the holes on the broken wall of the well. If I jump into the water, it comes up to my armpits and holds up my cheeks. If I walk in the mud, it covers up my feet. I look around at the wriggly worms, crabs and tadpoles, and none of them can compare with me. Moreover, I am lord of this trough of water and I stand up tall in this shallow well. My happiness is full. My dear sir, why don't you come often and look around my place?"

Before the turtle from the East Sea could get its left foot in the well, its right knee got stuck. It hesitated and retreated. The turtle told the frog about the East Sea.

"Even a distance of a thousand li cannot give you an idea of the sea's width; even a height of a thousand ren cannot give you an idea of its depth. In the time of King Yu of the Xia dynasty, there were floods nine years out of ten, but the waters in the sea did not increase. ln the time of King Tang of the Shang dynasty there were droughts seven years out of eight, but the waters in the sea did not decrease. The sea does not change along with the passage of time and its level does not rise or fall according to the amount of rain that falls. The greatest happiness is to live in the East Sea."

After listening to these words, the frog of the shallow well was shocked into realization of his own insignificance and became very ill at ease.

Are you content? Should you be? Are you uncomfortable with the following question: "___your name___, where is your calling, your purpose?"  I am. 

What are the boundaries; those fears or "satisfactions" that limit your vision, your freedom and fullness in Christ (John 10:10)?   Why did Jesus die?   

What is the song of your life? Will you have a happy Easter?




Liquid
jars of Clay

Arms nailed down,
are you telling me something?
Eyes turned out,
are you looking for someone?

This is the one thing,
The one thing that I know.

Blood-stained brow,
are you dying for nothing?
Flesh and blood,
is it so elemental?

This is the one thing,
The one thing that I know.

Blood-stained brow,
He wasn't broken for nothing.
Arms nailed down,
He didn't die for nothing.

You made it buddy!

Last week I cheered as I saw a squirrel running across the busy street at full speed, narrowly escaping the crushing wheel of a truck.  Then he ran up the long ridge covered with beautiful hardwood trees.  "You made it buddy!" Something inside just had to turn to  God and say thanks again.


Wow, two weeks already.  The miracle move seems like yesterday.  Maybe that's because we have been unpacking and dealing with service people continuously for two weeks.  We are just now getting back in "a" groove of sorts.

The verse below came to mind as I was praying that day...and I continue to believe:

"...he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'"
  Acts 17:26-28

 The dramatic change for my family has caused them to seek God in a different way, and our inner movement continues.  I have been happy to see two of my daughters decide to get drivers permits and my family continue to warm towards others subtly.  I believe that small outside change in us all is just a fraction of the work that God is doing.

That said the commotion has taken a toll on my walk with God and I need to fall back more completely to depend on Him as my rest. Changing jobs, houses and phones (from iphone to blackberry) all inside the same week was a little much to "process" as my friend Rick would say....and I need to settle a bit and ponder with God the serious weeks ahead. 

I will never forget those of you who made it all possible, many who did not get their picture above...but those who brought trucks, paid gas, drove an hour or more, carried heavy furniture on with hurt backs,  knees, and tired bodies.  Your sacrifice and love was a sweet offering.  Thank you.

Road Closed, so take a new road

 
Right down the street from our old house was this sign, how appropriate. I hit the breaks, jumped out and took a few snaps while peoples looked at me as some social deviant.  Maybe they didn't get it....I was kicken' happy!  We just took a new road.

This road closed, so a new road wasn't an "option", it was a requirement.  We love to serve, to help, to sacrifice, to love unconditionally because it represents the oveflow of a heart that sees what Jesus has done, and we want to share with others.  A new road isn't just an option.  A believer several states away who has been praying for my family sent the quote below that brought it together for me.

"New opportunities, new creation, new life. The newness Christ offers is a gift that comes from forgiveness and reconciliation – a gift that brings joy and hope. When we embrace and integrate these gifts into our lives, we are moved to celebrate and rejoice. When we embrace and integrate these gifts into our ministries, we are strengthened to become ambassadors for Christ. When we embrace and integrate these gifts into our beliefs, we are able to become friends, fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers who forgive and offer new beginnings to others. (Mary J. Scifres)"

  Those who are wondering about the move....It was UNBELIEVABLE!!!  thanks to the 20-30 people who showed up, including new neighbors I had never met before.  More on that soon (with pictures). Special thanks to Kent, Rick, Paul, David, Tim, Bill, DJ, Mike, Russ, Allen, Vicki, DJ, Garry, Gunner, Nathan, Jules, Josh, Marcella, Bill, Rosie, Nick, Ed, Zech, Ben, Tony, Lori, Ryan, Andrea, and so many others.  Old and new neighbors, my family our God took notice, and smiled.

Let it rain

Weather report says tomorrow there is 100% chance of rain.
That's perfect, because i have been waiting a long time, with many of you who have have been faithful, prayerful and expectant.

Tomorrow we move....something i have dreamed of for more than a decade, 16 years to be exact. Not because I needed a bigger house, or a better view, though those did come. No, because I needed rain...the song says it all....promises fulfilled. Life, hope, freedom, God's favor. If there was any doubt before, I must now declare He has been good...to us. Are you in a desert? Are you waiting?



Waiting for the rain
Misty Edwards
Click here to listen

I am waiting in this desert
just waiting for the rain
oh but i wont leave this desert
until I see the rain

I am waiting in the wilderness
of promises yet fulfilled
oh but i wont leave this wilderness
until i see the rain

I am waiting for the rain
I am waiting for the rain
I am just waiting for the rain

for I have heard the story told
of a prophet who prophesied
of the rain that will come
in the middle of a drought
as a sign of the rain to come

oh years have come
and years have gone
we are still waiting for the rain
oh but I can see the clouds gathering now
are you ready now for the rain

open up the heavens
and let it rain, let it rain, let it rain
open up the heavens, let it rain, let it rain
open up the heavens, let it rain, let it rain
open up the heavens, let it rain, let it rain

just let it rain,
let it rain God,
let it rain, let it rain

Thank you! The Clays are moving this Saturday

"In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord's command wherever he told them to go...",  "By Day or Night, when the cloud lifted the people broke camp and moved on" Number 9:18,21

Thank you. 

You know the story, you have prayed, and now the day has come. The Clay's are moving Saturday 3/13 to Plainfield, Indiana: ALL of us.   Thank you for being among the 100's that have prayed for this day, and continue to ask God for healing.  I am also thankful for those who prayed , but did not live to see this day. Their faith was rewarded.

Many of you know about the last month, but for the rest....

1. We have been attending LifeChurch AS A FAMILY for a month now!  ALL of us
   
2. We sold our house in ELEVEN DAYS during a blizzard in early February!
   
3. We found a house all could agree was the right one one week ago in Plainfield IN. Its 45 minutes from our current house and we close this Friday (CRAZY)!  Move this Saturday at 10:am. (see Maps here for details: warning 5221 McKellips Ct is NOT IN Google Maps ).
   

Come join us Saturday to help, eat some food, or just drop by to say hi and share God's love with my wife and children.  They need that now more than ever. 

It all makes me want to cry "Thank you Lord!!"

Brad

Luke 4:18-19

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.