Making more space for Jesus

Our new living room.

This picture was taken one day when we went for a walk at the lake nearby (Flathead Lake).

The dining room.

These guys were munching breakfast under the

tree in our new front yard the morning we moved in.

We've been preparing for Easter by participating in Lent. Not in any typical or traditional way, mind you, but just in that we have chosen to "make more space for Jesus" in our lives each day. We meet each Wednesday evening at our house with a small group of participants who have intentionally decided to "lay something down" and "take something up" during the 40 days leading up to Easter.

For me, I decided to lay down watching Law and Order (the original--my favorite TV show), and take up memorizing John 15. In this way I'm making a purposeful choice to make more space for Jesus (and His word) in my day. It's been challenging at times. Sometimes, at the end of the workday all I want to do is kick back and relax with an hour of Law and Order. But then I remember the commitment I have made to the Lord, that during this time I will hide His word in my heart instead of watching another murderer being brought to justice.

It's been an awesome time for me. Seems like since I started doing this, all sorts of roadblocks have sprung up to keep me from meditating and memorizing God's word--things that fill up any free time I may have thought I would get (for me it takes alot of time and repetition to memorize a portion of scripture). But along with the challenges have come unexpected blessings and divine opportunities and appointments that God has arranged for me, things I believe are coming my way simply because I've purposed to "make more space for Jesus." He is giving me new eyes, to see what He is doing and how He wants me to partner with Him in those things. For example, I was asked to host a series of radio programs specifically designed for pastor's wives (especially those who serve in rural churches). To me that is absolutely a "God-thing." You who know me well know that even though I enjoy Christian radio programming, I have never been involved with it in even the slightest way.

Another divine opportunity that came knocking at our door happened yesterday when we were asked to take in a girl who is in the middle of enormous emotional/mental crisis and has had to return to the base (from Africa). She is in need of much prayer and one-on-one ministry, and I am amazed at how God has brought it all about for us to be a part of what He is doing to heal this girl. Please pray for her! She needs the healing touch of Jesus so badly.

Arthur was asked to portray a "father" in a music video a couple weeks ago. One of the young men (in the music department) saw in Arthur what he wanted as he prepared this particular music DVD. I wasn't there when they taped it, so I'm excited to see it when it comes out. It was just another unexpected opportunity to bless and to serve (Art had never met the little boy who played the part of the young son, but now the two of them have a grandfather/grandson relationship). It's cool to see how God connects people!

Oh yeah, I don't want to forget to talk about our new house. We now live in house #23. We have no landline here, but we can be reached on our cell phones, or on Skype (alf0310). We'll be house-sitting here until December, Lord willing. We've had a huge amount of activity going on in our lives these days so it's taking a bit to get re- situated and settled in, but I know I'm going to like it. It's a very cozy, family-friendly home so it feels very good. It seems to be the house on base where everyone wants to "hang-out," so we've had quite a bit of that happening already. Crazy, hey!