“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:

Be strong and finish the task!

Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building. Before the work on the Temple began, there were no jobs and no money to hire people or animals.

No traveler was safe from the enemy, for there were enemies on all sides. I had turned everyone against each other.

“But now I will not treat the remnant of my people as I treated them before,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. The grapevines will be heavy with fruit. The earth will produce its crops, and the heavens will release the dew. Once more I will cause the remnant in Judah and Israel to inherit these blessings.”

“Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation.

But no longer!

Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid.

Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!”

Zechariah 8:9-13 NLT

There’s just something to be said about how often God reminded the people to Be Strong and Work. To keep going. To remember the past, allow it to strengthen their resolve, and work toward a better future.

We all need reminded of that. Maybe moving forward on tasks is not your struggle. But for you to be strong and work looks like engaging a difficult relationship. Or slowing down to listen to your soul. Or praying instead of fixing.

Whatever our struggle tends toward, the good news is verse 13:

Before, because of disobedience, God’s people were a symbol of curse among the nations.

But now?

“Now I will resuce you.” In the Hebrew, it means to save, avenge, defend, give victory.

And why?

So you can be a source of blessing (liberal and generous) to the nations.

The word for nations literally means a Gentile. A non-Jew. Those who are not God’s people.

The purpose of Him giving us victory as we are obedient to be strong and work is liberal generosity to those who don’t yet know Him.

His heart for the world He has created is one reason we can love Him.

His dying for that world is why we should worship.

You need to go see Tarzan with CYT. The performance is quality – like, phenomenal make up and costumes and performance quality. Like, don’t need to have kids in the show to enjoy it quality. Grab your tickets online or at the door – begins tonight through Saturday.

It’s Final Friday time, this month corresponding with Wichita’s Art Day of Giving. This is an online campaign designed to support area nonprofits related to the arts. At the Spice Merchant, for example, you can come support Asian Culinary and Cultural Arts with the Wichita Asian Association.

Also of Final Friday note, Reverie will be displaying art by Darren Jones, including a limited edition tee.

Saturday April 30th is national Independent Bookstore Day. Watermark will be celebrating with a Princess storytime, exclusive merchandise, and cake in their cafe to celebrate Quatro Publishing’s 40th Anniversary.

Also Saturday is OK Kids Day at Watson Park. This amazing, free family event includes kayaking, archery, and fishing. T-shirts, hot dogs, prizes, and the Grand Opening of the new Train.

If you are gardening this year, keep Plant a Row for the Hungry in mind. The Kansas Food Bank will pick up your produce at participating, convenient garden centers. “One pound at a time…one row at a time. Together we make a difference.”

If you need extra help paying for your prescription medications, the Sedgwick County Extention Office may be able to help. Call 316-660-0100 for information or to apply.

Did you know April is National Poetry Month? The month is almost over, but there is always time to read poetry. Alford Branch Library currently has a delightful display of children’s poetry books.

Also at Alford, come this Saturday the 30th to celebrate El Dia de los Ninos. Enjoy a bilingual storytime, crafts and games to enjoy cultures and books.

And if you’d like to learn more about iOS, register here to bring your iPad or iPhone to Rockwell tonight, Thursday the 28th.

Have a great weekend!

Funky and Fun Little Free Library

Our boy in Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock.

Taking off

Our family hit up the Wichita Gem & Mineral Society show again this year.

They loved it

Panning for gold

Newly Planted

We joined the succulent plant crowd

Evening light

Driveway picnic with my husband

Glory

Your 7 Days?

I have been thinking lately about the difference between hurting someone and harming someone.

It has been off to the side in my brain while different situations and conversations have cropped up, bringing it back to the forefront. Then last night a friend told me, “it hurt to hear, but I needed to hear it.”

And this morning I read: “How painful it was to write that letter! Heartbroken, I cried over it. I didn’t want to hurt you, but wanted you to know how very much I love you.”

Hurt vs Harm.

I cannot remember the first thin book I read about this topic in college. It was before Boundaries, which also discusses the idea. Before this, I had no place in my mind for hurt and how it could be a good thing. If someone hurt my feelings, disagreed, or simply pushed back on something I cared about, this was only a negative thing to me.

But at this point in my walk, I’m realizing what a gift those situations are. How much more I’ve grown, ways I’ve thought about things from a different angle because I’ve been open, and areas I have changed for the better. Seems like the only way we grow is through hurt.

The other part of the equation is harm. When someone hurts you, it stings but you grow. If someone harms you, it wounds relationships and trust and growth. It is an attack on the person, not behavior or situation. And it is rarely done in love.

As God continues to bring articles, relationships, conversations and queries in my life about racial reconciliation, it is not hurt-free. In fact, it digs up hurt. But the purpose is to work through the hurt to get to the other side. To understanding, love, repentance, growth.

What are your thoughts? Think hurt is one of the only ways we grow? Agree harm is rarely done in love?

I’d love to hear!

Again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me.

This is what the LORD Almighty says:

“I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

This is what the LORD Almighty says:

“I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”

This is what the LORD Almighty says:

“Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

This is what the LORD Almighty says:

“It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the LORD Almighty.

This is what the LORD Almighty says:

“I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

Zechariah 8:1-8 (NIV)

God continues to call Himself Jehovah-Sabaoth in His Word to Zechariah.

God of Angel Armies.

His Names are in perfect context for what He’s teaching.

Remember His people were asking whether they should continue to fast and mourn over Jerusalem. Chapter 7 answered with a rebuke about fasting without obedience. Now God is painting a beautiful picture of a restored Jerusalem in order to inspire the people.

Why?

Verse 2 has our answer: He is jealous for them.

In our flesh, we tend to be jealous of. But in His perfection, He is only jealous for. For our good. For our restoration. For our witness. For His glory.

And He will deliver His people from the east (where the sun rises) to the west (the sunset). Like most prophecy, this means both the scattered exiles in that time and all those to come who will worship the Lamb one day in Zion.

And the best part? They will get to dwell there: settle down and abide. No longer aliens or exiles, sojourners or vagabonds.

He is the One Who will do this. Because He is the God of Angel Armies, and on account of His faithfulness, He will bring them back.

And be their Elohim in truth and righteousness.

Yesss. Johnson’s Garden’s Fill-a-Flat Sale is upon us.

Tree Top Nursery is also holding their Spring Celebration Flat Sale.

Let’s plant some flowers.

Today is the Party for the Planet celebration at the Zoo. Admission is free from 8:30-5:00, and exhibitors will be offering hands-on activities from 9-2.

Catch M.O. Walsh at Watermark Books on Friday at 6:00 pm for a reading and signing of his book My Sunshine Away. Prior to the reading, Watermark will host a Dinner PLUS, with the opportunity to dine with Walsh. Tickets are $10.50.

Green Acres Bradley Fair is hosting their Tasting Fair this Saturday. Enjoy samples and store-wide savings.

Have you been to The Orpheum’s Classic Film Series? Opening tonight is Thelma & Louise. Doors open at 6:00 and tickets are only $5 (students, seniors, military and group pricing is $4).

And don’t miss Food Trucks at The Fountain this Sunday. Food trucks, live music, and a donation-based Yoga class. Whoa.

This Monday from 6-8 pm, come learn about Growing Vines & Vertical Gardening with the Sedgwick County Extention Office. Only $5 and you can register here.

Come to the Wichita Art Museum’s Family ArtVenture: The Colors of Us this Saturday the 23rd from 11-3. Using the Freedom Now! exhibit, along with Gordon Parks’, “families will explore the themes of identity, freedom, and justice. A special performance from Arts Partners artists will highlight the day, at 2 pm.”

Library:

Friends of the Library Spring Used Book Sale is on. Come support the library and add to yours April 21-23rd at Central.

Interested in learning about accounting and record keeping for your Small Business? Register here to join the discussion this Saturday the 23rd from 1-2:30.

At Central On Tuesday from 12 -1 come hear about the topic Election Integrity.

Then at 2:30 at Central, enjoy a Tech Demo until 4:00. Experiment with tablets, phones, e-readers and more, while learning about the library’s digital services.

And finally…Has the Library help to transform your life in some way? Share your story and read others here.

Have a great weekend!

The Macarena with his students. One good man.

Searching for library books

Finding the right one

Play Kitchen

Party Time

The upshot of neighborhood tree trimming: more firewood.

Playing Bang. This man got out my hat and the boys some bandanas. Then played old-timey saloon music.

Outlaw

Get that sheriff.

Your 7 Days?

“There’s a difference between being a peace-keeper and a peace-maker.”

My sister visited over the weekend. If you would ever care for a snapshot into our times together, a text exchange between her and her hubby Saturday night would be pretty accurate:

Him: You guys go anywhere tonight?

Her: No, stayed in and talked. So far we’ve covered racism, feminism, eviction laws and lack of regulation, and poverty.

Him: Naturally.

I love talking with her. God has had her on a wild ride in downtown KC and she’s learning lots about social justice. But something that really struck her was the line above from a sermon she recently heard. Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers, which usually doesn’t equate with keeping the peace.

It makes me think of how Dallas Willard described peacemakers in The Divine Conspiracy: “They make the list because outside the kingdom they are, as is often said, ‘called everything but a child of God.’ That is because they are always in the middle. Ask the policeman called in to smooth out a domestic dispute. There is no situation more dangerous. Neither side trusts you. Because they know that you are looking at both sides, you can’t possibly be on their side.”

Yikes.

My sister followed it up with an excerpt from this book about how following the crowd is often the opposite of following Truth. He pointed out how Jesus hid from the crowd when they wanted to force Him onto a throne, He wept when their Hosannas tried to push Him into military takeover, and He pled for their forgiveness as they crucified Him.

Instead of the crowd, Jesus nurtures the “little flock.” Even if 2 billion people in the world have the Holy Spirit alive inside them, we are still His little flock. A tender term for those who wish to lay down their lives and follow Him.

And because of that tender shepherding, we can resist joining the crowd or becoming a crowd. Instead we can focus our energies on loving.

I want to be just as concerned with an unreached people group in Africa as I am my friend down the street. I want to see the same urgency and dignity in discipling our children as I see in praying about the prison crisis in our country.

What I don’t want to do is get swept away in a crowd mentality. In any of these situations. Something that is very tempting for me.

What do you do to avoid joining the crowd or becoming a crowd?

“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry.

“‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land they left behind them was so desolate that no one traveled through it. This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.’”

Zechariah 7:11-14 (NIV)

God can’t love us and not hate our sin.

There is no way for me to sincerely love my friend and not hate the cycles of sin I watch her go through that are devastating her life. I cannot love my spouse as one flesh and not hate adultery. I cannot love marriage or genuine intimacy or women as made in God’s image and not hate pornography. And I cannot love my children and not hate their disobedience or ignore behavior that will affect who they become.

For God’s love to be sincere, He cannot delight in evil – what hurts us, our relationships, and His creation in which He delights.

But there’s more to all this, isn’t there?

This week I spent time at a friend’s house who has recently taken in a toddler with neglect and trauma issues. The stories made me queasy. But what that precious boy needs is constancy so his little brain can be rewired for attachment.

Thank the good goodness God made our minds capable of rewiring.

Then I talked with a different friend about the new epidemic in foster care/adoption: families reversing the adoption when kids go through adolescence. When early childhood trauma resurfaces and floods them, adopted children can often become terrors and turn on their adopted parents. And since they can legally reverse the adoption, often parents will.

Oh, but can you imagine being abandoned- again – at that crucial moment? The time when you’re pushing back to see: can I really trust you? Is your love secure?

We have got to know that we know two things in our hearts:

1. That our sin is hatred toward God.

and

2. He will never, ever leave or forsake us

He straight up refuses to help us along in our sin or ignore it. He is too good of a Father for that kind of co-dependency. And He allows us to reap what we sow so we can learn.

But if we are His child and don’t know in our soul no one can snatch us from His hand, we will never rest in His love enough to change our patterns. Fear and guilt will be our motivation, not love.

And love really is the only thing powerful enough to save us.

Sign up here for this Saturday’s Fairy Tea Party at Botanica.

Reverie’s Caffeinated Lab Class is happening this Saturday. Learn about the do’s and don’ts of coffee storage from the experts.

Green Acres West is hosting a Tasting Fair this Saturday. Sample quality, healthy treats.

Enjoy a Night at the Fountain this Friday evening at Waterwalk. Live music while you enjoy cuisine from local food trucks.

Fisch Haus is hosting a Neighborhood Superstar event. This award recognizes “creatives who are actively practicing in underserved communities.” This year they are honoring grassroots filmmaker R.G. Miller. Read all about events here.

Roxy’s Downtown is holding the Wichita Jazz Festival. Enjoy great music all weekend, beginning this evening.

The Sedgwick County Extension Office is offering a Women Investment Education Program, for women wanting to learn more about finances and investments. Register here.

Watermark has some fun stuff coming up Saturday: Beginning at 10 am, Alan Brooks is holding an Art Class for children. You can register here. Then beginning at 2:00 that afternoon, come to learn about and hear great jazz music at their Jazz Celebration.

Are you a teenager who cares about the local arts? City Arts wants to hear from you in this survey.

April 16-24 is National Park Week. If you’re planning to get out of town over the weekend, be sure to check out some beautiful locations in our country without admission fees. Thanks, WOTC.

Library:

Enjoy two Young Artists’ Exhibit Receptions this evening: one at Westlink and the other at Evergreen, both beginning at 6:30.

Saturday at 1:00 at Alford, come to Genealogy: Transcription and Abstraction.

Cozy by the Campfire will be happening at Linwood Monday night beginning at 6:00 pm.

And register here for Playing with Pinterest at Evergreen on Tuesday at 2:30.

One more Young Artists’ Exhibit Receptions will be at Central on Tuesday beginning at 6:30.

Have a great weekend!