Jennifer J Howe Archives – Page 4 of 14

See 2020: as an Opportunity

01.15.2020 by Jennifer Howe //

Hey, friend, welcome to FACETS. It’s a new year, a new decade, and we want to know how you see 2020. Do you see 2020 as an opportunity? We had a ton of fun taking pictures together to celebrate the new year. Take a look at our team picture and signatures in January. Aren’t they great? We’re writing about seeing 2020 this month, and we hope your hearts are touched or encouraged. Tracy shared her heartfelt post here. Look for Megan’s post next week, and then our guest (Sharon Porter!) will be joining us the following week.

I (Jennifer) sit at the hidey hole on writing days. I really love days in January when everything is set aside to reflect and plan. Suddenly, I’ve got perspective on 2020 like Anne of Green Gables—It’s a fresh year “with no mistakes in it yet.”¹

At the hidey hole coffee shop, I bounce between casual glances at the characters drifting in and a laser-focused stare at my screen waiting for something to happen. Background music drones (I’ve heard the track 3 times by now), and I’m wondering what this new year holds.

I send a text to a friend on January 2nd: “I’ve planned the whole year.” She replies with several emojis and exclamation marks. She asks if I’d plan her year, too. I dish: “You know I plan loosely, right?”

That’s not the whole story, not even the whole truth.

“The best-laid plans…”²

Welcome to my Enneagram-5-with-balanced-wings 2020 plan! It’s scheduled 30-minute increments, significant activities to grow me and to grow with my friends (read: a ton of cerebral focus and development), a-a-a-a-a-and overlooking some minor details in the creative process. When I say I sprawl over this part of the Enneagram diagram, I’m not kidding. It’s really entertaining when this 5 in flight wobbles left and right on the wings. Imagine an albatross taking off.

I planned in my journal and scheduled all the things in my calendar (knowing the alerts on my phone would be exactly as I like). I set my bedtime and waking alarm, and the morning ritual alerts would follow. Perfection!

“…often go awry.”²

Day One:
*Alarm* [Hit snooze. Bedtime was pushed to make iCal events.]
*Feed the dogs.* [Motivated—a Pavlovian response started 9 minutes ago. Bowls divvied. I’m under the covers again. I wonder how that happened—]
*Walk the dogs.* [More like: Get out of bed again! It’s still dark out. I’m bewildered.]
*Quiet time.* [It’s quiet when the dogs are outside…even without a walk. VISION is my word for the year. I’ll study that.]
*Head to the Food Triangle.* [Time’s up! Groceries don’t buy themselves.]
*Growth time.* [I love this! Great podcasts on the drive and as I buzz through grocery stores.]
*Chiropractor.* [Taking care of my body is important!]
*Workout.* [Now I maladjust the adjustment I just got.]

All before 10 AM. Eventually, I gained momentum and enjoyed the day, but do you see what I did there? I planned every second of my mornings pretty much like this, and there were problems.

“The devil fools with the best laid plans.” ³

I love to see my time used well. I’m also a creature of habit. I made the assumption I could plan this kind of morning for effective use of time, to build a perfect routine, and to create new habits that were lacking at the end of the last decade. (This is why my resolutions are resolved quickly most years.)

I planned, but I ignored the most important things in life.

God

I planned without considering the wisdom He offers. He knows what I need each day from one minute to the next—what my body, mind, and soul really need. I planned my own way. His way would be better.

Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts, there is no room for God. Proverbs 10:4 (NIV)

God is good. His plans and purposes are good. All. The. Time. What would have happened if I had leaned into God’s wisdom and whispers when I formed a plan? I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have been completely exhausted reading it! Don’t get me wrong, we are made to work and create with excellence. But work looks different governed by wisdom and led by the Spirit. I may have missed both in my process.

Laws of Nature

Sunrise happens at a certain time of day. I didn’t consider what time that might be, so I ended up at a fork in the road: follow the plan or realize it conflicted with sensibility. Walking my dog in the wee hours isn’t wise when I know the neighborhood skunks are still ambling around the drainage ditches before the sun comes up.

“The universe obeys certain rules—laws to which all things must adhere. These laws are precise, and many of them are mathematical in nature.” ⁴

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Sunrise is mathematical. My phone offers that information…if I search for it. Otherwise, a life lesson is given as I stand at the back door, baffled at the early morning darkness. There is also a “right time” for everything. That means, for example, it may be time to write or reflect, and it may not be time to publish the manuscript. (I’m always thinking about writing…)

Rhythms of Life

The body and mind are created for work and rest. I need both. Poor planning—scheduling my mornings without breathing room—resulted in a sense of failure, and a train wreck that morning and every morning I tried it. (I took a run at this schedule for a whole week of “fun”!)

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exodus 20:8

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, Deuteronomy 5:13

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, Hebrews 4:9

The Bible reminds me I need a day of rest, which I’m usually very good at. My mind and body remind me I need mini-breaks along the way. When I was a full-time sign language interpreter in the schools, a funny little “brain glitch” reminded me at busy times that my threshold was 20 minutes. A little “hiccup,” and I could continue, but it happened no matter how much experience I gained. The research says it’s perfectly normal. That’s what the majority of brains will do, for good reason.

I assumed that, because I picked most of my favorite things, I would move seamlessly through the alerts. Wrong-o! My mind desperately needs quiet and rest. In fact, the overbooked schedule made me crave silence before 10 AM.

“Uncle?”

I wrestled with a question my husband and I tossed around: How do I know if it’s a bad schedule, or if I’m just not leaning in and choosing to build the habits? If I pick up a thread of perfection in my fabric, I say, “I’m not doing it right. The plan was perfect, and I’m messing it up.” If I decide to be more realistic, I say, “The plan is rotten, not me. But why make any plans if I created this monstrosity?” The worst response could be, “This sucks. I suck. Everything sucks!” There has to be another option!

Opportunity knocks…

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” —Henry Ford

How can I see 2020 differently two weeks in? What could happen if I see the 2020 plan “flop” as an opportunity to start again? What if “more intelligently” means leaning into the wisdom I can access in the Bible, through prayer, and by attending to what my mind and body have to say? What do you think?

What I really want know is—

What’s your 2020 planning process like?
What do you hope for in 2020?
How do you see 20/20 (read: clearly!) in 2020?
How’s 2020 treating you so far?

Thanks for reading along. Pop a comment below or at the FACETS Facebook Page. We’d love to hear from you! And, as always, sharing is caring…

1 L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables.
2 Robert Burns, “To a Mouse.”
3 Neil Young, “Alabama.”
4 Dr. Jason Lisle, “God & Natural Law,” Answers in Genesis.

Expecting the Unexpected: Surprise!

12.10.2019 by Jennifer Howe //

Hey friends, the Facets are expecting the unexpected. December is the perfect time to think about the unexpected surprise. Tracy shared her thoughts here. And it’s super-exciting to let you in on a secret: you’ll receive two sweet surprises over the next two weeks. We’ve got two guests! Please give a warm welcome to our friends, Megan and Maricela!

This year I (Jennifer) need to look at Christmas through the eyes of a child. My perspective has become less childlike over time. On December 10th I sit at my kitchen table wondering how I’ll manage to shoehorn all the events into my calendar. I wonder when I’ll finish decorating the tree. I wonder if I’ll try to bake or do some crafty thing or write cards or…

Anyway, there’s plenty of wonder, I tell ya! I miss the wonder of the season!

The first Christmas gift I can remember from my childhood was Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots (Marx, 1964). If you know the original game, you’re familiar with the loud, surprising gear sound when a hit to the jaw was “just right” and a robot’s “block was knocked off.” As a small child, I expected the sound, but it surprised me every time. That game was played a lot in our family since it never needed batteries. Its noise may have been responsible for my overactive startle reflexes and parental headaches. *Grin*

When I think of expecting the unexpected at this time of year, I find myself leaning into the story of Jesus. Now that’s the unexpected! And yet, some expected Him.

The beautiful thing about my God is that He is always speaking—through everyday things, people who know Him, words on a page, and in whispers when the mind is quiet. And He told the world to expect the unexpected (which truly makes me question the “unexpected” part, but here we are).

O Come, O Come, Immanuel…¹

Isaiah received the honor of announcing the coming King to God’s people hundreds of years before the advent. He would be faithful to the spoken promises (the expecting part), but the time and place would be unknown except to a few (the unexpected part).

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV

And ransom captive Israel—that mourns in lonely exile here…

The promise was made by a God who keeps His promises. And yet, the people in that day (and their descendants) would not see the child in their lifetime. Jerusalem would fall, the people would be in exile for hundreds of years, and eventually Israel would be occupied and oppressed by Roman rule—all before the promise would be fulfilled.

Until the Son of God appear…

And then—surprise!—the unexpected happened. The magi in the East expected it and made the trek to worship the new King. I love that my pastor put it this way: there’s a “math problem in the book of Daniel, and the magi worked it out. They looked for a sign in the heavens because they expected God to show them in that way.”² The magi were students of Daniel’s writings and the night sky. They knew the prophetic promise and saw the “new star” because they were watching. Being expectant and open to the unexpected made the difference.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

In contrast, just when the magi witnessed the sign, a little town overflowed with people obeying Caesar’s census decree. Everyone from the House of David was in Bethlehem. The King who would sit on “the throne of David” was right there. The people of God, the ones who knew the scriptures, overlooked the moment that would change everything! A miraculous pregnancy. They baby born in Bethlehem. They all missed it! Except—

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

And He came with the angelic announcement to shepherds in the field at night.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:10-14 ESV

The expected King arrived in an unexpected and miraculous way. Kings are found in palaces; a trough was an unexpected place. The entire House of David was gathered in Bethlehem, yet the King’s birth was still an unexpected time for people who were not expecting the unexpected. Angels, shepherds, and a delayed caravan of magi? Unexpected.

Do you know the second verse of O Come, O Come, Immanuel?

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

There are fifteen (15!) days left before Christmas, and I’ll be the one thinking about expecting the unexpected. You, too?

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* Click the signature above to find Jennifer’s writing.

¹ “O Come, O Come, Immanuel.” 12th C.
² Chapman, Scott. Hope. 2019.

God Responds to His Children—Perfectly

10.18.2019 by Jennifer Howe //

Hello, friend. I’m thankful you’ve dropped in for a visit. You’re always welcome here, and our team always hopes this space becomes one of your favorite places to think deeply and share generously to the community that has built here over the years. If you’re new, Tracy shared thoughts on the question this month here. Be sure to check in next week for thoughts from our guest, Ever Moore. We know you’ll love meeting her! This week, I’m thinking about how God responds perfectly.

How does God respond to me?

That’s the kind of question I (Jennifer) can turn over in my mind for quite awhile. I often turn toward Him during a quiet, reflective pause in my day; the times I need patience or help; and the desperate, ugly-cry moments. I know how he responds then—He responds in love.

What about when my heart and mind are distracted by innumerable things? How does God respond when I haven’t paused, reflected, or connected? What then? If I were Him—but I am not Him. Running the character of God through my own human, flawed filter has serious problems and repercussions. The mighty, eternal God of truth reveals His nature and character without a doubt. The Bible is clear:

The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8 CSB

How does the merciful, gracious, patient, loving God respond to me, you, any of us? How can we be sure He will? When I need to know the heart and mind of my heavenly Father, I search the pages of scripture. You, too?

He knows.

The Lord’s response to me is perfect. That’s all there is. (Okay, we can pack it in since there’s nothing left to say, right? I’m kidding.) His response is perfect because He knows every detail of His creation. His response to me is out of deep love, and it’s in keeping with His character and everything He knows about me.

O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1 NLT

I’m thankful God is not fickle or passive-aggressive. He is present in a deeply personal way! My thoughts, words, actions—He knows it all before I begin. Why is that important? Because the best response to a person takes everything about them into account.

A special friend knows me well. She is able to pick out a gift that is perfect for me, and I’m both thankful and amazed. My husband has over 20 years of life with me, so he has the opportunity to know so much more about me. How much more intimate knowledge does my Creator hold? When He gives a gift out of His boundless love, there are no words.

He cherishes.

My God knows and cares for me. Because He does, I know He’s thinking about me.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand! Psalm 139:17-18a

When I began dating my future husband all those years ago, it was obvious I was thinking about him all the time. Sometimes a little gift would be left on a car at work. Phone calls were made every night at the same time. He was on my mind even in the busy times (mostly because I couldn’t wait to shag free from the busy to spend time with him).

When you intimately know, care for, and think fondly and highly of someone, you cherish them. Friend, our God cherishes us.

He loves.

Jesus is the embodiment of love. He offers His love completely, without hesitation, and sacrificially. Hundreds of years before the Christ walked on the earth, King David prophesied our need for salvation would be met in Jesus; the Lord provides for those who revere Him.

Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:9-10

In Christ, the child of God receives genuine righteousness, His! Unchanging and faithful love has been gifted to us in Jesus. Peace with God and peace within our soul. We have restored relationship with our heavenly Father in Jesus, and we have the Holy Spirit in us. God’s love grants us right standing, “rightness,” with God, and that yields the wholeness we were made for!

He stays.

The next verse is precious to me. When I think I’ve “lost” my connection (usually due to choosing busyness and allowing too much noise in my life), I’m reminded that He is never misplaced. He is always present. He is with me all the time.

I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence! Psalm 139:7

I’m married, and I know the permanence of the relationship these 22 years. On any given day or night, I know where my husband is, but occasionally he travels or I do. When we are separated by distance, we will still honor the vows that marked the beginning of our married life. Why? Because we are committed to being with each other.

God’s commitment to me looks the same and different. The permanence is the same but more intimate and heightened; nothing changes my relationship to Him. Paul wrote,

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38

Nothing? Life, death, spiritual beings, fears, worries, the powers of hell—even my foolish busyness? Nothing. He is committed to me to the end and for all eternity. That’s genuine permanence right there!

He hears.

His ear attunes to me, my heart, all of my life. Every breath, every word, every heartbeat—my heavenly Father’s ear is so keen, He catches it all. The Spirit intimately connects—hearing, inspiring, and often amplifing the cries of my heart.

He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them. Psalm 145:19

It’s not like having a programmed smart device in our home listening for the next question or command. It’s closer to a very important skill that may be diminishing in our culture: actively listening. When you love and care for someone, you listen very carefully and respond with their best interest in mind. If my husband were to use his words to ask for help, I’d hear his voice and heart in that ask; and then I would want to give my best yes because I love him.

With God, I make many requests. What I know is, “he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him” (1 John 5:14).

God responds perfectly!

It never enters my God’s all-knowing, deeply-loving mind to turn a cold shoulder to the child He loves. Sometimes I miss out on pausing, reflecting, and connecting, and that breaks His tender heart. And it has consequences for me in my life, consequences He would never want any of His children to experience.

It’s all true up there. He loves me (us!) and wants the very best for His child. Out of that love, He will wait for me to come to Him and spend time with Him.

Because I love God—I won’t want to make Him wait.

Is there any particular way you experience God responding to you? I’m curious! Share below or at the Facebook Page.